The dirty secret Tide fans whisper to each other in dimly lit Tuscaloosa speakeasies (password for entry: "Rammer Jammer") is that, for all of Ingram's excellence, Richardson might be better. The frosh has better hands and can run outside as well as between the tackles. In the epic SEC title showdown on Saturday, Florida will have its hands full regardless of who totes the rock.
Robert Weintraub: One Foot Inbounds
You know, this is really a pretty valid point. As much good as Ingram has done us this year, the drop-off from him to Richardson is really zero, and at this point Richardson may even be a more effective player. He isn't quite as experienced and I don't think he has the same quality of field vision, but I do think he probably has more raw talent, plus he is fresher right now (106 fewer carries than Ingram), and he's not fighting through a hip flexor at the moment.
9 months ago
outsidethesidelines
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…factor in the injury, then I wholeheartedly agree. Richardson certainly seems to have more raw talent, and he’s simply faster. However, no one this side of Bobby Humphrey has done a better job of gaining the tough yards when it counts, and even that comparison may be a disservice to #22. Here’s hoping everyone’s healthy and ready to roll this Saturday.
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Dec 1, 2009 3:11 PM CST reply actions
from someone struggling with a hip flexor injury
it fucking sucks. and running full speed into very large men that want to hurt you a few dozen times every saturday ain’t gonna make it feel better. i can only imagine how bad that stinger must have been.
Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.
Nothing from nothing...
but the phrase “I don’t think he has the same quality of field vision” is a rather important caveat, don’t you think? I mean, Ingram isn’t the biggest, fastest, etc, etc, I have ever seen. But I can’t remember any college player with better, or even equal, field vision.
It’s sort of like saying Cody’s backup “doen’t quite have his size, but otherwise he’s a better player.” You cannot remove the essense of what makes a player great and then say another guy is better.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant
Nit-picking
I’m thinking that RBR was trying to find something to say to separate Ingram from TR when he referred to Ingram’s “field of vision”…to me, these backs, while similar, are two totally different backs. Ingram is a grinder, and he’s got home-run power too, but TR is a threat every time he touches it, and impresses me more and more with his elusiveness and raw power. Scary how good our backfield is gonna be next year with Ingram, TR, Lacy, et al. SCARY GOOD.
Roll Tide Roll!
Agreed, but...
"I don’t think he has the same quality of field vision" is a rather important caveat, don’t you think?
I’m certainly not going to be the one to denigrate the importance of field vision for a ball carrier, not in a million years. It’s highly important, and truthfully it’s probably what separates average tailbacks from great tailbacks.
That said, though, having the burst of speed and the ability to make quick cuts is probably just as important, and that can be significantly altered by tired legs and hip injuries. I don’t care if you have the greatest vision in the world, if your legs can’t get you where you need to go in a very short period of time, it goes all for not.
And furthermore, that’s probably even more important for a guy like Ingram who gets so many yards after contact. YAC comes almost solely from lower leg drive, and if you don’t have that all of those yards after carry will suddenly disappear.
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself." -- Milton Friedman
by outsidethesidelines on Dec 1, 2009 3:39 PM CST up reply actions
I just remember
similar things being said about another back, who was supposed to be bigger, stronger, and faster than the star back we had, except he didn’t have quite the field vision. The former was a chap named Brandon Miree.
The latter was a guy with good size, good speed, but otherwise had only one thing going for him, great field vision. Not the same kind of player Ingram is, because this guy tended to avoid contact while Ingram hits the hole. Both had that field vision which clearly separated them from others who were stronger, faster, and otherwise should have been better. That’s what I see in Ingram, what separates him, which is why I am very cautious to say that Rich will be the better back. He may very well be faster, stronger, etc. But I have yet to see that instinct Ingram shows of seeing not where the hole is, but where it will be, and hitting the line with power and authority at that instant.
Not saying Rich won’t be successful, he will be. But I don’t want to downplay what we have now. Ingram is a very special player, and I am enjoying him quite a bit.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." - Bear Bryant
Hell..
