He'll continue to progress and get stronger as time goes on. The OL blocking doesn't help and the biggest difference I've noticed so far is Hurd is a North and South runner while Lane is more patient and knives through the line. Lane has really good feet. Honestly, I think some lessons would help Hurd's balance.
we've neutered him by eliminating the speed element. He's deadly because he can run like a deer, but we're asking him to run like a hippo.
Hurd looked fast as shit at Beech and I thought it was said he had 4.3 speed so when has speed been an issue with him? He's screwed behind that shitty line with a QB that poses no threat of running.
we don't let him break outside or ever send him to the edge. He's forced inside behind little blocking and the stupidest personnel / running scheme match ever.
His ability to change direction or his agility? Yes. Look at the cuts he's made in his touches, starting with the catch against Utah State. The guy hasn't been in the open field much more than that one play. He's got defenders at his feet when he takes the majority of his hand offs. I think of elusiveness, that's Barry Sanders or Darren Sproles or LeSean McCoy. Hurd isn't that kind of back.
I really don't see the difference between being elusive and having an ability to "change direction" and "be agile". It's not completely his fault, but great backs have this ability to break tackles in some fashion. Hurd, in his limited scope of two games, should be breaking more tackles. Do you disagree that the first guy to meet him is often the one to bring him down?