Insane? Crazy? Crazy? Insane?
And I kinda like it.
Sophomore Alex Debniak, who is battling junior Will Powers for a starting position at the "sam" linebacker position, also turned in an impressive performance [in the Spring Game] . . . at running back.
Debniak, who is one of a handful of players who coach Jim Harbaugh is considering using on both sides of the ball, rushed four times for 91 yards, with a long of 59 yards that set up a White touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
And...
Two of the touchdown passes went to Richard Sherman, who also shined on defense for the White team, finishing with eight tackles.
I don't know playing some guys both ways is insane stupid or insane genius. I sort of lean toward the former, simply because I don't believe a guy can play at 100% speed if he's spent half his time practicing whatever position he's in. He just can't know it as well as he should. And he can't play at 100% speed if he's tuckered out, and that's what will happen by the mid 3rd quarter for these guys. But maybe, just maybe, it makes sense to get your best athletes on the field. No matter that they just finished playing the prior series...
Maybe Jimmy H has a plan to use guys only in certain situations? But unless he's all of a sudden got guys with crazy brains (possible at Stanford) and crazy stamina and athletic ability (less likely at Stanford), one of the two aspects is going to suffer. I don't know if it will work, but I like that he's trying different things to get Stanford back in the mix. I like that Stanford does the academics thing for real, and I like that Harbaugh calls out Michigan (sucks) for not really caring about that part, so I am sort of a fan at this point. I don't know, the guy is growing on me. (But I hope we absolutely crush/destroy/end them come November, of course.)
Think it'll work? Guys playing both ways? Is Harbaugh just nuts?
By BJGator April 14, 2009 - 1:02 pm
It’s impossible to like Jim Harbaugh and be a Notre Dame fan. Once a skunkbear, always a skunkbear. But as someone who played both ways in high school in a pretty complex system, I can tell you that its not the mental aspect that’s difficult to deal with. If Harbaugh plans to use these guys both ways, I am confident that they will always be mentally prepared. But the physical aspect is another story. When you’ve been grinding on both sides of the football for three quarters, your legs will start to go. It takes extraordinary conditioning to play effectively for four quarters on both sides of the ball. This could work for someone playing receiver and nickel back, two positions that aren’t “every-down” positions. But offensive-defensive line or running back-linebacker would be much more difficult on the body. I don’t see this happening. He might try it out, but by the end of the season, I doubt you’ll see anyone playing both ways for the Cardinal.
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By san diego irish April 14, 2009 - 1:23 pm
I see the logic in it. If you can only find 10 or 15 guys that are smart enough to gain admittance to Stanford who are also good athletes, then better to play them both ways than play a bunch of smart geeks with no ability. While I agree that the potential for fatigue and injury is increased, I also think the mental aspect will be tough on these kids, especially on the offensive side of the ball. This isn’t Michigan or USC where no one goes to class or studies. These kids don’t have all day to watch film and study the playbook and they’ll be forced to run a watered down offense. Just ask Charlie how successful that has been the past two years.
And as far as liking Harbaugh Biscuit, don’t. His calling out of Michigan was impressive, but that was not the norm. The guy is not admirable, and his temper tantrum at the refs for making the right call last year on the phantom punt fumble and his refusal to shake JC’s hand are just the beginning. The more you learn about the guy, and we’ve heard more in San Diego than most, the less impressed you will be. Talented player and coach for sure, but not a great guy.
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By notordame1 April 14, 2009 - 1:41 pm
BJGator – Our Very own assistant coach C. Brown was a skunkbear… Some things can be said for those who grow up and become smart enough to Cheer/coach for the Irish!
Got to play the best players, But this isn’t high school. This is 60 minutes of big time football! They will all be injured or dead tired by the time we play them in november!
Go Irish
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By BJGator April 14, 2009 - 2:07 pm
My skunkbear argument having failed, I will defer to sd irish for better reasons to dislike Harbaugh. He just seems like a bit of a jack arse to me.
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By domer.mq April 14, 2009 - 2:56 pm
This entire post and 4 comments later, and still nobody makes reference to the fact that Harbaugh is a drunk?
Crazy? Insane? Drunk, I say.
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By BJGator April 14, 2009 - 4:24 pm
I didn’t know drunk was a character flaw. I thought it was an excuse for other problems…
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By san diego irish April 14, 2009 - 6:13 pm
the rumor has always been that he is a drunken whore and i while I have no idea if either are true, the failed first marriage, the DUI, and leaving his wallet in a bar don’t exactly help his case in that regard.
But beyond that, I think he spouts off about things without knowing what the hell he’s talking about. In addition to the punt “fumble” tantrum, which he never really apologized for even when it was clear he was wrong, he said he had “inside” information that the Poodle was leaving USC, which of course turned out to be dead wrong. And while his comments about UM’s academics were probably spot on, it wasn’t exactly a classy thing to do to his alma mater. I think there will be plenty more to come from Harbaugh. I think he’ll be a consistent source of entertainment for everyone but Stanford fans in the coming years.
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By DeepTeaKup April 14, 2009 - 11:42 pm
domer,
7 posts in and no one is going to call out bj for violating HLS policy of referencing their own HS FB glory days when posting?
Here is a Corwin Brown video from his playing days at UM that even ND fans can admire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4J4s2Z0xMY
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By www.southbendblarney.com April 16, 2009 - 7:24 am
Harbaugh the man may or may not be a good guy, and he definitely says things he shouldn’t (He and Kiffin related?). But, a coach that is willing to do things outside the norm (Leach, Peterson, Meyer, etc.) has a chance to be successful. Play your best players, but the 2-way guys will probably have to do it in spots (Charles Woodson).
Will it work? Who knows. But,I don’t really agree with the position knowledge aspect of it, freshman and sophomore studs (that play) don’t have all of the know-how they need…
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