[Goose]

This year should provide a good insight in disaggregating the results between the OL and the running backs.  With all of the OL back from last year, and Matt’s analysis that it should be a good but not great line (roughly third or fourth in the PAC-12 based on returning talent, if I remember his post) and promising, but inexperienced running backs, if Gould can’t get something from Smith and Filkins this year, we probably have a problem in the RB position coach.

I’m not expecting dominance, but it is reasonable to expect an above-average ypc from our running game.

BC

Totally agree. Of course, our OL could be great and mess up the de-correlation. I expect we would accept that result. One somewhat confusing thing about E.J. Smith is that originally he was classified as a "tweener", perhaps a Deebo Samuel type. It now appears he will be used as a running back. He certainly has shown bursts where he was a special runner, but nothing consistent yet. I wonder what his feelings about the switch are? Maybe he sees it as a change of emphasis and not a change of plan. Receivers have longer careers, usually. Also, being a running back and being his father's son carries expectations. Naturally, we all hope it works out well for everybody!

[Goose]

This year should provide a good insight in disaggregating the results between the OL and the running backs.  With all of the OL back from last year, and Matt’s analysis that it should be a good but not great line (roughly third or fourth in the PAC-12 based on returning talent, if I remember his post) and promising, but inexperienced running backs, if Gould can’t get something from Smith and Filkins this year, we probably have a problem in the RB position coach.

I’m not expecting dominance, but it is reasonable to expect an above-average ypc from our running game.

BC

Totally agree. Of course, our OL could be great and mess up the de-correlation. I expect we would accept that result. One somewhat confusing thing about E.J. Smith is that originally he was classified as a "tweener", perhaps a Deebo Samuel type. It now appears he will be used as a running back. He certainly has shown bursts where he was a special runner, but nothing consistent yet. I wonder what his feelings about the switch are? Maybe he sees it as a change of emphasis and not a change of plan. Receivers have longer careers, usually. Also, being a running back and being his father's son carries expectations. Naturally, we all hope it works out well for everybody!