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Hilliard...Why are they hiding him?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Eop05, Dec 27, 2009.

  1. Eop05

    Eop05 Junior Member Club Member

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    If not by default, we still wouldn't see Hilliard get significant PT.

    Every time he plays he looks real good. Looks like he secures the ball well and always keeps his feet moving.

    So my question is why have the coaches been reluctant to use him more?

    As much as I love Ricky, it really looks like the extended load is taking a toll on him. He runs uninspired at times and has had ball security issues. Age looks to be catching up to him. So why haven't they split carries with Ricky? Lex even looked to have good hands today. Better so than Ricky's hands.

    Lex got a couple carries against CAR and made the most of them provided a few crucial 1st downs.

    I really question the coaches on this one. Ricky clearly can't carry the load by himself anymore. Not many teams have exclusive backs anymore. So why did we try it with a 32 RB?
     
  2. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    they use lex as a change of pace back would be my thinking. I wouldn't put to much into his limited playing time, although i would like to see a bit more.
     
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  3. Fin Fan In Cali

    Fin Fan In Cali Dolphin fan since 1970 Luxury Box

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    I agree bro. Some of the family says he can't protect when he is in there, but I agree with you, the only way he is going to get better if he gets playing time.
     
  4. Eop05

    Eop05 Junior Member Club Member

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    Is it only evident to me that Ricky cannot carry the load by himself? That he struggles with more than 15 touches a game?

    Change of pace back with Ricky as the starter is not good enough. We need them splitting carries IMO
     
  5. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    Ditto. I really like what I have seen from Lexy in limited duty. Kid looks like he has a lot of potential. I hope they play him more next week to see what he can do.

    At this point, what do you have to lose?
     
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  6. Miami_Dolfan

    Miami_Dolfan Member

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    lex!!
     
  7. Fin Fan In Cali

    Fin Fan In Cali Dolphin fan since 1970 Luxury Box

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    I agree.
     
  8. Eop05

    Eop05 Junior Member Club Member

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    I agree with what you and FFIC say, but I'm not saying give him touches just to give him touches to see what he's got. (although he's made the most of his opportunities)

    I'm saying, give him touches because Ricky can't handle it by himself. Ricky was perfect with Ronnie getting majority of the carries, but now that you're asking his 32 year old body to handle 20+ touches he's breaking down.
     
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  9. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    i dont think you can conclude yet that he will be successful as more then a change of pace back. thats my point I wouldnt look to far into his limited playing time. Doesn't mean I can't be wrong, but I think we need to look at the full picture.
     
  10. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    No, I know bro. I hear what you're sayin'. And, I agree. I ain't knockin' Ricky. It's just that anymore you need two good RB's to complete. And, like you said...Ricky ain't gettin' any younger.
     
  11. Eop05

    Eop05 Junior Member Club Member

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    Yeah, I mean I guess I just assumed that with Cobbs out and when Ronnie went down, they'd let Lex share carries with Ricky. At least get like 30% of the snaps. But I think before today, he got like 3 plays a game MAX.

    I mean, isn't that why you came into the season with 4 RBs? 2 go down, so you say to yourself, "well this is why we carried 4 RBs." But if we were going to use Lex like this we were better off cutting him at the beginning of the year, filling a roster spot elsewhere, and signing just anybody to backup Ricky when Ronnie went down.

    This, along with Cam Wake not getting more snaps in favor of Porter, are situations where I seriously question the coaches.
     
  12. DolfanTom

    DolfanTom Livin' and Dyin' w/ Ryan!

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    I don't think anyone is knocking Ricky here. He just can't carry the load game in/game out at his age. He had one of those games in him, against Carolina, the first game after Ronnie went out. Since then, while he's been solid, he hasn't been at his best. It's obvious he needs to be the "gets 35-40% of the carries" guy with Ronnie.

    I love Ricky, but he's 32, not 22! You can tell his age has caught up with him.

    As for Lexy, maybe he starts next week? Not sure of Ricky's condition, and why risk him at this point. Let the old man rest and regain his role next season.

    Nice to have some depth at RB, though, eh! We've all forgotten about Cobbs too!
     
  13. NolePhin

    NolePhin Look out for D-Bess

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    Its funny you say this, cause a week or 2 ago I was reading comments on how he doesn't run hard enough, and other general remarks on how Hilliard isn't good enough.
     
  14. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    read through this thread
    i had an argument with one of the so called gurus in back in november
    i thought they were using hilliard wrong
    i guess i had no clue
    it would have taken some heat off ricky when ronnie went down
    my theory was snuffed out by an internet know it all who believes hilliard can only be used as a replacement on third down for cobbs

    http://forums.thephins.com/showthread.php?t=41052
     
  15. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    ridiculous
    lex should have been spelling ricky from the moment ronnie went down
    in the buffalo game ricky had 20 carries in the first half
    thats wad ball all over again
    we wore ricky out and it is a darn shame
     
  16. Merauder

    Merauder Perseverance

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    Please stop
    typing like this
    thank you
     
  17. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    nope
     
  18. Merauder

    Merauder Perseverance

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    Can you at least explain the reasoning behind typing like that? Are you going for impact?
     
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  19. Frumundah Finnatic

    Frumundah Finnatic U Mad Miami?

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    He actually has hands.
     
  20. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    exactly
    just hitting in on key points
     
  21. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It's really amazing you are proud, rather than embarrassed by that.

