Sean Bennett

[bigunreal]

About 5 years ago, the New York Giants drafted a RB in the 4th round
who turned into a training camp sensation. His name was Sean Bennett.
Because they had no real RB at that point, and the other RB they
drafted high, Joe Montgomery, was hurt early in camp, they had no
choice but to turn to Bennett. He also shined during preseason and
actually started the first game of the regular season. If I remember
correctly, it was against the Redskins, and he had only a handful of
carries during the game, despite being the starter. One of them,
however, was a nice long run of over 40 yards. Despite this, he was
said after the game to be "tenative" in hitting holes, and was never
really given a chance to play the rest of the year. He ended up, in
fact, getting a serious injury which caused him to miss the remainder
of the season, something that has plagued white skill position players
for a long time. Anybody else remember this kid, who was fast and big
and able to do everything (run, catch, block) in the blockfield?

 

[Don Wassall]

FromCaste Football'srunning back archives:


SEAN BENNETT

(12/6/02) Bennett was inexplicably cut this week. Actually it's more accurate to say that it's inexplicable that he wasn't used at all this season; that being the case why not cut him? Bennett was healthy all year, yet never got even a single carry as the Giants continue to use Bubble Butt Dayne to back up Tiki Barber. Not even one carry! Several weeks ago the story line was that the Giants had switched Bennett to wide receiver and that he would be the number three receiver as soon as he became familiar with the position. The Giants have been decimated by injuries at the position, but again Bennett was nowhere to be found. I thought Jim Fassel was one of the "bravest" NFL coaches when it comes to bucking the NFL's segregation rules, but he really regressed on Bennett. Considering that no other team was interested in him and he was out of the league for a year the first time the Giants cut him, it's safe to say his "career" â€â€￾- he only touched the ball during his rookie year of 1999 â€â€￾- is over. Bennett and a healthy Luke Staley would have done wonders to help break down the league's caste system at tailback; now we can only hope Staley can get healthy and the Lions give him an opportunity.

(9/26/02) Bennett is playing some, but mostly as a decoy. He has a couple of catches, but not a single carry, which is inexplicable given that the Giants running game is terrible. Tiki Barber is banged up, and Bubble Butt Dayne just plain old stinks. Barber is averaging 2.9 yards per carry, Dayne 2.7. Awful. Bennett should replace Dayne as Barber's backup. Actually he could well be better than Barber. Certainly he couldn't be any worse. Barber has speed but no size and not much power. Bennett has the whole package. But he needs to start getting some carries, to boost his confidence and give him experience in real games. The Giants pulled a surprise by drafting Bennett; now that he's healthy and Barber isn't, why aren't they using him?

(8/23/02) A surprise fourth round pick of the New York Giants in 1999, Bennett has been plagued by injuries during his NFL career.

Bennett was an outstanding runner at Division I-AA Evansville, gaining almost 1,200 yards his sophomore year and a school record 1,667 yards his junior year on 235 carries. He also rushed for 16 touchdowns. When Evansville dropped its football program Bennett transferred to Northwestern. Despite his talent he was given typical white running back treatment, being shifted to fullback and carrying just 32 times for 160 yards while also having 17 receptions for 228 yards.

Bennett, though, is an obvious specimen at 6'1" and 230 lbs. combined with 4.4 speed in the 40. Another white running back, the never-used Travis Jervey, is probably the only other tailback in the NFL with a similar combination of size and speed.

The Giants must be given credit for recognizing Bennett's talent and drafting him. Because of injuries to other running backs Bennett was actually the Giants starting tailback for the opening game of his rookie season. However, he quickly became injured and finished 1999 with just 128 rushing yards on 28 attempts.

Bennett was seemingly perpetually injured, missing the entire 2000 season, before the Giants cut him before the 2001 season, which he sat out. The Giants re-signed him for 2002, insisting that he cut back substantially on his Herculean workout regimen, which they suspect may have backfired and been responsible for his constant injury problems.

