Thread: Hillis-- Due Diligence Report

Originally Posted by Tned

His numbers aren't half bad:

Code:

YEAR	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
2004	63	240	3.8	42	6	12	97	8.1	18	2	0	0
2005	65	315	4.8	32	3	38	402	10.6	45	4	0	0
2006	13	57	4.4	12	1	19	159	8.4	21	0	0	0
2007	62	347	5.6	65	2	49	537	11	34	5	0	0

A 400 yard and 500 yard receiving year both with over 10 YPR out of the FB position, along with averaging 4.7 YPC when rushing.

So, stats don't tell the full story, but beyond whatever blocking he did for McFadden and Jones, he was a fairly productive back in his own right.

Do you know if he was injuried in 2006? The reason I ask is because he there such dramatic drop off in production in both rushing and receiving from '05 to '06 and then his number pick right back up again in '07.

Originally Posted by TXBRONC

Do you know if he was injuried in 2006? The reason I ask is because he there such dramatic drop off in production in both rushing and receiving from '05 to '06 and then his number pick right back up again in '07.

Could have been, but getting a 4 year starter is going to be valuable.

Originally Posted by TXBRONC

Do you know if he was injuried in 2006? The reason I ask is because he there such dramatic drop off in production in both rushing and receiving from '05 to '06 and then his number pick right back up again in '07.

Not sure if he was injured, but that is the year they brought in QB Mich Mustain from Springdale High School, and made his High school coach the OC. They tried to open things up from the start, running shotgun offenses and such. I think the scheme the new OC ran wasn't suited to much FB production. Then, when that didn't work very well, they started running the wildcat formation (later named the wildhog formation), where the real QB would come into the huddle, but then when they broke the huddle, the QB would go wide to a WR spot, and McFadden would drop into shotgun.

So, I my guess, and someone that followed the backs closer in '06 might tell me I am way off, is that Hillis was kind of shelved in the high flying offense they were trying to run in '06.

Originally Posted by Tned

Ok, I know it's the offseason, and I am threadjacking a little, but we have to figure a way to pump up the football talk. There are only so many pics of hot woman I can look at in the lounge Ok, there are never enough, but still...

So, with Hillis, did he lead the team in receiving the last two years because he is a hell of a receiver, or because they had no other receiving options (Monk hurt at times) and crap for QBs?

What about this yards after contact stuff. Anyone that watched Hillis much (only sparinly on my part, as few games were televised), do we have a Tom Rathman type FB, who can catch the ball and when he is running with it, whether a reception or carry, refuses to go down?

I think the Giants or Jets in the late '80s, early '90s had one of those types. A FB, but also almost an H-back being able to fill multiple roles.

So, does anyone think Hillis has the potential to be that type of FB, or just more of the same that we have seen at the position (KJ, Sapp, Anderson) in converted RB's stuck at the FB position?

ummmm.....

*clears throat*

....yes, yes, yes.....yes....and....yes.

*clears throat*

Originally Posted by Tned

Not sure if he was injured, but that is the year they brought in QB Mich Mustain from Springdale High School, and made his High school coach the OC. They tried to open things up from the start, running shotgun offenses and such. I think the scheme the new OC ran wasn't suited to much FB production. Then, when that didn't work very well, they started running the wildcat formation (later named the wildhog formation), where the real QB would come into the huddle, but then when they broke the huddle, the QB would go wide to a WR spot, and McFadden would drop into shotgun.

So, I my guess, and someone that followed the backs closer in '06 might tell me I am way off, is that Hillis was kind of shelved in the high flying offense they were trying to run in '06.

Well overall he was still very productive other than that one year.

Originally Posted by Tned

His numbers aren't half bad:

Code:

YEAR	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
2004	63	240	3.8	42	6	12	97	8.1	18	2	0	0
2005	65	315	4.8	32	3	38	402	10.6	45	4	0	0
2006	13	57	4.4	12	1	19	159	8.4	21	0	0	0
2007	62	347	5.6	65	2	49	537	11	34	5	0	0

A 400 yard and 500 yard receiving year both with over 10 YPR out of the FB position, along with averaging 4.7 YPC when rushing.

So, stats don't tell the full story, but beyond whatever blocking he did for McFadden and Jones, he was a fairly productive back in his own right.

The most telling, though, is the last two categories....Fumbles/Lost. ZIPPO!

Originally Posted by rcsodak

The most telling, though, is the last two categories....Fumbles/Lost. ZIPPO!

Good point. 23 TD's and zero lost fumbles.

Originally Posted by Tned

Good point. 23 TD's and zero lost fumbles.

Hopefully he takes as good of care of the football at this level as he did at the college level.

Originally Posted by Tned

Good point. 23 TD's and zero lost fumbles.

Not true. I watched him fumble more than once. Fumble stats on websites are usually wrong. I don't think ESPN has anyone at Arkansas losing a fumble in any of the last 3 years.

That's just not true.

For instance:

http://www.thecabin.net/stories/0102...02080019.shtml

In his final collegiate football game Tuesday, Peyton Hillis rushed for a net of 20 yards on five carries, caught five passes for 52 yards, lost a fumble after a reception and failed to complete his one pass.

