How good is Ken Darby?

[Bama-94-00]

Quoting

..also, I feel like a total fool, but can someone tell me how to re-post something that someone previously said in my response? Thanks. ..

The simple way is to click the quote button below the post you want to reply to. Then type your reply below.

The hard way is to copy and paste between

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The 2nd way is good for coping parts from articles.

 

[bamafan37]

Thanks for all the response guys! Also, I know that many of you have said he is more shifty than fast, but does he have the speed to take it in from 60 yards out, or would he get run down by a fast LB. I know Hudson could do it, but what about KD?

Thanks and ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Kd...

is not as fast as RH, but then, few on the team were...

 

[rtrcam]

I believe Ken Darby is one of the best RBs in the SEC, and consequently, the nation.

If I were to compare his running style to another former Alabama RB, it would be Derrick Lassic. Lassic wasn't quite as big as Darby, but he had a never quit running style. He ran so hard on every play. Darby does the same, as TIDE-HSV mentioned, dragging multiple tacklers 3-5 yards.

I don't know anything about where he might end up in the NFL. If he's fully recovered from last year, he should have a 1200-1500 yard year (depending on the development of the frosh RBs and the passing game) and could have 10-15 tds. Also, this is his Junior year. I expect he'll return next year and have another big year. Darby has All-American written all over him. He's the model Alabama football player on and off the field.

 

[teamplayer]

If Darby and Croyle stay healthy and if our line is even average ( I know those are big ifs in all of our minds), I think we will demonstrate tremendous offensive balance this season. Darby clearly showed last year that he is a player.

 

[Rook]

he's up to 217, but he anticipates losing a few in 2@days. To say that he's smallish for the NFL is silly. There are many effective backs of his size in the league. If he produces at anything like the rate he did last year, and stays healthy, he'll be a first rounder, not a fifth rounder. When he was in HS, KD tended to be strictly a "run-over" type back and had to be coached and convinced that it was better to make people miss the first time. All of the tape from last year of his draggin two or three defenders should put to rest any misconceptions about that.

I for one, agree. A healthy Darby will be fun to watch and all the press about Riggs will fade away when Darby leads the SEC in rushing.

 

[JessN]

I've got him first-team SEC on our preseason ballot. If he stays healthy, he'll justify that ranking.

The offensive line is a concern, though. He had some trouble moving the ball last year, and that was with Britt and Mathis doing the blocking. The OL certainly doesn't figure to be better and will have to work to be just as good.

 

[mlh]

Our OL will be better than last years squad. You can mark that down. I don't see why that is so hard to imagine. Just because a lot of them don't have the game experience that last years Sr's had doesn't mean they wont be just as good if not better.

I hope you're right. That's the big ? for me right now. I'll have a better idea after we play a few games. Experience counts for a lot but I think we have some talented young guys who will be playing this year. I hope they give our backs some room to run.

 

[bamaslaw]

I don't know for sure, or if there's even a statistic for it, but I'd be willling to bet that Darby faced more 8+ man fronts than any other 1000+ yard back in the country last year. If Brodie's healthy I think he runs wild.

 

[SweetHomeAlabama]

He is also a good blocker and receiver. AND a great person.

 

[IH8Orange]

I don't know for sure, or if there's even a statistic for it, but I'd be willling to bet that Darby faced more 8+ man fronts than any other 1000+ yard back in the country last year. If Brodie's healthy I think he runs wild.

Once Brodie went down last year, there weren't too many defenses that gave our passing "threat" much of a look.

Darby definitely got his yards running uphill. He had decent blocking, but even a good line, a good TE, and a good FB have a hard time neutralizing a defense that doesn't respect the pass at all and decides to load up against the run.

He was virtually assured to be injured last year. He's not the type of back that you want for a relentless pounding attack, yet he was getting around 30 rushes a game toward the end of the season after Hudson and Castille went down. He was carrying the team on his legs without much backup.

With the addition of Upchurch, Ford and Sharrief, there should be some relief for him.

 

[Vertical]

With the addition of Upchurch, Ford and Sharrief, there should be some relief for him.

Just so there's no potential confusion, that should read "Upchurch, Coffee, and Sharrief".

Darby carried this team last year, with little to no help from a passing game. I'm excited to see what he can do if Brodie stays healthy.

 

[TommyMac]

I think he's good enough that if he hadn't got hurt last season, we may have won two more games.

 

[SaintDeuce]

Most of the teams we ran wild against last year, the 230-260 yard games, were against the worst rush defenses we faced all year.

Later in the year when we faced the good D's on our sched. Darby just happened to get injured and our running game went to crap against the better D's...Tenn, LSU, Aub, Minn...averaging like 1.8 yards per carry total against all 4 teams.

Darby just has to stay healthy.

 

[CaribbeanTide]

No knock at all on Hudson (as I honestly didn't think he would be able to step up like he did last year) but after seeing Darby's ability a handful of times as a freshman I was really looking forward to the day when he would be carrying the load for us. I've always liked his elusiveness and his ability to grind out a 4-5 yard gain when he should only have gotten 1 or 2 yards. He sort of reminds me of a combination of Humphrey (in his elusiveness) and Lassic in his ability to grind out a gain where there shouldn't be one.

 

[Rook]

Lookout

Darby is working to get his "mojo" back. Look out SEC!

http://www.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/uwire/081005aai.html

 

[BamaSkins]

I predict a healthy Darby...will set a new Crimson Tide single season rushing record...he is that good...

 

[Probius]

I predict a healthy Darby...will set a new Crimson Tide single season rushing record...he is that good...

I agree completely. Darby ran for over 1,000 yards last season in half a season and he would need 1,461 yards I believe to break the record. If Darby is healthy he will shatter the record, knock on wood. Go ahead and pencil him in for 15 TD's as well. Roll Tide Roll.

 

[SaintDeuce]

People...Darby still had 215 carries last season. He may have played "half a season," but he WAS our only offense last year when Hudson went down. He got 1000 yards on 200+ carries...isn't that what you'd expect?

IF Darby stays healthy this year that means he will probably get closer to 300 carries. A 1300-1400 season is extremely likely.

 

[Dartigan]

If I were to compare his running style to another former Alabama RB, it would be Derrick Lassic.

Excellent call! There were a couple of games last year (and one, which I can't remember who it was against) where I thought he looked a LOT like Shaun. Overall, Lassic is probably a better comparison though.

KD isn't a "media darlin'," so he will be overlooked by the bandwagoneers - but don't underestimate his talent. He CAN make people miss and he CAN run over LBs. IMO he's the 2nd best RB we've had in the last decade, second only to Shaun.