Toren Young

[CP84]

I could see him breaking out as an upperclassman in much of the same way we saw Leshun Daniels and Shonn Greene. He has that same size and low center of gravity.

The staff appeared to recognize his potential when rewatching film this offseason. I see him getting 10-15 carries per game.

 

[HawkNole09]

The staff appeared to recognize his potential when rewatching film this offseason. I see him getting 10-15 carries per game.

Was this the same film session that they realized that IKM is electric when healthy?

 

[scotthawk1964]

I could see him breaking out as an upperclassman in much of the same way we saw Leshun Daniels and Shonn Greene. He has that same size and low center of gravity.

The staff appeared to recognize his potential when rewatching film this offseason. I see him getting 10-15 carries per game.

I could see him maybe being a Leshun Daniels, but I think Shonn Greene had better speed.

 

[Stranded Hawk]

I could see him maybe being a Leshun Daniels, but I think Shonn Greene had better speed.

Agreed, hope I’m wrong but Greene was special.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I could see him maybe being a Leshun Daniels, but I think Shonn Greene had better speed.

Greene had to lose some of that weight he had gained during his time at Kirkwood though ... he had gotten a little portly! The point being ... it took him some time to regain his conditioning and speed.

 

[HawkInArk]

Hope he has a breakout season - needs to, or his senior year touches will go to the young bucks that pass him on the depth chart i.e. Tyler Goodson. 2020 = Sargent and Goodson.

 

[Blair Sanderson]

I could see him maybe being a Leshun Daniels, but I think Shonn Greene had better speed.

LeShun Daniels had a faster forty time than Shonn Greene FWIW. Toren Young isn't as fast as either of them, but can still be pretty good.

 

[mtdew_fever]

It will really depend on how Young does in picking up the blocks. A lot of RB's can carry the ball, but they seem to get playing time once they aren't a liability out there when the ball isnt going to them.

I could see him breaking out as an upperclassman in much of the same way we saw Leshun Daniels and Shonn Greene. He has that same size and low center of gravity.

The staff appeared to recognize his potential when rewatching film this offseason. I see him getting 10-15 carries per game.

 

[scotthawk1964]

LeShun Daniels had a faster forty time than Shonn Greene FWIW. Toren Young isn't as fast as either of them, but can still be pretty good.

I guess it just looked like Shonn was faster. lol Toren to me seemed like he was the best last season at hitting the holes.

 

[TKingpin]

Toren ran up into the backs of his OLine more than a few times, possibly just trying to get thru a hole that was supposed to be there, but wasn’t.

If he is a little more patient and uses his vision, I think he will have more carries for positive yards.

Having said that, if they can keep that hole open for him for a split second longer, he has the size and speed to wear out the defense.

 

[ghostOfHomer777]

I guess it just looked like Shonn was faster. lol Toren to me seemed like he was the best last season at hitting the holes.

Greene's ability to get yardage after contact was almost otherworldly. Daniels may have had better measurables ... but his ability to get YAC paled in comparison.

 

[EpenesaEpenesa]

Toren ran up into the backs of his OLine more than a few times, possibly just trying to get thru a hole that was supposed to be there, but wasn’t.

If he is a little more patient and uses his vision, I think he will have more carries for positive yards.

Having said that, if they can keep that hole open for him for a split second longer, he has the size and speed to wear out the defense.

He does do that, but I kinda like the reckless abandon attacking the line of scrimmage.

 

[GO for the GOLD]

Greene's ability to get yardage after contact was almost otherworldly. Daniels may have had better measurables ... but his ability to get YAC paled in comparison.

Daniels was the master of either running up the backs of his linemen or getting stopped cold by the first defender to have a decent angle. Even Weisman was better, but it was hard to tell since they kept sending a guy who was basically a FB to the outside rather than getting his shoulders turned.

 

[David1979]

I think Young is fine as a straight ahead runner but I he is limited. Great leader and runs hard but I don't see him being a featured back. Probably 5-10 carries per game depending on opponent.

 

[Wadzinator]

Toren reminds me of Mark Weiseman he not going to run away from anybody but he is a bruiser

 

[TKingpin]

I like bruisers as long as they can plant their foot in the ground and change their direction to hit whatever hole is open (even if it isn’t the intended hole) or hit the cutback lane.

Vision by RB is under appreciated. Absolutely crucial and few are better than Wisky’s runner.

Jury is still on whether Toren can do this, out as far as I am concerned. Big year coming up for him if he can...

