[TrumpCard]

I think McCaffrey is going to be a terrific player for Stanford, but we need to be careful with these comparisons to all-time NFL greats.  McCaffrey is a true sophomore in college, and he's never even played a full college season as a featured back.  His first two games this year were pedestrian.  He had a very good game against U$C, but 26 for 115 is nowhere near all-time great status.  His performances against Arizona and OSU were very impressive, but he was playing against defenses that are downright awful.  No one was talking Voldemort or even first team all-conference before the performance against UCLA.  Granted, his performance against UCLA was an all-time great performance, but now we're mostly extrapolating out of one game, and even that game was against a defense that the coach called "fragile."  Let's see if McCaffrey can play at that level consistently, including against good defenses, and if he can sustain his health/energy over the course of a long season.  This week will be an interesting test. 

[TrumpCard]

I think McCaffrey is going to be a terrific player for Stanford, but we need to be careful with these comparisons to all-time NFL greats.  McCaffrey is a true sophomore in college, and he's never even played a full college season as a featured back.  His first two games this year were pedestrian.  He had a very good game against U$C, but 26 for 115 is nowhere near all-time great status.  His performances against Arizona and OSU were very impressive, but he was playing against defenses that are downright awful.  No one was talking Voldemort or even first team all-conference before the performance against UCLA.  Granted, his performance against UCLA was an all-time great performance, but now we're mostly extrapolating out of one game, and even that game was against a defense that the coach called "fragile."  Let's see if McCaffrey can play at that level consistently, including against good defenses, and if he can sustain his health/energy over the course of a long season.  This week will be an interesting test. 

[winflop]

I think McCaffrey is going to be a terrific player for Stanford, but we need to be careful with these comparisons to all-time NFL greats.

Bush was no all-time great RB, and I'm thinking of how he played when he was first being paid not when he was in the NFL.

[winflop]

I think McCaffrey is going to be a terrific player for Stanford, but we need to be careful with these comparisons to all-time NFL greats.

Bush was no all-time great RB, and I'm thinking of how he played when he was first being paid not when he was in the NFL.

[dabigv13]

Reggie Bush is the one who springs to my mind. Though Lendale White was the power back, Bush was surprisingly effective running up the middle as well. Had very good receiving skills out of the backfield, and excellent vision and change of direction.

[dabigv13]

Reggie Bush is the one who springs to my mind. Though Lendale White was the power back, Bush was surprisingly effective running up the middle as well. Had very good receiving skills out of the backfield, and excellent vision and change of direction.

[81alum]

Milburn and Dorsett are good calls.

While C-Mac may not have the same uncanny ability to make defenders miss as did Nelson and Milburn, he might be a tad stronger in breaking tackles than those two (though Nelson, in particular, was underrated on this front - especially at college level).

I'm just enjoying watching the kid play.  A lot.

P.S.  The UCLA kicker essentially caught C-Mac on the KOR of 96 yards - at minimum he slowed him down so that Bruin teammates could tackle him before the end zone, and he did so when after trailing C-Mac at the turn up the sideline.  That was a very impressive effort by the UCLA kicker (Fairburn?).

When I think of Nelson I really think of two backs--the freshman/sophomore Nelson who was very elusive but a bit light, and the post-injury junior-senior Nelson who put on a lot of muscle to become a more powerful NFL style back.  Nelson is perhaps my favorite Stanford player to watch of all time, but CMac doesn't really remind me of Nelson I or Nelson II.  Milburn is a better comparison, but  even there CMac's moves seem more subtle (though effective) and less juke-y.  Tony Dorsett does seem to me to be a good comparison, from what I remember of Dorsett. 

[81alum]

Milburn and Dorsett are good calls.

While C-Mac may not have the same uncanny ability to make defenders miss as did Nelson and Milburn, he might be a tad stronger in breaking tackles than those two (though Nelson, in particular, was underrated on this front - especially at college level).

I'm just enjoying watching the kid play.  A lot.

P.S.  The UCLA kicker essentially caught C-Mac on the KOR of 96 yards - at minimum he slowed him down so that Bruin teammates could tackle him before the end zone, and he did so when after trailing C-Mac at the turn up the sideline.  That was a very impressive effort by the UCLA kicker (Fairburn?).

