ADVERTISEMENT

Raiola and Johnson joining NU Track?

redwine65

Assistant Head Coach
Jun 23, 2010
9,501
7,023
113
it's the off season and a time to reflect back on what to build going forward...

1. Johnson, I feel Johnson is our best back right now...but with something to work on before next year..
breakaway speed...
How many times have we been there with emmit as he twists and turns thru heavy traffic until there's green feild ahead..
but then he gets tackle from behind? how many?
I would think this is the time emmit gets with NU track and gets that 4th gear...
to get the easy yards...

2. Raiola, I feel Raiola is our best qb right now...but with something to work on before next year..
Mahomes type running...
How many times have we been there with donovan as he waits for a receiver to get open then,
he throws the ball away to the sidelines? how many?
I would think this is the time donovan gets with NU track and gets that 1st gear..
to get the easy 1st down...

Johnsons in-between the tackle running, and raiola's arm will allways be the main focus..
but maybe some time working with NU track would help them tremendously going fourth..

them 2 first then we can see about rush ends and lb's working with NU track..
 
it's the off season and a time to reflect back on what to build going forward...

1. Johnson, I feel Johnson is our best back right now...but with something to work on before next year..
breakaway speed...
How many times have we been there with emmit as he twists and turns thru heavy traffic until there's green feild ahead..
but then he gets tackle from behind? how many?
I would think this is the time emmit gets with NU track and gets that 4th gear...
to get the easy yards...

2. Raiola, I feel Raiola is our best qb right now...but with something to work on before next year..
Mahomes type running...
How many times have we been there with donovan as he waits for a receiver to get open then,
he throws the ball away to the sidelines? how many?
I would think this is the time donovan gets with NU track and gets that 1st gear..
to get the easy 1st down...

Johnsons in-between the tackle running, and raiola's arm will allways be the main focus..
but maybe some time working with NU track would help them tremendously going fourth..

them 2 first then we can see about rush ends and lb's working with NU track..
There are several things wrong with this post.
 
I think a $ 150 million plus athletic facility should have the people and parts to sufficiently help these two with their fitness/explosiveness that you speak of.
Personally,, I think DR should heed the advice of the NU nutritionists that likely have to remind him constantly the late night burger and pizza deliveries don’t do him any favors in the long run.
 
it's the off season and a time to reflect back on what to build going forward...

1. Johnson, I feel Johnson is our best back right now...but with something to work on before next year..
breakaway speed...
How many times have we been there with emmit as he twists and turns thru heavy traffic until there's green feild ahead..
but then he gets tackle from behind? how many?
I would think this is the time emmit gets with NU track and gets that 4th gear...
to get the easy yards...

2. Raiola, I feel Raiola is our best qb right now...but with something to work on before next year..
Mahomes type running...
How many times have we been there with donovan as he waits for a receiver to get open then,
he throws the ball away to the sidelines? how many?
I would think this is the time donovan gets with NU track and gets that 1st gear..
to get the easy 1st down...

Johnsons in-between the tackle running, and raiola's arm will allways be the main focus..
but maybe some time working with NU track would help them tremendously going fourth..

them 2 first then we can see about rush ends and lb's working with NU track..
giphy.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: MargotDeeper
it's the off season and a time to reflect back on what to build going forward...

1. Johnson, I feel Johnson is our best back right now...but with something to work on before next year..
breakaway speed...
How many times have we been there with emmit as he twists and turns thru heavy traffic until there's green feild ahead..
but then he gets tackle from behind? how many?
I would think this is the time emmit gets with NU track and gets that 4th gear...
to get the easy yards...
I don't remember Emmitt getting tackled from behind as much as guys having an angle on him & bringing him down. Breaking long runs is more about downfield blocking. We had a couple WRs who did very little of that. I think Emmitt is fast enough actually. Remember him turning it on after catching the ball on those sideline quick outs?
 
I don't think Raiola's "issue" with running is a lack of athleticism or ability. It's looked to me more like being indecisive/hesitant about taking off, almost like he was coached not to or something. When you're indecisive about that, you look slower and you're not as aware of what you're running into because you're still looking for open throws until the last moment.
 
I just bring this up for 2 reason

1. I guess emmit don't want us getting a back like hardy, who could show him what break away speed is...
or at least thats what been said...

2. dillion, has been compared with mahomes..who makes alot of clutch runs...