Ingram pretty said as much when he said earlier in the season that Trent was farther along than himself when he was a freshman. That just tells me that next year is going to be awesome!
"The goal is to be a champion," Saban said. "I didn’t say to win a championship. I just said be a champion. That’s our goal here. That’s what we want to do."- Nick Saban
I've heard...
that Trent is physically the strongest (overall) running back on the team as a true freshman. I just love the fact that we are having an argument about who the better running back is and they’re both on our team :-) Roll Tide! Beat The Gators!
correct me if I'm wrong
but he won state last year in power lifting, didn’t he? I knew he was competitive in the sport
"Yeah, it's Tennessee, that's the way it is sometimes." - Corey Zickefoose, Pulitzer Prize winner and robbery victim
by Thomas Walker Esq on Dec 1, 2009 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
SACRILEGE!
no more pics please of trent in blue and orange AND the word ‘gators’ on his chest
"You have to create 6 seconds of hell each play..."
Coach Nick Saban
I’ve heard way dirtier secrets in dimly lit speakeasies.
PS, speaking of football outsiders and the NFL I wonder if McElroy was watching Drew Brees shred the Pats last night and taking notes
by Alabama ManDance on Dec 1, 2009 3:44 PM CST reply actions
Ironically, I think McElroy once said that Tom Brady is his current QB idol.
Let’s hope he took notes on what not to do, in that case.
-1 for Greg
if that’s true
Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren
by animalcracker on Dec 1, 2009 6:42 PM CST up reply actions
yeah
id hate for McElroy to play like Brady…having all those rings would suck ;)
"The goal is to be a champion," Saban said. "I didn’t say to win a championship. I just said be a champion. That’s our goal here. That’s what we want to do."- Nick Saban
Playing like him is one thing....
idolizing him is another.
I’d give my earlobes to play baseball like Alex Rodriguez, but I’d rather not be a complete tool. Same analogy goes for Ray Lewis, Jerry Jones, Manny Ramirez, and Pacman Jones.
Winning really isn’t everything.
Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren
by animalcracker on Dec 1, 2009 7:13 PM CST up reply actions
im just messing with ya...but i seriously
doubt a grown man like McElroy “idolizes” him as a person…just as a QB..
"The goal is to be a champion," Saban said. "I didn’t say to win a championship. I just said be a champion. That’s our goal here. That’s what we want to do."- Nick Saban
who DAT!
"Yeah, it's Tennessee, that's the way it is sometimes." - Corey Zickefoose, Pulitzer Prize winner and robbery victim
by Thomas Walker Esq on Dec 1, 2009 6:43 PM CST up reply actions
sorry, had to
hard to contain your excitement when both your teams are a collective 23-0 this season
"Yeah, it's Tennessee, that's the way it is sometimes." - Corey Zickefoose, Pulitzer Prize winner and robbery victim
by Thomas Walker Esq on Dec 1, 2009 6:44 PM CST up reply actions
that's how I felt last year
When the Titans started off with a streak.
Here’s hoping both my teams END with a streak this year!
Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren
by animalcracker on Dec 1, 2009 6:45 PM CST up reply actions
That field of vision thingy . . .
is something that Ingram didn’t have as much of in his freshman year, either. The point is well taken: we all know (as Ingram himself suggested) that Richardson could surpass Ingram’s achievements.
by M. Johnson Defender on Dec 1, 2009 4:16 PM CST reply actions
Coffee didn't either until his final year
Which is why I think Burton Burns may be the best assistant coach on our staff. If Richardson improves as much with one year of coaching under Burns as Coffee and Ingram did, then I can’t wait to see what he does next year.
Other quibble (question really)
Does TR have better hands? Ingram gets the lion’s share of RB catches (even though Roy is obviously the best in that category), but I haven’t seen Trent that active in the swing/screen/flare game.
"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch
by Stuck in the Plains on Dec 1, 2009 4:37 PM CST reply actions
I think TR
may be better suited to run against UF.
Now that the Heisman is gone for Ingram, and it is gone, the best back to get the win should get the most carries.
Ingram is great in the open field breaking tackles and turning 7 yards into 20. The problem is against UF you might not get into the open field.
