tBBC OSU Running Backs: If You Were A Coach, Who Would You Play?

[Ken]

OSU Running Backs: If You Were A Coach, Who Would You Play?
Ken via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
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A few of us were hanging around the (virtual) water cooler, when Joe asked; “If you were a coach, who would you want as your running back? Archie? Eddie? Ezekiel? That’s a good question. Let’s take a look at how these gentlemen did at Ohio State, and go from there. We’ll look at some stats, examine their environment and opportunities and maybe draw a conclusion or two. The sources I used were the Ohio State Athletics website and www.sports-reference.com.



Archie Griffin

Below are Archie’s numbers for his career at Ohio State. He got into the starting lineup early; the second game of his freshman year (North Carolina), to be exact. In his collegiate debut, Archie went off for 239 yards on 27 carries. I’m sure that performance made a favorable impression on Woody.

Archie Griffin​

Rushing​

Receiving​

Scrimmage​

Year​

Class​

G​

Att​

Yds​

Avg​

TD​

Rec​

Yds​

Avg​

TD​

Plays​

Yds​

Avg​

TD
*1972​

FR​

11​

159​

867​

5.5​

3​

6​

71​

11.8​

0​

165​

938​

5.7​

3
*1973​

SO​

11​

247​

1,577​

6.4​

7​

5​

32​

6.4​

1​

252​

1,609​

6.4​

8
*1974​

JR​

12​

256​

1,695​

6.6​

12​

5​

77​

15.4​

0​

261​

1,772​

6.8​

12
*1975​

SR​

12​

262​

1,450​

5.5​

4​

14​

170​

12.1​

0​

276​

1,620​

5.9​

4​

Total​

46​

924​

5589​

6.0​

26​

30​

350​

11.7​

1​

954​

5,939​

6.2​

27​

Notes:

Archie had the longest career, four years as the starting tailback. At 5’9″, 182″ Archie was a durable running back, considering the number of carries that he had. He had a low center of gravity, powerful legs and a “stuttering” running style. Archie was more of a “scat-back” type runner. He wasn’t a strider like Eddie George.

You have to consider that Archie played under Woody Hayes, and Woody’s offense was fullback-centric. Hayes had some wonderful tailbacks that played for him, but the fullback was the centerpiece of Woody’s offensive philosophy.

• In his four years, he accounted for 32% of OSU’s rushing attempts and 38% of it’s rushing yardage.
• His pass reception numbers were minuscule, but remember under Woody, passing was not emphasized.
• His scoring and yardages were dampened in his freshman and senior years because of the contributions of a good fullback his freshman year (“Champ” Henson; 193 carries, 795 yards, 20 TDs) and his senior yer (Pete Johnson; 227 carries, 1,059 yards, 25 TDs).
• Woody preferred to attack a defense “horizontally”, from the inside-out. The base play was the triple option involving (from inside to out; hand-off to fullback, quarterback keep, pitch to tailback on the edge.
• The I-formation tailback was not required to do much blocking, maybe some roll-out pass protection now and then.

Eddie George

Eddie was really and understudy for his first two years, getting spot duty because ahead of him in the lineup were Robert Smith/Raymont Harris/Butler By’note. Eddie didn’t really get an opportunity to make his mark until his final two seasons. His senior season truly showcased his athleticism and his durability. His 328 carries and 47 receptions are an incredible number of “touches”. Eddie’s frame, 6’3″, 227 was built to last, and it served him well.

Eddie George​

Rushing​

Receiving​

Scrimmage​

Year​

Class​

G​

Att​

Yds​

Avg​

TD​

Rec​

Yds​

Avg​

TD​

Plays​

Yds​

Avg​

TD
*1992​

FR​

11​

37​

176​

4.8​

5​

37​

176​

4.8​

5
*1993​

SO​

12​

42​

223​

5.3​

3​

42​

223​

5.3​

3
*1994​

JR​

13​

276​

1,442​

5.2​

12​

16​

117​

7.3​

0​

292​

1,559​

5.3​

12
*1995​

SR​

13​

328​

1,927​

5.9​

24​

47​

417​

8.9​

1​

375​

2,344​

6.3​

25​

Total​

49​

683​

3768​

5.5​

44​

63​

534​

8.5​

1​

746​

4,302​

5.8​

45​

Now, 20 years after Archie Griffin comes another superlative running back, Eddie George. Under John Cooper, the offense was a bit more diversified; specifically, Cooper wasn’t afraid to have his quarterbacks throw the ball. Under Cooper, the offense revolved around the quarterback/tailback axis, unlike Woody’s fullback/tailback approach. This more balanced pass-run mix was probably harder to defend, but Eddie was the ball carrier in Cooper’s offense. If the call was a running play, more often than not, Eddie would get the ball.