When I think of Nelson I really think of two backs--the freshman/sophomore Nelson who was very elusive but a bit light, and the post-injury junior-senior Nelson who put on a lot of muscle to become a more powerful NFL style back.  Nelson is perhaps my favorite Stanford player to watch of all time, but CMac doesn't really remind me of Nelson I or Nelson II.  Milburn is a better comparison, but  even there CMac's moves seem more subtle (though effective) and less juke-y.  Tony Dorsett does seem to me to be a good comparison, from what I remember of Dorsett. 

[Rally]

I wonder if the great Stanford running backs prior to 2009 or so wonder what might have been had they played with these OLines, QBs, and skill players?  Not to mention these defenses.  Different times, but what could they have accomplished?  What if Elway had this cast?

[Rally]

I wonder if the great Stanford running backs prior to 2009 or so wonder what might have been had they played with these OLines, QBs, and skill players?  Not to mention these defenses.  Different times, but what could they have accomplished?  What if Elway had this cast?

[81alum]

I wonder if the great Stanford running backs prior to 2009 or so wonder what might have been had they played with these OLines, QBs, and skill players?  Not to mention these defenses.  Different times, but what could they have accomplished?  What if Elway had this cast?

I don't think Elway needed a better offensive line particularly or better skilled support on offense.  What Elway needed was a defense.  In 1982 we lost games in which we scored 31 and 35 points, among others.

[81alum]

I wonder if the great Stanford running backs prior to 2009 or so wonder what might have been had they played with these OLines, QBs, and skill players?  Not to mention these defenses.  Different times, but what could they have accomplished?  What if Elway had this cast?

I don't think Elway needed a better offensive line particularly or better skilled support on offense.  What Elway needed was a defense.  In 1982 we lost games in which we scored 31 and 35 points, among others.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

Funny I clicked this thread, I just finished telling CompSci that McCaffrey reminds me a lot of Frank Gore.  Emmitt Smith also comes to mind.  Though, I don't remember watching much of the latter.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

Funny I clicked this thread, I just finished telling CompSci that McCaffrey reminds me a lot of Frank Gore.  Emmitt Smith also comes to mind.  Though, I don't remember watching much of the latter.

[Rally]

[quote author=ferrari link=topic=13268.msg135967#msg135967 date=1445399030]
I wonder if the great Stanford running backs prior to 2009 or so wonder what might have been had they played with these OLines, QBs, and skill players?  Not to mention these defenses.  Different times, but what could they have accomplished?  What if Elway had this cast?

I don't think Elway needed a better offensive line particularly or better skilled support on offense.  What Elway needed was a defense.  In 1982 we lost games in which we scored 31 and 35 points, among others.
[/quote]

"Not to mention these defenses."

[Rally]

[quote author=ferrari link=topic=13268.msg135967#msg135967 date=1445399030]
I wonder if the great Stanford running backs prior to 2009 or so wonder what might have been had they played with these OLines, QBs, and skill players?  Not to mention these defenses.  Different times, but what could they have accomplished?  What if Elway had this cast?

I don't think Elway needed a better offensive line particularly or better skilled support on offense.  What Elway needed was a defense.  In 1982 we lost games in which we scored 31 and 35 points, among others.
[/quote]

"Not to mention these defenses."

[CornFed]

I think Spiny nailed it and he supplied video evidence to support his viewpoint.

[CornFed]

I think Spiny nailed it and he supplied video evidence to support his viewpoint.

[Hulk01]

I'm not comparing Mac's output or potential with any greats or near-greats, but merely asking, "Who does he remind me of?"

What stands out to me is Mac's vision and feel, and my model for both is Gale Sayers.  Sayers saw the field through a fish eye lens, and Mac seems to, too. (They say it can't be taught, but Bill Bradley regularly exercised his eye muscles to expand his field of view, and says that it worked.)

Dorsett's classic running style--very low pad level, almost hiding behind his linemen--is so unlike Mac's that I can't make that comparison. 

[Hulk01]

I'm not comparing Mac's output or potential with any greats or near-greats, but merely asking, "Who does he remind me of?"

