Gopher RB Depth

[Gophergrandpa]

I don’t get Gopher participation reports. Does anybody in GH know whether transfer RBs Manghan or Bangura are getting playing time? Saw one run by Mangham (15 yards) and haven’t noticed him since. Don’t recall seeing Bangura get any play recently. Actually, can’t recall seeing Jordan Nubin much either. Are these guys injured? In the doghouse? Or, now that we’re passing more, is it just that PH has settled on Taylor and Majors?

 

[walrus]

I don’t get Gopher participation reports. Does anybody in GH know whether transfer RBs Manghan or Bangura are getting playing time? Saw one run by Mangham (15 yards) and haven’t noticed him since. Don’t recall seeing Bangura get any play recently. Actually, can’t recall seeing Jordan Nubin much either. Are these guys injured? In the doghouse? Or, now that we’re passing more, is it just that PH has settled on Taylor and Majors?

That’s just”…life in the running backs depth chart room when the team has been lucky enough to make it all the way through to the 8th week bye week that this Gopher team has been able to advance to without having injuries to #1 and #2 on the depth chart ever since the first couple of weeks in the season. Remember, the first game with North Carolina when #1 did not play and we saw #’s 2,3, and 4 carry the load? It wasn’t until the 3rd game, I think when the team had both the first and second backs in the depth chart order alternate to carry the rock for the Gopher offense and catch a lot of passes in the “new” Gopher offense.

The team has been damn lucky to keep the talent pretty healthy on this “killer-stretch, while facing Thee likes of Iowa, Michigan, USC and UCLA, IMHO, of course.

Remember some of the years when the depth chart leaders were the destined to go down for the count week after week and it was constantly “…next man up…” ?

I sure do.

 

[highwayman]

I don’t get Gopher participation reports. Does anybody in GH know whether transfer RBs Manghan or Bangura are getting playing time? Saw one run by Mangham (15 yards) and haven’t noticed him since. Don’t recall seeing Bangura get any play recently. Actually, can’t recall seeing Jordan Nubin much either. Are these guys injured? In the doghouse? Or, now that we’re passing more, is it just that PH has settled on Taylor and Majors?

A pair plus a spare. Or two. Or three. This is not uncommon on any team.

None injured. None doghouse. Just football.

 

[Gopherchase]

8 had a great run, came up holding his shoulder and we haven’t seen a sniff since, but he hasn’t been on the injury reports?

 

[TootyPebbles]

Hard to get in when Taylor and Major are a very good 1-2 punch and when we can throw now.

8 J. Mangham - I believe came up injured in the Michigan game.
2 S. Bangura - don't recall an injury, etc.

IMO, Jordan Nubin = Alexander Mattison. Unless he has a hole a semi could drive through, has no vision. I'm OK with him not getting much run.

 

[Word]

I've seen nubin in on 3rd downs in obvious passing situations.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

it's ironic that Bangura was seen as the "big" addition in the portal. we read a lot about how he was good at catching passes out of the backfield and that made him a perfect back to go with Brosmer.

but, as we have seen, it's been all Taylor and Major.

the numbers

Taylor (rush) 89 - 432 4.9 6TD (rec) 29-223 7.7 2TD

Major (rush) 52- 223 4.3 2 TD (rec) 15-115 7.7 0TD

Nubin (rush) 10- 22 2.2 0 TD (rec) 3- 32 10.7 0TD

Mangham (rush) 8- 59 7.4 0TD (rec) 0-0

Bangura (rush) 3- 9 3.0 0TD (rec) 0- 0

 

[Dakota2]

it's ironic that Bangura was seen as the "big" addition in the portal. we read a lot about how he was good at catching passes out of the backfield and that made him a perfect back to go with Brosmer.

but, as we have seen, it's been all Taylor and Major.

the numbers

Taylor (rush) 89 - 432 4.9 6TD (rec) 29-223 7.7 2TD

Major (rush) 52- 223 4.3 2 TD (rec) 15-115 7.7 0TD

Nubin (rush) 10- 22 2.2 0 TD (rec) 3- 32 10.7 0TD

Mangham (rush) 8- 59 7.4 0TD (rec) 0-0

Bangura (rush) 3- 9 3.0 0TD (rec) 0- 0

Mangham is next up. He was averaging about nine yards a carry until he was stuffed for no gain against, I think, USC. He runs very hard.

He has not been thrown to so maybe that is what holds him back behind Major for more carries. Maybe he is not quite reliable receiving.

 

[MNVCGUY]

A pair plus a spare. Or two. Or three. This is not uncommon on any team.

None injured. None doghouse. Just football.

Yeah, Taylor and Major are the top guys and as long as both are healthy are going to eat up the majority of the carries.

The other guys just have to keep themselves ready for when their opportunity comes because chances are that one or both of the top guys will have some injury issues at some point during the season due to the nature of the position. Only so many carries to go around.

On the plus side, no one back is getting overloaded with carries so we haven't had to read tons of posts talking about running guys into the ground this year.....so at least there is that.

 

[Word]

it's ironic that Bangura was seen as the "big" addition in the portal. we read a lot about how he was good at catching passes out of the backfield and that made him a perfect back to go with Brosmer.

but, as we have seen, it's been all Taylor and Major.

the numbers

Taylor (rush) 89 - 432 4.9 6TD (rec) 29-223 7.7 2TD

Major (rush) 52- 223 4.3 2 TD (rec) 15-115 7.7 0TD

Nubin (rush) 10- 22 2.2 0 TD (rec) 3- 32 10.7 0TD

Mangham (rush) 8- 59 7.4 0TD (rec) 0-0

Bangura (rush) 3- 9 3.0 0TD (rec) 0- 0

I think Bangura was the big addition until Major and Mangham signed. No one expected 3 quality additions.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

I understand that Taylor and Majors have earned and are getting the vast majority of running play snaps. They have been effective. Their pure running yards are lower than Gopher RBs in years past, but we are using short passes to RBs in the flat and slip screens, etc. as "run substitutes." When you look at Taylor and Majors' all around yards in each game, it is more impressive. But it sure would be nice to see what a big power back like Mangham could do in the 4th Q against a tired DL. Bangura should be around again next year--maybe in the 2025 "Majors" role. Majors will be out of eligibility after this season, as will Mangham.

 

[btowngopher]

I thought they potentially might give some short yardage situations to Mangham, but I think Taylor has executed well enough on those that they didn’t find it necessary. This staff has never rolled very deep with RBs unless forced to.

 

[Gopherchase]

I think the thing is none of us have seen these kids play so sometimes the unknown is intriguing. I know I’d like to see 8 carry the ball a few more times just to see what we have. I get the coaches know, but it makes for good speculation here on the board.