The Courier-Journal (Louisville)
U of L running back depth reminiscent of 2006 Cards
After No. 21 Louisville football’s 49-14 win over Jacksonville State on Saturday, Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm was asked about the sustainability of playing multiple running backs.
Donald Chaney, Keyjuan Brown, Maurice Turner and Duke Watson each scored in the team’s second win of the season. Turner led the Cardinals with 60 rushing yards, and Isaac Brown was the leading rusher the week before with 123 yards.
Louisville’s history shows a run game by committee is sustainable — even preferable in some situations.
In 2006, the Cardinals played five running backs and had the program’s first 12-win season, highlighted by a Big East title and Orange Bowl win. Four of the backs, including Male High School graduate Michael Bush, became NFL draft picks.
“It can help you, and it can keep guys fresh,” said Brohm, who was the Cardinals’ quarterbacks coach under Bobby Petrino in 2006. “When certain guys get injured and other guys have already played, you’re going to be better.”
After Bush, hailed as a Heisman Trophy candidate, got hurt in the 2006 season opener against Kentucky, U of L utilized its running back depth and didn’t have any drop-off. Eighteen years later, Chaney exited the second game of the season early with a high ankle sprain. Despite Chaney’s injury, Louisville’s run game remained strong. After two games, Louisville is averaging 293 rushing yards per game (14th nationally).
“It gives us a lot of confidence, just coming out here and being able to play like that,” Keyjuan Brown said. “(It’s) getting us ready for the big-time play.”
The 2006 group averaged 185.3 rushing yards per outing and alternated
leading rushers in each game. Kolby Smith ended the season as the team’s leading rusher with 862 yards. Anthony Allen had a team-leading 13 rushing touchdowns. Statistics aside, the Cardinals’ best running back often depended on the game and situation. George Stripling was better running around the ends. Allen was more physical and ran through tackles. Brock Bolen could run and block.
Though it’s only been two games, the same situational specialty applies to
Louisville’s current running backs, who have speed, physicality and elusiveness.
“We think we got a decent feel of what these guys are good at: what runs, screen game, perimeter game, all those things,” Brohm said. “They’ve been efficient. They’ve taken care of the ball. They’ve blocked fairly well. They’ve broken tackles. We got two true freshmen (Watson and Isaac Brown) that have shown really good signs of speed and burst with a couple of veterans. I just think it’s a good mixture.”
Besides speed, Watson can run through tackles. He leads the team in yards after contact (129), followed by Keyjuan Brown (76). According to
Louisville Athletics, Watson’s two touchdowns make him one of three true Cards freshmen in the past 94 years to rush for a TD in the first two games of the season, joining Lamar Jackson (2015) and Tom Lucia (1947). Despite not coming in until the fourth quarter against Jacksonville State, Watson had a 40-yard run and averaged 12.8 yards per carry.
Turner was efficient in picking up first downs against Jacksonville State. Of the 13 plays he was involved in, four resulted in first downs and another was a touchdown.
Louisville had its best season with five steady running backs in 2006. Whether the Cardinals can repeat that success this year with five backs remains to be seen. They’ll have an extra week to prepare for Georgia Tech in the ACC opener Sept. 21. The Yellow Jackets’ run defense ranks 10th in the league, allowing 127.3 rushing yards per game.
“Sometimes it can be too many, but, at the same time, running backs, you’ve got to keep them fresh. There’s only so many carries you can make,” Brohm said. “... You never know when you’re going to need them, but you’ll become a better football team the more you have.”