What stands out to me is Mac's vision and feel, and my model for both is Gale Sayers.  Sayers saw the field through a fish eye lens, and Mac seems to, too. (They say it can't be taught, but Bill Bradley regularly exercised his eye muscles to expand his field of view, and says that it worked.)

Dorsett's classic running style--very low pad level, almost hiding behind his linemen--is so unlike Mac's that I can't make that comparison. 

[81alum]

[quote author=81alum link=topic=13268.msg135976#msg135976 date=1445401851]
[quote author=ferrari link=topic=13268.msg135967#msg135967 date=1445399030]
I wonder if the great Stanford running backs prior to 2009 or so wonder what might have been had they played with these OLines, QBs, and skill players?  Not to mention these defenses.  Different times, but what could they have accomplished?  What if Elway had this cast?

I don't think Elway needed a better offensive line particularly or better skilled support on offense.  What Elway needed was a defense.  In 1982 we lost games in which we scored 31 and 35 points, among others.
[/quote]

"Not to mention these defenses."
[/quote]
Ah, yes.  If Elway has had one of "these defenses" we might well have been playing in the Rose Bowl in those years.

[81alum]

[quote author=81alum link=topic=13268.msg135976#msg135976 date=1445401851]
[quote author=ferrari link=topic=13268.msg135967#msg135967 date=1445399030]
I wonder if the great Stanford running backs prior to 2009 or so wonder what might have been had they played with these OLines, QBs, and skill players?  Not to mention these defenses.  Different times, but what could they have accomplished?  What if Elway had this cast?

I don't think Elway needed a better offensive line particularly or better skilled support on offense.  What Elway needed was a defense.  In 1982 we lost games in which we scored 31 and 35 points, among others.
[/quote]

"Not to mention these defenses."
[/quote]
Ah, yes.  If Elway has had one of "these defenses" we might well have been playing in the Rose Bowl in those years.

[fullmetal]

Don't forget, this is one heck of an offensive line now.

[fullmetal]

Don't forget, this is one heck of an offensive line now.

[theashwineffect]

My vote is for LaDainian Tomlinson circa 2003-2007. It's difficult not to notice the similarities in their styles — the shiftiness, the uncanny vision to find creases, and the breakaway speed. LT was also the first player to break 1,000 yards rushing and 100 receptions in a single season and ended his career with the 7th most all-purpose yards (18,456).

Here's a short highlight video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/dzqUvuS7e9c

[theashwineffect]

My vote is for LaDainian Tomlinson circa 2003-2007. It's difficult not to notice the similarities in their styles — the shiftiness, the uncanny vision to find creases, and the breakaway speed. LT was also the first player to break 1,000 yards rushing and 100 receptions in a single season and ended his career with the 7th most all-purpose yards (18,456).

Here's a short highlight video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/dzqUvuS7e9c

[teejers1]

Trumpcard, sound words of wisdom.  If CMac has a stellar performance against the Huskies, then that might justify some of the early speculation.  But you're correct in noting that Mac hasn't done much against good defenses (indeed, Stanford hasn't played any, outside of NW, which we all just hope was an inexplicable aberration).

[teejers1]

Trumpcard, sound words of wisdom.  If CMac has a stellar performance against the Huskies, then that might justify some of the early speculation.  But you're correct in noting that Mac hasn't done much against good defenses (indeed, Stanford hasn't played any, outside of NW, which we all just hope was an inexplicable aberration).

[Mick]

Milburn and Dorsett are good calls.

While C-Mac may not have the same uncanny ability to make defenders miss as did Nelson and Milburn, he might be a tad stronger in breaking tackles than those two (though Nelson, in particular, was underrated on this front - especially at college level).

I'm just enjoying watching the kid play.  A lot.

P.S.  The UCLA kicker essentially caught C-Mac on the KOR of 96 yards - at minimum he slowed him down so that Bruin teammates could tackle him before the end zone, and he did so when after trailing C-Mac at the turn up the sideline.  That was a very impressive effort by the UCLA kicker (Fairburn?).

+1 on Milburn.

