I fully agree. I've seen many of these running back debates over the last 30 years. There is always a fan favorite, a coaches favorite, a long-shot, an over achiever, a slacker, and The Next Great Tailback competing in the spring. There is always great debate among the fans. I'm always surprised at the number of folks who think it is important for single back to be annointed as The Star Running Back and upon him our fortunes will rest. It is almost never that way. The best running games LSU has ever mustered have not had one great running back . . . they've had 2 or 3 great running backs. LSU had two 1,000 yard tailbacks in Terry Robiskie and Charles Alexander in the 70's. Our 2nd string tailback gained 1,000 yards. Dalton Hilliard and Garry James presided over the next great LSU rushing team in the 80's. In the 90's Kevin Faulk, Rondell Mealey, Cecil Collins and other finebacks played together to good effect. In this century we have had Toefield and Dominick Davis combining for success and Vincent/ Broussard right behind them. Each of the last four suffered season-ending injuries. And we almost always had a stud running back ready to take up the slack. SEC backs take a severe pounding. Talented depth helps keep them from being overworked and injured. It also provides an injury replacement with little or no drop-off. Having a handful of top backs allows a coach to take advantage of their specialties for specific plays. We need a couple of good all-around backs for 1st and 2nd down. But there will be times when could use a specialist 3rd-and-long back who is a never-miss blitz stopper and who can get open for a pass if there is no blitz. It would be great to have a true power back for 3rd-and-short, the kind of guy who is automatic for 2 yards when you need it. Crowton and Miles have four or five top backs to work with this year. We will be deep in talented running backs with speed and agility in Williams, Scott, and Murphy. Each will see the field, none will have to play the whole game, and we won't drop off in case of injury. We have a proven power back in Broussard and a proven 3rd-down back in Hester. I think depth at running back is far more important than the emergence of a star tailback . . . and I think we may have it this year.
Depth is definitely critical at a position like RB and you always want at least 3 solid options. Being the optimist, I view the group like this: KW - Looked great last year with "every down back" potential. Scott - Similar potential as KW and another guy that runs with power. Murphy - Might be most explosive (?) and a guy that you need to get touches a set # of plays in space. Alley - He'll come back a year stronger in his knee and motivated to do well in his final season. If that happens, I believe he has talent to be a 1st day draft pick but how will he factor into the crowded mix? Hester - He's always clutch and gets the tough 1st downs; also gets you positive yards on 1st down with those short passes. Need to get him at least 5-7 touches at RB/FB each game. Holliday - With his game-breaking ability, need to get him the ball 3-5 (?) times per game either out of the backfield or plays out of the slot. The odds are that one of these guys misses significant time during the season due to injury or maybe Alley doesn't factor into the competition. If everyone lives up to expectations, can any of them still redshirt? Maybe Scott although I'm assuming none would?
None of those guys are going to redshirt. Murhpy RS last year. AB had a medical redshirt. Hester, KW, and Scott could but they obviously wont, unless they get injured.
Besides Hester, who is our best blocking RB out of the bunch? I hear this is a critical factor for Crowton's offense.
Hard to say. It was Vincent last year, but we haven't seen enough of the others. I'd have to say . . . probably Broussard.
I am in no way putting down Keiland. If you wouldnt have selective memory, you'd see that I said in my msg that Keiland is playing well, too... I just think Murphy is a little ahead of him right now. edit: and i also said keiland would start, too... so what are you arguing? except that you don't understand what you read.
If I were the coach, I'd go with KW too until Murphy shows he can do it on a Saturday... I do, however, think Murphy will surpass him by year's end.
Maybe. I think either back could start. The only concern i have about RM is I heard he has problems learning the plays.
