Nic Smith Is The Back We Need

[AustinFromUNT]

I’ve been thinking about this since I heard the Jeff went down. Jeff is an amazing player and has done some amazing things in his time here. He will be fondly remembered for years to come. I think Nic Smith is a better back for this type of offense though. He is a smaller and shifty back with really good hands. The Air Raid relies on being able to spread the ball around and usually relies on smaller, but faster guys. Nic Smith has the speed to be optioned out to play receiver and cut across the middle of the field. We’ve been better off by throwing on 3rd and short than running on 3rd and short. Nic Smith isn’t a big back to run up the middle for 2 or 3 but he can be optioned out across the field to receive it. We do need a FB just to mix things up, but I feel that Nic Smith will see a lot of use next year, and not just in the running game.

[MeanGreenTexan]

12 minutes ago, AustinFromUNT said:

I’ve been thinking about this since I heard the Jeff went down. Jeff is an amazing player and has done some amazing things in his time here. He will be fondly remembered for years to come. I think Nic Smith is a better back for this type of offense though. He is a smaller and shifty back with really good hands. The Air Raid relies on being able to spread the ball around and usually relies on smaller, but faster guys. Nic Smith has the speed to be optioned out to play receiver and cut across the middle of the field. We’ve been better off by throwing on 3rd and short than running on 3rd and short. Nic Smith isn’t a big back to run up the middle for 2 or 3 but he can be optioned out across the field to receive it. We do need a FB just to mix things up, but I feel that Nic Smith will see a lot of use next year, and not just in the running game.

I agree... NEXT year.

A Senior, Team Captain, Jeffrey Wilson is just what we need for the upcoming Bowl Game.   I hope he's ready for the Championship game as well.

[NorthTexan95]

8 minutes ago, AustinFromUNT said:

I’ve been thinking about this since I heard the Jeff went down. Jeff is an amazing player and has done some amazing things in his time here. He will be fondly remembered for years to come. I think Nic Smith is a better back for this type of offense though. He is a smaller and shifty back with really good hands. The Air Raid relies on being able to spread the ball around and usually relies on smaller, but faster guys. Nic Smith has the speed to be optioned out to play receiver and cut across the middle of the field. We’ve been better off by throwing on 3rd and short than running on 3rd and short. Nic Smith isn’t a big back to run up the middle for 2 or 3 but he can be optioned out across the field to receive it. We do need a FB just to mix things up, but I feel that Nic Smith will see a lot of use next year, and not just in the running game.

I disagree.  I think a big, fast, powerful back will always be a better fit in just about every offense.  I think Jeff has better top speed once he gets going and the size to break more tackles and gain extra yards when tackled.  Overall Jeff is the better back. 

The biggest issue for Jeff this season was ball security and I would be very tempted to use Nic over Jeff just for this reason alone. 

[GrandGreen]

Both are good, but we are comparing a senior and a freshman.  Wilson is the better back now, because he has shown that he can break long runs like noone else in the conference.    Wilson just appears a lot faster.  Smith is at least as good as Smith in getting those 2 yard first downs and doesn't fumble.    

[pastorgrant]

Can't go wrong with either one.

[FirefightnRick]

You cannot compare anyone else to Wilson's pass blocking this season.  Possibly the best in the nation.

 

Rick

[MeanGreenTexan]

13 minutes ago, FirefightnRick said:

You cannot compare anyone else to Wilson's pass blocking this season.  Possibly the best in the nation.

 

Rick

Wasn't even thinking about this, but you're absolutely right here.

[Cerebus]

Click bait. 

[TheReal_jayD]

Bigger troll these days Brett or Austin?? 

[Cooley]

You also need at least 2 quality backs (A & 1A).  We need a replacement for Jeff Wilson next year that is better than what we have now or who may be sitting out. Quality depth across the board is what I desire.  

[MeanGreenDan]

21 minutes ago, TheReal_jayD said:

Bigger troll these days Brett or Austin?? 

or Troll-Bot @Coach Bill Lewis?

[Wag Tag]

Nic has the quicks needs to quit stuttering stepping at the 3rd level. " He could go all the way"

 

[AustinFromUNT]

Obviously it sucks Jeff is injured. Like I said he is one of the better backs we have had, but let’s look at how true air raids function at RB. Washington State (coached by Mike Leach), has 2 RBs that share the rushing. Their leading rusher this season is Jamal Morrow who is 5 foot 9 inches, and has rushed for 522 yards and has 479 receiving yards. Their next leading rusher is 5 foot 11 inches with 381 rushing yards and 417 receiving yards. Jeff has done great stuff for us, theres no questioning that. If we want to be a true air raid offense though, then we need smaller backs who receive just as much if not more than they rush. 

[diehardUNTfan]

The thing I like about Nic is that he doesn't have issues with ball security. 

[greenminer]

I don't see pass blocking factored into the original post.

Nick can't do what Jeff does in that regard, which I think has been critical.

[UNTLifer]

2 hours ago, TheReal_jayD said:

Bigger troll these days Brett or Austin?? 

I thought it was Bert or Augie?

[BTG_Fan1]

2 hours ago, Wag Tag said:

Nic has the quicks needs to quit stuttering stepping at the 3rd level. " He could go all the way"

I"m going to guess this will improve with time and him just learning.. This is 1st year of playing, and it has been limited mostly the in game action he has gotten with only a couple of games him getting the vast majority. 

50 minutes ago, AustinFromUNT said:

Obviously it sucks Jeff is injured. Like I said he is one of the better backs we have had, but let’s look at how true air raids function at RB. Washington State (coached by Mike Leach), has 2 RBs that share the rushing. Their leading rusher this season is Jamal Morrow who is 5 foot 9 inches, and has rushed for 522 yards and has 479 receiving yards. Their next leading rusher is 5 foot 11 inches with 381 rushing yards and 417 receiving yards. Jeff has done great stuff for us, theres no questioning that. If we want to be a true air raid offense though, then we need smaller backs who receive just as much if not more than they rush. 

While I agree, JW may not have the greatest skill set for this offense compared to Smith.. I do still think Wilson does WAY MORE for this offense than smith does right now and will next year potentially. Wilson makes everyone else better because of his Vision, and his blocking.. he makes the OL look good when he can cut it back, or when he can pick up a block (like his diving block vs UTSA) that gives Fine 1 or 2 more seconds on a pass.. 

Wilson has great vision, a great blocker, a fantastic runner in terms of speed and power, but he is solid pass-catcher as well. I think WSU would love to have a Jeff Wilson in that offense... Wilson has passed the torch in terms of being the main man to Fine now, and we need to remember that we need to re-evaluate what to expect out of Nic Smith for the remaining of this season and next when comparing him to JW

[Aldo]

Go back and watch some games. Whoever is teaching these backs to pass block is doing a damn fine job.

vs Rice, Smith identified the rusher pre-snap and went straight for him on a pass block.

Smith is good, and will do well in this system both rushing and receiving.

[NM Green]

I am glad we have both as options and as a simple fan who doesn’t know the x’s and o’s Like most on here do, I have to say I feel more confident with JW.  Granted it was NS first full time game but Jeff moves chains and there were moments on Saturday I was nervous and glad Rice didn’t have a stellar offense or didn’t even chip away at our lead with field goals. If they would have simply kicked the rock that score could have been a 10 point game. 

Glad they both bleed Mean Green!!!!!!

GMG