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

I think Toren will be crucial towards out running success this year and the staff have indicated that perhaps he was a bit underutilized last season as well. I think our top 3 guys will all make significant contributions to the rushing game and having that extra year of experience surely doesn't hurt.

 

[rchawk]

Vision by RB is under appreciated. Absolutely crucial and few are better than Wisky’s runner.

Agree TKingpin. Most of the games I watch are Big Ten, but I don't think I've seen anybody (playing in 2019) who does it better than Jonathan Taylor.

 

[Herkmeister]

Was this the same film session that they realized that IKM is electric when healthy?

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

I think Toren will be crucial towards out running success this year and the staff have indicated that perhaps he was a bit underutilized last season as well. I think our top 3 guys will all make significant contributions to the rushing game and having that extra year of experience surely doesn't hurt.

Glad they figured out he was underutilized........one more carry in the
Penn State game and the Hawkeyes may have been in Top 10.

BTW: I think all three RBs will be improved, somewhat this year.
The biggest question mark, to me, is, can IKM stay healthy for more than
1 game in a row.

GO HAWKS !!!

 

[BBHawk]

Toren ran up into the backs of his OLine more than a few times, possibly just trying to get thru a hole that was supposed to be there, but wasn’t.

If he is a little more patient and uses his vision, I think he will have more carries for positive yards.

Having said that, if they can keep that hole open for him for a split second longer, he has the size and speed to wear out the defense.

Toren averaged 4.7 ypc last year. He gained far more than he lost.

 

[kceasthawk]

Toren averaged 4.7 ypc last year. He gained far more than he lost.

This. I'm not sure any of them ever got the chance to get established. Some backs need to get warmed up and get a feel for the game before they really get in the flow. I'm not sure playing 3 or 4 guys every game is the best plan for any of them to be overly successful.....

 

[FreddyUI]

I think it is time for Brian to tell Kirk that zone blocking is the issue.
ISU and the B1G have it figure out.

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

I think it is time for Brian to tell Kirk that zone blocking is the issue.
ISU and the B1G have it figure out.

While I don’t think we’ll ever abandon the zone blocking scheme completely, there’s benefits to be had in getting less predictable and breaking your tendencies. Besides our OL group is probably pretty talented and there’s nothing wrong with hat on hat power running which our guys should be able to handle comfortably.

 

[BBHawk]

I think it is time for Brian to tell Kirk that zone blocking is the issue.
ISU and the B1G have it figure out.

I believe that this has been hashed out quite a bit and it was decided that Iowa is already varying the run game quite a bit.

 

[michael.nelson311]

Ahhhh....don't think so tim

 

[Harbinger273]

I'm not fully sold on Toren, though I think he can do some positive things for us. LeShun was definitely faster than Greene, but in no way a strong, determined and consistent runner like Greene. I'm still in on Sargent wh I think offers a better all around running and receiving package.

 

[24 so far]

None of them are game changers. We could use more game changers at the running back position.

Solid guys I guess, but give me an Akrum Wadley or better any day of the week.

 

[Hawkeyeinsoutherncalifornia]

Toren reminds me of Mark Weiseman he not going to run away from anybody but he is a bruiser

Not a chance ... not that I don’t respect your opinion but the Hebrew Hammer? Come on!

;-)

 

[AMAYS]

Toren averaged 4.7 ypc last year. He gained far more than he lost.

Take out the games against the two Northerns (Ill. & Ia), and he was 4.13 ypc, for under 500 yards, which is hardly a stellar year. I also think Toren can do better this year, behind hopefully a better run-blocking line, but shades of Shonn Greene he is not.

 

[BBHawk]

Take out the games against the two Northerns (Ill. & Ia), and he was 4.13 ypc, for under 500 yards, which is hardly a stellar year. I also think Toren can do better this year, behind hopefully a better run-blocking line, but shades of Shonn Greene he is not.

Are you saying that 4.13 ypc without his 2 highest games is bad?

 

[mrF6n6]

Are you saying that 4.13 ypc without his 2 highest games is bad?

its important to understand the narrative being pushed here...
the coaches are dumb and the players stink.
if you look at 3 random games.

Maryland 9 carries 21 yards
Penn State 7 carries 18 yards
Mississippi State 3 carries 7 yards

in these 3 games, Toren Young had 19 carries for 46 yards which is an average of 2.4 yards per carry

now... after properly cherry picking stats, surely you can see Toren Young is not good and the coaches are dumb.

