(08-04-2025, 09:08 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: still a rookie, Brown came in with alot of experience and still struggled some rookie year.. i like to start out with Brown and Perrine, feed Brooks slowly

Huh? No he didn't, he was a bit hobbled IIRC and when finally DID get some playing time (Jags game), he ran with it (literally) and didn't struggle at all.

(08-04-2025, 09:04 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Yes sir

I'm excited to see what our, IMHO, improved backfield can do this season? That is if ZT and Co. will run the ball enough. I feel Moss's departure was addition by subtraction.

Yes, we will see if we run the ball more this season with this improved backfield. Chase Brown shown a lot last year and shown he 
can be a weapon for us in both the running and passing game. We all know Samaje is a dual threat, but he is getting up there in age
so adding Tahj Brooks in the 6th round was a good move. Very deep Draft for RB's is the only reason he fell this far.

Tahj is a good inside zone RB, fits like a glove if we can get some movement with the OL.

(08-04-2025, 09:08 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: still a rookie, Brown came in with alot of experience and still struggled some rookie year.. i like to start out with Brown and Perrine, feed Brooks slowly

I don't think Chase Brown struggled as a rookie he just had to grow a lot.

Chase Brown was not a good pass protector or good at catching the ball out of the backfield his rookie year, but he really worked his 
ass off last year and made his weaknesses strengths. Tahj is more pro ready than Chase Brown was as a rookie IMO.

(08-05-2025, 11:33 AM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: Huh? No he didn't, he was a bit hobbled IIRC and when finally DID get some playing time (Jags game), he ran with it (literally) and didn't struggle at all.

That was the only game all that year he had over 4.0ypc.

In the final 5 games after that Jags game, he had 3.4ypc.
On the opponent's side of the field on the year he had 2.8ypc.
In the Red Zone he had 4 carries for -13 yards.
In the 4th quarter he had 11 carries for 13 yards and 0 first downs.
With the lead or in a tie game he had 25 carries for 80 yards (3.2ypc) and just 2 first downs.

I think trying to frame Chase Brown's rookie season as "didn't struggle at all" once the Jags game happened (which was all the way until Week 13) is false, Truck. 

It doesn't take away from the fact that he seemed to have grown and gotten better in 2024... but he absolutely struggled as a rookie.

- - - - - -

As for Essex's other point of feeding Brooks slowly, I am a firm believer on if a RB is the guy he's the guy from Day 1 and so just throw him in the deep end. He either swims or doesn't. RB careers are too short to bother piddling around with dipping a toe in.
(Not a commentary on if I believe Brooks is the guy or not, just saying if you do believe he is, then just give him the workload immediately.)

(08-04-2025, 09:08 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: still a rookie, Brown came in with alot of experience and still struggled some rookie year.. i like to start out with Brown and Perrine, feed Brooks slowly

Tahj Brooks had about 200 more rushing attempts than Chase Brown coming out of college. Also Brooks is much better in protection and as a receiver than Brown was coming out of college. Chase Brown had alot of upside as a receiver which showed up last year but he didn't get alot of opportunities at Illinois in the passing game as a blocker or receiver.

(08-05-2025, 04:34 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: That was the only game all that year he had over 4.0ypc.

In the final 5 games after that Jags game, he had 3.4ypc.
On the opponent's side of the field on the year he had 2.8ypc.
In the Red Zone he had 4 carries for -13 yards.
In the 4th quarter he had 11 carries for 13 yards and 0 first downs.
With the lead or in a tie game he had 25 carries for 80 yards (3.2ypc) and just 2 first downs.

I think trying to frame Chase Brown's rookie season as "didn't struggle at all" once the Jags game happened (which was all the way until Week 13) is false, Truck. 

It doesn't take away from the fact that he seemed to have grown and gotten better in 2024... but he absolutely struggled as a rookie.

The clear jump Brown took was in the receiving game. Until 2024 Chase Brown didn't have an expanded route tree.

(08-05-2025, 04:34 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: That was the only game all that year he had over 4.0ypc.

In the final 5 games after that Jags game, he had 3.4ypc.
On the opponent's side of the field on the year he had 2.8ypc.
In the Red Zone he had 4 carries for -13 yards.
In the 4th quarter he had 11 carries for 13 yards and 0 first downs.
With the lead or in a tie game he had 25 carries for 80 yards (3.2ypc) and just 2 first downs.

I think trying to frame Chase Brown's rookie season as "didn't struggle at all" once the Jags game happened (which was all the way until Week 13) is false, Truck. 

It doesn't take away from the fact that he seemed to have grown and gotten better in 2024... but he absolutely struggled as a rookie.

- - - - - -

As for Essex's other point of feeding Brooks slowly, I am a firm believer on if a RB is the guy he's the guy from Day 1 and so just throw him in the deep end. He either swims or doesn't. RB careers are too short to bother piddling around with dipping a toe in.
(Not a commentary on if I believe Brooks is the guy or not, just saying if you do believe he is, then just give him the workload immediately.)

I wasn't talking about just the running, he made a huge impact in the receiving game too  (albeit on screens).

(08-05-2025, 07:45 PM)Truck_1_0_1_ Wrote: I wasn't talking about just the running, he made a huge impact in the receiving game too  (albeit on screens).

Sure but if a running back struggled at, y'know running.... you can't say he "didn't struggle at all".

So with Tajh Brooks looking good so far, is it safe to say that nobody is going to miss Zack Moss this year?