I seriously do not get this...

[WiiWii]

Why does Holgerson insist on playing so much of Russell Shell? I get that Smallwood needs rested, but he started Shell out there at the beginning of the second half?!? Shell is not a bad player and I like the kid, so this is not a personal vendetta, but Smallwood gains 4 yards on a bad play and 9 on an average play.

Seriously, who can explain this to me?

 

[wvu22]

I am with you....what was Smallwood tired from the halftime break? Made no sense to me...then he takes him out inside the 5 yd line and runs Skyler on both 2nd and 3rd downs. It baffles me too....he should have got 30+ carries. They couldn't stop him

 

[GoWVU]

It seems pretty apparent from usage patterns that Holgorsen does not believe Smallwood can withstand a heavier workload.

Given the ankle injury of about a month ago that we know limited Wendell's practice time, DH might already be pushing it a little further than he'd prefer. Shell seems more durable, although less effective. I can understand why Dana needs to rely on both.

If he does indeed think this about Smallwood, then using Shell coming out of half makes sense. Such a trade-off may be necessary to have Smallwood more available for an extra 6-7 carries late in the 4th when we might need him to put away the game like against TT.

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

I'm starting to accept that Shell is going to have to play, since we can't rely on Skyler to throw it 25+ times a game. Smallwood is great, but we can't just feed him endlessly 20-25 carries is about all he can handle so it looks like we need to deal with Shell in there.

 

[WiiWii]

I am with you....what was Smallwood tired from the halftime break? Made no sense to me...then he takes him out inside the 5 yd line and runs Skyler on both 2nd and 3rd downs. It baffles me too....he should have got 30+ carries. They couldn't stop him

The series where he tried to run Howard and Smallwood was not even on the field must have taken 5 years off of my life. I was ready to kill him. Honestly, Howard is really not that fast and does not have great running instincts. He seems to turn the wrong direction most of the time. That said, the kid is tough.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Didnt Shell average nearly 5 yards a carry Saturday?

 

[WiiWii]

Shell did fine, but anyone with even the slightest eye for football knows who the better back is between Shell and Smallwood. Hell, even a Pitt grad should be able to figure that out -- right, Keaton?

 

[WiiWii]

I'm starting to accept that Shell is going to have to play, since we can't rely on Skyler to throw it 25+ times a game. Smallwood is great, but we can't just feed him endlessly 20-25 carries is about all he can handle so it looks like we need to deal with Shell in there.

This is probably the only reasonable answer. Now if he could at least have Smallwood in there in the strategic / situational plays that demand his skills rather than trying to get cute. -- that would require that Dana not feel the need to prove that he is the smartest guy in the room all the time...

 

[KeatonsCorner]

The fact that this threads exists means you dont get to insult anyone else's education


If you cant understand running load management and style differences or how that helps to catch defenses offguard, might I suggest you go back to gargling Mike Hall's nuts on a MU board?

 

[WiiWii]

The fact that this threads exists means you dont get to insult anyone else's education


If you cant understand running load management and style differences or how that helps to catch defenses offguard, might I suggest you go back to gargling Mike Hall's nuts on a MU board?

You can always tell when Keaton is out of answers. He reverts to his Pitt upbringing. One thing is guaranteed, if you think that Holgerson is managing Smallwood and Shell optimally, you are in the insanely small minority and truly do not understand football.

Look, the crew from Aliquippa doesn't really like you anyway, they think you are a pompus ass, and you don't fit in with the Sewickley crowd either, so no amount of ass kissing is going to make them your friends.

You should probably stick to basketball.

 

[GoWVU]

I never knew 4.42 yards/carry (12-53) was "nearly 5 yards a carry". They must teach that "new math" at Pitt.

Smallwood is averaging a strong 6.7 yards/carry, which ranks #30 nationally. To put that in some context, Fournette of LSU is #24 at 6.89. Wendell is actually just ahead of standouts like Freeman from Oregon, Prosise from ND, and Washington from TT who are #32-34 with averages of 6.63, 6.59, and 6.57 respectively.

A ballcarrier needs to average 5.54 yards/carry just to be in the top 100 at the moment. Shell currently has a subpar 4.05 average, although his last 2 games are easily his best since conference play started.

