How the Lack of a Workhorse Running Back has Affected Florida
It’s not secret the game is changing. In recent years, we’ve seen the explosion of the spread offense to the point that 46 of the FBS programs will be running some version of it during the 2009 season. As wide-open offenses seemingly take over, we’ve seen a decline in the number of workhorse running backs.
Michigan State’s Javon Ringer
and
UConn’s Donald Brown
. It has affected the way the NFL looks at potential primary backs, but has it changed the success of some of the bigger college programs? Who better to look at than
Florida
? The team that won two of the past three national titles while running a version of the spread. Oh yeah, and my personal favorite.
In four years under Urban Meyer, no Gator running back has carried the ball more than 143 times over the course of an entire season. The back with that number was DeShawn Wynn during the 2006 national championship season. Wynn averaged 11 carries per game and no other back (except Wynn himself in 2005 when he averaged 10.8) has even come close to that mark. In 2007, Kestahn Moore led the way with eight carries per game and in 2008 it was Chris Rainey with only six. You have to go back to Ciatrick Fason’s 18.5 carries per game in 2004 to find the last true workhorse back. But this isn’t a bad thing at all for the Gators.
That 2004 team went 7-5. Meyer was hired following that season and we all know what’s happened since then. But is it really all that different? At first glance, it might seem like the Gators aren’t running the ball as much, but it’s actually the opposite. Florida carried the ball nearly 4.5 times more in 2008 than they did in 2004. During that 2004 season, Fason was the only player to carry the ball at least 70 times. That feat has been accomplished 13 times in four seasons since then.
As much as we all might think we want to see a 1,000-yard rusher, the Gators haven’t had one since Fason. Tim Tebow – a quarterback – came the closest with 895 in 2007, but he’s the only other individual to even go over 800. Why? More talent? Maybe. But it’s actually a better utilization of that talent. Five players carried the ball at least 58 times during the 2008 championship season and that is all set to happen again in 2009. Andre Debose’s injury status may stop that from happening, but all signs point to Mike Gillislee getting carries right out of the gate.
So although it may be nice to see someone hit the 1,000-yard plateau (on a side note, no pass catcher has hit that mark in receiving yards either under Meyer), it’s far from necessary for success. It’s Meyer and staff’s ability to distribute the ball among all (not just a few) of the playmakers that has led to some great seasons in recent years. Don’t believe me? Just look at last season’s loss to Ole Miss where Tebow and Percy Harvin accounted for 38 of the 59 combined carries and receptions. Or against Michigan in the Capital One Bowl when they were responsible for 38 of the 50. Or the loss to Auburn in 2007 when they accounted for 30 of the 48. I know, I know…during tight games, most (if not all) teams will rely on the best of the best and give them more opportunities. I’m just saying, maybe they shouldn’t. Star players that get a bulk of the carries are great for a stat sheet. But I’ll take distributing the ball across all of the talent and more wins any day of the week.