Alex Collins is a good running back.

I think he is better than Smith was

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He doesn't have the game breaking ability of the running backs....Michael Smith

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Ok, now.. what games has Alex Collins put the team on his back and won?





Do you remember 2008?

Michael Smith won the Auburn game. He had 35 carries for 176 yards and 2 catches for 41 yards. He broke away on the long TD that let us win.

The next game, a game we lost 21-20 on a fumble by D'Anthony Curtis in the 4th quarter, Michael Smith had 35 carries for 192 yards, 1 TD and 3 catches for 33 yards.

Hell, the ULM game we won on the 4th down play, Michael Smith had 22 carries for 157 yards and 2 TDs.


Michael Smith wasn't running behind even a decent offensive line and he was a game changer.








Now, what games has Alex Collins won for us?


In his first 2 seasons he had 100 yard rushing games in exactly 2 SEC games. Both of them were against Texas A&M. This year he's had several more, but mostly as a byproduct of everybody else being hurt and our outstanding passing game.


Whether by design or whether by ability, Collins is zero factor in a passing game. He's got 26 receptions in his entire college career.

Not only do I disagree with this thread, I'll go so far as to add that we're fricked at tailback if he declares for the NFL next year. Collins has an innate ability to tack on yards after contact and move the pile, and I've never seen seen a tailback keep his feet moving after contact to pick up additional yards after contact like he does. He's a bigger, more reliable version of Dennis Johnson, and YAC is crucial in this offense because it turns 2nd and 7 into 2nd and 4, or 3rd and 3 into 3rd and 1. Plus, I can't count how many carries, especially earlier this season, where he's been hit behind the line and was inexplicably able to get the ball back to the LOS.

Kody Walker is a great kid, but we're not going to win many games in 2016 if he's our #2 option and we're breaking in a new QB, and that's assuming Rawleigh both returns and regains his old form. Walker doesn't run nearly as big as he is, and too often tries to act like a scatback with jumpcuts behind the line.

We need to stop judging tailbacks against McFadden, because breakaway speed doesn't make or break a back, especially in this offense. Plus, let's stop acting like Collins can't take one to the house. He's broken several runs in his career, not to mention a long one against a very athletic LSU defense just last week.

What the frick is the point of this thread?

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Ok, now.. what games has Alex Collins put the team on his back and won?

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Tennessee. Now go frick yourself.

RWIII had 14 carries for 100 yards in the Tennessee game too.

Comparison by season of running backs in their Junior Year in SEC play.




Alex Collins:

2015: 142 Carries, 738 yards (5.2ypc), 6 Tds. 8 catches, 85 yards. 7 games (Missouri game to go)


Jonathan Williams:

2014: 129 Carries, 575 yards (4.45 ypc), 4 Tds. 8 Catches, 42 yds, 1 TD



Dennis Johnson:

2011: 89 Carries, 563 yards (6.33 ypc), 3 TD. 18 catches, 184 yds, 2 TD.


Michael Smith:

2008: 149 Carries, 806 yards (5.41 ypc), 5 TD. 23 catches, 218 yds, 2 TD. (7 games, missed one due to injury)










Now, running backs that I would actually consider great:


Darren McFadden

2007: 217 Carries, 1,253 yds (5.77 ypc), 7 TD. 16 catches, 112 yds, 1 TD.

Felix Jones

2007: 74 Carries, 626 yds (8.46 ypc), 5 TD. 6 catches, 19 yds

Ok... who is saying he's one of the all time great talents? I haven't seen any.

I also had never seen the flip side, where a fan would purposely go out of their way to criticize him for not being an all time great talent, even though all he does is stay healthy, run with unbelievable vision, continue to pick up yards, and put it all on the field every game...

Until this thread...

This is some LSU level high maintenence, unsatisfied armchair QB shite