-------

of course you might counter that with another 3 games at random.
Northern Illinois 8 carries 84 yards
Northern Iowa 14 carries 82 yards
Wisconsin 6 carries 34 yards

in these 3 games, Toren Young had 28 carries for 200 yards which is an average of 7.1 yards per carry

but... its not cool to be positive... so forget those stats, they don't count.

 

[AMAYS]

Are you saying that 4.13 ypc without his 2 highest games is bad?

I'm saying it's nothing special. A special young player would be someone like Gopher RB Mo Ibrahim. When you take out his non-conference patsy, he still had over a 1,000 yards at over 5.4 ypc.

 

[BBHawk]

I'm saying it's nothing special. A special young player would be someone like Gopher RB Mo Ibrahim. When you take his non-conference patsy, he still had over a 1,000 yards at over 5.4 ypc.

Very good. So root for the Gophers then.

 

[H4wkfan4life]

its important to understand the narrative being pushed here...
the coaches are dumb and the players stink.
if you look at 3 random games.

Maryland 9 carries 21 yards
Penn State 7 carries 18 yards
Mississippi State 3 carries 7 yards

in these 3 games, Toren Young had 19 carries for 46 yards which is an average of 2.4 yards per carry

now... after properly cherry picking stats, surely you can see Toren Young is not good and the coaches are dumb.

-------

of course you might counter that with another 3 games at random.
Northern Illinois 8 carries 84 yards
Northern Iowa 14 carries 82 yards
Wisconsin 6 carries 34 yards

in these 3 games, Toren Young had 28 carries for 200 yards which is an average of 7.1 yards per carry

but... its not cool to be positive... so forget those stats, they don't count.

If less than 6ypc vs uni is one of your top 3 games, then you did not have a good year.
All parts of the run game have to improve quite a bit this year, no way around it.....

 

[TKingpin]

Toren averaged 4.7 ypc last year. He gained far more than he lost.

I am rooting for Toren, as I think if he can shoulder the big load early in games, then bring in speedier options once he tires the defense out, we can be championship contenders.

My point wasn’t so much about his good carries, as much as ... I will call it the “opportunity cost” of how much more of a contributor he could have been, if he stays a little more patient on those runs where the designated hole simply wasn’t there, but a cutback lane was there...

I think he and IKM can and should be utilized more as a receiving option out of the backfield, too. Toren had an awesome TD catch vs Indiana (or was it Maryland) where he caught a pass in the flat, the tackler bounced off of him at about he 10, and went rumblin’, bumblin’, stumblin’ into the end zone for 6! He can’t make those little guys on the edge miss, like Akrum could, but they can’t bring him down very easily, either. IKM had a terrific play, 3rd down conversion IIRC, vs MN from out of the backfield to get us Close to a score. He may have scored, but I think it was a first down inside the 10. More of those, Brian, if you please.

 

[BBHawk]

Toren is the kind of runner that can pound a defense for 2.5 quarters then start running the D over. If he tires, throw in Mekhi and leave the D grasping for air.

 

[perryhawk]

So, I have two primary thoughts on this, one has been discussed from different angles and two, not discussed (unless I missed it.)

1) Vision and utilizing the blockers etc is a skill that Toren needs to improve on. The area where Meki improved in significantly during the year. Though Meki and Toren are different in size they have some of the same attributes and weaknesses. Better run blocking, better play calling, and a more diverse passing game will help them overcome their weaknesses. More playing time will help as well (as mentioned above).

2) Toren might not have good straight line speed but what I haven’t seen mentioned is his quickness...I think that for a guy his size he has really good quickness. Both in terms of acceleration and change of direction...better vision and an understanding of leaving some space between he and his blockers could make him into a very productive back.

 

[herkyhawk00]

I could see him maybe being a Leshun Daniels, but I think Shonn Greene had better speed.

Greene was always faster than the guy chasing him. So good his last year.

 

[steventrelain]

Daniels was the master of either running up the backs of his linemen or getting stopped cold by the first defender to have a decent angle. Even Weisman was better, but it was hard to tell since they kept sending a guy who was basically a FB to the outside rather than getting his shoulders turned.

He did have the longest run from scrimmage last season and his YPC avg tied for first with Sargent. I think his size makes him an every-down back. But, the other backs each have something positive to add to the equation so I see him and Sargent getting most of the carries with IKM getting KF's "specialist" label.

I think every cyber-Hawk has tagged the RB position as a weakness this season. Not me. At the minimum we will have 3 good (not great) RBs. And with the other weapons our offense will be a strength rather than a weakness like it has been too many times since 1999.