Positional Preview ’26 | #7 The Running Backs/Fullbacks

Blueforlife · April 26, 2026, 07:23:33 PM

Run game will be strong with better OL by mid season (gel time).

Deep ball and Brady all we need.

He earned his cups and will continue to deliver all the mail. Generational talent (Cdn) if he can do this 2-3 more years.

Tecno · April 27, 2026, 01:28:42 AM

Quote from: Blueforlife on April 26, 2026, 07:23:33 PMRun game will be strong with better OL by mid season (gel time).

Ya, this may be the worst season start in a while for OL continuity. The C is an especially touchy position to toy with. Let's hope we pick our C wisely in TC and ride with him the whole season, and it turns out to be the correct choice.

At least if we go 3 IMP there's a good chance the 3rd is Vant or Rand, who both have extensive experience and tons of real game reps in our system.

I hope that if we actually end up with 2 or 3 totally new guys on the line that the hoped-for massive talent improvement will overcome the lack of week 1 gel.

Jesse · April 27, 2026, 05:31:08 PM

Quote from: Tecno on April 27, 2026, 01:28:42 AMYa, this may be the worst season start in a while for OL continuity. The C is an especially touchy position to toy with. Let's hope we pick our C wisely in TC and ride with him the whole season, and it turns out to be the correct choice.

At least if we go 3 IMP there's a good chance the 3rd is Vant or Rand, who both have extensive experience and tons of real game reps in our system.

I hope that if we actually end up with 2 or 3 totally new guys on the line that the hoped-for massive talent improvement will overcome the lack of week 1 gel.

I think we know that Walters wants real competition in training camp. To not go in with predetermined guys. Now the question is if MOS has the ability to do that.

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 27, 2026, 07:02:27 PM

Quote from: Jesse on April 27, 2026, 05:31:08 PMI think we know that Walters wants real competition in training camp. To not go in with predetermined guys. Now the question is if MOS has the ability to do that.

Which of the 3 Import O-linemen from last year to keep or cut could have been determined by the end of last season, they know exactly what Randolph, Vanterpool and Bryant bring to the table, when the biggest variable is age difference. It seems highly unlikely that all 3 will fit into roster spots with ratio considerations, Broxton and a slew of newcomers now in the mix. Maybe a lack of leadership on the offensive side of the ball inhibited them from making the more difficult decisions. Condell gets to start fresh with little carry over from the previous staff.

Funny but they show no hesitation making those hard decisions before deleting D-linemen, Habba, Garbutt, Fox, Person, Woods and Adams all let go with little warning, after sometimes more than one season on the roster.

theaardvark · April 27, 2026, 07:43:10 PM

Quote from: Tecno on April 27, 2026, 01:28:42 AMYa, this may be the worst season start in a while for OL continuity. The C is an especially touchy position to toy with. Let's hope we pick our C wisely in TC and ride with him the whole season, and it turns out to be the correct choice.

At least if we go 3 IMP there's a good chance the 3rd is Vant or Rand, who both have extensive experience and tons of real game reps in our system.

I hope that if we actually end up with 2 or 3 totally new guys on the line that the hoped-for massive talent improvement will overcome the lack of week 1 gel.

I really don't want Vant or Rand as 3rd IMP oline. They've had far to long to grab that spot, and haven't.

This is going to be a pivotal camp for the Oline, I'd love to get a guest coach in here... and you know who...

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 28, 2026, 12:08:16 AM

Quote from: theaardvark on April 27, 2026, 07:43:10 PMI really don't want Vant or Rand as 3rd IMP oline. They've had far to long to grab that spot, and haven't.

This is going to be a pivotal camp for the Oline, I'd love to get a guest coach in here... and you know who...

Randolph beat out Eric Lofton and Vanterpool for the RT job last season and started every game, but Broxton most likely owns that spot now.

Blue In BC · April 28, 2026, 12:17:05 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 28, 2026, 12:08:16 AMRandolph beat out Eric Lofton and Vanterpool for the RT job last season and started every game, but Broxton most likely owns that spot now.

Lofton was injured in TC wasn't he? So Randolph may or may not have won the spot outright.

Tecno · April 28, 2026, 02:32:48 AM

Quote from: theaardvark on April 27, 2026, 07:43:10 PMI really don't want Vant or Rand as 3rd IMP oline. They've had far to long to grab that spot, and haven't.

But they did... they were superb when starting at OG. What they didn't grab was OT, because that's far harder and they simply aren't capable.

But I do posit that both Vant/Rand were better than Wallace at OG! The only question is will the ratio and plan allow this. If not, they are toast, or stuck on PR in reserve.

Tecno · April 28, 2026, 02:34:37 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 27, 2026, 07:02:27 PMFunny but they show no hesitation making those hard decisions before deleting D-linemen

DL is very much more "plug & play". OL has to have gel, continuity, experience, time-in-system, etc.

Teams will shake up entire DLs every other season and if they get the right guys they'll be monsters week 1. OL, not so much.

Throw Long Bannatyne · April 28, 2026, 02:56:01 AM

Quote from: Blue In BC on April 28, 2026, 12:17:05 AMLofton was injured in TC wasn't he? So Randolph may or may not have won the spot outright.

Maybe for a little while but he never got the RT job back, stats show he dressed for 1 game, that means most of his salary was carried on the 1 game IR.

Tecno · April 28, 2026, 03:23:08 AM

Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on April 28, 2026, 02:56:01 AMMaybe for a little while but he never got the RT job back, stats show he dressed for 1 game, that means most of his salary was carried on the 1 game IR.

I'm not sure we'll ever know the real story. I think Lofton was a way better RT than Rand/Vant. My hunch is he really did have a nagging injury. Or we knew there were going to be signing troubles this off-season, or maybe FIFO troubles.

Our run block and pass-pro in '24 with Lofton were much better than '25...

Jesse · April 28, 2026, 10:35:11 AM

Quote from: Tecno on April 28, 2026, 03:23:08 AMI'm not sure we'll ever know the real story. I think Lofton was a way better RT than Rand/Vant. My hunch is he really did have a nagging injury. Or we knew there were going to be signing troubles this off-season, or maybe FIFO troubles.

Our run block and pass-pro in '24 with Lofton were much better than '25...

Meh. I have no doubt you're right that Lofton was injured and not beat out for the spot. But our offensive troubles were just as bad in '24 as in '25.

Tecno · **Today** at 02:58:50 AM

Quote from: Jesse on April 28, 2026, 10:35:11 AMMeh. I have no doubt you're right that Lofton was injured and not beat out for the spot. But our offensive troubles were just as bad in '24 as in '25.

Running about the same (remember the chicken box?), but passpro was worse in '25. Part of the reason we canned Ko-man, methinks.

Jesse · **Today** at 10:23:50 AM

Quote from: Tecno on Today at 02:58:50 AMRunning about the same (remember the chicken box?), but passpro was worse in '25. Part of the reason we canned Ko-man, methinks.

Was pass pro worse?

Collaros was on pace for same amount of yards, same average yards per throw, on pass for more TDs (and INTs) than in '24