Rushing Yardage: The Numbers

[Rabid]

2731 yards. That's what we're talking about.

That number represents 227.6 yards per game which was the best in the SEC in 2009.

SEC Team Statistics

Anthony Dixon was responsible for 1391 of those yards or 126.5 yards per game. Again, the best in the SEC.

SEC Individual Statistics

To simplify the argument, Corch34 is suggesting that our running backs will collectively gain more than 2731 yards this season. I believe we all will concede that it is unlikely that we will have one running back who will gain nearly 1400 yards alone.

Is Corch34 right? I don't know. We will certainly see.

In my opinion, we will miss Anthony Dixon. We will miss him in short yardage situations. We will miss his ability to catch the football. Also, we shouldn't discount his ability to hold on to the football. Anthony Dixon rarely fumbled the ball. Others have mentioned that he was our emotional leader. For those reasons, I think we will miss Anthony Dixon.

However, the question is whether our current running backs can gather more than 2731 yards. That's the question - pure and simple.

 

[Rabid]

2731 yards. That's what we're talking about.

That number represents 227.6 yards per game which was the best in the SEC in 2009.

SEC Team Statistics

Anthony Dixon was responsible for 1391 of those yards or 126.5 yards per game. Again, the best in the SEC.

SEC Individual Statistics

To simplify the argument, Corch34 is suggesting that our running backs will collectively gain more than 2731 yards this season. I believe we all will concede that it is unlikely that we will have one running back who will gain nearly 1400 yards alone.

Is Corch34 right? I don't know. We will certainly see.

In my opinion, we will miss Anthony Dixon. We will miss him in short yardage situations. We will miss his ability to catch the football. Also, we shouldn't discount his ability to hold on to the football. Anthony Dixon rarely fumbled the ball. Others have mentioned that he was our emotional leader. For those reasons, I think we will miss Anthony Dixon.

However, the question is whether our current running backs can gather more than 2731 yards. That's the question - pure and simple.

 

[FlabLoser]

[No message]

 

[Rabid]

Corch34 done outdid hisself.

This will go the same way that did. Our running game will be just as good or even better, we will make bigger plays in the passing game, win 7, maybe 8 games next year, and then everybody on the board will post about how they knew we were going to be better offensively this year even without Dixon...It's the Sixpack way...

measure our RB's last year to our RB's this year...that's the comparision

I'm just putting numbers on those claims.

Those numbers are 2731 and 227.6.

 

[Coach34]

Dixon had 1,391...so are you telling me Ducre, Stallworth, and Elliot combined for over 1,400 yards? Seems like I remember Lee and Relf running for some yards this season...

As a team in 2010, yes- we will rush for 2,700 yards or more...Relf had 500 yards last year in a limited role- he will probably go for at least 800 this season, probably more

1,970- thats the number our RB's have to surpass in 2010...or 5.29- 2009 ypc average our TB's amassed....the 1,970 may not be attained because of Relf and his running- but the 5.29 will be surpassed

 

[Coach34]

if you dont think next year's team won't be able to average 227 per game...Relf will get 80 of that by himself

 

[Rabid]

Dixon had 1,391...so are you telling me Ducre, Stallworth, and Elliot combined for over 1,400 yards? Seems like I remember Lee and Relf running for some yards this season...

As a team in 2010, yes- we will rush for 2,700 yards or more...Relf had 500 yards last year in a limited role- he will probably go for at least 800 this season, probably more

1,970- thats the number our RB's have to surpass in 2010...or 5.29- 2009 ypc average our TB's amassed....the 1,970 may not be attained because of Relf and his running- but the 5.29 will be surpassed

Actually, I'm hoping you're right about this one. Because you know you've never been right before. There's a first time for everything. Good luck.

 

[Rabid]

nm

 

[Coach34]

and I'm pretty confident on this one

We will average somewhere around 400 yards a game...and 230 of that will surely be in the running game

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

"Relf 80 rushing per game average" 17'n WOW!

