2010 Preview: Offensive Backs

Can Pryor take OSU to the title? (AP: LaPrete)

Yesterday, Joe kicked off our season preview by taking a look at the offensive line and today we focus on the guys they'll be blocking for; the offensive backs.

This unit is stocked with proven performers like last year's breakout runner Brandon Saine, fellow tailback Boom Herron and everyone's key to the season, quarterback Terrelle Pryor. It also features some pleasant surprises from last season in the form of RB Jordan Hall and fullback Zach Boren plus there's also a couple hyped guys that have not yet had a chance to show what they can do including the previously oft-injured RB Jaamal Berry and the bruising young RB Carlos Hyde. This doesn't even mention the enigma that is freshman RB Rod Smith, and the two quarterbacks looking to backup Pryor, junior Joe Bauserman and freshman Kenny Guiton of spring game fame. The group is rounded out by depth guys like QB's Taylor Graham and Justin Siems and backfield guys Bo DeLande, Adam Homan, James Georgiades and Spencer Smith.

With such a deep stable of running backs, combined with factors such as Pryor taking his share of carries and OSU looking to air it out a little more, it will be interesting to see if and how Tressel uses the cavalcade of running backs at his disposal. Before we do that, let's take a quick look at how the running backs fared last year both rushing and receiving the football:

The big three of TP, Boom and Zoom carried the rushing load last season combining for 84% of the rushing yards with Pryor leading the way in total yards from the QB slot while Saine posted an impressive 5.1 yards per carry. Saine was also clutch as a receiver out the backfield with 17 grabs, good for 13.2 a pop. Boom had a so-so season in which he too often fell victim to shoestring tackles at the line of scrimmage contributing to a paltry 3.1 ypc, but he did find the endzone seven times and paced the team in rushing yards per game at 60 even. In only six games, Hall opened some eyes with a shifty running style and stepped up specifically when injuries forced Boom to miss three games.

As I touched on back in May, the rushing attack caught fire the last five games of the regular season amassing 1,288 yards (5.13 ypc) with the big boys up front creating lanes despite the knowledge OSU was going to run 75% of the time thanks to continuous success plus Pryor's leg and accuracy woes. Something interesting happened leading up to the Rose Bowl, however, as Pryor healed and further improved his mechanics and decision making which gave Tressel more confidence in his signal caller's ability to throw the football effectively. The result was a 51 pass, 38 run play-calling shocker in which Pryor went off like the mob and recently we all heard Tressel indicate this year's offense might throw it 25-30 times per game. So, what does that mean for the 2010 running backs?

For starters, it probably means Pryor will be featured slighty less as a runner, opening the door for Saine to be the true feature back. He was clearly the dominant RB a season ago and there's good reason to believe that some of the extra passes Tressel is talking about will be of the screen, flair and dump-off variety into the excellent hands of Saine. Last year, Zoom averaged only 12.5 touches (11.2 rush, 1.3 rec) per game but even with added depth at tailback, I have to believe he'll average closer to 15-16 chances this fall.

Behind Zoom, Boom Herron is still the incumbent "1A" starter but something tells me he's under the most pressure from the young guns thanks mostly to the aforementioned 3.9 ypc last year. He simply went down too easy at times and his breakaway ability probably isn't the same as Hall's and definitely not in the same league as Berry's. I'm also not convinced he's a better receiver out the backfield than either of those two as both appear to be much more dangerous in space. Still, Boom is a battle tested vet that has proven to be effective, if not spectacular, and he has rightfully earned Tressel's trust. Sometimes grinders like Boom are the hardest to appreciate but they serve a valuable purpose.

Even if the Buckeyes do throw it more often, Pryor will get his carries. The read/option had its moments in 2009 and Tressel is far too wise to keep Pryor in the pocket. The stiff-arm is much to deadly and defenses are forced to prepare for yet one more facet of his game if Pryor rushes it a good 8-10 times per contest. Last year, he went for 12.46 rushes per game but obviously a chunk of those were scrambles.

