2008 Woodie Awards
Running game seeks better showing in '08
Brent Foster
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Sports
As spring practice wraps up this week, the Bulldogs football team is placing a greater emphasis on the running game.
The Bulldogs finished ninth in the 10-team MIAA last season with 114 rushing yards per game, and that was largely skewed by the 'Dogs 306 yards rushing in a Week 1 win against the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Often the team seemed to abandon its running game in favor of a passing game that finished second in the conference in yards per game.
"We're going to run more option off our running game, too, so I think that is going to possess some challenges for defenses," head coach Shannon Currier said. "We have athletic quarterbacks, having abilities to get our quarterbacks involved and read defenders. ... I think our option game is going to benefit our running game as well."
The Bulldogs will look to a host of running backs to replace departing senior Jake Cunningham. Cunningham led the Bulldogs last season, averaging more than 37 yards per game.
The returning leading rusher for Truman is junior quarterback Matt Ticich. Ticich averaged 36 yards per game on the ground. The next two leading returning rushers are sophomore running backs Marvin Bembry and Phil Kenney. The duo combined to average 47 yards per game last season.
"We're looking at production, but we're also looking at our running backs for what guy's going to work the hardest," Currier said. "What guys are going to be the most dependable and [that we] can trust? What guys are willing to do the things that aren't always fun? A lot of times you've got to block, especially if you're going to run the football effectively."
Currier said that right now there is no clear-cut No. 1 running back. He also said a string of injuries in the backfield has made it difficult to get a good look at all the running backs. Bembry and freshman Anton Bernard are the only two running backs so far this spring who have been 100 percent healthy and fully able to participate.
The Bulldogs finished ninth in the 10-team MIAA last season with 114 rushing yards per game, and that was largely skewed by the 'Dogs 306 yards rushing in a Week 1 win against the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Often the team seemed to abandon its running game in favor of a passing game that finished second in the conference in yards per game.
"We're going to run more option off our running game, too, so I think that is going to possess some challenges for defenses," head coach Shannon Currier said. "We have athletic quarterbacks, having abilities to get our quarterbacks involved and read defenders. ... I think our option game is going to benefit our running game as well."
The Bulldogs will look to a host of running backs to replace departing senior Jake Cunningham. Cunningham led the Bulldogs last season, averaging more than 37 yards per game.
The returning leading rusher for Truman is junior quarterback Matt Ticich. Ticich averaged 36 yards per game on the ground. The next two leading returning rushers are sophomore running backs Marvin Bembry and Phil Kenney. The duo combined to average 47 yards per game last season.
"We're looking at production, but we're also looking at our running backs for what guy's going to work the hardest," Currier said. "What guys are going to be the most dependable and [that we] can trust? What guys are willing to do the things that aren't always fun? A lot of times you've got to block, especially if you're going to run the football effectively."
Currier said that right now there is no clear-cut No. 1 running back. He also said a string of injuries in the backfield has made it difficult to get a good look at all the running backs. Bembry and freshman Anton Bernard are the only two running backs so far this spring who have been 100 percent healthy and fully able to participate.
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