Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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RUNNING BACKS 54 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW QUOTABLE: HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY ON ADDING SOPHOMORES JAFAR ARMSTRONG AND AVERY DAVIS FROM OTHER POSITION GROUPS: "It gives us the ability to go with some split backs, which gives us a lot of options. Jafar … we saw a physicality in his ability to run. He's strong, he's got some pretty good instincts in catching the football. "Avery is kind of a multi-dimensional guy. … Those two give us more versatility than just having the two backs and the freshmen at that position. Both of them are going to be productive." Starter ★★½ When the spring ended, junior Tony Jones Jr. manned the No. 1 spot. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native was a spring and fall camp standout a year ago, but an early season ankle injury hampered his development. Jones av- eraged only 3.3 yards per carry during the season's first six games, but the healthier he became the better he played. During the final seven games, he averaged 6.0 yards per attempt. Jones lacks the big-play ability Josh Adams brought, but he is an efficient runner and has been praised by the Irish staff for his all-around game. Jones catches the ball well and is a quality pass blocker. Notre Dame needs him to run with more authority now that he is in a more full-time role. Experience ★★ Injuries kept both Jones and senior Dexter Williams from getting the ac- tion or having the impact that was expected of the duo, which meant Ad- ams had to take on a heavier role. Wil- liams missed three games early in the season, and Jones missed the Michi- gan State contest and was hobbled during the first half of the season. The duo played a combined 334 snaps and carried the ball only 83 times (about six attempts per game). Sophomore Jafar Armstrong red- shirted last season (as a wide re- ceiver), and behind him is a pair of freshmen — Jahmir Smith and C'Borius Flemister. Proven production and experience are issues that must be overcome this fall. Depth ★★½ From a numbers standpoint, Notre Dame enters the 2018 season with more scholarship backs than it had in 2015, 2014 and 2011, and has as many as it did in 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012 and 2010. Only once (2013) has Notre Dame en- tered a season with more running backs on scholarship than it will this season. Quality numbers is part of having a healthy depth chart, and the Irish do not lack for athleticism or potential. Experience and durability are also vital elements, and right now Notre Dame is lacking in maturity and proven last- ing power. Rumblings about Williams possibly missing time due to a suspension also raise concerns about the depth chart heading into the fall. Overall Grade ★★½ There are many aspects about the running back position to like. Notre Dame has quality numbers, there is a good blend of skills, and if everyone stays healthy and plays to his potential the production should be quite good by committee. All of that is in theory. It is about projecting what could be based on talent, upside, high school produc- tion and what players have shown in practice. Williams has shown glimpses of being a home-run threat, but thus far in his career he has been limited and has had problems staying healthy. For now, Notre Dame doesn't have a proven back it can count on, which raises questions about what it will get out of the position this fall. BY THE NUMBERS 0 Fumbles lost by Notre Dame's running back position last season — and only one during the 2016 campaign. With Josh Adams now in the NFL, it will be up to a less seasoned backfield corps under position coach Autry Denson to maintain that superb level of ball security. 39 Carries by senior Dexter Williams in both 2017 and 2016, totaling 360 yards (a remarkable 9.2 yards per carry) last year and 200 in 2016. The lack of carries has been two- fold: Durability and assignment consciousness. Williams' career- high carries in a game is eight, which he has done four times. 134 Receiving yards last year by Notre Dame's running backs on 24 catches (5.6 yards per reception). The screen game was ineffective with little timing, and a year ear- lier Adams caught 21 passes on his own for 9.2 yards per catch. The backs might be needed more this year in the passing game. PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern Sophomore Jafar Armstrong, who began his Notre Dame career as a wide receiver, joined classmate Avery Davis, a quarterback, as players from other positions who helped at running back this spring. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA