Will the return of Darren Evans hurt Ryan Williams production?

by VaTechDirtybird on Jul 18, 2010 1:50 PM EDT

As we have seen in the nfl, a two running back system is essential to establish a dominant running game. (Carolina Panthers, NY Giants, SanDiego Chargers, NO Saints, and Baltimore Ravens to name a few). This season our Virginia Tech Hokies appear to have a tandem similar to that of the NFL's top rushing teams. The question is, how will Ryan Williams and Darren Evans preform together?

via a.espncdn.com

We have all seen how dominate they can be when carrying the full load, but can they share? It appears that they are very close friends off the field, so hopefully that will translate into great on-field chemistry. Sources tell me that Evans and Williams approached offensive coordinator Stinespring this off season, and made it clear that they want the focus of the offense to be a smash-mouth running game. They requested to keep Quarterback Tyrod Taylor's passing attempts low, under 10 per game, leaving the majority of the offensive workload on the shoulder pads of both Williams and Evans. This feat can be accomplished due to Tech's increased athleticism on the offensive line. With a speedier line Stinespring will be able to open the playbook to more stretch run plays, and screen misdirection plays to both Willams and Evans, who catch well out of the backfield.

This bodes well for the Virginia Tech offense who will be looking to keep the majority of ball possession throughout the season. Hopefully this will keep the young defense of Virginia Tech well rested, and most able to use their magnificent speed. Secondly, this will further the development of Tyrod Taylors deep passing game. Hopefully we will see some more of these this season...

Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor beats Nebraska (via 1080iVids)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4WGOZVTCK4

Should be exciting to watch the Hokies offense this season. Any thoughts on how things will play out?

******** Check out my new Hokie Football Newspaper (The Extra Point) coming out this fall. 5,000 copies will be handed out at every home game this season, and 10,000 will be available on campus.

Virginia Tech football 2010 (via bigalgonefishing)

Poll

Who will have a more productive season at RB?

Ryan Williams

70 votes

Darren Evans

8 votes

78 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

This is not 1950

There is no way Ryan and Darren told Stiney to throw it less than 10 times per game…hard to believe those are credible sources.

If they did in fact do such a thing, they had to wipe the spit off their face from Stiney’s hysterical laughter.

From my early days listening to Bill Roth depict a dazzling Michael Vick dance around the field to glory until now, it has been more than a pleasure to be a Hokie fan. Since 1998, there has only been one game played in Lane Stadium I did not attend (stupid chicken pox), and I dread the day where I am not fortunate enough to be in the stands week after week.

It's a great day to be a Hokie!

by Josh Parcell on Jul 18, 2010 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Is Bud Foster a credible source?

Anyway, the fact remains that Ryan and Darren want to have the ball in their hands for the majority of the plays. To be honest, I would prefer to have Tyrod hand off the ball. Last season we were 6-1 (only loss to GT — Tyrod threw 2 picks) when Tyrod had less than 20 pass attempts…

I think keeping it under 20 is a more realistic number, but of course players are likely to exaggerate their expectations. (what elite running back wouldn’t want the ball on every down?)

You think the offense will be more balanced this year?

Nik A. Bando

Producer of "The Extra Point", Virginia Tech Football Newspaper.

follow me on twitter: Nik_A_Bando

by VaTechDirtybird on Jul 18, 2010 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll be asking Coach Beamer about that next week.

At Media Day.

And if a typical game consists of 65-75 offensive plays, there is no way we run the ball 55-65 times. That is over 25 carries apiece IF it was 50-50. That’s never going to happen. Stiney said he didn’t like when Ru started carrying the ball 25+ times at the end of the year last season, and wants him closer to 20 per game.

If Ru gets 20-25 touches, that leaves at most 20 for Darren, 5-7 designed Tyrod runs, and 15-20 passes. That’s ideal.

It's a great day to be a Hokie!

by Josh Parcell on Jul 18, 2010 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, it'll work...and yeah, his statline will fall

There’s no evidence to suggest that this combination won’t work famously together. I actually think less workload benefits a guy like Ryan Williams, because even though he didn’t ever really show wear and tear last year despite what I would usually consider receiving touches in the heavily-overworked range, opposing teams were able to load the box, cheat up, and limit his effectiveness at times (see Duke). Using Darren Evans inside and having Williams being able to be COMPLETELY fresh should help improve his effectiveness (not that I was complaining about before). And also, to address the less than 10 throws thing, I sincerely HOPE Stiney is not considering this, because if he is, he is making us one-dimensional again, no matter how good of a one dimension that is, people can still load the box and shut us down. It would be a real shame to waste the talent we have at QB and WR as well just because we want the ball in the hands of Williams and Evans. If we spread it around more, we will be very hard to beat.

by chicagomaroon on Jul 18, 2010 7:25 PM EDT reply actions

I’m guessing Tyrod and the receivers were a little pissed when they heard this. It’s one thing to want the ball (I hope all our skill position players do), but it’s another to do/say something that undermines team chemistry. If this is true, I hope it gets resolved in private, forgotten by the media, and doesn’t fester.

by hokiegrad on Jul 20, 2010 8:36 AM EDT reply actions

There is no way this happened.

No way Ryan and Darren said that. I don’t care if they are ‘buds’. They are also friends with Tyrod too…and more importantly TEAMMATES. Neither guy has that mentality. Also, no coach would ever go on the record saying this. If he did, you wouldn’t have heard about it on a fanpost first. No chemistry issues in Blacksburg, trust me.

It's a great day to be a Hokie!

by Josh Parcell on Jul 20, 2010 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

the UNC coaches showed a lot of class after that game

by coming to the bench to talk to Ryan Williams. You should follow their example. (I’ve read through several of your comments. It is apparent your only intention is to ruffle some Hokie feathers. (pun intended!) Alas, that hasn’t happened. Your tenacity is admirable, but it is becoming borish.)

by McDammit on Aug 3, 2010 5:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Do WHAT Blucose?

Hey Bluecose, the coaches cost the Hokies that game, one of two on the year (the other being GT, but you could also make arguments for Bama). After a giant first play pass over the top the Jarrett Boykin, the Hokies had taken the momentum with a thunderous crowd early on…except that Boykin fumbled. So what, big deal right? UNC stalled and Tech got the ball back. So what did Stiney do? Ummm…let’s not go to the air anymore. A fumble is enough reason to completely change your offensive gameplan? We got so conservative on offense that Carolina just stacked the box on us. As for Ryan Williams, how many rushing fumbles did he have last year? 1? 2? Oh yeah, the second one went for a touchdown still. Yeah, it hurt to lose that way to UNC, but the blame should have been nowhere near Williams. I like Darren Evans, but Williams is in a class of his own. Asking us to bench the best running back we’ve ever had is just dumb. Williams will either be the first or second running back taken in the 2011 Draft…so again, just think about who you’re asking us to bench…OVER ONE FUMBLE!

by chicagomaroon on Aug 11, 2010 12:55 PM EDT reply actions