[Rocketfan]

WAIT, did I miss this somewhere along the line:

Jennings, the Jaguars’ seventh-round running back who set mini-camp on its ear, was a high school football star at Lynchburg Christian Academy. All LCA graduates are guaranteed free tuition to Liberty, which seemed to make Jennings a natural to play football at Liberty, except for one problem.

“He told me I’d never be good enough to play running back,” Jennings said of the head coach at Liberty when Jennings was coming out of high school.

Did KK really snub Rashad? UNREAL! What was he thinking? What, did he try to make him a LB? That would have been cool too though.

I hope every carry in the NFL ( if thats true ) Rashad plays with that quote in his head. Ed Dantes can attest, KK said just as many strange things as Hanky did at times.....yes i know shocking....

[Rooster Cogburn]

The reporter needs to track down KK and ask him about that incident and hpw it makes him feel now.

[LUconn]

Well, you have to admit, for all of his shortcomings (like losing) the guy knew his running backs. Maybe he told Rashad that so he wouldn't be stuck on a loser program. Like in Harry and the Hendersons when John Lithgow slapped Harry in the face to make him go away, which essentially saved Harry's life. It was for his own good.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Well, you have to admit, for all of his shortcomings (like losing) the guy knew his running backs. Maybe he told Rashad that so he wouldn't be stuck on a loser program. Like in Harry and the Hendersons when John Lithgow slapped Harry in the face to make him go away, which essentially saved Harry's life. It was for his own good.

Wow a Harry and the Henderson's reference. LuConn you are sick, haha.

I know you are being sarcastic but look, what did the 1 year at Pitt. buy him? Not much. So he didn't really help him, he just delayed the inevitable.

As far as KK knowing RBs, why didn't Samkon Start?

[LUconn]

Barnes and Goodman were better. They just didn't have NFL bodies.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Barnes and Goodman were better. They just didn't have NFL bodies.

Not better just different runners. Should have been used in a big / small rotation.

Back on topic: Saying Rashad isn't a RB is like saying Shaq isn't a Center. Perfect bodies and skills for their positions. The only thing I can see KK looking at is how soft RJ was at the time. Not any more.

[jcmanson]

I don’t know about this. I mean Pitt recruited him to be a RB. Did KK think he could play at Pitt but not LU?

[SuperJon]

Did KK think he could play at Pitt but not LU?

Look at the systems and look at Rashad coming out of LCA. Rashad would not have been successful in Karcher's system. A Dre Barnes or Eugene Goodman were great for that system.

Single back quick read offense vs Power-I power running offense

[jcmanson]

Did KK think he could play at Pitt but not LU?

Look at the systems and look at Rashad coming out of LCA. Rashad would not have been successful in Karcher's system. A Dre Barnes or Eugene Goodman were great for that system.

Single back quick read offense vs Power-I power running offense

I can believe that. That's what I'm saying is we don't know exactly what Karcher said. If he said something like "you wouldn't fit in very well at RB here." That's one thing, but if he said that "you'll never be good at RB" that's something else.

[RagingTireFire]

If I recall correctly, when RJ went to transfer back home, wasn't his first choice actually UVa? I think the biggest reason that he ended up at LU was that Pitt and Virginia were playing each other in 2006 and Wannstedt wouldn't release him from his scholarship to go to an upcoming opponent.

[jcmanson]

If I recall correctly, when RJ went to transfer back home, wasn't his first choice actually UVa? I think the biggest reason that he ended up at LU was that Pitt and Virginia were playing each other in 2006 and Wannstedt wouldn't release him from his scholarship to go to an upcoming opponent.

And RJ didn't want to play at LU until DR got the job and convinced him.

[olldflame]

Release or no release, Rashad would have had to sit out a year if he had gone to UVA or any other FBS program, and being in Charlottesville, while a lot closer than Pittsburgh, would still not have made it that easy for him to have the time with his dad he wanted.

[RagingTireFire]

Oh, I think we can all agree that it worked out the best for everyone.

[matshark]

Did KK think he could play at Pitt but not LU?

Look at the systems and look at Rashad coming out of LCA. Rashad would not have been successful in Karcher's system. A Dre Barnes or Eugene Goodman were great for that system.

