LAST YEAR RECAP
While 2009 was about as great a year for Bama running backs as there has been since the wishbone dominated football, 2010 was a lot less than desired. Between Ingram's injury, poor OL play week in and week out, and every team in the free world knowing that Bama won't pass out of the Wildcat, there was a lot going against Bama running backs last year. With that said, it wasn't exactly a terrible year for the running game. Bama still had a 5.1 per carry average and 5 100 yard performances, but they also had some really bad outings like South Carolina and Auburn. Ingram never really looked like he was game ready til the bowl game. He fooled us all with his first 2 games, but as the season wore on, he was not the same player that shouldered Bama to win after win. Richardson missed 2 games late but was much better when Ingram was out because he plays better with more carries. That should mean good things this fall. Lacy about dropped his chance to be the heir to the throne....literally. He recovered well late in the year and earned more PT thanks in part to Richardson's injury. He too is poised to have a better year with more touches.
THIS OFFSEASON
Who is Back?
Jalston Fowler- Fowler is more of an H Back than a tailback in Bama's offense, but he will be the new Goode/Grant option that wallers out the 4th quarter in the blowouts and may be the short yardage option at times for Bama's running game. I use the word might because it isn't like Richardson and Lacy have any issues moving the pile. Fowler also has above average hands for a guy his size and that will benefit him as his role becomes more defined. Fowler has decent speed for a 240 pound guy, but he won't flip the field unless the line explodes a hole for him. He is a good lead blocker when asked to be and may be used more in that role if none of the other H's pick it up. This fall look for him to do mop up primarily as a runner and he should see more time in Bama's base formations as a blocker and safety valve check down. I think he gets more carries than expected simply because Hart is out and Grant left and also because B Sims is not big enough to be a full time back.
Eddie Lacy- With Eddie, it is all about which guy shows up on Saturday. Is it the guy who just dominates and seems to find open seams? Or is it the guy who muffs the ball at the goalline and finds the doghouse from time to time? To be fair, he didn't fumble in his last 7 appearances and he has all the natural skills to be special. Lacy likes contact and is just another cog in the Burton Burns Backfield of Doom. He fills the role that Coffee and Ingram have now vacated. His best strengths are that he does not go down easily and he is very determined. He needs to show that he can round out and be a full compliment and not just the 2nd runner. He needs to show he can block and catch a little better than he has in the past, but that comes with time as Ingram wasn't very good at it either his Freshman year. Lacy's primary function regardless is to keep Trent fresh and not force him to take more hits than needed. Trent will get his touches, more than he's ever shouldered at Bama, but Lacy needs to be there to get 100 to 130 touches this fall.
Trent Richardson- Bama fans finally get to see the most touted Bama runner in 20 years be the lead back full time. Richardson is a lot more rounded at this time than Ingram was. He is a good blocker for a back, and he catches the ball well, but his ability to cut and move and see the field is far ahead of Ingram at this point in his career. He just hasn't been able to showcase it fully. Bama fans have seen glimpses, but now it is his time to shine. Richardson should get 1000 yards and be a Heisman candidate as long as he stays healthy and keeps progressing. Richardson for all his moves and conditioning still has moments where he wants to just hit guys and allows himself to get gang tackled as opposed to making the guy miss and get the extra yards. That is a small issue to deal with when the other side of the coin is as bright as it is. Trent probably won't be doing as much of the Polecat....errr...I mean Wildcat this year and that will help him too. Richardson is at his best when he is behind the QB and sees the whole defense from his position than he is when having to check and collect the snap. I look for him to easily push the record books if healthy.
Who is Gone?
Demetrius Goode- Goode realized the depth chart was going to catch him and he wanted to showcase himself a little more. I can respect that. Goode is a solid runner, but he isn't a game changer per se. He probably could start for several schools and now will to finish his career.
Mark Ingram- Bama's first Heisman winner leaves as one of the school's most talented and decorated player. Mark had nothing left to prove. He had the ring the trophy, and the videos to prove that he was an NFL ready player. I just wish that he could have been healthy all year and displayed himself a little more.
Mike Marrow- Tweeners don't live long in the Saban era. Marrow just never picked it up and was already deep on the chart and getting deeper when he left.