I have no problem with emmits running, 10 more good pounds on him can help in traffic...and I have no problem with raiola's arm...
both of these areas suffice..

I thought it was about improving..
 
I just bring this up for 2 reason

1. I guess emmit don't want us getting a back like hardy, who could show him what break away speed is...
or at least thats what been said...

2. dillion, has been compared with mahomes..who makes alot of clutch runs...

I have no problem with emmits running, 10 more good pounds on him can help in traffic...and I have no problem with raiola's arm...
both of these areas suffice..

I thought it was about improving..

Dillion? Not even close.
 
  • Like
Reactions: timnsun
I think a $ 150 million plus athletic facility should have the people and parts to sufficiently help these two with their fitness/explosiveness that you speak of.
Personally,, I think DR should heed the advice of the NU nutritionists that likely have to remind him constantly the late night burger and pizza deliveries don’t do him any favors in the long run.
Since the Darnay Holmes Cane's obsession, I just imagine every player over the years who us insiders call fat, as having a Caniac Combo addiction, with extra sauce. Time for DR to pick those fingers clean and try something green.
 
I bet Corey Campbell (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Kristin Coggin (Assistant AD for Performance Nutrition) will come up with a plan to help Dylan optimize his performance on the field.
I'm not saying after a year in college and getting more comfortable with the speed of the game, that DR doesn't look much better running. Maybe dropping some LBs will help too......but I think a lot of fans also need to prepare for the fact that DR just isn't fast. He's probably going to be THE slowest, or bottom 2-3 slowest guy on the field at all times. And a good scramble from DR is going to be more akin to a good scramble from Peyton Manning, than Patrick Mahomes.
 
I think a $ 150 million plus athletic facility should have the people and parts to sufficiently help these two with their fitness/explosiveness that you speak of.
Personally,, I think DR should heed the advice of the NU nutritionists that likely have to remind him constantly the late night burger and pizza deliveries don’t do him any favors in the long run.
Dylan’s body type is not a problem. A little fat cushion is not a bad thing. A few extra pounds for a QB can actually be a good thing. It’s not like he’s running pass routes all game. His conditioning has never been an issue.
 
I'm not saying after a year in college and getting more comfortable with the speed of the game, that DR doesn't look much better running. Maybe dropping some LBs will help too......but I think a lot of fans also need to prepare for the fact that DR just isn't fast. He's probably going to be THE slowest, or bottom 2-3 slowest guy on the field at all times. And a good scramble from DR is going to be more akin to a good scramble from Peyton Manning, than Patrick Mahomes.

You might be right.

However, the two staff members I mentioned and Dylan’s willingness to adhere to the program devised should get him in to perform at his optimum level physically on the field.
 
Illinois, ucla, usc, iowa...etc...a extra touchdown from emmit, a first down from raiola..

think man....

it's what wins games..
We win Illinois if DR makes 1 more throw too.....I mean you could play that game all day. Sure i want DR to look like a D1 athlete and pick up a few first downs too....but there is also the reality that the dude runs a 1 minute 40yd "dash", and his future in the sport all revolves around what he can do from the pocket, with his arm. Let's get him in shape, but let's not pretend that DR is going to win us an extra 4-5 games a year because of his legs. Nor are the coaches going to let him run more than 3-5x per game.
 
You might be right.

However, the two staff members I mentioned and Dylan’s willingness to adhere to the program devised should get him in to perform at his optimum level physically on the field.
That boys optimum level right now involves a 2litre of code red and a family fun pack from Canes....
 
We win Illinois if DR makes 1 more throw too.....I mean you could play that game all day. Sure i want DR to look like a D1 athlete and pick up a few first downs too....but there is also the reality that the dude runs a 1 minute 40yd "dash", and his future in the sport all revolves around what he can do from the pocket, with his arm. Let's get him in shape, but let's not pretend that DR is going to win us an extra 4-5 games a year because of his legs. Nor are the coaches going to let him run more than 3-5x per game.
I just meant it all adds up, if our receivers can't get separation, and instead of throwing it to the sidelines, nothing wrong with running to the side lines to move chains, in hopes the recivers do get open on the next play....

the obvious is special teams improvement, receiver need to get open, speed at lb, and replacing 0&9....but I have found the more weapons one has, the harder the opposing dc job gets...

the kinda thing that moves a 7 win team to playoff talk
 
it's the off season and a time to reflect back on what to build going forward...

