The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly- Running Backs

LAST YEAR RECAP

For the first time in a long time, the running game established itself as a force through the whole season. Traditionally over the last 3 or 4 years, the running game came in like heroes but slid downward towards mediocre usually down the stretch. Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram had a lot to do with the stability and improvement as Coffee stayed healthy for the first time and Ingram came in with a different energy than any back since Beard or Alexander came around. The offensive line play had a major part in this as did getting an OC that knew how to get more out of his talents.

THIS OFFSEASON

Who is back?

Roy Upchurch. Was sought after by all the major Florida schools and Arkansas. Has a nice balance to his running style. He mixes power with dashes of speed to make a nice package. He had 2500 yards and 27 TDs and became a Parade All American. He redshirted due to injury in 05, played sparingly in 06 and 07. Played half of 08 before going down with a neck injury. When he did play last year, I thought he looked good both as a runner and a blocker. He needs to show some focus in the locker room and practice field to gain the staff’s trust. Nobody will question his effort on the field though. It is all elbows and cleats when he runs. The biggest thing going for him is that he's a senior and will be a leader on the field, but the biggest thing going against him is that there are younger backs with as much potential and upside as him chomping for PT.

Terry Grant. Grant played as a return man for a bit but was injured early. Mr. Mississippi ran for 2700 yards and had 35 TD’s. He also comes from a winning program. He started out like a ball of fire early, but the pounding that the SEC brings caught up with him. He fell off the cart in 2008 and things look pretty well done as of August 2009 because the talent and style of those ahead of him will trump his speed.

Demetrius Goode- Graduated from Hargrave, why doesn’t that make me feel better on a side note there, and is a pure running back. Goode looks timid, still, in the spring and will have to overcome the fear of hurting himself again. His spot is starting to come to a point of not playing or not but being on the roster or not.

Jeramie Griffin- was the 3rd best fullback in the US his senior year and compiled 1200 yards. He may be the next Castille type player, but first he needs to be on the field to make that call. He looked strong against a beaten MSU team last year, but he's really about to become a situational back and Saban has never been a fan of a guy who just comes in for 1 thing, like jumbo back. They may revisit him at fullback.


Mark Ingram- Dad was a great WR for the Dolphins, and he’s a darn good athlete himself. Last year I said "Out of all the RB’s coming in, he’s the most likely to make an impact because he’s versatile enough to play inside or outside and kick it up a notch and turn a 5 yard carry to a 30 yard TD." Sometimes I actually hit one. Anyways, he is the starter defacto until otherwise told he isn't and I can't see a reason to keep him off the field because he only does good things when he plays. I think a year under his belt and a full offseason to learn more of the system and be a leader in the weight room and huddle will be good for him and McElroy too.

Who is gone?

Glen Coffee. After Upchurch’s injury, Coffee benefited from the time he was able to get as the number 2 back in 2005. He redshirted in 2006. He was the starter for a while, ended up in the textbook issue and was hurt again. He stepped up in 2008 and led the team in rushing and second in TDs. Coffee was that nice balance between the pounders and the speedsters. He has speed and is a solid 4 yard a carry kinda guy. See Riddle, Curtis Alexander, and Galloway. Glen saw the opportunity for $$$ and bolted to the NFL.


Jonathan Lowe. His dad was a great ball player. Lowe started at MSU, transferred to Bama and is primarily a kick returner. He lacked the leg power to play tailback but is good in space. He didn't stick around in the end...

Ivan Matchett- Played for the powerful St Paul’s in Mobile. Is a lot like Darby when you watch him play. Less shuffling than Darby though. He's gone now due to injury and he wasn't going to play.


Jermaine Preyear- Played in Mobile as well, was hurt off and on his senior year. He greyshirted, fell behind the chart and now is off the team due to team rules violations. I wonder if not cutting it is a team rules violation?

Who is new?

Eddie Lacy- Lacy is a 4 star RB that would have been a bigger name in the recruiting wars if his grades were better. He's a downhill runner, plain and simple. In some aspects of his running game, he reminds me of Glen Coffee or Ahmaad Galloway. He's flashy, and not a guy most likely to bust out a 80 yard TD on any defense at the college level, but he's consistent, runs low, but he runs with the ball loose and free, and most of all is patient with the ball. For example, Darby would race up to the lane he was to run to, and jitter around and force it. The results were 2 yards or less most of the time. Lacy is patient to the lane, and has the vision to cut back or cut outside if the play isn't there and doesn't force the action if it isn't required. Loves to hit, uses his lower body power to move people and punish smaller defenders for tackling him. His lower body power will make his YAC (contact) numbers look impressive because he doesn't go down on contact (see Terry Grant) he plows forward for 2-4 more yards. The only flaws in his game that I can find is that he's not going to just blow away defenders in a foot race and he gets sloppy with his hand transitions while running. He's listed with 4.4/4o speed, but he lacks that extra burst that Shaun Alexander and Bobby Humphrey type players had. I can't tell how much PT he will get, but I suspect if Upchurch is down again, he gets 2nd or 3rd billing with Trent.


