The Big Ten has always had a reputation of smash-mouth, keep-the-ball-on-the-ground football, highlighted by star running backs.
The conference has produced the likes of Eddie George, Ki-Jana Carter, Ron Dayne, Sedrick Shaw and Anthony Thomas, giving the Big Ten a reputation as a top-of-the-line running-back conference.
This year, however, teams in the Big Ten are struggling to run the ball. For the first time in years, only two running backs in the Big Ten are averaging over 100 yards rushing per game. Running backs Laurence Maroney and Marion Barber III, both Minnesota Gophers average 134.0 and 120.4 yards per game respectively. Wisconsin’s Anthony Davis would be leading the conference in rushing, but has yet to play in enough games to qualify.
At the Big Ten coach’s press conference Tuesday, Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr claimed that Minnesota is the best running team that he has seen in the Big Ten conference in 25 years. He added that other teams are having trouble because of the inexperience at tailback for a lot of schools.
Illinois, Indiana, Penn State and Michigan State are all starting sophomore running backs, and Michigan is starting a freshman. Ohio State benched ineffective senior Lydell Ross in place of freshman Antonio Pittman in its loss to Northwestern.
Injuries are another factor playing into the down statistical year for the Big Ten backs. Iowa is now down to its fourth string running back after Jermelle Lewis, Albert Young and Sam Brownlee all tore their ACL’s. Without starter Anthony Davis and with injuries to backup Booker Stanley and third stringer Jamil Walker, Wisconsin was forced to rely on fullback Matt Bernstein two weeks ago.
Wisconsin football coach Barry Alvarez, though, doesn’t believe that the skill level has dropped at all, instead attributing the low numbers to teams’ focusing on balanced offensive attacks.
“There are less teams that really want to establish the run first. I think most teams want to be balanced. You see a lot of spread-type teams now,” said Alvarez.
Alvarez also believes defenses are more focused on stopping the run.
“Defenses really load up against the run now,” said Alvarez.
Indiana coach Gerry DiNardo agreed, saying, “Defenses align to load the box to stop the run.”
Boilermakers still rolling: Purdue continued its dominance this season by cruising by Notre Dame 41-16 last week for its first win at Notre Dame since 1974.
The Purdue offense continued to roll, leading the country in total offense (549.3 yards per game), passing offense (370.3 yards a game), scoring offense (47.3 points per game) and passing efficiency (197.04).
Senior quarterback Kyle Orton has been outstanding so far this season, throwing for 17 touchdowns and no interceptions. Next week the Boilermakers play at Penn State, where head coach Joe Paterno is nervous about the matchup.
“I think we are playing one of the best football teams we have ever played against in the 50 years I’ve been here,” said Paterno “No turnovers in four games, only sacked 3 time, so precise … (Orton) reminds me of (Doug) Flutie.”
When asked how he plans to slow down the Boilermakers offense, Paterno responded, “We will try to think of something. I don’t know if anyone can do anything against them … It’s a monumental chore just to stay in the ball game with them.”
Purdue head coach Joe Tiller has been more than pleased with his senior quarterback. “Kyle has really matured at the position and has a great command of the game and what we’re doing offensively,” said Tiller.
Tiller continued to say that Orton is just as much a pleasure off the field as he is on it.
“[He’s] a typical Midwesterner — cool headed, solid to the earth … and a fun guy to be around.”