    You argued that Lex Hilliard wasn't a third down back, when it's been very, very clear that is what they have used him as since Ronnie Brown went down. Furthermore, your big "I told you so" about them using Lex Hilliard wrong is a game in which his meaningful production is 74...receiving yards and minimal impact as a rusher.
     
  22. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    fair enough and im never embarrassed by what i say
    point still is we should have used hilliard more to take some heat off ricky
    when rick went down hilliard proved he can be the guy on the field
    that guru said he couldnt get it done but lex can
     
  23. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I disagree that his pass protection is bad. It's been pretty good, in my opinion, and it's a big part of the reason why they have used him as a third down back.

    The guy has been pretty uninspired as a rusher, though. The blocking has been there, and he's been below 4 a pop, which isn't very good.

    I think if anything, Lex Hilliard has a place as a "Patrick Pass" style fullback. Not someone who is really going to lead block, but who gets on the field to catch passes.
     
  24. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    He didn't get it done in his traditional role- He had all of two "traditional" handoffs and a Jet Sweep play.

    He caught passes. Not to diminish what he did, because I'm excited a young player is being productive, but I think this really moves him from "camp fodder" to the potential position change to fullback they were exploring in the offseason.
     
  25. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    camp fodder :lol:
    lex made this team as a running back
    we already have a fullback his name is lou polite
     
  26. PHINANALYST

    PHINANALYST Well-Known Member

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    i think we'll see more of Lex next week, considering our situation now .....

    we know that this FO doesn't like playing rookies / inexperienced players in meaningful games / situations unless they earn that time.

    Lex has been buried, but clearly the FO thinks enough of him not to expose him on the PS and risk losing him. with RB and RW, he wasn't going to get playing time ..... and since he didn't get playing time, and the games 'mattered' .... the FO would ride the horse that got us there per se ..... now the chase is dead, so like you said - there is not reason to not play him.

    might be the same said for Clemons at S as well next SUN ....

    still gotta like our OL .... with all the changes throughout the game, they still did ok .... i don't think we'll even miss Smiley next year ..... and again, given the right circumstances (Carey as well) ....
     
  27. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    activate patrick turner and play him too
    nothing to lose
    if he is a bust we realize they blew the pick
    cut our losses
    at least see what you have
     
  28. The G Man

    The G Man Git 'r doooonnne!!!

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    :amen:
     
  29. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    pretty sure ricky was worn out before this season as he's been in the league quite alot. And why is it ridiculous? Because you came down from mount olympus to tell us so?
     
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  30. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    A runningback who can't run the ball well when his number is called? Yeah, that's camp fodder.

    And secondly, the coaching staff already experimented with moving Lex Hilliard to fullback this offseason.

    Nor is having two fullbacks in any sense weird. Many teams have two fullbacks, and considering the fact that the Dolphins have put Polite on the field more than any other fullback in the league, then having a good #2 ain't exactly crazy.

    Look at some of the elite offenses there. San Diego and New Orleans both have three players who have gotten more than 50 snaps at fullback.
     
  31. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    if ricky was worn out before the season he sure played with a lot of heart seeing as he had over 1,000 yards

    worn out before the season
    where do you come up with this stuff :lol:
     
  32. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    you know this how without him getting a real chance to prove it
    you gots your tarot cards out again
    until hilliard is given a real chance to get multiple carries and get in a rhythym in a real game no one really knows what he can do
    i laugh because you dont like the guy yet he made this football team got on the field and is now making plays
    we saw it today
     
  33. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    I think you missed the point. Point is I doubt it is just this season that wore ricky out. Rick is worn out because he is older. Or would you rather forget all time, so that somehow what you said works out. :lol::lol:
    Maybe
    I should
    type like
    this. So
    then you'll
    read it.
     
  34. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    Ricky wasn't worn out at all. He was in the best shape he has been in years even at 32. He set a record for longest span between 1,000 yards seasons at 6 years. I never said he could do it on his own but when you are faced with ronnie being down and ricky being your main guy you need to spell him and what better way than with lex hilliard. if the Dolphins play it smart they use him wisely. They chose wad ball.
     
  35. unluckyluciano

    unluckyluciano For My Hero JetsSuck

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    great he was in his best shape, doesn't change he was older.
    you are basing your opinion on a couple of runs done by lex as a change of pace back and using that to tsk tsk the coaching staff. Thats ridiculous.
     
  36. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    ricky had 20 carries in the first half in buffalo
    they said they wanted to limit his carries to 25 for the game
    we needed him in the fourth quarter to wear them down
    we chose to throw and it killed us
    we played wad ball in the first half
    made a real bad call on the first drive for the pick
    that had zero to do with rickys age bro
     
  37. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Wait, what? You're arguing that a rusher needs multiple rushes to get into a rhythm?

    Why doesn't that apply to Pat White?

    Further- Hilliard has potential, but his carries in both preseason(overall), and in the regular season have not been all that stellar.
     
  38. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    wow weak argument
    pat white is a damn qb
    lets give him 20 carries a game:lol:
     
  39. Disgustipate

    Disgustipate Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Saying it is a weak argument doesn't really do much in lieu of your complete inability to explain why it is a weak argument, or the huge discrepancy in terms of what you will spot White and Hilliard respectively in terms of acceptable carries to "get going".
     
  40. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    allow me to explain then since you didnt get it
    lex hilliard is the backup running back
    pat white is the backup quarterback
    running backs get more carries than quarterbacks
    thus hilliard would have a better chance to get "carries" and "get it going"

    pat white would have a better chance completing passes
    oh wait......... :wink2:
     

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