WiiWii, I get your concerns in light of the enormous gap between Smallwood's 6.7 and Shell's 4.05 marks. However, last season the margin between the two was a lot more reasonable (4.88 to 4.48). Maybe DH is thinking that Shell is only just now starting to perform like the guy from last year. Given the improved performance the last 2 games, that at least seems plausible. Smallwood has already exceeded his number of carries from all of 2014, so I'm sure workload issues are also in consideration.

Just a few data points for you to consider.

 

[3xWVUenginEER]

Smallwood isn't complaining so why should anyone else?

This isn't a video game. Guys get dings, dents, & only got so much tread on the tires. Spread it out. Slaton & Devine, Quincy & Avon, Amos & Keaton, Walker & Gary, ......, Brown & Napoleon, & so on and so back. Like children, share the ball. It works.

 

[thunderstruckatthejoan]

Shell is a good change up back...when he hits the hole. It is when he starts his dancing that makes people scream. I think it is clear who is the better of the two, but I have no problem when he is in there...as long as he makes his move and goes.

Sometimes, I do feel that Dana does not want to hurt his (Shell) feelings, but I do feel as a whole, the team (line and all) play better when Smallwood is in there. They just seem to amp it up a notch with him.

 

[WiiWii]

Smallwood isn't complaining so why should anyone else?

This isn't a video game. Guys get dings, dents, & only got so much tread on the tires. Spread it out. Slaton & Devine, Quincy & Avon, Amos & Keaton, Walker & Gary, ......, Brown & Napoleon, & so on and so back. Like children, share the ball. It works.

I get this and the "share the time" point is valid. I would do the same thing. The difference is that Holgerson seems to treat Smallwood and Shell as equals. They are NOT equals by any stretch! Share the time, but Smallwood should be the feature back, which means that he is the starter, he is the one out there in critical 3rd and goals, he starts the half because he is rested and the best back.

I have and continue to support Holgerson, but he has this ridiculous ego that keeps getting in his way when it comes to issues like this.

 

[WiiWii]

Shell is a good change up back...when he hits the hole. It is when he starts his dancing that makes people scream. I think it is clear who is the better of the two, but I have no problem when he is in there...as long as he makes his move and goes.

Sometimes, I do feel that Dana does not want to hurt his (Shell) feelings, but I do feel as a whole, the team (line and all) play better when Smallwood is in there. They just seem to amp it up a notch with him.

Really? I find it really unlikely that the difference between the two is that the line likes Smallwood better and tries harder when he is in. Seriously? Come on, watch the two of them run. Smallwood has much better quickness, he has much better vision, he can spin out of tackles (can you remember Shell spinning out of a tackle? I can't) and he is more physical. It's not because the linemen like him better. Good lord.

 

[thunderstruckatthejoan]

Really? I find it really unlikely that the difference between the two is that the line likes Smallwood better and tries harder when he is in. Seriously? Come on, watch the two of them run. Smallwood has much better quickness, he has much better vision, he can spin out of tackles (can you remember Shell spinning out of a tackle? I can't) and he is more physical. It's not because the linemen like him better. Good lord.

When did I say Shell was better... I agree with everything you are saying.

I think the team plays better when smallwood is in there. He makes everyone better was my point. Man you are a cranky ass. LOL.

 

[WiiWii]

When did I say Shell was better... I agree with everything you are saying.

I think the team plays better when smallwood is in there. He makes everyone better was my point. Man you are a cranky ass. LOL.

Sorry, I have noticed that I have developed an edge to my posting that is probably not appreciated. Too much time on smack boards does that to you.

 

[thunderstruckatthejoan]

Sorry, I have noticed that I have developed an edge to my posting that is probably not appreciated. Too much time on smack boards does that to you.

Lol...I was in jest. It is all good.

 

[JIMEER86]

I get this and the "share the time" point is valid. I would do the same thing. The difference is that Holgerson seems to treat Smallwood and Shell as equals. They are NOT equals by any stretch! Share the time, but Smallwood should be the feature back, which means that he is the starter, he is the one out there in critical 3rd and goals, he starts the half because he is rested and the best back.