Fairburn was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year for his league in high school.  I imagine he has some excellent catch up speed, particularly since he didn't have to carry a football.  He had one tackle this year and one last year.

[Mick]

Milburn and Dorsett are good calls.

While C-Mac may not have the same uncanny ability to make defenders miss as did Nelson and Milburn, he might be a tad stronger in breaking tackles than those two (though Nelson, in particular, was underrated on this front - especially at college level).

I'm just enjoying watching the kid play.  A lot.

P.S.  The UCLA kicker essentially caught C-Mac on the KOR of 96 yards - at minimum he slowed him down so that Bruin teammates could tackle him before the end zone, and he did so when after trailing C-Mac at the turn up the sideline.  That was a very impressive effort by the UCLA kicker (Fairburn?).

+1 on Milburn.

Fairburn was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year for his league in high school.  I imagine he has some excellent catch up speed, particularly since he didn't have to carry a football.  He had one tackle this year and one last year.

[scorecard]

For this thread, it's kind of fun to look back at our early thoughts on C-Mac now from an old thread after the US Army All American high school game.

http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php?topic=9342.0

I am on record there as comparing him to Reggie Bush, but C-Mac is a little different, isn't he?  His stride is not as long, and he has this really compact choppy stutterstep-cut move that is just so fast, and he does it in traffic.  He has an economy of motion, he cuts but he is still usually moving North/South rather than very far laterally, which is why I think he is still successful in between the tackles.  You can see it in the below practice video at 34 seconds in.  His stutterstep is just a bit faster than Barry J's.

https://youtu.be/83J1p59Hbnw?t=34s

In the UW game against a pretty stout front, I loved how they used him as a receiver out of the backfield to get him into the 2nd layer.  If he has a head of steam coming out of the backfield, and he can put one cut on a linebacker who can't legally touch him, then it is game over.  The amount of separation he gets makes it an easy throw for Hogan too.  Twice we had 2nd and 19 deep in our own end, and twice he converted on routes out of the backfield, as below. 

https://twitter.com/StanfordFball/status...5714010112

https://twitter.com/StanfordFball/status...3164934144

[scorecard]

For this thread, it's kind of fun to look back at our early thoughts on C-Mac now from an old thread after the US Army All American high school game.

http://thecardboard.org/board/index.php?topic=9342.0

I am on record there as comparing him to Reggie Bush, but C-Mac is a little different, isn't he?  His stride is not as long, and he has this really compact choppy stutterstep-cut move that is just so fast, and he does it in traffic.  He has an economy of motion, he cuts but he is still usually moving North/South rather than very far laterally, which is why I think he is still successful in between the tackles.  You can see it in the below practice video at 34 seconds in.  His stutterstep is just a bit faster than Barry J's.

https://youtu.be/83J1p59Hbnw?t=34s

In the UW game against a pretty stout front, I loved how they used him as a receiver out of the backfield to get him into the 2nd layer.  If he has a head of steam coming out of the backfield, and he can put one cut on a linebacker who can't legally touch him, then it is game over.  The amount of separation he gets makes it an easy throw for Hogan too.  Twice we had 2nd and 19 deep in our own end, and twice he converted on routes out of the backfield, as below. 

https://twitter.com/StanfordFball/status...5714010112

https://twitter.com/StanfordFball/status...3164934144

[OutsiderFan]

Well, I guess scorecard and I win the CMac college potential prediction contest if there ever was one :)

[OutsiderFan]

Well, I guess scorecard and I win the CMac college potential prediction contest if there ever was one :)

[CJ90]

Wilbert Montgomery.

[CJ90]

Wilbert Montgomery.

[CompSci87]

Well, I guess scorecard and I win the CMac college potential prediction contest if there ever was one :)

Lots of very accurate assessments in that thread of McCaffrey's potential and how Stanford could use him. I'm impressed.

[CompSci87]

Well, I guess scorecard and I win the CMac college potential prediction contest if there ever was one :)

Lots of very accurate assessments in that thread of McCaffrey's potential and how Stanford could use him. I'm impressed.

[CowboyIndian]

Larry Csonka. No?

[CowboyIndian]

Larry Csonka. No?