• In his last two seasons, he accounted for 53% of OSU’s rushing attempts and 65% of it’s rushing yardage.
• His pass reception numbers were nothing to look at, until his senior season. Eddie’s 47 receptions were second on the team only to WR Terry Glenn’s 64 catches.
• John Cooper still ran a base I-formation, but in contrast to Woody, also attacked a defense “vertically” with the passing game. In 1995, QB Bobby Hoying passed for over 3,200 yards, a number certainly foreign to Woody’s offensive philosophy.
• In a similar vein with Archie, being an I-formation tailback did not require Eddie to do much blocking, maybe some roll-out pass protection now and then.

Ezekiel Elliott

Similar to Eddie George, I’ll only consider (what would appear to be) the two most recent years in evaluating Ezekiel. In Zeke’s freshman year, he barely saw the field, because with Carlos Hyde and Braxton contributing a combined 370 carries and 2,589 yards, he didn’t have much opportunity. The numbers for Elliott are incomplete, since there is one more game (likely) or two (not likely, but I’m contractually obligated to mention it) before Elliott’s career comes to an end at Ohio State. If Zeke returns for his senior season, I’d be glad to revisit this topic.

Ezekiel Elliott​

Rushing​

Receiving​

Scrimmage​

Year​

Class​

G​

Att​

Yds​

Avg​

TD​

Rec​

Yds​

Avg​

TD​

Plays​

Yds​

Avg​

TD
2013​

FR​

7​

30​

262​

8.7​

2​

3​

23​

7.7​

1​

33​

285​

8.6​

3
*2014​

SO​

15​

273​

1,878​

6.9​

18​

28​

220​

7.9​

0​

301​

2,098​

7​

18
2015​

JR​

12​

262​

1,672​

6.4​

19​

26​

176​

6.8​

0​

288​

1,848​

6.4​

19​

Total​

34​

565​

3812​

6.7​

39​

57​

419​

7.4​

1​

622​

4,231​

6.8​

40​

Now, 20 years after Eddie George, comes yet another superlative running back, Ezekiel Elliott. Under Urban Meyer, the offense was a even more diversified; specifically, Urban wasn’t afraid to have his quarterbacks run and throw the ball. Under Woody, the quarterback was primarily a runner, under cooper, passing was encouraged. The other significant wrinkle was the base formation. Rather than a quarterback under center with backs lined in an “I” behind him, Urban’s QB’s nearly always take a direct snap from center, similar to the old single wing formation.

• In his last two seasons, he accounted for 44% of OSU’s rushing attempts and 52% of it’s rushing yardage.
• His pass reception numbers, over two seasons, are comparable to Eddie’s. He performed well as an outlet/swing pass receiver..
• His scoring and yardages were dampened in his junior year (J.T. Barrett had 34 TD passes) and senior year due to questionable personnel and tactical decisions by the coaching staff.
• The Urban Meyer’s offense also attacks a defense “vertically” with the passing game and “horizontally” with the read option concept. Although the formations are different, Urban still looks for theh same “pressure points” of a defense.
• In stark contrast to his predecessors running out of an I formation, blocking is an integral (and desired) skill for a halfback in an Urban Meyer offense. You can probably make a highlight reel of Zeke’s blocks on running plays & in pass protection..

Wrap-up

It’s fairly difficult to go wrong with any of these players. All three RBs are skilled (with help from their offensive lines) at running the ball. They are all serviceable receivers. Additionally, Ezekiel has demonstrated an exceptional ability to be a blocker. Could Archie and Eddie block? If they were called upon, probably. But, based on clear evidence, Ezekiel brings this dimension to the position.

I guess that your offensive preference (I-formation, spread formation) would dictate the type of running back that you’d prefer. Since I am a bit Old School’ish, I lean to the I-formation as my preferred base formation. Because of Archie’s sustained excellence in this offensive philosphy, I’m going with Archie Griffin as my running back.

What say you?





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