Corey Grant- I wasn't all that enamored with him before he left, but I know some of the Internets best thinkers were in love with him. Grant isn't really a fit at Bama and after A Day and seeing the difference in him and Hart, it was clear he wasn't going to make an impact any time soon. With Sims and Hart both able to fill that scatback slot role, he was about to be pigeon holed as a return guy.
Who is new?
Dee Hart- Hart had all but won the 3rd string job before he got hurt during the summer. Hart before the injury was a great change of pace from Richardson and Lacy in that he was more speed with some tackle breaking abilities. He has the best hands of any back on the team and would have been a really good weapon for this offense and the young QBs to build rapport with. As is, he now sits out and rehabs to start his career next fall.
Brent Calloway- Thanks to a miriad of transfers and injuries, he gets to stay at tailback this fall. I don't foresee him playing unless injuries hit the team, but I can see him as a special teams guy. Bama will more than likely take another tailback this year in recruiting plus Hart is a freshman next year. I still don't look for him to stay at running back long, but he will give roster depth while he either redshirts or is a coverage guy for the special teams.
The Running Backs
The Good....
We all get to bear witness to Richardson's Rage
It isn't a secret that Trent likes to hit. It also isn't a secret that other teams don't like tackling him. They get 13 to 14 chances to avoid tackling him head on this fall and they get to do more of it than before! Richardson's success will only solidify that Bama is becoming Running Back U again.
It isn't hard to see why folks think Bama has one of the best backfields in America
Bama boasts Richardson and Lacy as their one two punch. That may be the best in the nation by a good mile or more. When you add Fowler, Sims, and Hart next year, you will see an even more talented and deep position.
I think I mention it every year but this is the best coached position on the team
Coach Burns is by far the best and most well rounded coach on the staff not named Saban. Where other positions got by on talent alone, and others never developed as far out as they should have, Burns has taken the best talents and found ways to grow and teach them. Ingram leaves Bama with a lot more upside and a better rounded game than what he had when he came in. Everything is smooth with him now, he doesn't miss holes, he shows patience and consistency now whereas he was a bit out of control as a runner his Fr year. With one full year to grow Coffee, he became an NFL caliber player. He continues to churn out great players and recruit great players.
The Bad....
The Depth that was once there isn't now
With Hart injured, Grant gone, Ingram in the pros, the program now is a little thin on quality depth. An injury to Eddie Lacy is huge at this point. Why? Well, the drop off in ability is pretty noticeable and when you have to let TR take a breather, and you have to hand it off to guys who are more situational or fill in type players, that is an issue. Bama needs its running game to churn out yards. The 2 young QBs need the running game hitting at a high level to take the pressure off them. The team needs them to be great to win a championship and quite honestly, if Richardson and/or Lacy get hurt, the odds of that (winning) happening are pretty well slim to none because I don't think Bama can pass its way to the BCS. It is easy to speculate and pish posh over such concerns, and I know some will try to postulate that Bama can throw and win, or point to the defense. Well, one makes the other. Don't believe it? Look back to last year. Bama the more they throw and the less balanced they were, the worse the defense was. South Carolina- couldn't run, got behind, and stunk it up. Granted, Bama's D dug a hole fast in that one, once Bama was throwing more, the defense wasn't able to get its legs under it for good. Same with LSU, Bama couldn't run the ball well, and the defense couldn't hold off LSU's lackluster offense. It is true that the defense is better, but it will be better only if the offense can sustain drives and keep them off the field.
The Ugly...
None.
The Bottom Line is....
At this point, Richardson and Lacy are going to be on track to carry the ball 250 to 300 times. Blake Sims will get a few looks in a variety of running roles and Fowler will get a few carries as well. As mentioned, with young quarterbacks, they will be a run first team and the pressure needs to be shifted to the running backs to carry the load and lead the offense. Bama's success this season is going to be heavily related to how well the running game goes. They need it to roll because the offense needs to be tougher than it was last year. The defense cannot be asked to stay out on the field as much as it did last year at times. The Saban system predicates that you run the ball and grind it out, take up lots of clock, and put the defense on an offensive position that allows them to attack more and keep the opponent in a situation where they feel pressured to score faster. That usually creates mistakes like the ones we all saw in 2009. So, the running game is a big part in the big picture. Richardson should have a big year, but they need Lacy to be right there with him. One injury to either guy could be a big issue. Both are durable guys and tough guys, so hopefully that holds up.
The Depth Chart
1st String- Richardson
2nd String- Lacy
3rd String- Fowler/Blake Sims
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