Big Running backs VS Small ones

[texasboy]

Big running backs seem to be taking over football now, but there are still schools who have small ones.. My question is which one is better since they both can offer so much to a offense?

[garlandowl08]

Last year, we had a big breakout back in Donte Sloan. He was no little guy. However, he got in trouble with grades and stuff, so by the end of the year, we had begun to use a very small back (just slightly over 5 feet tall) by the name of Voss Williams. While Donte could run over the defense at times, Voss would gete lost behind the O-Line and be able to break big runs sometimes. Both sizes can be beneficial to the team and I'm glad we had a great big and small back last year.

[bubbacoach]

I t depends really more on speed and shiftiness. A good back with good speed and can avoid a tackler and find the holes will do good in any offense. But if you are a team that likes to run between the tackles you probably want size. If you are more of a sweep team you want allot of speed.

[dada]

I agree with Bubba...it's good to have a 1-2 punch. When I was at Elsik, we had a big brusing back, Nathan Campbell....who would pound teams down and just flat out run over guys. He would soften the defense up and then we went with Kalief Muhammad...small, shifty, strong and lots of speed. Would haide between the lineman, when you finally saw him, it was usally the back of his jersey and too late.

[HUM398]

I would have to say that both types are good. The superior back though is one of two combinations. He isnt the biggest but he aint the smallest, just big enough to play good smash mouth football. He is quick and elusive, has just enough speed to where you cant catch him from behind.

To me alittle from both types of backs makes a superior back... Take mike goodson for example. or Jammal Charles. Reggie bush. All these backs are bigger then the small backs, just as fast...Smaller then the big backs but just as strong.

I personally think that This type of back is the new breed.

just my opinon

[Big Daddy Cool]

I think they both have their advantages and disadvantages, Sure a bigger back is going to be able to make a whole at times when there isn't one for him to go through. Where as a most little backs need someone to make that hole for them. Then again where a big back needs a pretty good hole to ge tthrough all a small back needs is a little crack and bam they are gone. At North SHore we've had our share of big backs as well as small backs. As dada said if you can put together a 1-2 punch it will only help you that much more. If you look at our 03' team that's just what we did. We pounded the ball early with Justin McNesse who was like 6'2 220 or so and then we brought in Clifford Gilliam who was I think 5'9 180. It really wore teams down havign to put up with Justin's power and the Clifford's speed.

[dada]

I think they both have their advantages and disadvantages, Sure a bigger back is going to be able to make a whole at times when there isn't one for him to go through. Where as a most little backs need someone to make that hole for them. Then again where a big back needs a pretty good hole to ge tthrough all a small back needs is a little crack and bam they are gone. At North SHore we've had our share of big backs as well as small backs. As dada said if you can put together a 1-2 punch it will only help you that much more. If you look at our 03' team that's just what we did. We pounded the ball early with Justin McNesse who was like 6'2 220 or so and then we brought in Clifford Gilliam who was I think 5'9 180. It really wore teams down havign to put up with Justin's power and the Clifford's speed.
How big was Tiki Hardeman?

[Big Daddy Cool]

I'm thinking Tiki went 6'2 or 6'3 220llbs Then you had Lavar Johnson who went about 6'2 210. I think I went a little over there with Mcnesse weight now that I think about he was more like 210-215. And then you also had Harrell Ester that went about 6'2 210 as well. Then you had the lightning bugs like Willie Williams,Willie Gaston(a running back playing quaterback)Clifford Gilliam who all went about 5'6-5'9 and 180lbs.

[dada]

I'm thinking Tiki went 6'2 or 6'3 220llbs Then you had Lavar Johnson who went about 6'2 210. I think I went a little over there with Mcnesse weight now that I think about he was more like 210-215. And then you also had Harrell Ester that went about 6'2 210 as well. Then you had the lightning bugs like Willie Williams,Willie Gaston(a running back playing quaterback)Clifford Gilliam who all went about 5'6-5'9 and 180lbs.
I knew he had pretty good size on him.

[KT2000]

You can probably add Chris Ganious to that select list after this season.

Kevin Moore might be the fastest HS running back through the line of scrimmage that I've personally seen. The only ones potentially as fast would be Webster Patrick of Westfield or Ray Miller of Elsik. Moore was at top speed as soon as that ball was in his hands.

[dada]

You can probably add Chris Ganious to that select list after this season.

Kevin Moore might be the fastest HS running back through the line of scrimmage that I've personally seen. The only ones potentially as fast would be Webster Patrick of Westfield or Edgar Miller of Elsik. Moore was at top speed as soon as that ball was in his hands.
I thought it was Ray Miller....but yes...it was like that guy was coming out of the blocks on every play and could change direction with ease.

[Drake]

I t depends really more on speed and shiftiness. A good back with good speed and can avoid a tackler and find the holes will do good in any offense. But if you are a team that likes to run between the tackles you probably want size. If you are more of a sweep team you want allot of speed.If that's the case maybe its better to have medium-sized backs so the other team won't know what your intentions are... :D

[KT2000]

I thought it was Ray Miller....but yes...it was like that guy was coming out of the blocks on every play and could change direction with ease.

You're right. I don't know where I got Edgar from. Is there an Edgar anywhere in Elsik's history or have I been sippin' the magic juice? :D

[dada]

You're right. I don't know where I got Edgar from. Is there an Edgar anywhere in Elsik's history or have I been sippin' the magic juice? :D
No...Edgar Miller was a running back for esienhower...probably around the same time Ray was at Elsik.

