Balco
Footballguy
Jahvid Best, RB California
5'10 195 pounds, Junior (# 4)
University of California Bio
2008 Stats: 194 carries, 1580 yards (8.1 avg) 15 tds, 27 receptions 246 yards(9.1 avg) 1 td
RUNNING THE FOOTBALL
Game Stats: 10 carries 137 yards (13.7 avg)
Carry 1: 5 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Counter trap, right guard pulled left . . . did not dance, hit the hole and went straight ahead . . . did not see huge cutback lane to right . . .
Carry 2: 73 yard gain, TOUCHDOWN
Formation: Single back
Inside handoff . . . very quick sharp cuts, fluid, was not touched through line, but made some nice reads while breaking free . . . towards the end of the run was going to be tackled by the DB, but slowed up to let his blocker get in front of him . . .
Carry 3: 2 yard gain, TOUCHDOWN
Formation: I formation, two tight ends
Inside handoff . . . Jumped before the line of scrimmage (about 4 yards) into the endzone . . . showed tremendous leaping ability
Carry 4: 2 yard loss
Missed this carry, ESPN skipped to the 2nd quarter.
Carry 5: 4 yard gain
Formation: I Formation
Handoff to the right between guard and tackle . . . Nice cut inside but could not get going again . . . tackled easily . . .
Carry 6: 6 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Inside handoff . . . did a nice job cutting off his fullbacks block . . . once again showed nice vision inside, and made several subtle cuts to gain extra yardage, no wasted motion. . . easily brought down when defender got to him.
Carry 7: No Gain
Formation: I formation
Stretch right . . . defense stood up fullback . . . tried to jump and got drilled.
Carry 8: 40 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Give to the right in which best cut all of the way across the field . . . Made several cuts, although not very sharp, was sized up by the safety behind the line on the cutback, but his qb made a tremendous block . . .
Carry 9: 3 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Inside trap . . . another great job of making subtle, quick cuts while gaining positive yardage . . . put his shoulder down, but easily tackled
Carry 10: 6 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Handoff to the right . . . did a nice job of following his fullback
CATCHING THE FOOTBALL
Game Stats: 2 receptions, 23 yards
Catch 1: 5 yard gain
Missed this one, ESPN skipped over the drive
Catch 2: 18 yard gain
Inside screen . . . caught the ball, and made one cut off his blocker, then he turned on the jets . . . very fast and fluid in the open field . . . a little awkward catching the ball, made a two handed basket catch which caused a delay before he turned upfield.
Final Game Analysis
Rushing Ability
With such a high rushing average, one would think Cal used Best on a lot of outside sweeps. THat was not the case this game. Every play, save for a stretch run just off the tackle started inside. Best displayed great vision, and was very slippery inside. He makes what I call subtle short cuts that are lightning fast but allows him to evade the grasp of defenders inside. He does not run with a lot of power in the hole, and was tackled on first contact. Not good at making hard change of direction behind the line. Once he turns his shoulders, he can fly. The only back I have seen this year that looks faster is CJ Spiller.
Receiving Ability
Best lined up several times outside and ran nice routes. On the second play of game, Best split wide and toasted the Maryland free safety, Terrell Skinner. If the CAL qb could throw it to Best in stride it would be a sure touchdown, as he had 3-4 steps on the safety. Did a great job of adjusting to the ball in the air while still running. Should have made the over the shoulder catch, it bounced off his chest. Once he sees daylight, he just uses his world class speed to pick up chunks of yardage.
Blocking
Not a good pass blocker, Does not look to make a hit and does not look inside first, shoulder blocked on several plays. Completely whiffed on a block in the red zone in the 2nd quarter that got his qb sacked (noticed that another running back came in form him the rest of the drive - all passes). Best was not an aggressive blocker, looked completely disinterested and avoided contact at all costs.
5'10 195 pounds, Junior (# 4)
University of California Bio
2008 Stats: 194 carries, 1580 yards (8.1 avg) 15 tds, 27 receptions 246 yards(9.1 avg) 1 td
RUNNING THE FOOTBALL
Game Stats: 10 carries 137 yards (13.7 avg)
Carry 1: 5 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Counter trap, right guard pulled left . . . did not dance, hit the hole and went straight ahead . . . did not see huge cutback lane to right . . .
Carry 2: 73 yard gain, TOUCHDOWN
Formation: Single back
Inside handoff . . . very quick sharp cuts, fluid, was not touched through line, but made some nice reads while breaking free . . . towards the end of the run was going to be tackled by the DB, but slowed up to let his blocker get in front of him . . .
Carry 3: 2 yard gain, TOUCHDOWN
Formation: I formation, two tight ends
Inside handoff . . . Jumped before the line of scrimmage (about 4 yards) into the endzone . . . showed tremendous leaping ability
Carry 4: 2 yard loss
Missed this carry, ESPN skipped to the 2nd quarter.
Carry 5: 4 yard gain
Formation: I Formation
Handoff to the right between guard and tackle . . . Nice cut inside but could not get going again . . . tackled easily . . .
Carry 6: 6 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Inside handoff . . . did a nice job cutting off his fullbacks block . . . once again showed nice vision inside, and made several subtle cuts to gain extra yardage, no wasted motion. . . easily brought down when defender got to him.
Carry 7: No Gain
Formation: I formation
Stretch right . . . defense stood up fullback . . . tried to jump and got drilled.
Carry 8: 40 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Give to the right in which best cut all of the way across the field . . . Made several cuts, although not very sharp, was sized up by the safety behind the line on the cutback, but his qb made a tremendous block . . .
Carry 9: 3 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Inside trap . . . another great job of making subtle, quick cuts while gaining positive yardage . . . put his shoulder down, but easily tackled
Carry 10: 6 yard gain
Formation: I formation
Handoff to the right . . . did a nice job of following his fullback
CATCHING THE FOOTBALL
Game Stats: 2 receptions, 23 yards
Catch 1: 5 yard gain
Missed this one, ESPN skipped over the drive
Catch 2: 18 yard gain
Inside screen . . . caught the ball, and made one cut off his blocker, then he turned on the jets . . . very fast and fluid in the open field . . . a little awkward catching the ball, made a two handed basket catch which caused a delay before he turned upfield.
Final Game Analysis
Rushing Ability
With such a high rushing average, one would think Cal used Best on a lot of outside sweeps. THat was not the case this game. Every play, save for a stretch run just off the tackle started inside. Best displayed great vision, and was very slippery inside. He makes what I call subtle short cuts that are lightning fast but allows him to evade the grasp of defenders inside. He does not run with a lot of power in the hole, and was tackled on first contact. Not good at making hard change of direction behind the line. Once he turns his shoulders, he can fly. The only back I have seen this year that looks faster is CJ Spiller.
Receiving Ability
Best lined up several times outside and ran nice routes. On the second play of game, Best split wide and toasted the Maryland free safety, Terrell Skinner. If the CAL qb could throw it to Best in stride it would be a sure touchdown, as he had 3-4 steps on the safety. Did a great job of adjusting to the ball in the air while still running. Should have made the over the shoulder catch, it bounced off his chest. Once he sees daylight, he just uses his world class speed to pick up chunks of yardage.
Blocking
Not a good pass blocker, Does not look to make a hit and does not look inside first, shoulder blocked on several plays. Completely whiffed on a block in the red zone in the 2nd quarter that got his qb sacked (noticed that another running back came in form him the rest of the drive - all passes). Best was not an aggressive blocker, looked completely disinterested and avoided contact at all costs.
