Re: 2011 Commits and Recruiting News Stomp, I'm hearing LMJ will play his last game in a Ducks uni on Jan 10th.
I figured this could use its own thread. Personally, I felt there was no way he would be back next season. Like STOMP said, he has nothing to gain except maybe a Heisman if he stays. I think Barner will be the starter with.... who as his backup?
Bad news for the Ducks. I know we have a large stable of RBs, but none of them are proven and they have zero experience. Plus the big unknown, are they durable? LMJ could go as high as the 2nd round, but he'll most likely be a 3rd rounder. If he runs a 4.3 40, it could vault him into the 1st, but I doubt it.
I think Barner is fairly proven, and I would say he's durable... the concussion in the WSU game was a fluke. We have other guys too, but I think Barner is ready to step in and own it up.
Thanks for creating a thread. I'm not claiming a direct inside wire on this, but I've heard he is expected to go - from someone who I trust and has been a donor since the 70's. Who knows though - maybe he'll surprise us. I recently read how the NFL is going smaller and quicker. I few months ago I thought LMJ would be a late second, but it's possible a team is willing to risk more. I bet we'll have a better feel after we see his performance on Jan 10th. Barner and LMJ are best friends and spend a lot of time together - weight room. It will be interesting if Barner steps up in his absence. La-Sea is dying to see the field and has looked sharp on the scout team. Hope LMJ stays, but expecting otherwise.
Running backs have very short shelf lives. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes. It would be hard for him to prove anymore than he already has.
I'm kinda hoping he leaves. We've got so many capable runningbacks, I think it might be good if LMJ leaves and open up some time.
I still think you are crazy for thinking that. LMJ is a PROVEN stud. Barner is solid, but not on the same level as LMJ. If he declares, we're a weaker team.
Barner/Seastrunk/Williams is a great trio if LMJ leaves. With our system, I don't think you see a very noticeable drop if he leaves. Sure I'd like him to stay, because he is better than all three of those backs, but that is me being selfish. He should go.
The Ducks always have a solid back. RB is usually the least of my worries. I mean, look at some of the backs we've had in the past 10 or 15 years: Blount Onterrio Smith Maurice Morris Jeremiah Johnson Jonathan Stewart Reuben Droughns All these guys played in the NFL. I'm not worried about the RB position at all.
how many of them have been Heisman Finalists... how many of them are less than 100 yards off from the School rushing record in not even 2 full seasons? I'm not saying the other backs are garbage obviously. But they are not on the level of LMJ now. Kinda like Blount or J Johnson arent on the level Stewart was when he left.
I think Droughns or Smith are arguably as good or better than James. Smith was injured halfway through his last season with the Ducks, but he was on pace to break some records too. My point is, the Ducks have been pretty good about finding talent at that position, and I think Barner and Seastrunk should be just as capable of putting up numbers as James.
I'm not trying to discount LMJ, because he's an excellent player, but you have to recognize (at least a little bit) that those kind of stats are somewhat inflated by our uptempo system (not unsimiliar to the production boost that golden state players have traditionally gotten playing in that uptempo system). It's not a bad thing or a gimmick offense or anything, but still, LMJ's gaudy numbers should be looked at through a slightly different lens than when talking about late 90's duck backs playing in a pro-style offense.
On that note, you also have to realize that he didn't play in the first game, and in most fourth quarters. If Oregon hadn't blown out almost every opponent, would he be averaging 200 yards per game? Would he have gotten 2,000 yards?
oh dont get me wrong I think Stewart is better than James, with his size and speed in this system would downright scare me. I know that Barner AND Seastrunk would put up some good numbers, but when/if one of them goes down for a few games then it gets scary. Fortunately this season our #1 only got dinged up, that doesnt happen much in a season. I totally understand why LMJ would go early. But I gotta disagree with being glad he would leave. You take a step back with him not being here IMO.
I guess we'll just have to see next year. I don't think we'll take a step back, but that's just my opinion. I think Barner is going to tear some shit up next year.
I think he will too... but not Single season school record tear shit up, and not lead the nation in rushing tear shit up, and not Heisman finalist tear shit up. I will gladly hope I'm wrong if he is the feature back, thats for sure lol
