The Myth of the SC Tailback

[piyachi]

Over the past few seasons I have heard repeated references to how loaded USC is at with tailbacks and how any recruit that headed their way would simply ride the bench. During all of this talk, SC is consistently put in a better light in terms of their talent level in the backfield compared to the Irish. So I decided to take a look at what both teams have (according to Rivals, since I trust their talent evaluation more)

USC

2005
- No tailbacks in this class
2006
- Stafon Johnson - - (6.1) - Number 2 running back
- Emmanuel Moody - - (6.0) - Number 9 running back (transferred)
- Kenny Ashley - - (5.8) - Number 21 running back
2007
- Joe McKnight - - (6.1) - Number 1 running back
- Marc Tyler - - (6.1) - Number 2 running back
- Broderick Green - - (5.8) - Number 14 running back
2008
- Curtis McNeal - - (5.7) - Number 20 running back
- Brian Baucham - - (5.6) - Number 30 running back
2009
- No tailbacks in this class... yet


This means that they have 7 tailbacks in 2008/2009. This isn't exactly a small group but looking at the balance it seems all the talent is loaded in the 2006 and 2007 classes. They don't have any clear senior leader (correct me if this is wrong) and I know that at least one of the backs has been hampered by injury problems.

Lets look at the Irish:

2005
- No tailbacks in this class
2006
- James Aldridge - - (6.1) - Number 3 running back
- Munir Prince - - (5.7) - Number 25 running back (transferred)
2007
- Armando Allen - - (6.0) - Number 2 all-purpose back
- Robert Hughes - - (5.9) - Number 7 running back
2008
- Jonas Gray - - (6.0) - Number 4 running back
2009
- Cierre Wood - - (6.1) - Number 1 running back

Assuming Wood ends up signing with the Irish, the Irish will have 6 tailbacks. The situation is actually surprisingly similar to SC: no clear senior leader and an open competition for playing time. The classes seem to be a little more balanced, with no backlogs of over 2 backs in a given year.



Ultimately the Irish seem to be very similar to SC in the backfield with the sidebar that SC does hold a slightly higher talent bar if you take Rivals word as cannon. Essentially my point here is that SC seems to be such a powerhouse based on the high-profile recruits like Tyler and McKnight. However the Irish are not only catching up but really haven't been too far behind to begin with. Your thoughts?

[BDIrish4ever]

Nice work piyachi, but I am going to look at this a little differently. It has always been my opinion that skill position players are more reliant on the offensive line in front of them than the press and the less-educated football fan would admit. At this point, I don't believe we really know how good any of these backs are. A average back will look great behind a great line and a great back will look very pedestrian behind a bad offensive line. U$C has a very good offensive line and their running game wasn't really dominate. Our offensive line played terrible and a running game never really showed up. Talent-wise, ND and U$C backs have about the same talent level but the statistical differences make their backs appear better than ours.

[ND=NC]

McKnight is academically ineligible

[piyachi]

Originally Posted by BDIrish4ever

Nice work piyachi, but I am going to look at this a little differently. It has always been my opinion that skill position players are more reliant on the offensive line in front of them than the press and the less-educated football fan would admit. At this point, I don't believe we really know how good any of these backs are. A average back will look great behind a great line and a great back will look very pedestrian behind a bad offensive line. U$C has a very good offensive line and their running game wasn't really dominate. Our offensive line played terrible and a running game never really showed up. Talent-wise, ND and U$C backs have about the same talent level but the statistical differences make their backs appear better than ours.

Good point - my focus there (a little convoluted, I know) was just that the argument of 'USC has 1000 5* tailbacks' isn't really valid - especially in light of how we are stockpiling offensive skill players. I completely agree that a great line can make an average 'back look spectacular. Let's hope that we get both and push some fools around this year.

Didn't realize McKnight was ineligible... is that only for spring practice so far?

[OCIrish]

Originally Posted by piyachi

Good point - my focus there (a little convoluted, I know) was just that the argument of 'USC has 1000 5* tailbacks' isn't really valid - especially in light of how we are stockpiling offensive skill players. I completely agree that a great line can make an average 'back look spectacular. Let's hope that we get both and push some fools around this year.

Didn't realize McKnight was ineligible... is that only for spring practice so far?

Yeah, he has to sit out the spring practice and game. Don't worry, we'll be seeing him in November.

[ND=NC]

As far as I know the spring semester. I believe he had a choice, was either drop a class or fail it. He chose to drop the class and never picked another one up. Leaving him with only 6 credit hrs taken in the spring and making him ineligible.

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

As far as I know the spring semester. I believe he had a choice, was either drop a class or fail it. He chose to drop the class and never picked another one up. Leaving him with only 6 credit hrs taken in the spring and making him ineligible.

Your kidding right??? How can a university be letting that happen or am I missing something.