Hearing the new hype around Maurice Washington, the big potential around Greg Bell and the return of Tre Bryant a question has emerged to me. Will Nebraska have a primary back to lean on during the season or will Nebraska rely more on a committee approach?
Neither one is bad by any means. Having a consistent back to be your reliable go to is beneficial. Having that guy pop 4 to 5 yards a carry and slowly demoralize the opponents rushing defense and get 20 carries a game makes planning for the backups when they get in to relieve him a bit difficult whenever when you think, “Oh they will go with him in this situation.” Then boom a different back is in to throw a wrench in the cogs.
However having a rushing by committee has it’s obvious advantages as well. Keeping the backs fresh by rotating them somewhat equally makes things difficult for a tiring defense. Sure defenses will have a hard time keeping up with fresh backs coming in and out but when more backs getting more equal reps it can be easier to plan for as a coach since you are able to see what each back does more. I don’t see it happening but it makes it more difficult when each backs tends to be put in for more specific situations, the outside runner, the power runner that you need to bruise his way forward for 3 yards and the back that is used more for the passing game. Same problem can happen with the primary back situation but less reps from backups means less knowledge to go on for defenses.
Edit: The main question is; will the 3-4 back approach stay the same throughout the season with those backs getting relatively the same amount of carries and playing time or will a single back emerge as the primary back or at least a more favored back than the others?
We Nebraska fans love our runningbacks for sure, especially our 1000 yard rushers. However, with Frost’s system we might not see it, however I believe we are overall okay with that as long as we continue our tradition of a strong rushing attack. Odds are our running backs won’t become the face of the team anyway but will no doubt go to the starting quarterback. We are also used to that anyway, Frazier, Frost, Crouch etc...
What are your thoughts? Want a 1000 yard rusher? By committee approach? Little bit of both? Don’t care just want a good offense?
Neither one is bad by any means. Having a consistent back to be your reliable go to is beneficial. Having that guy pop 4 to 5 yards a carry and slowly demoralize the opponents rushing defense and get 20 carries a game makes planning for the backups when they get in to relieve him a bit difficult whenever when you think, “Oh they will go with him in this situation.” Then boom a different back is in to throw a wrench in the cogs.
However having a rushing by committee has it’s obvious advantages as well. Keeping the backs fresh by rotating them somewhat equally makes things difficult for a tiring defense. Sure defenses will have a hard time keeping up with fresh backs coming in and out but when more backs getting more equal reps it can be easier to plan for as a coach since you are able to see what each back does more. I don’t see it happening but it makes it more difficult when each backs tends to be put in for more specific situations, the outside runner, the power runner that you need to bruise his way forward for 3 yards and the back that is used more for the passing game. Same problem can happen with the primary back situation but less reps from backups means less knowledge to go on for defenses.
Edit: The main question is; will the 3-4 back approach stay the same throughout the season with those backs getting relatively the same amount of carries and playing time or will a single back emerge as the primary back or at least a more favored back than the others?
We Nebraska fans love our runningbacks for sure, especially our 1000 yard rushers. However, with Frost’s system we might not see it, however I believe we are overall okay with that as long as we continue our tradition of a strong rushing attack. Odds are our running backs won’t become the face of the team anyway but will no doubt go to the starting quarterback. We are also used to that anyway, Frazier, Frost, Crouch etc...
What are your thoughts? Want a 1000 yard rusher? By committee approach? Little bit of both? Don’t care just want a good offense?
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