(05-16-2021, 04:39 AM)TheO-LineMatters Wrote:

(05-15-2021, 09:22 PM)Dimson Wrote: His problem is we now have two guys for that role. Shenault is like the power back version of ETN.

Exactly, which is why I'm so confused about the Etienne selection. We have a guy who was a very successful RB (Etienne,) that we are now using primarily as a WR and we have a another guy who was very successful in college as a "weapon" (Shenault,) who was used at WR, RB and wildcat QB, that we are using almost exclusively at WR? Here's a novel idea...... How about we draft players who were successful in college and let them play at the positions they had shown success at? Sometimes NFL coaches try to get to "cute" with their play calls and put players into positions they are not meant to be in. They try so hard to be innovative, that they don't see what they already have. 

We have good, young receivers. Keep Etienne as a 3rd down RB where he can run and catch the ball out of the backfield. Making him primarily a receiver just doesn't make much sense to me. Shenault on the other hand needs to be in a more creative role. Move him around and keep the defense guessing. Let him run the ball a few times and catch the ball out of the backfield a couple times a game. Line him up as a wildcat QB in short yardage situations, but use him primarily as a WR. This kind of role was what he thrived in during his Sophomore year at Colorado. Last season, his role with the team was pretty "vanilla" looking. They rarely used him in a diversified role and when they did, it was in very predictable situations.

Heck, for what it's worth, I would love to see Myles Jack get some carries. They used him as a RB at UCLA in some games and he was one of the most dynamic college rushers I had ever seen.

Etienne was only used in ota's as a wide receiver because TL was not taking snaps from center or handing for to running backs. It made perfect sense to start development as a wide receive under those conditions.
UM has stated more then once that he wants him to be both a running threat and receiving threat.  He is not being developed as primarily a wide receiver, that is your interpretation and it is not in line with the coaches plan for Etienne.

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