(Back)field of Dreams
You have to go back to the days of Tom Osborne as head coach to find a year where Nebraska entered a season with so many hot prospects at running back. As a die-hard Husker fan, I can’t tell you what a pleasure that first sentence was to write. What’s even better is that it is true. And a dream come true for legions of Husker fans.
Sure, Frank Solich entered the 1998 season with Dan Alexander, Correll Buckhalter, Dahrran Diedrick, and DeAngelo Evans as I-backs. But those backs lacked the collective pedigree of Marlon Lucky (rated as the second best running back by Rivals in 2005), Leon Jackson (Rivals’ fourth best “athlete” in 2005), Kenny Wilson (who is due to arrive at Nebraska in the Fall and is the top junior college running back prospect, according to Rivals in 2006), Brandon Jackson (the 17th rated running back by Rivals in 2004) and Cody Glenn (the 28th best running back prospect by Rivals in 2005). The fact that Glenn has emerged as a candidate for the #1 slot just shows how inaccurate these ratings can be. Still, who would you want on your team the player that all the best schools are after or the guy that no one else wanted (see Pittman, Kade)?
Talent does not equal production. As the saying goes, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. But that’s the great thing about depth – it tends to make guys work harder. Not only that, the players can learn things from one another. And of course, it becomes pretty important when the eventual injuries set in. NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, considers depth at the running back spot essential. His assistant coach for running backs main responsibility during the game is to make sure that the guy in the game is fresh. Fumbles often happen when a running back gets tired. I suspect Tom Osborne felt the same way. Even in national championship games (even close ones like the 1994 and 1995 Orange Bowls) you saw 3-4 running backs get carries.
Certainly, these guys have a lot to prove before they can be called the best group of running backs in the last decade to wear the Husker uniform. And some of the records set in the option era may never be duplicated. But I suspect one reason we’re hearing so much about the running game this spring is that Coach Callahan & co. realize they have the opportunity to make leaps and bounds in the running game over where they were a year ago. The depth is better on the offensive line as well which means bigger holes for a group of backs that will gain valuable repetitions this Spring. Yes, Cory Ross will be missed. He set the tone. No one worked harder. But if these guys can take what they learned from Cory and let their talents shine this group could well be a group to remember.
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