Trent Richardson- You would get a kick out of watching me watch this guy play. The transcript is pretty easy reading. "Damn....daaaamn, wow, damn". That's about it. This guy has that "it" that the Alexanders and Humphreys and Jacksons and Walkers have. In some of the videos and games I've seen him in, he is all over the field, and you can find him fast. He's the guy with the ball that looks like a bull on parade out there. It's elbows and assholes time when he touches the ball. He's versatile and can be put out in space in formation to catch a pass and get 1 on 1 with some poor corner or SS that will have to face his stiff arm. He has that McFadden stiff arm that just humiliates and stings defenders. Does a great job of getting low and making his tackle spot small. Uses his hips and shoulders to hit a small crease and turn into the open field. He's one of the more fluid runners I've seen in recent years. He loves to hit, sometimes too much. Has okay hands, but isn't a soft handed back. He gets better as the game wears on. Loves to get as many touches as he can, and coaches will love that. He's fast and has the 2nd level gear that Lacy doesn't show, but sometimes gets caught up in the whip fest he likes to put on. Coaches can work with him on that and the level of competition will help with that. His vision is that signature "it" factor. Sees the play and reacts quickly to the defense and seems to consistently be able to avoid the schemes. He will play and play a lot this fall.

Mike Marrow- Marrow is a lot like Chris Jordan was last year. He could play on either side of the ball, but he lists with everyone as a FB, so I lump him here with reservation because the staff has a knack of moving players half way through summer when they know they will redshirt regardless. His future position will be dictated more on how the linebacker depth and talent stacks up in the summer than his desire to play at one spot or another. The fullback position has started to decline in the program and in the NFL, so I add that to why I don't see him on offense long. They seem more content to let a TE go in motion to lead block than using the FB much. As a runner, he's a pinball. He's not fancy and not flashy, but he's a true north south running back with serious leg drive. The few shots of him blocking that I could find, he likes to stick players, but you can tell he's not practiced it all that much or hasn't been taught how to use his body and power to move players in space. I think he redshirts and I wouldn't be shocked if he is moved half way during the season to ILB.

THE RUNNING BACKS

The Good…

Plenty of options…

When you look at the chart, there are plenty of good options out there. You have the speed guys in Grant and Upchurch and the bruisers in Ingram and Richardson as well as the guy who can do a little of both in Lacy.

Ability to carry the load

I really expect that the offense will center around them early on while the QB and WRs get into a better flow. It will also help the OL grow up to have them doing more simple attack style blocking and not pressing them to pass block more than they need to.

The future

It will be a year worth watching as far as the progression of 3 very gifted runners go. Ingram will get his share, Richardson and/or Lacy will get their shots as well, but next year will be the year that both get their crack at big carries.

The Bad...

No soft defenses down the stretch

Bama knows this every year. That late October thru November stretch is hard knocks. Four of the last five teams Bama plays will be tougher defenses. Playing the SEC schedule, especially the West will be hard on a young team, even harder for the running game. Of course home games against UT and LSU aren’t exactly better when you get down to it.

The Ugly…

None.

What the experts think….

Lindy’s- They start out with Ingram setting a freshman record with 12 TDs, and they place Trent as the number 2. They think that Trent is as physically ready as any back can be out of high school but needs to learn blocking. Personally, I never really cared much if a tailback can block real well. They rank Ingram 20th in the nation. They rank the unit 3rd behind LSU and UF.

Athlon’s- They rank the unit 2nd behind LSU. They cite the quality of depth as the biggest thing going for the unit. They mention the spring not being as good because Upchurch and Ingram were hurt and Grant and the reserves were not impressive. They end it with a Saban quote of "How many guys do we have that have done anything in the game?" Coachspeak 101.

DEPTH CHART

Starter- Ingram- He will be the opener and probably get 15-20 carries a night

2nd String - Upchurch- He probably will have to do big things to keep the others off him

3rd string- Richardson- He will be the 3rd "starter" in the rotation as they send their backs in formation needs.


4th string- Lacy- He will probably creep up the roster as he gets more chances to shine. The only thing keeping him and Richardson from being co-2nd is a proven senior.