Note that this is not my favorite living legend (that would be Louis Nix III), this is favorite player. And for me, that's Theo.
Not this Theo:
This one:
Not this Riddick:
This one:
Why? Here's my rationale:
*He was the one guy in the backfield last year that felt explosive to me. He didn't always make the right reads or finish a play the right way, but his natural burst is awesome. To me, that's a playmaker ready to be unleashed, and I felt like he really had the potential to break one each time he stepped onto the field. I am looking forward to his breaking a few early on in the season.
*His attitude with the position change was great. From the article above: you always have to be open (to change), always have to stay open. I'm just trying to do whatever I can do to help the team. If switching numbers and switching positions is what it is, then that's what I'll do." I was actually bummed about the change at first, but I think he could end up being explosive in the slot this year, big time.
*Brian Kelly is loving him. From the article linked above: "I have high, high expectations for him," Kelly said. "He's an elite player. He's just learning a position, but I think we'll be talking a lot about Theo Riddick as we move through the season."
*He's a slot receiver in a pass-happy offense that can also take the ball in the backfield in end-arounds, sweeps, whatever. He'll keep the D guessing, and now he'll have some separation (hopefully, if he learns the routes and how to run them) when he gets the ball, which should only help him make those big plays happen.
*Remember the last stud RB that became an absurd WR at ND? Yep.
Fired up to see him debut at slot vs Purdue. Gonne be Riddickulous.
Who's yours?
By tricerapops August 16, 2010 - 12:59 pm
I said it awhile ago, Riddick will be our next Golden Tate. Golden Tate 2.0.
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By domer_mq August 16, 2010 - 2:06 pm
I just hope that by season’s end, we call Golden Tate, “Theo Riddick, beta.”
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By E-Man August 17, 2010 - 7:20 am
Is it stretching it too far to say I’m hoping for hearing in the future “Reggie Bush was almost like Theo Riddick, but with a massive infraction cloud around him”
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By Trey August 16, 2010 - 12:59 pm
Always the TE for me. Kyle Rudolph
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By Steve in Iowa August 16, 2010 - 1:10 pm
Riddick is the guy I’m for on offense. Filer is the guy I want to explode on the scene on D.
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By tjak August 16, 2010 - 1:17 pm
The QB at ND is huge, I cannot wait to see what Dayne Crist can do. If he stays healthy, he could have a monster year. Also he is by all accounts an amazing leader and that will pay huge dividends this year.
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By E-Man August 16, 2010 - 1:22 pm
Harrison Smith. I want him to have a Shane Walton “where the hell did this guy come from” year.
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By Sam biggs August 23, 2010 - 8:14 am
Me too!! I feel he’s never gotten enough credit for the great plays he’s done. He’s got serous talent .
)
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By theIrishLion10 August 16, 2010 - 1:55 pm
Cierre Wood. He’s going to get his share of looks in reliefe of AA, and the defenses will be gassed when he comes on with fresh legs. Saw his break away speed in person at the Blue-Gold game, and it is exciting to think about a running back who can find open field and then OUT RUN the secondary rather than getting tripped up or caught from behind
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By TLNDMA August 16, 2010 - 2:12 pm
Mantisauras Teo-Rex
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By rocket89 August 16, 2010 - 2:16 pm
Watched Theo in practice and I was like “who is this guy, he looks great!”
I thought he switched his number to 84, and then I found out he’s wearing number 6.
I still don’t think he’ll catch a lot of balls, but he will be straight cash homies on reverses and handoffs to go with punt and kick returns.
My man is Cierre Wood though. I think he’ll bring a whole new dimension to the Irish offense that hasn’t been seen in over a decade.
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By domer_mq August 16, 2010 - 2:16 pm
Every time I think of the TV show that the other Theo was in, I get creeped out.
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By SDI August 16, 2010 - 4:06 pm
I’m hoping that AA and Cierre become a one two punch that just runs opposing Ds ragged. I think the fact that neither AA or TR had any long TD runs last year says more about the blocking of the line and receivers than it does about the break away ability of the backs. I’m expecting that to change this year. If so, this team could be deadly. How exactly do you game plan for Floyd, Rudolph, Riddick, and Allen/Wood if they all turn out to be homerun threats? You can only take away so many weapons and I think opposing D Coordinators will be picking their poison.
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By southbendblarney.com » Blog Archive » ND 2010: Fact Or Fiction? August 16, 2010 - 6:29 pm
[...] Other than Dayne Crist, Theo Riddick is the most important Irish offensive [...]
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By Mark August 16, 2010 - 7:14 pm
Guy I’d like to be pulling off the field? Harrison Smith.
Guy I’m pulling for? Darrin Walls. I want this man to go out on top and I still think he has skillz left.
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By OderName August 17, 2010 - 6:59 am
Wow, not sure where to start. From a personal standpoint, Harrison Smith. I agree exactly with E-Man.
From a standpoint of who will take ND the farthest, though, it has to be Dayne Crist. As Dayne goes this year, so go the Irish.
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By JM August 17, 2010 - 1:06 pm
The guy I’m most fired up to watch is Floyd, solely based on Kelly’s comments:
“I thought Michael Floyd was overhyped,” he said. “I thought he was, at times, average. … He ran down the field and they threw it up. He wasn’t a precision route-runner. He wasn’t asked to be. He was a matchup guy, bodied people, got the ball. Sometimes he caught it, sometimes he didn’t.”
That opinion has clearly changed now that Floyd has had an opportunity to prove himself in person.
“In 20 years, I have not had a player who has worked as hard as Michael Floyd has worked, and I mean that,” Kelly stated. “He has outworked everybody on the offensive side of the ball, to the point where he has singlehandedly set the bar for where everyone else needs to bring their play.
“When we’ve gone, in the last couple of days, situational live, if you will, he’s been dominant. He’s been dominant — and believe me, I’m not easily impressed.”
–Obviously he was phenomenal last year, but to think he could be substantially better this year???? He really could be unstoppable.
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By Pat August 17, 2010 - 1:11 pm
Some high praise there — very exciting. We just have to hope he can stay healthy.
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By theIrishLion10 August 17, 2010 - 1:59 pm
not too sure how i feel about all the praise BK is starting to throw around… if its warranted, ill be happy, but its far from his normal routine of not being “overly impressed” very often
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By E-Man August 17, 2010 - 4:05 pm
Just as long as he doesn’t start talking about his “unprecedented” “top priority” too.
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By treeplay domer August 17, 2010 - 7:10 pm
I gotta take the 5 up front. I’d love to see an ND O-line that’s really tough (dare I say, nasty?) and plays as one unit. You can have all the skillz guys in the world, but if your beef ain’t blockin, you’re going nowhere.
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By Mike81 August 18, 2010 - 2:39 pm
What struck me about Riddick’s HS film when he was first announced was how quick he hit the line. It was such a contrast to our RBs with their slow-developing runs.
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