Meet Xavier Omon

by John Morgan on Nov 17, 2009 6:18 PM PST Comment 31 comments

Bison Xavier Omon powers through two Oil Derrick tacklers.

Xavier Omon tore up Division II college football. In four seasons, he led the Bearcats to four national title games, losing all four. Omon wasn't a player I tracked, but from my brief viewing, he has good footwork, good power, good decisiveness, a good first and second gear, and no third gear to speak of. That sounds like the running back I expected Edgerrin James to be.

Decide for yourself:

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That is some fine looking formatting.

by John Morgan on Nov 17, 2009 6:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

No, he has no 3rd gear, at least, not anywhere close to being elite. But then, neither did Shaun Alexander, really.

But everything else, I like. Your right, good footwork, good power, good decisiveness.

I especially love the angles that he takes in eluding a tackle, which helps him maintain separation and delay getting tackled. That’s a skill that will serve him well, and probably may even help him prevent getting hit at a higher rate, thus prolonging his career if he were to ever become a starter.

How did you hear about him John?

Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.

by Carl Shinyama on Nov 17, 2009 6:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Shaun had a solid third gear in his day

by Nate Dogg on Nov 17, 2009 6:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't say he didn't.

Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.

by Carl Shinyama on Nov 17, 2009 7:03 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think he did. Just a good runner. Could maintain his distance from pursuit on long runs.

But no 3rd gear to speak of.

by jacobstevens on Nov 18, 2009 10:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I followed Omon for a long time

And I tell you he’s gonna be something special. Maybe not now but he has a bright future ahead of him. Good thing we picked him up.

by Seahawksfan23 on Nov 17, 2009 6:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

So we picked up a younger version of Shawn

Alexandar with the O-Line from ’05 nowhere in sight? That ought to be interesting.

For a minute.

by mrcoffee1969 on Nov 17, 2009 6:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

*Shaun

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Nov 18, 2009 9:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Carl, I think you're Wrong on Shaun

He had a third gear, but it’s rare to find that in a bigger back not because of size but because of stride. Shaun had 88 yard rushes twice because he could really shorten his stride when he was getting up the field. Most Smaller backs are the ones able to hit that speed and much quicker, a big back tends to have force behind him. But not a skill to separate from speed guys. Omon may not need a 3rd gear though if he made the team the zone is perfect for his skill set.

by Krazyleggs on Nov 17, 2009 6:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Grrr, I thought I hit reply

smashes head into keyboard

by Krazyleggs on Nov 17, 2009 6:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He certainly isn't fast, but he looks like he knows what to do with himself.

My major qualm is he’s breaking a ton of high school arm tackles and leaving people on the turf with some pretty deliberate moves. It’ll be nice to see what he can bring, though.

by abender20 on Nov 17, 2009 7:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm going to agree with you there.

It’ll be fun to see how he grows, but it’s DII college ball. So I don’t know how effective that highlight vid is at showing his potential. I mean, I played in the Big Sky and I would get shit housed every single play in the NFL…or AFL….or UFL. Granted, I’m white.

by DJ C-Raig on Nov 17, 2009 8:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

looks like he is running in slow motion

I got bored watching his highlight reel….hopefully he can show us something whenever we get to see him…if ever.

I Bleed Blue and Green

by DSAhawker on Nov 17, 2009 8:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm very interested in this move.

Buffalo seemed to like him quite a bit, but with Fred Jackson and Beastmode, I can see why he’d be allowed to develop on their PS, or elsewhere as part of ours. I wonder when/if we’ll call him up for some game action.

by Misfit74 on Nov 17, 2009 8:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

We already have three running backs, including Jones.

Rankin is a good kick returner and a good TJ Duckett style rusher. And with how well Force did on Sunday we’re not going to bench him.

A Mariners fan in Seattle

by Coach Owens on Nov 18, 2009 8:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Justin Forsett

Has now proven to be a potent offensive weapon, perhaps the best we have at any position. He is quicker and more elusive than Jones and while small, he can be spelled by Rankin and/or Omon. I say cut Jones.

by mrcoffee1969 on Nov 18, 2009 9:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Uh....

“…perhaps the best we have at any position.”

John Carlson would like a word with you.

by thebyron on Nov 18, 2009 3:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So would at least 10-20 other players.

Let’s not carried away.

by Misfit74 on Nov 18, 2009 10:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

True enough.

by thebyron on Nov 19, 2009 10:29 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Does the Curse of 370 apply to college backs?

Especially in 14 games?

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Nov 18, 2009 9:29 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

We should probably start by asking if the Curse of 370 actually exists.

by abender20 on Nov 18, 2009 11:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Does it?

by jacobstevens on Nov 18, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's more a quick and dirty guideline that some kind of natural law

Its effective enough as long as you understand that a running back who totaled 371 carries is not at a significantly higher risk of decline than one who totaled 365.

The argument over the curse has always seemed nit picky to me.

by Nate Dogg on Nov 18, 2009 12:51 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's not a quick and dirty guideline

unfortunately. Running backs tend to receive high carries in their best season. Any player is likely to fall off a from a career best. Given a back’s short career, and the very fine line between great and bad, it’s merely a coincidence that many rushers have had great seasons before bad ones.

by John Morgan on Nov 18, 2009 3:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's not a coincidence

Like you said, running backs tend to receive high carries in their best year so they have no where to go but down. They also likely have to play in 15 or 16 games to get that many carries which is an aberration. Most running backs miss a few games a year. The regression that comes after peak years should be expected.

The statistical chicanery you mentioned is the multiple end points which is why I said it’s quick and dirty. Theres nothing magical about the 370th carry but regression is highly likely when a running back gets up around that number.

by Nate Dogg on Nov 18, 2009 6:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs