supergenius
09-13-2005, 01:03 PM
AUBURN | The Auburn Tigers are still searching for a star tailback or two.
Too bad they can’t look in the NFL, where former Auburn tailbacks ran wild over the weekend.
The Tigers’ current runners have yet to make much of an impression in the first two games, a mildly troubling trend for a program that has been a modern-day Tailback U.
Stephen Davis, Carnell Williams, Rudi Johnson and Ronnie Brown opened the NFL season playing feature roles Sunday, and even former Auburn reserve Brandon Jacobs scored a touchdown for the New York Giants.
Tailback U? Right now, it’s more like Tailback Who?
Either Tre Smith, Kenny Irons, Carl Stewart or Brad Lester may yet become stars for the Tigers, but right now Auburn’s backfield has no established No. 1 runner and little name recognition outside the state.
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said the offense is employing a “running back by committee."
But that’s not the formula that sent the Tigers’ last three starting tailbacks on to multimillion dollar contracts in the NFL or helped the team go 13-0 last season.
It hasn’t produced scintillating results against Georgia Tech (50 yards rushing) or Mississippi State (118) either.
Offensive coordinator Al Borges figures the Tigers will probably narrow the pecking order down to a two-back system like they used so effectively with Williams and Brown last season. Auburn hosts Ball State on Saturday followed by Division I-AA Western Kentucky, giving them time to see how the tailback situation shakes out before SEC play resumes.
“A year ago, it was so clear-cut as to who was going to carry the ball," he said. “Every gameplan was easy in terms of who you wanted to touch it. This year it’s not as clear-cut."
It’s anything but clear-cut judging by the statistics.
Smith, who opened the season as the No. 1 tailback but was hobbled by a knee injury against Mississippi State, and Stewart both have run for 62 yards.
Lester and Irons have 34 apiece. Lester has the only rushing touchdown, a 6-yarder against the Bulldogs.
Not exactly dazzling numbers, though opposing defenses have been trying to force Auburn to rely on the left arm of sophomore quarterback Brandon Cox.
The lack of a star running back was driven home again Sunday, when Williams (Tampa Bay) and Johnson (Cincinnati) had 100-yard games in the NFL, Brown rushed 22 times for the Miami Dolphins, Davis gained 81 yards for Carolina, and Jacobs had a 5-yard scoring run for the Giants.
The backs did find other ways to excel against Mississippi State. Irons had a 23-yard reception and Smith a 38-yarder.
Versatility, not just running ability, will have a say in who winds up emerging from the tailback logjam.
“Running backs nowadays have to be able to run, block and catch," Lester said. “If you can’t do those three things, then you’re not going to get playing time here."
Too bad they can’t look in the NFL, where former Auburn tailbacks ran wild over the weekend.
The Tigers’ current runners have yet to make much of an impression in the first two games, a mildly troubling trend for a program that has been a modern-day Tailback U.
Stephen Davis, Carnell Williams, Rudi Johnson and Ronnie Brown opened the NFL season playing feature roles Sunday, and even former Auburn reserve Brandon Jacobs scored a touchdown for the New York Giants.
Tailback U? Right now, it’s more like Tailback Who?
Either Tre Smith, Kenny Irons, Carl Stewart or Brad Lester may yet become stars for the Tigers, but right now Auburn’s backfield has no established No. 1 runner and little name recognition outside the state.
Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said the offense is employing a “running back by committee."
But that’s not the formula that sent the Tigers’ last three starting tailbacks on to multimillion dollar contracts in the NFL or helped the team go 13-0 last season.
It hasn’t produced scintillating results against Georgia Tech (50 yards rushing) or Mississippi State (118) either.
Offensive coordinator Al Borges figures the Tigers will probably narrow the pecking order down to a two-back system like they used so effectively with Williams and Brown last season. Auburn hosts Ball State on Saturday followed by Division I-AA Western Kentucky, giving them time to see how the tailback situation shakes out before SEC play resumes.
“A year ago, it was so clear-cut as to who was going to carry the ball," he said. “Every gameplan was easy in terms of who you wanted to touch it. This year it’s not as clear-cut."
It’s anything but clear-cut judging by the statistics.
Smith, who opened the season as the No. 1 tailback but was hobbled by a knee injury against Mississippi State, and Stewart both have run for 62 yards.
Lester and Irons have 34 apiece. Lester has the only rushing touchdown, a 6-yarder against the Bulldogs.
Not exactly dazzling numbers, though opposing defenses have been trying to force Auburn to rely on the left arm of sophomore quarterback Brandon Cox.
The lack of a star running back was driven home again Sunday, when Williams (Tampa Bay) and Johnson (Cincinnati) had 100-yard games in the NFL, Brown rushed 22 times for the Miami Dolphins, Davis gained 81 yards for Carolina, and Jacobs had a 5-yard scoring run for the Giants.
The backs did find other ways to excel against Mississippi State. Irons had a 23-yard reception and Smith a 38-yarder.
Versatility, not just running ability, will have a say in who winds up emerging from the tailback logjam.
“Running backs nowadays have to be able to run, block and catch," Lester said. “If you can’t do those three things, then you’re not going to get playing time here."