Now that we've touched on the big three, what about the cast of other guys that have fans thinking big? Jordan Hall remains an afterthought for some fans with Berry-fever but his 5.2 ypc was better than any Buckeye with at least 40 carries last year. Speaking of Berry, he's talking the talk proclaiming, "big plays and touchdowns is what (fans) should expect and that's what I’m going to do." You gotta like the confidence even if his injury woes, specifically a lingering hamstring problem, have kept him from showing fans anything to date. With Tressel's recent comments about airing it out more often and the need to get Berry in space, he could be a prime benefactor in the short/quick passing package.

Tilting the scales a little south, Carlos Hyde is opening eyes in camp with a punishing running style and that might be enough for him to find a niche on this team as a short yardage / red zone power guy especially now that Jermil Martin has transferred and Rod Smith has likely now missed enough practice that he'll have zero impact in 2010.

At fullback, Zach Boren has a stranglehold on the position thanks to a no nonsense style and a set of soft hands out of the backfield that Tressel can sporadically utilize to surprise opposing defenses.

Overall, last year's 18th ranked rushing attack looks even stronger on paper though it remains to be seen if the stats will matchup pending any offensive philosophy modification from Tressel. Either way, the horses are loaded and ready to bust out of the gates.

The passing game ranked just 103rd last year thanks to what turned out to be a huge learning experience for Pryor. The slower than expected maturation culminated in the Purdue debacle, after which point Pryor's stat line read 10 TD and 8 INT through seven games. With Pryor struggling with confidence, accuracy and injury, Tressel buttoned up the playbook after two more attempts to get TP going (25 pass attempts against Minn and 23 against NM St) and threw it just 17 times in wins over Penn State, Iowa and Michigan. As discussed, Pryor responded during bowl prep and lit up Oregon connecting on 23/37 for 266 yards, 2 TD and a pick. His final 2009 aerial statline wasn't overly impressive but that's done nothing to detract from the blue sky outlook felt in Columbus this summer.

With Tressel's "25-30" comment, the indication is The Vest now appears comfortable enough with Pryor's grasp of the offense and ability to throw the ball that he plans to "share the sugar" in a manner not seen since Troy Smith guided the 2006 offense. Pryor exceeded 30 attempts just twice last year (Purdue, Oregon) though he did eclipse 25+ attempts six times.

As we discussed a few months back, the wide receivers accounted for 71.83% of quarterback completions last year with the running backs logging 16.67%, tight ends 9.19% and fullbacks 2.30%. Expect those numbers to shift a bit this year. Fall practice has seen a considerable amount of swings, dump offs and screens to the running backs and Jake Stoneburner should create plenty of mismatches from the tight end spot while Boren has shown himself to be a capable pass catching fullback. Meanwhile, Posey and Sanzenbacher will definitely get theirs, but with a 3rd receiver not truly solidified, it seems only logical that the better weapons found out the backfield and at tight end will be exploited.

Again, my take is the extra passes this year will be of the short/quick variety as Tressel looks to become a little less predictable on 1st and 2nd down. The short routes should also boost Pryor's completion percentage from a shady 56.6% last year into the lower-mid 60's this season. Further, the short stuff could open up the deep routes, and if spring ball and fall camp are any indication, Pryor has greatly improved his touch down the field. If all this truly does come to fruition, Pryor could certainly find himself in New York as a Heisman finalist.

Should the unthinkable happen (knock wood now, plz), there's a tight battle for the backup slot between Joe Bauserman and Kenny Guiton. Bauserman was absolutely awful last year in limited duty hitting 6/19 (32%) while Guiton has never taken a snap in a collegiate football game though he was a star in the spring scrimmage. At this point, it still seems as if Bauserman has the inside track based on having a tad of experience and the fact Guiton hasn't seized the moment this fall like he did back in April. Taylor Graham and Justin Siems round out the quarterbacks.

So, where do you stand - are you excited about the stable of running backs or are you alarmed that while deep, the group doesn't include a true workhorse? And what about Pryor - are you "all in" on the notion that he's ready for a Troy-esque season?