Single back quick read offense vs Power-I power running offense

I can believe that. That's what I'm saying is we don't know exactly what Karcher said. If he said something like "you wouldn't fit in very well at RB here." That's one thing, but if he said that "you'll never be good at RB" that's something else.

Yes, and we all know how GREAT a coach KK is...

[SuperJon]

Karcher knew football. He knew talent. He just had trouble communicating what he knew with that talent to get it to get it on the field. He knew football good enough to develop a scheme or whatever (that's why he was good as a coordinator) but was just not head coach material.

[olldflame]

I don't want to turn this thread into open season on Ken Karcher, but one of the biggest differences I saw right away with Rocco in charge was that we were getting the offensive plays in and were lined up for the snap in plenty of time for pretty much every play. It seemed with Karcher it was always an adventure with the play clock, going down to the last couple of seconds at best, and way too often having to call time outs or even get penalized for delays. Lack of decisiveness and ineffecient communication.

[flames1971]

I don't want to turn this thread into open season on Ken Karcher, but one of the biggest differences I saw right away with Rocco in charge was that we were getting the offensive plays in and were lined up for the snap in plenty of time for pretty much every play. It seemed with Karcher it was always an adventure with the play clock, going down to the last couple of seconds at best, and way too often having to call time outs or even get penalized for delays. Lack of decisiveness and ineffecient communication.

THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE OFFENSIVE, but once Rocco came to LU my family actually ENJOYED watching Flames Football!

[Rocketfan]

Karcher knew football. He knew talent. He just had trouble communicating what he knew with that talent to get it to get it on the field. He knew football good enough to develop a scheme or whatever (that's why he was good as a coordinator) but was just not head coach material.

You weren't here....so just stop. Your first 2 statements are not 100% truths and tons of examples can be provided.

[SuperJon]

I wasn't here but I spent the past two and a half years around people that were so I've got a pretty good idea what I was talking about.

If he didn't know talent, tell me why Eugene Goodman, Dre Barnes, Manny Rojas, Nick Hursky, Ryan Greiser Pat Calvary, Mike Godsil, Colin Dugan, etc were here. He had no clue what to do with that talent or how to relate to that talent, but he got them here. A lot of that had to do with his assistants (as does every staff) but ultimately the head coach gets credit/blame for recruits. He got some talent here. He just couldn't do anything with it.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I love Rashad! I'm trying to get the thread I took off topic back on!

[flames1971]

I wasn't here but I spent the past two and a half years around people that were so I've got a pretty good idea what I was talking about.

If he didn't know talent, tell me why Eugene Goodman, Dre Barnes, Manny Rojas, Nick Hursky, Ryan Greiser Pat Calvary, Mike Godsil, Colin Dugan, etc were here. He had no clue what to do with that talent or how to relate to that talent, but he got them here. A lot of that had to do with his assistants (as does every staff) but ultimately the head coach gets credit/blame for recruits. He got some talent here. He just couldn't do anything with it.

For once I believe you know what you are talking about

[SuperJon]

Oh great, now nobody's going to take what I said seriously.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Question: Rashad Jennings was projected to go in the third or fourth round in most mock drafts. Some had him going as high as the second round. He was finally picked by Jacksonville in the seventh round. Why did the Eagles and so many other teams pass on him?

Rich
Philadelphia

Answer: I was surprised by that as well. I had Jennings going in the third round. I still can’t figure out why a 6-1, 230-pound running back with 4.6 speed fell so far. I talked to some personnel people who felt Jennings was hurt by playing at a small school (Liberty). They said it was hard to evaluate him when he played against inferior competition.

It is still puzzling to me because Jennings started at Pitt and was the Panthers’ second leading rusher in 2005 before transferring to Liberty to be nearer to his ailing father. I saw film on Jennings and he impressed me. The Jaguars may have found themselves a gem in the seventh round.

http://csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?D ... feedID=717

[Rooster Cogburn]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1728 ... d-jennings

Jennings will surely be an amazing value pick in that scenario. His size, running power, deceptive speed, great hands, and willingness as a blocker will almost certainly earn him a lot more playing time than most observers are expecting from him.

He is definitely a player worth monitoring, and should be targeted by anyone looking for a fantasy steal in 2009.

[jinxy]

Rashad would have been better than any of those backs in any system at this level. He is a better player with more talent period.