Bennett has looked very good during the Giants training camp and looks to open the season as Tiki Barber's backup. He should get on the field for third downs and to relieve Barber. If Barber should get injured Bennett may again find himself the Giants featured back, as former Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne has been a bust thus far in the NFL, too slow to get through holes and rarely making people miss when he does. (end of archives on Bennett)


____________________________________________


The Giants were "courageous" in making Bennett a fairly high draft pick after he was misused at Northwestern and then didn't follow through and develop him. At the time they also had Sehorn playing cornerback, plus they drafted WR Joe Jurevicius in the second round in '98. It seemed as though they wanted to buck the caste system but ended up lacking the cajones to do so.

 

[Guest]

wouldn't that be cool if the Colts picked up a white running back to replace Edgerrin James next year when he leaves? then they'll have a white QB, a white slot WR, which is starting because they use spread offense and then they have a solid white TE too. the Rams have a couple of white safeties and i believe a couple of white WR's???

 

[hollywoodnorth]

Edited by: hollywoodnorth

 

[Joethethrow]

A Sean Bennett that meets that description is on the roster of the Ottawa Renegades of the CFL. Didn't know he was white but he's on the bubble as he's listed behind Josh Ranek and KaRon Coleman at RB but they are also trying him at SB as he has good hands according to their press releases.

 

[IceSpeed2]

Do you mean Dusty Stamer? He hasn't played since high
school but it would be interesting. Certainly capable of it.

 

[IceSpeed2]

Forsey and Staley would make a great tandom. I
think Forsey could be a Mr. Inside, and Staley a Mr. Outside. Any
word on Luke Staley's brother. He played corner for BYU.

 

[Don Wassall]

Do you mean Dusty Stamer? He hasn't played since high school but it would be interesting. Certainly capable of it.

Stamer was a star running back at South Dakota University before transferring to Nebraska, where he was buried at the bottom of the depth chart despite his world class speed and great running ability. He eventually quit football to concentrate on track.


Here's a capsule summary of Stamer's performance in the 2000 Shrine Bowl:


"RB Dusty Stamer #24. This South Dakota recruit was easily the most exciting player on the field. At 5'10" 165 lbs. he won't impress you with his looks. He will impress you with his Warrick Dunn type moves and slippery running style. The first defender never brought him down, and rarely did the second, third or fourth. Late in the game, when the North needed a big play (like a 3rd and 25 conversion trailing the North 20-17) they just handed it to Dusty and set him loose. He also had a 38-yard TD run. What a pint-sized human highlight reel! It is too bad the Huskers couldn't have put this guy on campus, because I shudder to think what he could have done behind the Pipeline."

 

[IceSpeed2]

OOPS. I think he meant Dustin Fox. Mea culpa. He probably can play in the NFL.

 

[hollywoodnorth]

So Sean Bennett is in the CFL nowEdited by: hollywoodnorth

 

[Joethethrow]

So Sean Bennett is in the CFL now...as a FB. The Caste struck again!

I'm watching Ottawa and Montreal to-night and Sean Bennett just took a swing pass from Kerry Joseph on the first play of game for Ottawa and turned the corner for about 25 yards, he's got good speed for a 230 pounder. They use him more as a slot back as Josh Ranek is the feature back.

 

[Ta Waki Mumba]

Bennett had a great game tonight. Is this the same guy? Yeah they used him more as a Slotback (Inside Receiver). Which I found odd since he wore a number in the twenties. Got a few carries as well I think. Very impressed.

 

[white lightning]

I'm glad that some of these running backs are at least
getting to play up in the CFL.I sure wish Luke Staley
would have went up there for a couple of years.Then he
could have tried the nfl again.I wish I could get the
games here where I live but I need to get a satellite.

 

[IceSpeed2]

The CFL is not a good place for someone to develop
ball carrier skills. It is not a rusher's league I don't
think. Bennett's duties will primarily be as a receiver in this
league. Why? Not because of any Caste propaganda, but
because Canadian football evolved differently. There are only
three downs so they would pass more often in the CFL.

 

[Ta Waki Mumba]

Yeah Bennett's being used as a Special Teams player and a 5th or 6th reciever. Watched the game tonight and I don't think he touched the ball all game.

