Coach Drink Staff Thread

[Rekdiver]

Evans needs to be a RB.

I've gone in depth about this very thing last month.... In Drink's offense, Evans would be more effective being an H Back/slot guy that can be moved around. Our base package could be a 3 WR set with Evans. He is certainly a weapon, but his value is speed and space, not necessarily being a RB.

You don’t take a 1000 yard rusher and change his position.

You do if his skill set translates to more than a running back. The reason why he was a 1000 yard rusher is because we played a ball control offense with a zone block scheme. Evans thrived when gaps were created for him to explode through, hence his success as a return man. Believe it or not, Evans is not built to be an every down back. This is why he struggled to close out games when defenses knew we were grinding out the clock. Evans is not a “run though tackles” type of back. That is more of a Marcus Jr role. Peoples is an ideal mix of edge speed (Evans strength) and has the ability to run through tacklers (MWJr strength). It would be naive not to make Peoples the feature back, peppering in Harrington and using MWJr in his same role from 18, and moving Evans to an HBack/slot role where he can be lined up in the slot-

Scenario 1- nickel package, Evans can be motioned into the backfield and take the handoff versus a nickel set
Scenario 2- 4-3 or 3-4 set, Evans can stay in the slot and take jet sweep, tunnel screen, or slant and torch a LB in space.

Evans’ strength is space. He can be better utilized as a versatile HBack/slot than just coming out of the backfield. I understand some of you guys’ reservations on moving him out of the backfield as a designated RB, but that actually plays to his strengths and that is what Satt planned on doing prior to our injury bug last season anyway. No offense to Evans, he is not built to be a “grind it out” type back, and we honestly did him a disservice by featuring him to close out games last year versus running Marcus Williams Jr who fits that mold better. Add in Harrington and Peoples, now you have guys even better built for this. Evans’ strength is his speed and versatility.

Christian McCafferty was never out in the slot....nor is he a grind out back. Evans proved he could do it. Peoples needs to carry the rock sure but Evans is my starter at RB.

[appstatealum]

CMC gets motioned out to the slot all the time. Again, it's playing to his strengths. Evans is not a grinder and despite his yardage, he struggled to run the clock when we needed that type of run style. I like using him in multiple ways in special teams and offense.

[Rekdiver]

CMC is the ONLY back in the game when he gets motioned into a slot. The only struggle we had with time was Satt. Evans proved he could run between tackles on 1st and 2nd downs. You use a bigger back on 3rd and short. Again you don’t move a 1000 yard rusher to a new position where you have capable bodies.

[appstatealum]

So what do you do with Peoples and Harrington? People's has Evans' breakaway speed plus the ability to break tackles. You act as if we are criticizing Evans, we aren't. Evans is a versatile guy who can bring more value to this team as a return specialist and a guy that can be moved around the offense. He should line up in the backfield, but he should also line up as a slot receiver. You can design offenses around guys like that, and that has been Drink's M-O in the past. Evans thrived on the particular zone scheme we ran due to his ability to hit the gaps and breakaway. He very much struggled in games where teams were able to close gaps because he is not built for getting YAC. The only thing that was Satt's fault was not putting in MWJr to grind the clock out when teams stacked the box. Evans essentially is a one dimensional back, but an extremely good back in that dimension. On the flipside, he is a multi-dimensional offensive weapon, and should be used as such. It would be crazy not to feature Peoples, who appears to be a more complete back, in combination with Evans as a moveable chess piece. Add in Virgil as a vertical threat and Sutton as a multidimensional WR, you will have defensive coordinators pulling their hair out trying to figure out our looks pre-snap.

Do not get caught up the "titles", think about the roles each guy will play. You guys defending Evans are exactly right, you do not go away from a 1000 yard rusher.... But what you do is you perfect the use of him. Evans is an incredible player IN SPACE. The goal will be to create an offense that gives him the ball IN SPACE. A stacked box with him lined up in the backfield is not the best scenario. When you move him around, you force defenses to adjust to him as a dynamic playmaker. When defenses adjust to him, now you create favorable matchups for other skill guys (ie Sutton, Virgil, Peoples).

And to go back to the Panthers example, they did line up CMC in the slot with another back in the game, JStew in 2017. This year, Norv frustratingly did not utilize CJ to create different opportunities for CMC. He made our run game one dimensional outside of running reverses with WRs. He created plays to utilize CMCs unique skill set, but did not offer enough offensive looks for defenses to question. CMC luckily improved in between tackles, but would have benefitted from a workhorse back spelling him.

[HighlandsApp]

[HighlandsApp]

[Yosef10]

Not really much reason to move a 1000 yard rusher to WR considering the talent we bring back there. Evans is pretty similar to Nyheim Hines in terms of what he can do, and he played RB for Drink.

You are right. There is also a reason why Hines was used more as a third down and change of pace back once Marlon Mack was fully healthy. The Colts capitalized on Hines’ strength which was burst and receiving the ball in space. Hines did the most damage when he was fulfilling the Jack Doyle role of an inside receiver that can be moved around. He got big gains in the run game as a back up to Marlon Mack due to his change of pace burst ability. When Marlon Mack was injured, Hines had low YPC and got his yards on volume and receiving, not on chunk run plays.

