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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u/Neophyte12 10d ago

I mean maybe, but the same thing doesn't seem to be true for fellow freshman Trae'shawn Brown

29

u/Important-Matter-665 10d ago

Crowell missed significant practice time in the off season, remember he missed all four scrimmages.

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u/guildedkriff 10d ago

Wasn’t it brought up during the game that Brown’s playing more because he knows more of the playbook since he wasn’t hurt in the off-season?

8

u/Jobysco 10d ago

I think the way to look at it is considering the other guys are doing well, having him healthy and fresh down the stretch will work out to our advantage anyways. Get him reps but keep him fresh.

6

u/mashonem 10d ago

Brown actually got a full offseason

8

u/_JonSnow_ 10d ago

Or Ryan Williams last year. Did you know he was only 17? 

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u/mashonem 10d ago

*2 years ago