START JAMES DAVIS

[Riffer X]

Lewis is done. He should not be the primary back for this football team. He can contribute, but no way is he a bell cow anymore. At least he shouldn't be.

[BrownIndian]

Apart from the 81 yard TchDwn I do not see anything so impressive in James Davis that warrants him to get a start over Jamal Lewis. And if the argument is giong to be he is an unknown then i must say that we already have one unknown in Jerrome Harrison.

[mz.]

@jadbf said:

If I were the coach, you'd see the distribution of carries go something like 35% to Lewis, 30% Davis, 25% to Harrison and 10% to the fullbacks ect.

I will eat my proverbial hat if that's the actual distribution. It's a distribution I'd like, too.

But I'm skeptical. Perhaps I need to just get myself out of the "Crennel Mode" I've been stuck in for the last few seasons.

[mz.]

@jadbf said:

You just have to hope Mangini isn't quite as entrenched in it as Crennel was.

It's not possible................is it...............?

[Kosar_For_President]

@inspecta said:

I know there were plenty of times in 08 where there was nothing in the middle but the outside was wide open, so instead of bouncing it to the outside he stubbornly chopped his feet behind the guard until a DT or LB came around and tackled him.

A smaller more agile RB with more "spunk" say ohh I don't know a Jerome Harrison would of taken it outside and burned the D.

You have to remember defenses are pinching when JL takes it up the middle, so in those cases the middle is going to be clogged and that will be the case no matter who the OL are. A RB has to have his eyes and head up and hitting the holes that ARE there..

My exact point. He doesn't have the strength to do what he used to and is hurting the offense. He at least needs to bounce it out once and a while.

[Kosar_For_President]

@brownindian said:

Apart from the 81 yard TchDwn I do not see anything so impressive in James Davis that warrants him to get a start over Jamal Lewis. And if the argument is giong to be he is an unknown then i must say that we already have one unknown in Jerrome Harrison.

I don't think it's James Davis being impressive, its J Lew being so unimpressive. I just think he needs more spells then he is used to getting. Harrison and Davis would be a good change.

[BrownIndian]

JLew was unimpressive as was JDavis in the first half against the Lions.

[beefjerky]

I think they need to split up time between the backs to get the best durability out of Jamal, so just turn Jamal into a goal line TD vulture type back, and put him in situations like 3rd and short, but for everything else split the time between Harrison and Davis.

[Kosar_For_President]

@beefjerky said:

I think they need to split up time between the backs to get the best durability out of Jamal, so just turn Jamal into a goal line TD vulture type back, and put him in situations like 3rd and short, but for everything else split the time between Harrison and Davis.

Like Thunder and Lightning.

[Sez.EJ]

@kosar_for_president said:

Nope. Nothing on You Tube.

07 = 4.4 YPC

08 = 3.6 YPC

09 Preseason = 2.8 YPC

See a trend?

So tell me about how a bad ankle, and an offensive line that was a disaster in 08,.... effect those numbers. As for 09.. we are talking about 14 preseason touches, vs an entire years worth of carries in the prior season(s) comparisons. This preaseason the OL is in flux with whole bunch of new players, New center, new right guard, new right tackle.. They have not played together as a unit, guys are getting shuffled in and out. There is no game plan. The whole team played better in 07... we had a passing game in 07.. We had how many different qb's in 08? All of those things effect a RB's numbers.

. ... Those numbers are bogus and don't mean squat. that is not a trend.

Same reason James Davis went from a 2nd/3rd round prospect 2 years ago to where he got drafted this year..His team and coach took a crap on him.

[jerseys911]

James Davis

[ballpeen]

I am not a big fan of splitting reps with backs. Especially guys like Davis.

Barry Sanders had a whole bunch of 2 yard gains in a game and a few 40 yarders. You start splitting reps and you might have the guy on the bench when the right play is called and the line makes the blocks as drawn.

Backs get in to a rhythm too...they get a feel for when players over pursue...they have to feel the game.

[hammertime]

A player with a skill set simular to Brandon Jacobs or Marion Barber works best with the RBBC approach.

We will have to make due this year with whats on the roster. How bad is Harrisons injury?

[Vegasdogg]

@ballpeen said:

Backs get in to a rhythm too...they get a feel for when players over pursue...they have to feel the game.

Back can also have a role. Inside the 20's, between the 20's, catching passes, etc...

Ideally you like a back who plays all 3 downs and is spelled here and there. That is not a luxury we have with Lewis because he is not a gamebreaker, he is a wear you down kinda back. Problem is the Ratbirds and Stoolers don't wear down, so we need plays made at that position. I like Lewis' attitude and drive - a lot! But I am not sure Harrison and Davis are beating the aforementioned teams anytime soon.