1. Johnson, I feel Johnson is our best back right now...but with something to work on before next year..
breakaway speed...
How many times have we been there with emmit as he twists and turns thru heavy traffic until there's green feild ahead..
but then he gets tackle from behind? how many?
I would think this is the time emmit gets with NU track and gets that 4th gear...
to get the easy yards...

2. Raiola, I feel Raiola is our best qb right now...but with something to work on before next year..
Mahomes type running...
How many times have we been there with donovan as he waits for a receiver to get open then,
he throws the ball away to the sidelines? how many?
I would think this is the time donovan gets with NU track and gets that 1st gear..
to get the easy 1st down...

Johnsons in-between the tackle running, and raiola's arm will allways be the main focus..
but maybe some time working with NU track would help them tremendously going fourth..

them 2 first then we can see about rush ends and lb's working with NU track..
You don't just join the track team to lose weight and improve your speed. The track coaches coach track athletes. NU football has trainers to help them with speed and conditioning.
One additional thing Id like to see from Raiola is a willingness to lower his non-throwing shoulder and run through tackles. Even the pros do it.
 
I just meant it all adds up, if our receivers can't get separation, and instead of throwing it to the sidelines, nothing wrong with running to the side lines to move chains, in hopes the recivers do get open on the next play....

the obvious is special teams improvement, receiver need to get open, speed at lb, and replacing 0&9....but I have found the more weapons one has, the harder the opposing dc job gets...

the kinda thing that moves a 7 win team to playoff talk
Yes. Playmaking WRs, good special teams, fast defenders, NFL D linemen, and overall more weapons are the kinds of things that equate to more wins.......I just feel like that's a bigger scope that DR joining the track team to get faster, which would be a bigger issue if we wanted him to be Tommie Frazier, vs Mac Jones
 
Yes. Playmaking WRs, good special teams, fast defenders, NFL D linemen, and overall more weapons are the kinds of things that equate to more wins.......I just feel like that's a bigger scope that DR joining the track team to get faster, which would be a bigger issue if we wanted him to be Tommie Frazier, vs Mac Jones
I look at it as ....the reverse dr. tom.....back when we would run all the time , every so often dr. tom would hit the tight end.....now when we pass all the time, raiola moving chains with a run, or emmit breaking away...helps keep a defense honest...infact them type things might help recivers get separation....it all works together
 
I think a $ 150 million plus athletic facility should have the people and parts to sufficiently help these two with their fitness/explosiveness that you speak of.
Personally,, I think DR should heed the advice of the NU nutritionists that likely have to remind him constantly the late night burger and pizza deliveries don’t do him any favors in the long run.
Don't think it has anything to do with nutrition. Usain Bolt ate chicken nuggets for every meal.
 
You don't just join the track team to lose weight and improve your speed. The track coaches coach track athletes. NU football has trainers to help them with speed and conditioning.
One additional thing Id like to see from Raiola is a willingness to lower his non-throwing shoulder and run through tackles. Even the pros do it.
I’ve been saying all year. More like Big Ben and less like Mahommie. Somebody needs to make him watch videos of Big Ben breaking tackles and scrambling.
 
We win Illinois if DR makes 1 more throw too.....I mean you could play that game all day. Sure i want DR to look like a D1 athlete and pick up a few first downs too....but there is also the reality that the dude runs a 1 minute 40yd "dash", and his future in the sport all revolves around what he can do from the pocket, with his arm. Let's get him in shape, but let's not pretend that DR is going to win us an extra 4-5 games a year because of his legs. Nor are the coaches going to let him run more than 3-5x per game.
The IL missed throw to Luke Lindenmeyer has been beat to death. For one, it was a bad call to begin with. In that point of the game, with the score it was, and it being 3rd and short, you just try to pick up the first down. Then move the ball closer to a more manageable FG and hope to end the game on a kick. Want to compare DR to Mahommes, that is Patrick/Andy football.

But DR is closer to PM than Matt will ever be to Andy. No way in hell Andy Reid try’s to throw a deep route to a walk-on TE on 3rd and short with the chance to run the game clock down and for a walk-off kick. No way. But that’s why Andy has only 3 losing seasons where Matt has a whole lot more with less time coaching

Also Luke didn’t run a clean route. He stumbled. Granted Dylan did throw a bad pass but Luke’s poor route made it look way worse.