 

[hollywoodnorth]

Ranek is goodEdited by: hollywoodnorth

 

[white lightning]

Props to Hollywood North.That was one of the best posts
that I have read.You have knowledge about alot of things
but some of us here clash with you on occasion.I think
that you are finally seeing the light.I'm not disrespecting
you in any way.Whites are discrimitated against all the
time especially in sports.No one here has ever said that
we are better.We only want the chance to be equal.Anyone
deserves that,in school,in work or in sports if you are
lucky enough to play them at the highest level.Blacks were
screwed for years at the qb position.Now they are already
being put above a white qb even if they don't deserve it.
Example A,Kordell Stewart.I hope you get my point.All we
want is equal opportunity at every position.Nothing more
and nothing less than they would want.Do you agree with
me on this.Thanks for listening.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Yep, whites were discriminated against at the "skill" positions beginning at least in the early 80's, while the position whites were considered made for that being QB, started being discriminatory aginst us in the early 90's. Now we see it with linemen. It is only getting worse. Kickers are the sole truly dominant position left for whites, and because there is little flash involved in being one, and the stereotype of kickers as being totally unathletic, small, and disliked, these are likely reasons that blacks aren't being shoved into those slots.

 

[speedster]

Another big reason that there are a decent amount of white guys in the CFL is because of the old import/non-import rule.Check out www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/facts/112604canada.phpTypically Canadian,it's how the country is run.

 

[hollywoodnorth]

SPEEDSTER...you're way off base by saying "typically Canadian, it's how the country is run".
Edited by: hollywoodnorth

 

[hollywoodnorth]

CFL

Edited by: hollywoodnorth

 

[Don Wassall]

Thanks for that info, Hollywood North. I am going to try to watch the CFL more this year, time permitting.


BTW, Speedster is also Canadian and knows his stuff.

 

[hollywoodnorth]

????????
Edited by: hollywoodnorth

 

[Ta Waki Mumba]

I read somewhere that 90% of American players in the CFL are Black. There are a number a reasons for this in my opinion.


CFL Teams have limited scouting budgets so in most cases they must go with the NCAA and NFL scouting system (and the latest Xbox and playstation games.) Who are these reports mostly about? The black players, who have all been neatly sorted and rated to boot.


Who the hell wants to go to Canada? Many players are reluctant to go to a foreign country the play in a league some of them have never heard of. You're betterstaying close to home and playing in the ArenaLeague. A black player might be a bit adventurous here than white player and be more likely to take anotherhail Mary shot at the NFL Dream. Sure beats going to jail for not paying your child support

Finally let's look at the QB angle. As previously noted there are more black QB in the CFL than white QB. There are currently five black starters to four white starters. Backups are at least two thirds black, maybe more. Why? Because the loose wide open play gives the QB space to run the ball himself. This favors a more mobileQB who can evade sacks and buy enough time for a receiver to get open. This of course is relevant only because the way black and white athletes WITH THE SAME NATURAL ABILITIES are given different training as the direct result of the Caste System. So a black quarterback is more likely to fit the CFL style of play.


In US highschools and top colleges black QB's are trained to be to 'scramblers' while whites are taught to be 'pocket passers' reguardless of what skillset they actually have. (The same would probably happen in Canada but there aren't enough blacks up here and nobody drafts a CIS QB anyway). This has had some very interesting effects. I think of Steve Mcnair slowly switching styles during his NFL career... but the example I'm going to use here is B.C. Lions QB Casey Printers (last year's MOP) When he came out of college Casey had a 'poor throwing motion' and he spent his first year as a pro correcting that throwing motion. Something that clearly should have been corrected while he was in college. Why wasn't it? Well I guess everybody knows that black quarterback aren't actually expected to pass the football. I happen to feel that Printers been trained properly instead of expected to get by on his athletic ability he would have been a first day NFL Pick. We'll see next if he gets a chance to correct that mistake... Well maybe if a NFL GM somehow manages to pry his head out of his ass.


I could say more but I see I'm way over my rant limit...

 

[hollywoodnorth]

Some coaches just look at a guy and immediately create a perception of what he can do and where he should play.Edited by: hollywoodnorth1