Richardson, on the other hand, is quicker to the hole and actually runs more north-south. He can also get to the corner and turn it up quicker than Ingram.
Saban will go with the best back for the kind of defense UF is playing. I would not be surprised if we featured Richardson. Plus, Richardson is from Florida and guys always give just a little more playing against their home state. I know that sounds crazy, like everyone gives 100%, but it just seems against some teams some guys are able dig a little deeper.
Also, a senior, like Upchurch, can be a weapon in a game like this.
I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.
(password for entry: "Rammer Jammer")
You had me laughing right there!Great writing.
I would love nothing more than to see the three headed attack like we used so well last year rotating Coffee,Ingram,and Upchurch.Roy is healthy finally,go back to what I call the ‘’Tide Trifecta’‘and wear the damn defense’s ass out!
Both are great.
There have been games where Richardson seemed to struggle when he came in while Ingram did well. The AU game was about the only one where Trent seemed to do better in a game than Ingram. They are both awesome backs though. Period.
As an LSU fan....
I started the season thinking Richardson was better. But as the season wore on, it seemed like Ingram could get the tough yards as well as provide bama’s offense w/ a homerun threat. Trent Richardson seems to get caught up at the line of scrimmage more often than Ingram.
They are both great backs, but if I could have one for LSU…i would take Ingram this year. That may change next year, but Ingram was a true stud throughout the season.
I love me some TR...
but for the record? He has nothing to do with the dirty things I whisper in dimly lit speakeasies…
by Queen of the Universe on Dec 1, 2009 5:04 PM CST reply actions
You do realize...
that you should monitor the mental images you are planting in degenerates’ heads around here, right?
"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch
by Stuck in the Plains on Dec 1, 2009 5:44 PM CST up reply actions
Ingram has been more consistent.
This last game, TR had a better game. There may be one other instance, but how many did Ingram have that were better? Almost all of him.
I respect both players. TR is coming up. Ingram may have crested (given this injury), but at 100% health, wouldn’t you think that Ingram is the better back? I do.
Ingram can still have his “heisman” moment during the SECCG. TR could have a great moment as well. Neither will if the O-line doesn’t perform like they have through most of the season.
wow...
look at the ankles..thats sexy…
"The goal is to be a champion," Saban said. "I didn’t say to win a championship. I just said be a champion. That’s our goal here. That’s what we want to do."- Nick Saban
legacy is now rounders
started as Ivory Tusk then lyric hall then venue 1215 then legacy now rounders
by chinesedentist on Dec 2, 2009 9:49 AM CST up reply actions
I just hope both bring their A game Saturday. Couldn’t care less which of the two happens to be more successful.
If it ends in a W
"Hollywood made a movie of my life. The film had me proposing to my wife on the football field. I would never misuse a football field that way." -Crazy Legs Hirsch
by Stuck in the Plains on Dec 1, 2009 5:44 PM CST up reply actions
I refused to read that article because of the phrase...
…“tote the rock.” I’ve told myself I"m going to stop reading anything like that immediately when I see it.
unless immediately followed by “…with swagger!” am I right?
by Alabama ManDance on Dec 2, 2009 1:09 PM CST up reply actions
good point???
"The goal is to be a champion," Saban said. "I didn’t say to win a championship. I just said be a champion. That’s our goal here. That’s what we want to do."- Nick Saban
so,
you wouldn’t be afraid if he decided to drink your milkshake?
"Yeah, it's Tennessee, that's the way it is sometimes." - Corey Zickefoose, Pulitzer Prize winner and robbery victim
by Thomas Walker Esq on Dec 2, 2009 3:19 PM CST up reply actions
Bring him on!
Richardson or Ingram, whatever. Neither will be affective. Won’t make a diff.
They brought it.
32-13. 251 rushing yards from our fine backs.
You see 1974gator, the bad thing about trolling and trash talking is that sometimes you have to eat your words.
for the record...
there’s only one dimly lit tuscaloosa speakeasy that is 100% RBR approved and you don’t have to do some jerkass thing like say a code name to gain access.
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