That's ******** and you know it!</p>

 

[Coach34]

how could he not get to 80 playing 3 quarters a game next year?

 

[Columbus Dawg]

With our O-line, Relf, Mullen, and capable 4 capable RB's we should still be very productive in the run game. But that doesn't change the fact that we will really miss Dixon.

 

[Rabid]

However, when I look at 2009 NCAA FBS football statistics, only eight teams ran for more than 227.6 yards per game.

FBS Team Rushing Offense

Revisiting those SEC stats, only two teams accumulated more than 2731 yards for the season. Florida and Alabama. And they play one more SEC game than we did - the SEC Championship game.

Again, I hope you're right.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

If he is averaging 80, our offense will suck.

His passing skills are NOT very impressive.

Averaging 80 think about it!

Don't think he will be the number one QB anyway.

 

[Coach34]

let me help educate you...

Mullen, historically, has wanted a QB running the football as a weapon. His QB's have averaged double-digit carries per game. Alex Smith of the 49'ers, who is nowhere near Relf as a runner, averaged 12 carries a game. If Relf were to average 12 carries a game next year, with his per carry average from 2009- he would average 78 yards rushing a game for us next year.

By most accounts this Spring so far, Relf and Russell are fairly close right now throwing the football- and there is not even any competition as to who the better runner is.

Relf is most likely going to be the starter, and our offense is going to look like it did against Mississippi to end the season, with just a little more of a passing attack added. Remember that game? When Relf had 131 yards on 15 carries? Or UPig- when Relf had 68 yards on 12 carries? Or Kentucky- 60 yards on just 2 carries? You get the idea...

Relf is probably going to rush for 800- 1,000 yards in 2010

 

[Indndawg]

thanx CD

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

How many players at MSU have averaged over Yards per game over the last 40 17n years?
I suspect not over one per year, and likely much less than that...
I hope he does average 80+, but the averages say much different.

I hope he can pass,

averaging 80 is ********! Hope I'm completely wrong!

 

[Coach34]

that this past season's offense was one of the best in school history...and that was with Lee taking most of the snaps.

I just dont understand why you don't think a guy that averaged over 50 yards a game this past season when he barely even played until the end can't up his average another 20 or so yards playing 2 more whole quarters a game this season?

 

[Todd4State]

that this past season's offense was one of the best in school history...and that was with Lee taking most of the snaps.



I just dont understand why you don't think a guy that averaged over 50 yards a game this past season when he barely even played until the end can't up his average another 20 or so yards playing 2 more whole quarters a game this season?

Is that if Elliott and Ballard can muster 700 yards a piece, which is pretty pedestrian especially in a run first offense, that equals guess what? 1400 yards. I think both are certainly capable of doing that, and I haven't even mentioned Montrell Conner.

And then you have Relf. I watched a lot of the bowls, and honestly I did not see very many guys that were better running the option than Relf. I'm not talking about just the Egg Bowl either- he played well against Arkansas and Kentucky as well. I imagine that he will only get better as a player to. I really think he is our next Sleepy Robinson, which is a very good thing.

 

[mstatefan88]

I think we will miss Dixon, but not in terms of on the field production. He is the biggest star we've had on the team in a while, and between him and the excitement around the hiring of Mullen, this is the most press we've gotten since we hired Croom. Dixon did a ton on the field, and his personality and talent got us some extra press off the field which is what we will miss the most. I think we will play much more as a team next year and not have to rely on one person to try and save us. Relf will get about 60 to 70 rushing yards per game, and as a team we should have no problem getting above 200 rushing yards per game. We have multiple weapons from the RB position, and we are way more versatile with Perkins, Ballard, and Conner than we were with Dixon, Ducre, and Stallworth. We have a couple of studs on the team like Wright, Mitchell, and Sherrod. But for the most part, wehave more depth with young talentthat we haven't had in a while. That depth is goingto be more valuable than having one guy carry us.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

that would be 80yds. X 12games.

Hope you are right!

