This really bothers me.
But now that the running backs are starting to get healthy, the coaching staff is looking for one player to step up and assume the role as full-time starter.
“It’s never been my preference [to have a rotation],” coach Dave Wannstedt said. “In Miami, it was Lamar Smith and Ricky Williams. I’ve always been kind of a one-back guy. But you need two or three of them if you’re going to run the ball, and we’re going to run the ball. I think the backs prefer [not to have a rotation], too. It’s tough to get going. I can remember many, many games and Emmitt Smith averaging about 2 1/2 yards a carry the first half. And then the game was over and he averaged 5 yards a carry. For the great one it usually takes some time to get going.”
It’s not readily apparent if Wannstedt has a great one in his stable now, but it appears freshman LaRod Stephens-Howling is going to get every opportunity to earn the No. 1 position this week against Syracuse.
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Offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, as well as Wannstedt, prefers one back and admitted it has been tough to juggle his players.“It probably takes your rhythm away at times,” Cavanaugh said of a running back rotation. “If you’re rotating guys because they’re not doing well that’s one thing, but when you’re forced to do it because of injury that’s another thing. Our backs are starting to get healthy. If we can find one who’s hot they’ll be on the field.”
I’m very high right now on both Jennings and Stephens-Howling. I absolutely love the idea of throwing them both out there in the running game. Two very different backs who can keep a defense having to continually change the way they react.
Obviously every running back wants to be the starter and take the majority of the hand-offs. Maybe there’s also a good case to be made for one back in keeping it easier for the offensive line. It reads to me, though, that Coaches Wannstedt and Cavanaugh are doing it because they like to do it that way and that makes them comfortable. Not because it is the best thing to do.
Syracuse Coach Greg Robinson is a defensive mind, but his run defense is struggling. Giving up around 4 yards/carry and nearly 170 yards per game. Their overall defense, though, has been outstanding — despite being blown out the last two games. That was more a function of a horrible offense keeping the defense out on the field so much with short drives and turnovers. They lost to Rutgers last week, 31-9 but only gave up 306 yards of total offense.
Their secondary would appear to be their strength, led by their Senior Safety.
Wannstedt heaped praise on Syracuse free safety Anthony Smith, calling him “very instinctive.”
Said the coach: “I have not seen a safety that’s been more productive than him on film all year long. The guy does everything. He makes tackles, causes fumbles, gets interceptions, blocks punts. He’s a heckuva football player.”
Smith, a senior, leads the Orange in interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (2) and is tied for third in tackles (33).
Add in the weather conditions expected for Saturday — wet and chilly — expect Pitt to be running the ball a lot on Saturday.
