Spring Position Battles - Running Backs

I believe the 49ers got Roger Craig upon strong rec of TO and because he was a strong blocker and had of course shown pretty good ball carrier skills and had been described as having good hands for receiving. Of course he became a pro bowler and MVP type player because of his all around RB skills from sweeps to screens and swing passes to blocking, etc. He was tough and very hard to arm tackle as he ran with a stride where his knees came up very high, making tackling him in the legs a rather punishing ordeal for corners and safety types. Great pro player and Husker legend.

 
Don't look now but Newby was easily the rushing leader among the Big 3. Twice the YPC as Wilbon. Nearly two yards better per attempt than Ozigbo.

 
Mavric said:
Don't look now but Newby was easily the rushing leader among the Big 3. Twice the YPC as Wilbon. Nearly two yards better per attempt than Ozigbo.
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Newby took advantage of some big holes against the #2 defense and got some big chunk plays. Nothing against him, but he just ran where the hole was. I thought Wilbon's TD run in the 2nd quarter was very nice. He does a great job of making one cut and getting up field, and he looks to have the most wiggle in open space. I like Ozigbo, as well. He is the most complete of the 3, and is the most consistent. However, he's not a home run threat at RB.
 
Mavric said:
Don't look now but Newby was easily the rushing leader among the Big 3. Twice the YPC as Wilbon. Nearly two yards better per attempt than Ozigbo.
Click to expand...
Wilbon looked the best put there imo he had the 2nd string ol and just made great purposeful moves. Tbh I didn't really notice newby out there.
 
I was happy with the group as a whole. Newby changed his tune a bit, looks tougher/stronger and more confident. Wilbon really impressed, looked the most like a three down back imho. Ozigbo reminds me of Castille a bit

 
Newby seemed to be less hesitant, a bit more decisive and vertical with his running yesterday. Last year, it seemed like the engine was running but some of the cylinders weren't always firing.

It'll be interesting to see how this shakes out in the fall. I still think it will be mostly Newby/Ozigbo with perhaps a dose of Wilbon.

 
Mavric said:
Don't look now but Newby was easily the rushing leader among the Big 3. Twice the YPC as Wilbon. Nearly two yards better per attempt than Ozigbo.
Click to expand...
He also had the 2nd best YPC on the team last year, but that didn't stop him from getting yanked in favor of other backs at times. Even before his injury, he had games/stretches where he would just disappear. I think his biggest challenge will be finding a way to be more consistent, and as I said in my previous post, I think part of that will come if he runs more like he did Saturday on a regular basis.

 
Mavric said:
Don't look now but Newby was easily the rushing leader among the Big 3. Twice the YPC as Wilbon. Nearly two yards better per attempt than Ozigbo.
Click to expand...
Newby and Ozigbo ran behind the first team OL against the second team D, while Wilbon ran behind the second team OL against the first team D. Newby vs Ozigbo comparisons are at least mostly apples to apples, but Wilbon was in a different scenario that's difficult to judge head-to-head like you're suggesting.

 
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I thought it was interesting Wilbon got benched when he didn't hand the reverse off to the WR. Westernkamp sure was pissed about it in his interview.

 
Enhance89 said:
Mavric said:
Don't look now but Newby was easily the rushing leader among the Big 3. Twice the YPC as Wilbon. Nearly two yards better per attempt than Ozigbo.
Click to expand...
He also had the 2nd best YPC on the team last year, but that didn't stop him from getting yanked in favor of other backs at times. Even before his injury, he had games/stretches where he would just disappear. I think his biggest challenge will be finding a way to be more consistent, and as I said in my previous post, I think part of that will come if he runs more like he did Saturday on a regular basis.
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Considering he got injured against Miami and the two games before that he was the leading rusher in both including a 198 yard game, I question your recollection.

 
Who caught our eye:

Senior Terrell Newby looked strong every time he touched the football, from dashing through a gaping hole on a draw play, to beating his defender to the edge on a stretch play, to scoring on a simple handoff from the 1-yard line.
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LJS

 
I thought Wilbon was the best looking back. Has the wiggle and toughness to get YAC. I think it will eventually be Wilbon and Oz in the backfield come mid-season if not sooner.

 
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