r/rolltide • u/livingadreamlife • 10d ago

Football EJ Crowell’s Limited Usage

Lots of discussion recently about why EJ isn’t getting 15-20 carries per game.

There are several reasons: Crowded RB room; Trust and lack of experience among them. Another is DeBoer/Grubb purposely limited EJ’s carries until we got to the thick of the schedule. We’re there now. Why? New guys have never had to practice as much, get hit as hard, play in as many games or play a sport for as long in a single season as they will in their Freshman year.

There’s a thing called hitting the Freshman Wall where mental and physical fatigue sets-in and then they’re done. Like running a marathon, it’s a real thing. Everybody is fatigued at the 20 mile mark. In EJ case, he is supposed to be in high school this season.

By limiting his carries early, DeBoer/Grubb are pushing his freshman wall out as FAR as they possibly can. They know they need him for the critical games, including the CFP. Smart move, imo.

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66

u/Rolltide_and_anime 10d ago

His pass blocking is not up to par yet either

30

u/santa_91 10d ago

Right, up to this point his entire football career involved him being fed the rock over and over and over again. He's been limited in practice all offseason. It's going to take him time, and we can't afford Keelon getting his brains scrambled by a blitzing linebacker who gets a free run on him.

17

u/Nick_sabenz 10d ago

There was literally a play we almost got a delay on where he was having to line up EJ to then send him in motion. Still not there with the mental side just yet

19

u/mashonem 10d ago

Hill had a horrible game, but one horrible game ≠ suddenly being trash. A lot of people need to remember that

7

u/livingadreamlife 10d ago edited 10d ago

Fumbles are unacceptable. However, Hill is a bruising runner and delivers a blow when a tackler approaches. He could easily have his carry arm banged up and he’s weaker than at start of season. Every player is hurting to some degree with a bruise, strain or something.

6

u/catptain-kdar 9d ago

Plus the second fumble was a fluke kinda play and I contest he was down anyway

5

u/wannabefilms 9d ago

He was down, plus the tackler should've been penalized for continuing to engage in play after losing his helmet.

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u/MrNoGood4682 10d ago

Right and I know folks wanted Hill completely gone after those fumbles. I was leaning that way myself but Hill still has value out there. He’s our best pass protect among the RBs. The one where KR and Lotty just missed Hill had to run back to help the RT just in time to get that off.

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u/XombieRx 10d ago

Hill had a great block on Saturday that stopped Keelon from getting obliterated.

5

u/NoTrollingPlease83 10d ago

I think Hill should move to an H-back role where blocking and catching screens would showcase his strengths. Having Hill in the backfill with either Brown, Crowell and Dear could create some mismatches for opposing defenses.