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It is time for a change

Written by Duane Long | 28 September 2010

I am trying to understand the back situation. It just doesn't make any sense. I look at what I am seeing on the field so far this year and I am not seeing what Saine, moreso than Herron, is doing to hold onto the starting job. I see a big fast back but one that lacks explosion, quick feet and vision. I see a back that does not make people miss. What I see is most important but the stats back up what my eyes are telling me. Saine is the starting back but is fourth on the team in rushing yards. He has less yards than the number four back on the the team. I had one fan tell me that Saine is averaging 4.7 a carry. Take away his longest run of the year, a 45-yarder, and he is averaging 3.5 yards per carry. Lets be fair. Berry has more yards but he also has a 67 yard run. Lets take that away from his total. He still has rushed at a 7.8 yards per carry clip and only has 14 less rushing yards after you take away the longest run for both, despite having 21 less carries. I know Jim Tressel has talked about Saine being the best receiving back he has ever coached but I see a back who has one more reception than his back-up, Dan Herron. I don't know about Berry but Jordan Hall caught more passes as a back than he had runs. He looked better to me as a receiver than he did as a back in high school. Picking up blitzers, blocking in general, is something that young backs need to pick up. Maybe someone out there is paying more attention than I am. Has anyone seen a memorable blitz pickup or just a great block from Saine?

This is a critical element to winning the national championship. If everything falls into place it will be Ohio State versus Alabama in the national championship game. A brilliant defensive mind like Nick Saban will figure out that attacking Pryor is the key to beating Ohio State. We are a one dimensional team. Well, at least we are right now. We saw a glimpse into what can happen to this team in Alabama-Arkansas game. Ryan Mallett put up 250 yards and threw a touchdown pass in the first half against Alabama but in the second half he threw for 107 yards and two interceptions as Saban ignored the pedestrian Arkansas rushing attack, 64 total yards as the Razorbacks leading rusher had 42 yards on only 6 carries with 14 coming on one carry, and attacked Mallett.

That is what we are looking at if we do not find the balance that Jim Tressel always preaches. Loyalty to seniors is an admirable trait. I would hope all coaches would want to make sure those that have worked the longest and the hardest have the first shot at playing time. As we look around the country we know that is not always the case. However, loyalty to seniors should always be trumped by what is in the best interest of the team. That is what both coach and senior should make the utmost priority. There is no way we are the best team we can be with the depth chart at running back as it stands right now. Many are calling for Hall or Berry. I would love to see that happen but at least start Dan Herron. He has more yards and is just as good a receiver. He is a class act, a character kid all the way. Forget about the stats. Just look at the film. Who is the more impressive back? Coach Tressel should make the move and the team first player I believe Brandon Saine is, should understand.
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