Maturity Matters
The importance of scrimmage stats proved their worth this week when freshman tailback Stafon Johnson went to the scout team. Johnson gained 323 yards in 39 carries, an average of 8.3 yards per carry in four scrimmages.
The current No. 1 tailback, freshman C.J. Gable, gained 211 yards in 25 carries, for 8.4 yards per carry. Emmanuel Moody, probably the No. 3 back, gained 191 yards in 26 carries (7.3 yards).
So what’s the difference? Among the many factors that go into such decisions, one insider said maturity played a key role. That meant knowing what you’re supposed to be doing, whether on the field or in a meeting.
Giving the coaches one less reason not to play you is sometimes as important as providing a reason to play you.
It’s so early in the careers of all the tailbacks that any little edge helps the coaches rank one back over another. And things change quickly. Tailbacks coach Todd McNair told the freshmen this week that decisions are not ``etched in stone.’’
Pete Carroll said the order could change during the bye week after Arkansas. It would hardly be the first time.
But USC’s program is so high profile these days, when the most-hyped tailback gets placed on the scout team, a lot of people wonder why.
Any chance that this is a motivational ploy? One thing though, is there appears (never know until you see it against an SEC defense though) to be some depth lined up behind the QB and that doesn't even factor in C dub
well maybe the mouth or attitude in camp may have contributed to a demotion to the scout team ......stats arent everything
Scott I love your blog, great stuff. I have been to a couple of scrimmages the last two weeks and have seen Johnson play in high school. At first I was surprised to see he is on the scout team, but after watching all of the backs run, it seems that Johnson is easier to tackle than either Gable, Moody or Bradford. I think Johnson's legs have gotten a little too big and cost him some agility. His legs were not that big at Dorsey last year. Keep diggin, and great stuff.
Stafon has been wearing #25 with the scout team, so many are suggesting it's more that he's acting as a model for Arkansas' RB Jones (who's #25 and has a similar running style) rather than any sort of demotion.
Lets hope C.J. has left his "gangster" attitude in Sylmar. We don't need a repeat of what transpired during the Sylmar/San Fernando game last year. Hopefully he has matured over the last year and realizes the opportunity his has at 'SC.
What a fantastic freshman class; these Young Assassins. every one one of these guys would be starting for another school.
maturity & mental alertness are important so as to avoid doing something silly like, oh... tossing a lateral when ending a long run?
Is any of the goings on similar to what happened the past 2 seasons with Lendale White. I prior to both National Championship games the past 2 years. The talk was the Lendale was injured and may not play. Well came game day he was a gang buster.
I was wonder if thats the scenario with Washington injury situation. Or maybe even with Johnson running with the scout team? All of a sudden Pete springs Johnson and Washington on Arkansas on the day of the game and they run rough shod over the Razorbacks.