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Duke is our best offensive player since....who?

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Thread derailed!
This is not a whos better thread? But an interesting thought of he's our best weapon since question. There is no need to turn this into some kind of argument. Duke is the best Freshman RB we have had. Stats to prove it. However, thats not what this is about.
Personally, I think he is the most explosive we have had since Hester, and best RB since McGahee. They are not the same types of players and thats fine. I also agree that he is best compared to Portis. That said, this kid with his abilities could go down as one of the best EVER. He has that vision that is not something you can teach. Even in the practice clips you can see how he moves in and through players and blocks with the greatest of ease.
I am proud to have him in the U family and every other back that has gone through here.
 
Our best since Leonard Hankersok. He was not coverable his senior year, even with J12's soft toss
 
Since McGahee for sure. As comparison, it is too early. Duke played great as freshman. Willis was junior is that unbelievable year. Willis was bigger and about as fast. Lamar was just about pure speed, Duke is so much more. All said and done after 2 more years, Duke goes out as maybe best back of all time at THE U--but that is one big mouthful considering the list.
 
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I don't remember the last time we had a guy as explosive as Duke. He's a big play waiting to happen...in the running game, passing game and on special teams. He embarrasses defenders and makes moves that are only seen in video games. I can't even count how many times I've watched him and said "are you kidding me?"
 
Duke Johnson is our most dangerous threat since McGahee

I'd say Gore's freshman year he was better than Duke, although both are ridiculous

Stacey Coley is our best offensive threat since Duke Johnson
 
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I know this sounds ****** crazy, but Duke is as good as i have seen...on our offense since Playmaker- yeah i said it.
 
I would agree that he is our best offensive player since McGahee and I also believe he is the best RB we have had since Frank Gore. I believe Gore would have gone down as the best RB to ever play at Miami if he hadn't been injured. McGahee would have never had the year he had in '02 if Gore would have been healthy. Gore and Duke are better RBs than McGahee in my opinon, those two are just on a different level
 
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Duke combines the running ability of Will McPartland, the pass catching skills of Kyle Cobia and the blitz pick up blocking of Kevin Brinkworth. Doesn't get much better than that. An all around freak.
 
Duke will blow by McGahee with ease if he stays healthy and Coley can coach. He can do things that other backs can't, one of the best Freshman backs I have ever seen. Not saying he is Barry Sanders But he shows signs of him. The change of direction separates him from other great backs. The offensive line has to produce for him though. McGahee was stronger up to this point, but let's see how Duke is this year. I think Duke will blow McGahee off the map, JMO.


[QUOTiE=ZCanes;1566799]
Picksix said:
I'll even take it one step further. As good as McGahee was Duke Johnson is a more finished back at this time in their careers. Duke's stiff arm is just straight ****ing filthy. You never saw McGahee pull the stiff arm the way Duke does.
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Not a knock on Duke because I love him and he is the truth, one of the best we have had in a long time, BUT he has some work to do before you can consider him a better player than McGahee. Did you watch McGahee play? That guy was a complete FREAK. He was a DO it all type back, like an AP. Very few running backs have the TOTAL package. Maybe you remember him more as a pro, which he had to transition into more of a power type back, but dude was straight Nasty before his injury. He literally had every single tool you can posses as a running back. He was a big *** **** who could break a guys ankle with a juke and knock another guy out within the same play.[/QUOTE]
 
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biz423 said:
Our best since Leonard Hankersok. He was not coverable his senior year, even with J12's soft toss
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Agreed. Hank was just filthy his last year here. I love Duke as much as everyone on here but I'm not sure how you can say he's a better offensive player RIGHT NOW.
 
If there is one RB in UM history that duke shouldn't be compared to it's willis. We all love duke, as much for what he's done on the field as his attitude and leadership off of it. I already think he is my favorite cane of all time. But it almost shocks me that true canes fans have forgotten how good mcgahee was prior to his knee injury. The fact he was able to recover enough and have a very good NFL career is legendary in it's own right. Willis mcgahee, imo, is the #1 rb in hurricane history and one of the most purely ra talented RBs in the history of college football. the combination of size, top speed, acceleration, power, and big play ability is just on another level.

wen his career is over, duke will have better numbers and in all liklihood a more accomplished career in terms of accolades but right now I just can't put him at that level. And it's not so much a knock on duke as it is a compliment and recognition to the RB that willis mcgahee was.

***might have been on astro turf, but i dont know that i have ever seen a man at 220 lbs run as fast as willis did with a football as when he did against syracuse at the dome (bo jackson, about it)
 
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The answer is McGahee. Duke is a better RB, but I think Willis was a little faster, stronger, and bigger. Willis was in his third year, so the apples to apples will be next year.
 
NateDogg said:
If there is one RB in UM history that duke shouldn't be compared to it's willis. We all love duke, as much for what he's done on the field as his attitude and leadership off of it. I already think he is my favorite cane of all time. But it almost shocks me that true canes fans have forgotten how good mcgahee was prior to his knee injury. The fact he was able to recover enough and have a very good NFL career is legendary in it's own right. Willis mcgahee, imo, is the #1 rb in hurricane history and one of the most purely ra talented RBs in the history of college football. the combination of size, top speed, acceleration, power, and big play ability is just on another level.

wen his career is over, duke will have better numbers and in all liklihood a more accomplished career in terms of accolades but right now I just can't put him at that level. And it's not so much a knock on duke as it is a compliment and recognition to the RB that willis mcgahee was.

***might have been on astro turf, but i dont know that i have ever seen a man at 220 lbs run as fast as willis did with a football as when he did against syracuse at the dome (bo jackson, about it)
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It's funny, this thread is about Duke is the most explosive offensive weapon since when. I mention McGahee and all the sudden it's become a comparison thread. I never compared Duke to Willis. They're completely different RB's. But, Duke has the potential to be every it as good of a RB as Willis. Imagine Duke if he stayed and played through his Senior year because that's what we're talking about.

I have a feeling Duke is going to be even better this year with the added weight.
 
NateDogg said:
If there is one RB in UM history that duke shouldn't be compared to it's willis. We all love duke, as much for what he's done on the field as his attitude and leadership off of it. I already think he is my favorite cane of all time. But it almost shocks me that true canes fans have forgotten how good mcgahee was prior to his knee injury. The fact he was able to recover enough and have a very good NFL career is legendary in it's own right. Willis mcgahee, imo, is the #1 rb in hurricane history and one of the most purely ra talented RBs in the history of college football. the combination of size, top speed, acceleration, power, and big play ability is just on another level.

wen his career is over, duke will have better numbers and in all liklihood a more accomplished career in terms of accolades but right now I just can't put him at that level. And it's not so much a knock on duke as it is a compliment and recognition to the RB that willis mcgahee was.

***might have been on astro turf, but i dont know that i have ever seen a man at 220 lbs run as fast as willis did with a football as when he did against syracuse at the dome (bo jackson, about it)
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