DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Crowell vs. D. Johnson

It's pretty clear to me that Duke should be the priority to sign long term, one year out of FA. Crowell will probably ask for too much and Johnson has performed better.

JMO.

It's been that way since we had them both on the roster. Duke isn't the answer as an every-down back but he is a playmaker.

Crow can walk as far as I'm concerned. Plenty of guys can do what he's doing.

Crow....go eat some

We still have the number 1 pick in the draft and pass on getting a quarterback.

Seriously!

Keep em both and get a better every down back to run along side Crowell.

I think we can get a premier back in the draft if that is a priority. I think Crow has hit his ceiling as a RB. Barkley would be a great 3 down back with his size and freak speed. Plus he is a cold weather guy. I would still resign Crow at market value... I don't think he will command the dollars that he is looking for.

DJ is solid utility back. We still need a second option at RB.

I'd be auditioning Matt Dayes for six games.

Me too.

P.S. But I always wonder if it's our run blocking too? I don't know.

Why do we need to put them against each other? I think they complement each other very well.

As for Crow, I don't understand why we continue to call plays in a zone scheme. It never turns out well.

I love Crow, but it's undeniable that Johnson is a better, more versatile running back at this stage. Crowell will likely be gone in free agency, and Duke needs to be our guy moving forward.

It isn't even just the running. Kizer looks better with Duke Johnson in. When you've got yourself a running back who is clearly influencing how the quarterback plays, that should speak volumes of his talent.

I don't know what Hue is doing. I don't think Crowell is awful, but what more can Duke do to earn the #1 spot?

crow is done IMO ... no vision, no burst.

the OL sucks too ... but Crow has 6 games left here

Our OL does not suck

Agreed....

Our OL does not suck, but our QB and receivers suck..........which allows teams to game plan against our run game.

Additionally, we are often playing from behind and have to pass too much.

I am not even arguing to keep Crow. I guarantee our dumb ass FO will let him walk. I hope they do. And when he performs well somewhere else and our new RB sucks here, I will be interested in hearing how "the FO tried to retain him but there was no way he would re-sign w/us" BS comments that the FO freaks will trot out there.

I can literally count on one hand (and have fingers to spare) the amount of games I think Crow has had that would be considered 'good'.

He trips over blades of grass, as others have said, he doesn't have burst and couldn't hit a hole (on a regular basis) to save his life.

Duke is starting to remind me of Jerome Harrison, comes in, does something AWESOME and then disappears. (I didn't see todays game, only highlights, but that's my assessment of the rest of the games I've seen)

crow just runs so strangely ... it's like he's on ice skates

No offense because I think you are a good dude, but I have no idea on how you guys evaluate RBs. I played the position and coached the position. Y'all blow my mind.

You are awesome.

I like how he always say no offense before he causes offense.

So instead of a post that basically tells someone (many) that they don't know what they are talking about - and that you do. . . . why not explain exactly what it is that you think Crow excels at? Break it down to that others can see what you see? I think that'd be more productive .... I know I would appreciate it.

Crow goes down too easily from what i see. It might be good that he is leaning forward and he usually gains another yard or more when tackled - but it also means he's off balance and he doesn't have his feet under him... to me that's what leads to him tripping nearly 'untouched' sometimes.

When he has a crease or a hole - I think he shows great burst through the hole and he runs with power. . . he generally makes good decisions, doesn't dance and looks to get north/south quickly. With less 8 man fronts and more running plays out of a more traditional power running formation I think Crow will do really well as we've seen him do in games for the Browns.

In comparison to Duke - Duke is an elite catcher of the ball out of the backfield. Has good vision and virtually always makes one tackler miss. In space he is as elusive and hard to tackle as any RB I can think of since 99. Like Crow - facing 8 man fronts that push the OL back into his path, I've seen him try too hard and dance too much. But given the same opportunity / hole I think Duke is more likely to cut it lose for a bigger play.

That's all from the perspective of never having played the position - so I'm more than happy to be educated.

I think the combination of Duke and Crow is actually really good. Since this is a FA thread - where do you place his value? Is he worth McCoy money? $8 mill per year? Mark Ingram - $4 mill per year? More? Less?

I have "broken it done" dozens of times. People don't want to hear it.

I'm okay w/that. We all have our opinions. But, I don't see why it is wrong for me to question the opinions of others AFTER I have broken it down many times.

Why would you have a problem w/me expressing my opinion?

LOL.....we all know why.

You made beer come out my nose!

i missed it. oh well.
thanks for taking the time to post but not respond.

Through the first five games last season, he was second in the NFL in rushing and finished the season with a 4.8 yard per attempt average (10th best in the league) on a team that regularly abandoned the run early after Week 5 (20th in Attempts, but 15th in Yards).

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that he probably isn't as much of the problem as folks think. I'm betting it is more a case of defenses selling out to stop the run and daring us to pass.... and with our QB and WR's, we just cannot consistently make them pay for that. Until we do (Gordon's return?), we will find it difficult to run well with consistency.

You hit the nail on the head. Now I'm not trying to argue the point that we could upgrade the position. There are certainly upgrades to be had. But until we can loosen up opposing D's, you would need a RB like Fournette and probably a similar investment to really upgrade. We see around the league that the RB position has been devalued. There's a reason for that. Teams that can pass the ball with any degree of consistency can run the ball without a high investment, premiere type RB. Those who can't pass the ball will always struggle without that type of RB.

So no, Crow isn't the problem some are making him out to be.

And while I do believe that Duke is the better RB, he's not a physical, every down RB. He'll always need a ying to his yang.

Crowell isn't going to run hard now. The only thing worse for him having a poor season, is having a poor seasom and headed back off injury.

I don't understand why we don't give Dayes some carries?? He is trying to prove something. He'll run hard and gIve 100%

I've wondered why Dayes hasn't gotten some carries as well.

But hey, we are just idiots who don't know anything.

9 runs called weekly. Crow gets 7. Duke gets 2. Kizer gets 1. What's that leave for anyone else? If they need someone to run the ball into the back of the center they just give Crow another carry.

Crow has packed it in. His agent has told to to not get hurt.

me too

Good point.

Great football post!

Who's the best blocker? Is daye any good at it? Just asking.....

that's something I don't know ... and it may be a factor in Hue's mind

I took that as a good natured jab.

I still wonder why Dayes hasn't gotten a few carries. Maybe there is a reason. Maybe he fumbles all the time in practice??