[KT2000]

Well, that vindicates me somewhat otherwise that'd have been completely out of nowhere. Thanks.

[Big Daddy Cool]

You can probably add Chris Ganious to that select list after this season.

Kevin Moore might be the fastest HS running back through the line of scrimmage that I've personally seen. The only ones potentially as fast would be Webster Patrick of Westfield or Ray Miller of Elsik. Moore was at top speed as soon as that ball was in his hands.


Definitely those two belong on the lsit. I loved how so many people looked at Kevin Moore's size and thought ok he should be fairly easy to bring down. Then when that package of dynomite hit them it was a different stoy. I think of all the backs we've had he was without a doubt one of if not the fastest as well as strongest. Chris Gainous was simply a red rocket looking for the slightest crack. If hit got and most times he did we all know what the result was.

[bubbacoach]

If that's the case maybe its better to have medium-sized backs so the other team won't know what your intentions are... :D
They know your intention by watching all the game tape and scouting you. It is hard to hide much.

[CKE]

kyle fox was small and he was real good when i played him mecke for sv was good and he did wonderful things for us. wilkerson form clark hold the city rushing record for san antonio and he proly weighed 170 soaking wet. i like the little backs they are just fun to watch.

[nsmustang]

You can probably add Chris Ganious to that select list after this season.

Kevin Moore might be the fastest HS running back through the line of scrimmage that I've personally seen. The only ones potentially as fast would be Webster Patrick of Westfield or Ray Miller of Elsik. Moore was at top speed as soon as that ball was in his hands.

Great call on Kevin Moore. He was incredible when he squirted thru the line. It was 10-20 yards everytime if he did not break it and score.I believe he was the best back in Texas that year. He went on to North Texas but never did much there and I was very surprised. I've heard a lot about Webster Patrick but never saw him play. I understand he was a killer when he got the ball. I do know the year NS won state, they scrimmaged Westfield and WP had a hot game against that brick wall defense Shore had. It was pre season and just a scrimmage but it still says a lot about him. I would like to see Ganieous do well this year. He's had a couple years under his belt now and should be at his peak.

[ACM Dad]

Consol has the Lightning and Thunder thing going this year. Cleavon Jackson is qucik, but he's a big bruising back. Then with Daniel Palmer and JJ McMurray, you've got the Lightning. Add a few wideouts to catch some balls and the run will open up.

Sorry, to answer the original post, I'd say it's nice to have at least one of each, especially if both of them can block for each other.

[Reaganrattler07]

Big running backs seem to be taking over football now, but there are still schools who have small ones.. My question is which one is better since they both can offer so much to a offense?

Depends what kind of offense you run. If you want a pound the rock offense, obviously a big running back (maybe two or three) is the key. If you want to build your offense on speed, then obviously a smaller running back, but your offensive line needs to be pretty good to open up the necessary holes...

[ktCarl]

You're right. I don't know where I got Edgar from. Is there an Edgar anywhere in Elsik's history or have I been sippin' the magic juice? :D

You need to lay off that pink lemonaid.

[KT1ss24]

Last yr at Katy we had Brandon King(5'6" 200 or something like tht) and Andre Dean(6'1" 180) both 4.4 guys. Brandon was small and shifty but could get 2-3 more yds hittin someone for a first down. Andre would just bounce of tacklers even if he was standing up straight. He can hit people like crazy though. I can't remember who it was against but i remember the blocking broke down on a draw play i believe and a DL broke through even b4 he got the ball, all Andre did was take a step forward to hit the guy and BAM, the other guy is flat on his back even b-4 Andre began to run. The point is that each was a sort of combo of both and they both dominated. The debate all yr was who was better, I couldn't decide but i do know Andre is a sophomore and Brandon is a senior. What's sad though is that the only place that actually recruited Brandon highly was Blinn. This is a guy tht in split time still racked up 1600 yds.

[LP-79]

Suprises me that nobody from Lufkin has posted a word about Javorski Lane in this thread!

[FeeltheHaka]

To me there are so many factors on running backs outside of size. I would pick brains being a top priority. A good back executes the plays properly. A good back has a good relationship with his line, and anyone else who will be inclined to block for him. A good back is clever, and knows when to run low to punish tacklers and sometimes hide. A good back hangs on to the ball. A good back knows how to keep from getting hurt, yet take risks. If you look at the great backs throughout NFL history, it seems that they come in all sizes and shapes. Emmit Smith being medium/small size, and the all time leading rusher.

[ACM Dad]

To me there are so many factors on running backs outside of size. I would pick brains being a top priority. A good back executes the plays properly. A good back has a good relationship with his line, and anyone else who will be inclined to block for him. A good back is clever, and knows when to run low to punish tacklers and sometimes hide. A good back hangs on to the ball. A good back knows how to keep from getting hurt, yet take risks. If you look at the great backs throughout NFL history, it seems that they come in all sizes and shapes. Emmit Smith being medium/small size, and the all time leading rusher.

Good points...

[thestud]

i think small running backs are probably better suited for high school. i cant believe nobody has brought up kobey lewis yet. he was all of 5'9 and about 175lbs. 3 year varsity for ahs, part of the 35-30 loss to southlake in '04. small and shifty. big guys theres more of them to grab hold of. little guys stay low and have a lower center of gravity, therefore making them harder to bring down because they can keep their balance and try to shake people off. jmo:)

[Lp81]

Lufkin had a big running back with J. Lane , and utilized his power and his speed to move the ball and that was great to watch.. but this year we 've got a smaller back and quite a bit quicker with as much power (not weight) as Lane .. He is a very talented back and the expectations are high.