In case you weren’t aware this is a match-up between the two best running backs in the country that aren’t finalists for the Doak Walker Award.
“It’s hard to figure out,” Connecticut coach Randy Edsall said. “In college football, everybody just goes by the name, or sometimes, personalities get involved.
“Here you have the leading rusher in the country doing what he’s doing and what he’s meant to his team, and he’s not a finalist for the Doak Walker? I don’t know. To me, it’s more the prestige of the school you’re at maybe more than the numbers you put up.
“(Brown’s) put the numbers up better than anybody so far.”
Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt could make a similar argument for McCoy, who ranks eighth in rushing at 118.91 yards per game this season and is the NCAA’s active career rushing leader at 114.6 yards per game.
“Unfortunately, I only get one vote for those things,” Wannstedt said. “I think LeSean and Donald Brown are deserving to be on any final list that has to do with running backs. I don’t understand that one.”
It’s tough to cut it down to just three. Javon Ringer garnered a lot of early attention and that seemed to carry him. I really have no argument against Shonn Greene after seeing him this season. He has been an absolute stud all season. Knowshon Moreno has a great yards/carry average but after that, it seems more preseason hype carrying him to the finalist stage (yeah, yeah, I know he did it against ESS-EEE-SEE defenses). Donald Brown in my mind, really deserved it more than Moreno.
If either team wants to win, they’d be best served by keeping the other team’s stud RB in check. UConn is 0-3 this season when Brown is held to under 110 yards (7-1 when he runs for 130+). Pitt has had more success, going 3-2 when McCoy has been held to under 100 yards. Still, I know I’m more comfortable at the thought that McCoy exceeds 100 yards.
More McCoy and Brown talk.
As for comparing the two, that’s not easy.
“Donald’s probably a little more powerful. LeSean’s probably more shifty,” Edsall said.
McCoy is more of a slasher but Brown can play that role, too. And McCoy certainly has plenty of strength.
“I think there are a lot of similarities between the two,” Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said. “The both have good size and strength.
Both can catch the ball well. LeSean is probably more of a make-you-miss by bouncing the ball, outrunning you or giving you a little fake. Donald Brown — when he gets in the clear — he’s got a great stiff-arm and he’s powerful. He probably breaks more tackles than LeSean and LeSean probably makes more guys miss. They’re both good players who play to their strengths.”
Expect this storyline to be completely and utterly be beaten into the ground by Bob Wischusen and Brock Huard on ESPN.
Beyond simply the running backs, there are more similarities with UConn on the defense.
“They don’t do a whole lot of things different than what we do,” Wannstedt said. “They rush four and do a nice job up front. They’ll do a little bit of pressure stuff with the linebackers but not a ton. They’ve got four-down linemen that I remember watching through the course of last year that have the same philosophy that we have.
“The one defensive end was a linebacker who put his hand on the ground. The one starting defensive tackle was a defensive end and they moved him inside. They’re trying to put as much speed on the field as they can.”
The Panthers can pick up a few extra tips about how to attack the Huskies by watching film — of their own team.
“I think if you’re a 4-3 [defensive scheme] team as we are, and they are, you have a tendency to study each other on tape,” Wannstedt said.
Good god, ultimately it could come down to who can make plays passing.