Ok but how Hines was used in the NFL not under Drink is irrelevant though. I made the comparison specifically because the way he was used at NCSU is very comparable to how Darrynton was used last year and Drink will be his coach, not Frank Reich lol. Just don’t see them moving a 1000 yard rusher who is comparable to a piece Drink has already used super successfully in his offense to WR, but i get its the off season.

[ericsaid]

So what do you do with Peoples and Harrington? People's has Evans' breakaway speed plus the ability to break tackles. You act as if we are criticizing Evans, we aren't. Evans is a versatile guy who can bring more value to this team as a return specialist and a guy that can be moved around the offense. He should line up in the backfield, but he should also line up as a slot receiver. You can design offenses around guys like that, and that has been Drink's M-O in the past. Evans thrived on the particular zone scheme we ran due to his ability to hit the gaps and breakaway. He very much struggled in games where teams were able to close gaps because he is not built for getting YAC. The only thing that was Satt's fault was not putting in MWJr to grind the clock out when teams stacked the box. Evans essentially is a one dimensional back, but an extremely good back in that dimension. On the flipside, he is a multi-dimensional offensive weapon, and should be used as such. It would be crazy not to feature Peoples, who appears to be a more complete back, in combination with Evans as a moveable chess piece. Add in Virgil as a vertical threat and Sutton as a multidimensional WR, you will have defensive coordinators pulling their hair out trying to figure out our looks pre-snap.

Do not get caught up the "titles", think about the roles each guy will play. You guys defending Evans are exactly right, you do not go away from a 1000 yard rusher.... But what you do is you perfect the use of him. Evans is an incredible player IN SPACE. The goal will be to create an offense that gives him the ball IN SPACE. A stacked box with him lined up in the backfield is not the best scenario. When you move him around, you force defenses to adjust to him as a dynamic playmaker. When defenses adjust to him, now you create favorable matchups for other skill guys (ie Sutton, Virgil, Peoples).

And to go back to the Panthers example, they did line up CMC in the slot with another back in the game, JStew in 2017. This year, Norv frustratingly did not utilize CJ to create different opportunities for CMC. He made our run game one dimensional outside of running reverses with WRs. He created plays to utilize CMCs unique skill set, but did not offer enough offensive looks for defenses to question. CMC luckily improved in between tackles, but would have benefitted from a workhorse back spelling him.

Peoples doesnt have Evan's speed. Evan's is a 4.3-4.4 guy. Peoples I likely a 4.5 to 4.6 guy. Big difference there on the field.

[WataugaMan]

Evans goes around the obstruction, Peoples runs through it. LOL

[Saint3333]

I love it when fans estimated players’ 40 times.

Evans will line up at RB, HB, slot this year.

Peoples will get significant reps at RB.

This offense could be our best ever.

[appstatealum]

I didn't say Peoples was as fast as Evans. I just pointed out he had breakaway speed, which has been on display already. Peoples has more dimensions. Evans will tote the rock plenty, just don't be surprised to see him listed as something other than an RB. Evans does not have to be the guy to wear down the defensive front, he can be the guy that comes in to burn the defense for a long run after Peoples has worn them down.

This is all just our opinions, and I'm no more right than anyone else. All I'm saying is based on my history (limited) coaching and discussions I have had with former/current players and coaches, I think I have some valid points. I would be happy to see Evans in the same role as last year, just more MWJr and Peoples as the "run the clock" and obvious run play backs.

[Yosef10]

Looks like Pat Washington will be the last hire to this staff. He was last down at USC.

[HighPointApp]

Nothing on his Twitter profile yet

[Gonzo]

Looks like Pat Washington will be the last hire to this staff. He was last down at USC.

https://247sports.com/college/south-car ... 128368338/

[HighPointApp]

https://247sports.com/college/south-car ... 128368338/
[/quote]

Looks like a good hire.

[ClickClackApp]

Coach Washington's coaching history

South Carolina 2015 - Tight Ends Coach
Missouri 2013 - 2015 Wide Receivers Coach
Kentucky 2012 - 2012 Wide Receivers Coach
Kentucky 2012 - 2012 Passing Game Coordinator
Southern Miss 2011 - 2011 Special Teams Coordinator
Southern Miss 2009 - 2011 Running Backs Coach
Mississippi State 2007 - 2008 Wide Receivers Coach
Kansas State 2006 - 2006 Wide Receivers Coach
Tennessee 1995 - 2005 Wide Receivers Coach
Baylor 1994 - 1994 Running Backs Coach
TCU 1993 - 1993 Quarterbacks Coach
TCU 1992 - 1992 Wide Receivers Coach
Louisiana 1989 - 1991 Wide Receivers Coach
Auburn 1987 - 1988 Graduate Assistant

[ClickClackApp]

That 10 year stretch at UT is during good years

[Gonzo]

Anyone know what he's been doing since 2015?

[hapapp]

I think he's been at So Carolina.

[ClickClackApp]

TE coach at USC.