Over the last 40 years, we have never had more than one player get anywhere near that level,
you could check a couple of seasons, like when Bowie and Davis played, or maybe when Packer or one or two others played, but otherwise don't waste your time.

 

[95dawg]

With Dixon gone who are the opposing defenses going to key on to allow Relf to get his yards.... Just sayin

 

[Coach34]

they are going to have to key on the Tailback, Relf, Bumphis, Berry, Heavens, and Green...we were very one dimentional and STILL ran for lots of yards...

although they will still try to key on Relf and whomever is at TB, they can't take as many chances because our passing game will be improved

 

[8dog]

because of a great running back. Its successful b/c of good reads, a good running qb, and good o-line play.

Defenses aren't going to ignore the handoff simply b/c its not Dixon. If they do, they will get gashed.

 

[Todd4State]

they are going to have to key on the Tailback, Relf, Bumphis, Berry, Heavens, and Green...we were very one dimentional and STILL ran for lots of yards...



although they will still try to key on Relf and whomever is at TB, they can't take as many chances because our passing game will be improved

Our o-line will be improved as well, plus this is our second year in this offensive system. I think Micheal Carr is going to be a instant impact player for us as well at WR, and Perkins is a freak. There isn't any reason why we WON'T get better unless we have a ton of injuries or something like that.

And even if they do key in on Relf, it's not like we're talking about 6'0 180 pound Pat White here. Relf is what 6'3" at least 230? He can run over his share of people to, and he is not exactly going to be easy to bring down.

 

[Goat Dawg]

If Ballard and Elliot combine for 1400 then we will be better off with them than Dixon. But what YOU don't realize is that that number is *%%+%!% hard to get however many backs you have, no matter how many carries they get. Our rushing game won't be as good without Dixon, plain and simple, unless somebody steps up in a big way. This argument is done, and you guys have lost.

 

[Todd4State]

If Ballard and Elliot combine for 1400 then we will be better off with them than Dixon. But what YOU don't realize is that that number is *%%+%!% hard to get however many backs you have, no matter how many carries they get. Our rushing game won't be as good without Dixon, plain and simple, unless somebody steps up in a big way. This argument is done, and you guys have lost.

They would get it easily. They get 700 yards a piece, they'll have it. If we ran the run and shoot, I bet we would have a 700 yard runner, much less in an Urban Meyer spread offense. 60 yards a game is 15 yards a quarter.

I think Coach is right on this, and even if he isn't, I would say that the numbers are in his favor when you think about it. The ONLY way Caoch is wrong on this is if Elliott sucks and Ballard and Conner are busts. I don't think that's going to be the case.

This is just like when we lost Norwood- people said that we wouldn't replace him, and Dixon did.

I don't see any reason what so ever as to why we should regress on offense, we're better at practically every position and the only one that is even up for debate is RB, and you know that those guys are going to get touches and yards in this offense.

 

[Coach34]

you love Dixon- thats fine. He played his *** off for us the last 4 years. He is going to get paid in the pros also. Good for him.

But RB is actually the easiest position to replace. The scheme allowed Dixon to have such a great season- COMBINED with that talent he posesses...but we have very talented players replacing him, the same scheme, and QB's that will make our offense even better. Not to even mention we won't start the season with the new offense growing pains of last year.

In 2010- we will average 400 yards a game offensively, with at least 230 of it coming on the ground. The only difference is that our QB will have a higher percentage of the rushing yards. Hell, we even played in slop more than usual this past season with all the rain games. I doubt that happens again this Fall as well.

 

[coachjek]

just curious, How many yards did AD get after contact? and compare this to the rest of our running backs. I believe this was what made AD so valuable to us. It just seemed that RE was easier to get off his feet. I will say this, RE of course is not built like AD in that they are not built the same in the legs. It will be interesting to see who is able to get the yards between the tackles. A lot of AD's big runs were up the gut where he ended up running over a DB or two. RE will get his yards but I just don't think it will be between the tackles and don't know enough about VB and MC to cast my vote on them.