(05-06-2021, 11:04 AM)RicoTx Wrote:

(05-06-2021, 10:04 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote: People don't have a problem with Etienne, it's how high he was drafted. We had an every down RB in Robinson who was/is good. We needed a 3rd down, complimentary RB. Guys like Michael Carter, Kenneth Gainwell and Chuba Hubbard could have been effective in this role and would've been chosen much later in the draft, thus allowing us to fill a real need with an elite player. Etienne is a very good RB. He was my #2 rated runner, but for the role he was gonna fill in this offense, I don't see much difference what he brings to the table and what one of the other guys I mentioned would've brought. On the other hand, we could've gotten a better player at another position that could've made a much bigger impact. This choice is in no way an indictment of Etienne, I am pretty sure everyone likes him as a player. It just that the position could've been addressed much later and just as effectively with someone else.

I'm curious how you know what role he is going to fill on this offense since the season is still 4 months away.

I guess I'm assuming based on common sense. We already have a valuable commodity in James Robinson as a primary runner. He looked in his rookie season, like what the front office assumed Leonard Fournette would be when they drafted him. Robinson is a straight line runner with power and he showed pretty decent hands as well. What he lacks, is speed and the ability to break a long run, whether it be on the ground or through the air. That is where Etienne comes in. He fits the role of being that change of pace RB who can score long TD's in the running or passing game, but as far as a runner, he needs to hit the edges to break free. He's not an "up the gut" type runner. Robinson found success last season because that is where the power blocking is in our run scheme. We have a solid interior and he took advantage of it. Our OT'S are poor run blockers, so you run between the Tackles. 

If the team brought Etienne in to be the primary runner, not only are they disregarding the success that Robinson showed last season, but they are trying to make Etienne the primary RB, knowing he needs to hit the edge when our OT's are subpar in the run game. That's not a smart move. Etienne needs strong OT play to succeed and he's not getting that here. I believe he will have the type of role that I mentioned as a 3rd down RB and maybe they will make him a primary RB in a season or two, but they have to upgrade both OT spots for him to be very successful. His style of running is not conducive to the personnel we now have in order for him to be a successful primary RB.

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