powerfuldragon
Enchilada Aficionado.
maybe it was just me, but a few times it looked like arian foster was limping back to the huddle.. anyone know what's up? or was i just flashbacking?
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was it just me or was a. foster walking extra gingerly today?
- Thread starter powerfuldragon
- Start date
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
He WAS walking back to the huddle somewhat heavy footed at times. I haven't seen him in practice to tell if this is unusual for him. But it was a noticeably strange walk.
I only saw the highlight from yesterdays game (can you believe that, 1 highlight & it wasn't even AJ's 44 yard TD), and he looked damn good. He had a little burst, and a good top end speed... didn't really see that last year. Normally I take what a coach says, with a grain of salt, especially when Kubiak's praises has mostly been off-the-field stuff, but he looked like a starter last night.
Don't know if he can do it for a whole season, or in a real game, but he looked really good last night.
Don't know if he can do it for a whole season, or in a real game, but he looked really good last night.
m5kwatts
Veteran
I think if something was up with Foster it'd be out by now. Probably just a ding that wore off when he came out of the game.
Did anyone else notice how Foster runs in this scheme SO well? It was obvious compared to the other backs that Foster has what it takes between the ears to be a dominant runner in the ZBS.
Did anyone else notice how Foster runs in this scheme SO well? It was obvious compared to the other backs that Foster has what it takes between the ears to be a dominant runner in the ZBS.
Press the hole
read your blocks
burst through the line
run to daylight.
How hard can it be?
m5kwatts
Veteran
You would think so? These backs make it look like rocket science. Slaton still runs like he doesn't get the scheme.
drs23
Veteran
I've watched him in 3 games now and from what I've seen, pretty consistent. I don't see why that should change. Johnson looked good as well. With these guys, Slaton shouldn't be asked to pound inside.
I thought that it looked like he was limping a little after his first carry(or one of his early carries), thought his leg may have gotten rolled up a little bit on the tackle. I do not have DVR so can not say for sure, just what I thought I saw while watching the game.
BullNation4Life
All Pro
Hervoyel
BUENO!
Slaton is still pressing too hard. He was the perfect fit for this in 2008 and seemed to run with patience and good vision. Once things started to get ugly in 2009 he started trying to hit holes that hadn't appeared yet (or that had already closed while he hesitated) and he's been doing it ever since.
This man needs to get back to just letting the game come to him. He's thinking way too much and trying too hard.
After thinking about it, I agree with you. Probably the only thing he needs to do is relax, and not put so much pressure on himself, and the fumbles will disappear and holes will open back up.
But if Slaton has indeed lost his confidence, that's a real bad thing. I am not optimistic.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
To me, this is a big part of it. When he's out there, he seems to be starting to have the vision of Ron Dayne. He's running right into his own people now instead of finding the seams and creases and getting through them. He was finding those creases his first year. And I think they're still there for him.
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
Considering how much yardage he put up as a rookie, Slaton fits perfectly.
I think he will come back strong, plus we need a playmaker at the position.
I am not sold on Foster. I think he's a good short yardage back, which we've needed, but I think Slaton is the only guy that is an every-down threat.
Tailgate
Fall of Hame
Other than lack of carries, what has Foster not shown you? Since late last season he has done very well imo. The coaching staff is high on the guy, so while I do need to see more, I have no reason to doubt the guy right now.
Imo... slaton needs to be utilized on way more screens. He needs to be put in open spaces. Which I think he will be this year if/when Foster can prove he can handle the load for the long haul.
The Pencil Neck
Hall of Fame
Personally, I think the "playmaker" aspect is over-valued. I've always preferred a back that gives me 4 yards every carry to the back that gives me 1 yard every carry for 9 carries and then breaks a 30 yarder.
I think Foster is going to get us positive yards every carry and occasionally break one for 15-20 yards while Slaton, at his best, is going to get stonewalled more often and then occasionally break a big one. To me, the perfect situation is to make Foster the main back who racks up yardage and then bring in Slaton in special situations with plays designed to take advantage of his skills and have him blow some people up.
The1ApplePie
Hall of Fame
Speed is a big factor for me. Foster lacks that top-end speed to a hurt a defense from anywhere on the field
Ideally, we can use Foster-Slaton like the Saints use Thomas-Bush or the Boys use barber-Jones
And yet, speed is overrated. The NFL's career leader in rushing yards ran what, a 4.6? And played like it? Break away speed is nice, but not as important as agility, vision, balance and acceleration.
I think it's all moot if Slaton fumbles one more time in pre-season. His ypc were abysmal but I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt since he wasn't playing with the first-string o line. The thing that bothers me is that Slaton isn't lowering his shoulder to protect the ball. He stands upright. I wonder if he is worried about hurting his neck.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Agreed. Consistency is the key for an RB. I believe Foster has that quality.
eriadoc
Texan-American
Ditto. I wasn't all that thrilled with Slaton's rookie season, to be honest. It's one of those things that people seem to remember more fondly as time goes by, but Slaton was more apt to bust off a 30 yarder in between the 20s than he was to convert that tough 3rd and 3 on the opponent's side of the field.
Personally, I want the guy you're talking about to be the main guy, and I want Slaton to be the playmaker. I hate to use this analogy, but the Saints kind of figured that out with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush. Hell, Bush was the phenom at USC because he had a bell cow back carrying the load in White. The Saints spent all that money on Bush and the guy cannot run between the tackles. That doesn't mean he's worthless, but he needs to be utilized differently. Slaton needs to be utilized differently. I don't want to see Slaton on the goal line.
All of this doesn't matter if Slaton keeps dropping the ball, though. I don't want to see Slaton on a screen, pitch/toss, sweep, or from the slot if he is just going to make the catch, move the ball, and then give it to the other team. That kills me.
Hervoyel
BUENO!
I agree. Maybe one of the hardest things to fix is when the problem is mostly in the players head. Nobody can really help him with that. He's got to pull through it on his own.
beerlover
Hall of Fame
would agree the same thing applies to Brown & Rackers?
badboy
Hall of Fame
Wasn't just you. I noticed it but he seemed to correct it after a step or two back to huddle. Intersting if anything comes out today. I'm thinking hip pointer at most.
badboy
Hall of Fame
Exactly. You have identified the role I want to see for Slaton unless he can't hold on to the ball. I am still not sure why they gave the ball to him in that situation as the fumble only crushes his confidence. I remember the look on his face sitting on the bench when Orslovsky did not get the ball out to him a play or two before. Then Steve fumbles.
Personally, I haven't seen him hit the cutback lane (not that it's been there consistently). But if he can find it when it's there, I think you'll really see some big gains.
Not to take away from what has been said, Consistency (which so far he is showing), burst, power, balance, (which he is showing). I think he's fast enough.