"It was frustrating to have it end like this; this is not what you want your final college game to be like" said Hillis, after the Hogs absorbed a 38-7 thumping to Missouri in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. "It's more frustrating to see my teammates lose. It's even more frustrating to see the team lose."

But if you go here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...layerId=161982

And look up his line for the Cotton Bowl at the bottom, it says no lost fumbles.

Don't trust internet fumble stats. Just a word of warning.

Still love the kid.

~G

Originally Posted by Tned

Not sure if he was injured, but that is the year they brought in QB Mich Mustain from Springdale High School, and made his High school coach the OC. They tried to open things up from the start, running shotgun offenses and such. I think the scheme the new OC ran wasn't suited to much FB production. Then, when that didn't work very well, they started running the wildcat formation (later named the wildhog formation), where the real QB would come into the huddle, but then when they broke the huddle, the QB would go wide to a WR spot, and McFadden would drop into shotgun.

So, I my guess, and someone that followed the backs closer in '06 might tell me I am way off, is that Hillis was kind of shelved in the high flying offense they were trying to run in '06.

He was also injured.

Article on Peyton in '06:

A calcium deposit built up in Hillis' right thigh through the season and put him out of action after the Hogs' 31-14 win over Tennessee. Hillis' return to the team was in question.

Here was a guy who had fast-tracked his own return as a precocious freshman in 2004 after suffering a fractured back vertebrae. Many wondered last year if Hillis was mentally spent playing what appeared to be third fiddle to the Hogs' wondrous tailback duo of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

But as the results last year showed, Hillis must be on the field, somewhere, almost all the time. While McFadden may be the Razorbacks' first real threat to win the Heisman Trophy, Hillis must be their player who always takes it for the team while still using his good hands, good feet, strength and vision to make big plays blocking, receiving or running.

McFadden says of Hillis, "He's a great blocker and a great pass catcher and is very important for our offense. A lot of plays revolve around him."

Hillis admits it's been an interesting and up-and-down four years at Fayetteville.

"Yeah, ever since I've been here it seems like I've been plagued with injuries, but I know it ain't true," the Conway native said. "My sophomore year I was healthy and I've just had a couple of freak deals. I can look at it in a negative way, but I try to look at it in a positive way. I look at this year as a new beginning and hopefully a new adjustment that I play in this offense."

Hillis says the thigh injury, which he said occurred when he was hit by a helmet on the thigh fielding a punt in last year's opener against Southern Cal, is now 100 percent healed.

It was, because he played great again this year.

And part of who he is as a man:

Maybe he didn't want to be such a part of it in the past, Hillis says. After a vital freshman year he found himself no longer the top tailback, or even the top backup. His skills fit elsewhere in the offense, but Nutt tried to give Hillis as many touches as he could, including having him return punts. Few teams ever have put a 6-foot-2, 243-pounder in a deep back for punts, but after a couple of shaky moments, Hillis became Mr. Sure Hands and got the Hogs a handful of return yards to boot. Plus, he led the Razorbacks in receptions from the fullback spot in 2005.

Still, Hillis had the belief he could be an I-back for someone else.

"Well, yeah, I'm not going to lie. It's true," he said of considering a transfer, "but God put me in this situation for a reason and I'm going to play to the best of my ability. As much as people say they'd like me to run the ball a whole lot, they're helping me out to become a better fullback blocking for [McFadden and Jones]. I'm trying to look at it the best way I can ... This is my last year, and I have to play the best I can."

Great stuff G. As I said, I only got to watch handful of games, as each year fewerer Hawg games are televised locally. When I was watching, I will admit to being more focused on Jones and McFadden than the fullback

So much for the no fumbles. It will be interesting to see how he is used, and how, if at all, he impresses the coaches in TC.

Originally Posted by Tned

Great stuff G. As I said, I only got to watch handful of games, as each year fewerer Hawg games are televised locally. When I was watching, I will admit to being more focused on Jones and McFadden than the fullback

So much for the no fumbles. It will be interesting to see how he is used, and how, if at all, he impresses the coaches in TC.

Mister observant.

After watching the video the 243 he is purported to be just does not seem to be accurate.. Either that or everyone else on the field is 230+ themselves..

Think outside the box.

If you spread the field.


Create a ton of one on ones on offense.


Does he pitch to Selvin going right ?

Or are they setting a screen to Hillis left.

Who the hells got Stokely ?

Who the hells got Scheffler.

Why are they all running fly routes ??


WHERE ARE THE SAFETIES ???????????????????


Sorry, but you just ran out of cover men.

It used to be.

You could take the fullback out of the equation (exception red zone)

Now ya can't.

Our guy can take it to the house.

Sucks to be you.

Game over.

Originally Posted by Blah Blah Blah

Think outside the box.

If you spread the field.


Create a ton of one on ones on offense.


Does he pitch to Selvin going right ?

Or are they setting a screen to Hillis left.

Who the hells got Stokely ?

Who the hells got Scheffler.

Why are they all running fly routes ??


WHERE ARE THE SAFETIES ???????????????????


Sorry, but you just ran out of cover men.

It used to be.

You could take the fullback out of the equation (exception red zone)

Now ya can't.

Sucks to be you.

Game over.

what he said. if Hillis is a good a pick as I believe him to be, the matchups you describe are moutwatering.