Hilliard...Why are they hiding him?

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.

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.

"unluckyluciano wrote:

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.

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

"Fin Fan In Cali wrote:

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.

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?

lex!!

"The G Man wrote:

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?

I agree.

"The G Man wrote:

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?

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.

"Eop05 wrote:

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

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.

"Eop05 wrote:

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.

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.

"The G Man wrote:

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.

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.

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!

"Eop05 wrote:

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?

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.

"Eop05 wrote:

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?

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

"unluckyluciano wrote:

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.

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

Please stop
typing like this
thank you

"Merauder wrote:

Please stop
typing like this
thank you

nope

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

He actually has hands.

"Merauder wrote:

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

exactly
just hitting in on key points

"Killerphins wrote:

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

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.

"Disgustipate wrote:

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.

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

"Fin Fan In Cali wrote:

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.

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.

"Killerphins wrote:

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

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.

"Disgustipate wrote:

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.

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