Reading through here, some folks think Saine isn't cut up for power football. I totally disagree. I've seen him truck LBs and drag a pile eight yards. However, when you have a LB coming through totally [censored]ing untouched and meets you about 10 nanoseconds after you take the handoff, I don't care if you're Jim [censored]ing Brown, you're not getting any yardage. Saine got hit immediately in the backfield at least three times in that exact manner, and if I remember correctly, each time it was when he was the only back (Z. Boren was on the sidelines). When Saine at least had some time, he was OK. Miami's DL did a good job of plugging holes and forced Saine to wait on several carries. Many times we praise him for his patience, and he actually has good vision...it's when nothing opens up that he's not going to get the good yardage. Saine will look for holes before accelerating...Herron just blasts into the line.
) that I think Saine does well where there's a well-defined hole, whereas Herron (and especially Jordan Hall) does better in the trash that often occurs in a game wherein our O-line and the opponent's D-line are closely matched. Saine is going to pile up impressive yardage in games against relatively weak opposition, and he'll always be a dangerous weapon in the passing game. I just don't expect much from him when the holes are small or spotty, as they were against the excellent Hurricane D-line.