We just have to be smarter coaching. I know the play was there but it was a low percentage play when it was called. It was too risky to leave Hohl with a 40 FG. I highly think that Dana would have just tried to move the chains there. Is it boring? Maybe but winning teams can make things boring. Losing teams bring the drama
 
  • Like
Reactions: huntered
I look at it as ....the reverse dr. tom.....back when we would run all the time , every so often dr. tom would hit the tight end.....now when we pass all the time, raiola moving chains with a run, or emmit breaking away...helps keep a defense honest...infact them type things might help recivers get separation....it all works together
I'm not arguing with anything you're saying. I just think it'd be easier to recruit a back woth breakaway speed then to take a 5th year player and suddenly change his stripes....just like i think it'd be easier to find some creative play concepts seeking first downs and positive early down plays, vs trying to take 5.0 40yrd dash and turn him into a 4.9 40yrd dash for the 3x a game he's gonna run.

Yes if emmit breaks more long runs great. And if DR shaves a tenth of a second off his 40, great.....but those are just such minimal things compared to maximizing what these players can already do well...."OK Dylans got great short route accuracy. Who are some guys we can focus on to maximize our short yardage passing production?" Or "Johnson had great wiggle and balance, how can we efficiently keep the boxes light for him to do his thing, while not dropping back 60x and taking a bunch of sacks and incompletions that kill too many drives?"
 
it's the off season and a time to reflect back on what to build going forward...

1. Johnson, I feel Johnson is our best back right now...but with something to work on before next year..
breakaway speed...
How many times have we been there with emmit as he twists and turns thru heavy traffic until there's green feild ahead..
but then he gets tackle from behind? how many?
I would think this is the time emmit gets with NU track and gets that 4th gear...
to get the easy yards...

2. Raiola, I feel Raiola is our best qb right now...but with something to work on before next year..
Mahomes type running...
How many times have we been there with donovan as he waits for a receiver to get open then,
he throws the ball away to the sidelines? how many?
I would think this is the time donovan gets with NU track and gets that 1st gear..
to get the easy 1st down...

Johnsons in-between the tackle running, and raiola's arm will allways be the main focus..
but maybe some time working with NU track would help them tremendously going fourth..

them 2 first then we can see about rush ends and lb's working with NU track..
Emmitt has enough speed. The downfield blocking or lack there of from TEs to WRs is awful. That’s why we don’t break long runs
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mrs.Jeans15
I look at it as ....the reverse dr. tom.....back when we would run all the time , every so often dr. tom would hit the tight end.....now when we pass all the time, raiola moving chains with a run, or emmit breaking away...helps keep a defense honest...infact them type things might help recivers get separation....it all works together
Complimentary football. You here it all the time
 
The IL missed throw to Luke Lindenmeyer has been beat to death. For one, it was a bad call to begin with. In that point of the game, with the score it was, and it being 3rd and short, you just try to pick up the first down. Then move the ball closer to a more manageable FG and hope to end the game on a kick. Want to compare DR to Mahommes, that is Patrick/Andy football.

But DR is closer to PM than Matt will ever be to Andy. No way in hell Andy Reid try’s to throw a deep route to a walk-on TE on 3rd and short with the chance to run the game clock down and for a walk-off kick. No way. But that’s why Andy has only 3 losing seasons where Matt has a whole lot more with less time coaching

Also Luke didn’t run a clean route. He stumbled. Granted Dylan did throw a bad pass but Luke’s poor route made it look way worse.

We just have to be smarter coaching. I know the play was there but it was a low percentage play when it was called. It was too risky to leave Hohl with a 40 FG. I highly think that Dana would have just tried to move the chains there. Is it boring? Maybe but winning teams can make things boring. Losing teams bring the drama
I don't think you could've missed the point of my response by a bigger margin.....I chose the most obvious example of 1 play that could've changed a game....because the OP said if so and so got faster and made 1 more play with his legs it could change a L to a W.

My point was you can pick any game and find 1 pass or run that IF it would've been successful, it could've shifted the outcome....and there is a way better chance of DR making 1 more throw per game than 1 more run.

I don't care about the call, or the coaching and I'm not really interested in comparing DR to Mahomes. I already said he's closer to Mac Jones and Mahomes in body type and athleticism....
 
Having an offseason to work with Dana, Dylan “should” make a massive jump from Year 1 to Year 2.
If OL can do its job, I see good things ahead.
<sip of koolaid>.

Butler owns this defense now. Let’s see what he can do with the pieces he has.

Special teams should be automatic upgrade if Rhule gets anyone competent to run the show.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT