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

LAST YEAR RECAP

Things were about as perfect as any season in my lifetime as far as Bama running backs go. Ingram improved by leaps and bounds, and was pushed hard by Richardson who looked like a junior last year. Ingram's Heisman run started against Va Tech as he started to take over the game in the 2nd half and was capped off by the screen pass in the SEC championship game. TR's season was nothing short of great even if he had fewer carries. His run against Arkansas is still probably one of the top 3 runs I've ever witnessed. Upchurch's TD against Va Tech and Auburn will be the moments I remember him for because he flat out trucked the defender against Tech and his catch against Auburn probably will be a Moore painting eventually.


THIS OFFSEASON


Who is back?


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 good at times and looks afraid others. He is holding off Lacy, which may be more about Lacy than him, but the potential for Goode has pretty well plateued it looks like. He probably could start at some schools, but not with 2 Heisman caliber players ahead of him.



Mark Ingram- Dad was a great WR for the Dolphins, and he’s a darn good athlete himself. As a freshman, 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. Some questioned his vision last year before the season, I don't think there is a weak spot in his game right now. There are areas that he probably could grow like pass blocking, but you don't ask your best offensive threat to block much. Ingram will get the bulk of the carries, but I doubt he gets as many this year as last because the staff will be more comfortable with both Richardson and McElroy's game to let him stay fresh whereas last year he gassed a few times. I really think fans better enjoy him this year because I don't see a reason for him to stay after this fall.


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. He redshirted and his Internet legend continues to grow as the "How's Lacy (or Lacey) doing" threads grow. My fear is that while physically he is a D-1 guy, mentally he may not be up to a Saban status. As we have learned well, if you can't get the playbook or take one of his chewings and keep going, you don't have a long shelf life at Alabama any more. That's my fear, nothing concrete on that.

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. 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 really impressed everyone last season and showed off his skills during the BCS game as Ingram was cramping. As to the debate over is TR better than Ingram? Time will tell, but they are similar backs as far as how they approach the role, but different in their styles of running.

Mike Marrow- Marrow is a lot like Chris Jordan was a while back. He could play on either side of the ball, but he lists with everyone as a H Back, just because he is playing that sorta. They seem more content to let a TE go in motion to lead block than using the FB much and that will hurt Marrow's play time potential because the way that position is approached compared to a fullback is different. 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 still would not be shocked if he is moved half way during the season to ILB.



Who is gone?

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. Nobody will question his effort on the field though. It is all elbows and cleats when he runs. He had some great moments over the last 2 years, and I wish he could have stayed healthy, but he did all the things asked of him and was a team guy.

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 down the depth chart and found pity with fans, but not the staff. His career at Bama was short, and he went on to other opportunities.

Jeramie Griffin- was the 3rd best fullback in the US his senior year and compiled 1200 yards. 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 have held him out this summer under a cloud of mystery, but news today is that he has gone medical.

Who is new?

Corey Grant- Grant is a pure scatback, plain and simple. He will have to be used in several different areas like slot WR, and returner. They can use him in some shotgun draw type situations, or quick dive type plays, but he won't be a guy that can be ran 25 times a game in this system. He's not built for it, but he does do a good job of keeping his pads and hips low to keep from getting a lot of direct shots. If they want him to be a starting running back, he will have to spend a lot of time in the weight room to fill out and develop into a full system back.

The Running Backs

The Good...

The best position coach on the staff resides here

I felt it before but after seeing him go through all the situations on film, I can say it without a lot of fear at this point. I am sure some will say that given all the talent he gets with Ingram, Richardson, Upchurch, Lacy, and others, it is easy. Maybe, but look at where they were and where they are. Also, look at all the threads discussing the WR coaching and how you never see anyone saying the talent isn't progressing at RB. Also, do you recall fumbles or missed assignments with these guys? I can think of one fumble by Ingram against UT, but outside of that, nothing. Remember, he got Spiller to Clemson too, that worked well for CJ.

Best depth on the team resides here in both quality and quantity

There may be better backfields, but there is not a better running back core in the nation than Alabama. Period. There are 2 sure fire 1st round draft picks playing side by side and a few potential good to great backs behind them just starving for more touches.

Plenty of carries available

I do think they will pass more, but I also think that the 2 main backs will still get plenty of touches to keep defenses off balance. Ingram and Richardson, PC will be able to provide a full service of running beat downs across the nation as they attempt to repeat as national champs.

The Bad...

Enjoying it now, because it may not be around long...

With Ingram really ready for NFL life now and Richardson not far behind, it is a realistic worry that by the end of next season, both will be gone and Bama will be starting over instead of passing the torch as Coffee did to Ingram.

The Ugly....

How many times can someone wonder who number 26 is?

Really, is there a reason to wonder if a walkon running back is a player? I'm happy for a guy to live the dream, but folks I really wish fans would ask more about the secondary than who the 5th string tail is.

Depth Chart

1st String- Ingram/Richardson. 1A and 1B really, but Ingram will get more touches
3rd String- Goode. Hunch says they are trying to get Lacy to turn a corner and putting him 4th will help with that if he hasn't started the turn by the end of the month.
4th String- Lacy