I agree. No disrespect to Small but I like Sampson better too... and the idea of someone with Seldon's raw athleticism at the position if he can learn the playbook and pass pro is pretty exciting.
I don't remember him, but my ignore list has grown quite a bit this past year.Had to click “See ignored content” to see whom you’re responding. Took half a sec to remember why he was on my list. Remember BigOrangeVols fondly?
Tiyon was the better back last year, but Small is Mr. Reliable. He doesn't blow assignments. He doesn't fumble. He brings it every single day at practice and never complains and is coachable. I stated earlier this season that he isn't great at any one thing, but he's good at everything. He's a team first guy that has garnered the trust of his coaches. All this is affirmation of his work ethic and work habits. He's the least physically gifted of all of our running backs, yet he's the unquestioned leader of the room.
Small can't create a big play like Wright can. Won't matter until you play the good defenses and front 4s/7s. But I think Clemson was the ultimate proof of that where Small had 13 carries for 38 yards (2.8 ypc) and Wright had 11 for 89 (8.1 ypc). Even if you take out his one big run of 42 yards, then you have 10 carries for 47 yards (4.7 ypc)
It seems to me that the staff likes the direct up the middle runs to go extremely fast….. the overwhelming majority that small runs…. When we go off that then we give it to Wright…. Defenses start pinching down in the middle and that is one of the reasons why Wrights long run worked so well. I don’t care who they start… just win!!!