I have and continue to support Holgerson, but he has this ridiculous ego that keeps getting in his way when it comes to issues like this.

When you run the ball 54 times in a game it's hard to have a "feature" back. Smallwood doesn't look big enough to handle 30+ carries a game. He has been dinged up already this year. So I'm not sure its ego from DH, maybe just good judgment. Still think our overall biggest problem is recruiting and yes that is on the coaching staff and DH in particular. We need to get more than two 4-star players per year and every once in a while get a 5-star. And yes, that is difficult to do at WVU. We need a strong finish to this class.
Can't win without the beef (but that's just my opinion).

 

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

Let's try some rationality here.
Smallwood definitely is the better runner.
Dana has said he's worried about wearing Smallwood out if he calls his number too often.
So Shell is the guy who gives Wendell a breather, and fewer carries.
Dana wants to have Smallwood for the rest of the season and the bowl game. Putting more carries on Wendell's shoulders won't do that.
It seems like a wise decision to me.
Remember, this comes from a guy that some on here say "hates" Dana. I love WVU, and I don't like it when anyone does something that doesn't help WVU. Names don't matter to me. WVU does.


M ighty defense throttled Georgia Southern, 44-0

O utstanding defense obliterated Liberty, 41-17

U nilaterally decimated Maryland, 45-6, on defense and offense

N oxious offense & special teams against Oklahoma, 44-24

T urnovers lose to Oklahoma State, 33-26 in OT despite impressive comeback from 15-point deficit.

A wesome Baylor too much, 62-38.

I ncinerated by TCU, 40-10. Way too many mistakes, penalties, dropped passes.

N ifty rushing, defense take down Texas Tech, 31-26

E xcellent turnovers by defense against Texas, 38-20

E rectile dysfunction Kansas

R oll past Iowa State

S lap down Kansas State

 

[TexasforevEER]

Yes..................4.42 is exactly 4.42 yards and at the same time is almost 5 yards per carry. Shell deserves the carries and plays an important role on the Mountaineer football team. Is there a single person out there that doesn't think 4.42 yards per carry is very respectful?

 

[WiiWii]

Yes..................4.42 is exactly 4.42 yards and at the same time is almost 5 yards per carry. Shell deserves the carries and plays an important role on the Mountaineer football team. Is there a single person out there that doesn't think 4.42 yards per carry is very respectful?

Its amazing how things get blown out of proportion. Who said Shell does not deserve to get carries? We are discussing degrees here not "carries or no carries". I still believe that Smallwood should get more carries and that he should be out there in the key running situations (like 3rd and goal in an important point in the game). Does not mean that Shell sucks, just means that he is the second string back...that is how he plays.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

This whole thread is ignoring the fact that Smallwood is still playing through a high-ankle sprain.....arguably the most-detrimental lingering football injury, especially for an RB.

He doesn't need more than 25 carries a game. Shell is doing fine with what he is given. The slow and steady yardage style that Shell delivers lulls defenses in for a Smallwood big breakaway run.


But if Smallwood runs more than he is, he's not making it to KSU. Plain and simple. Shell is averaging 50 yards a game on 13 carries a game... That's 4 yards a carry. That's perfectly acceptable for your 2nd horse.

But bitches will bitch...

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

Well, Shell is 19th in YPC (4.1) among the 24 Big 12 players who average at least 6.25 carries a game. 3 of the 5 behind him are QBs. 12 average a full YPC or more than does Shell.

Of the players with as many carries, the only RB with fewer YPC is Gray for Texas and 6 of the 10 average at least a full 1 YPC more.

Smallwood is at least in the top 4 in every rushing category, so it's difficult to argue our offense is the primary culprit in Shell's struggles, except maybe insofar as he isn't as well suited for it.

I think that leads inexorably to the conclusion that he carries the ball so much because we are really bad at passing the ball, our QB is not a good runner, Smallwood can't physically handle a workhorse load and no one else on the team has performed well enough to take the carries away from Shell.

 

[GoWVU]

The announced change this week of DTW being bumped below Marcellus at the #3 spot certainly bolsters Drifter's last point.