Before each of the past three seasons, Georgia State coach Trent Miles has said he wanted his team to be able to run the ball.
For each of the past three seasons, for a combination of reasons, the Panthers haven’t been able to do so.
This year, because depth at running back, depth at offensive line and a group of inexperienced quarterbacks, the Panthers hope to flip the script on an offense that last year was one of the best passing attacks in FBS, and become one of the best rushing attacks in their effort to make it to a bowl for the second consecutive year.
“I’d like for us to be in that conversation this year and be one of the most improved running teams,” offensive coordinator Luke Huard said. “Being most improved, even close, that will be a dramatic improvement from where we’ve been the last three years.”
Since Miles took over, the Panthers averaged 102.3 rushing yards per game in 2013, 96.3 in 2014 and 96.9 last year. In seven of last year’s 13 games the Panthers didn’t surpass 93 yards, including rushing for 11 on 14 carries in a 41-33 loss to Liberty at home. Sadly, 11 wasn’t even in the program low. That came when the team rushed for 8 the season before in a 44-0 loss at Appalachian State.
So when Huard says even dramatic improvement would be good, he’s not kidding.
Miles took the blame for the team’s inability to run, saying the team’s strengths have been on the perimeter, so that’s why they passed the ball so much. The running backs have also had to deal with injuries each of the past three seasons. Those injuries have twice forced the coaching staff to move players to the backfield from other positions.
This year, while there are still talented pass-catchers such as Robert Davis, Penny Hart and Keith Rucker, the team is finally deeper than it has been under Miles on the offensive line and at running back. Even with the season-ending injury to Taz Bateman, the team returns three players who had multiple carries last year: Kyler Neal, Glenn Smith (formerly a wide receiver) and Demarcus Kirk, as well as promising freshman Darius Stubbs. Miles said the offense will feature a by-committee approach to who gets carries.
The wildcard in the group is Kendrick Dorn, who sat out last season after surgery on his knee. He is back and getting reps with the first team.
“It’s a blessing to be out there,” he said.
Dorn said he thinks he is handling the adjustment to the speed of the game, and is working on his pass blocking. The team hadn’t done live tackling as of Monday, but they have been wrapping up without tackling in some drills. Dorn said he was happy to receive his first wrap.
“Looked really well,” Miles said. “Running well, making good cuts, seeing the hole and catching the ball well.”
The line returns starters Sebastian Willer, Alex Stoehr, Gabe Mobley and Michael Ivory. Dom Roldan will likely start at the other guard, and there are several players who appeared last season who can step in this season.
“It’s everybody,” Miles said. “It’s been me, the line, been the running backs; we’ve wanted to just get to the receivers because they’ve had a lot of talent. Now, we’ve got a lot of talent at running back and our line has developed.”
All of that experience is important because the team is inexperienced at quarterback. Of the three players competing to replace Nick Arbuckle, none have started an FBS game. Being able to simply turn around and hand off the ball may be of paramount importance in settling down whoever wins the job among Conner Manning, Emiere Scaife and Aaron Winchester.
“Knowing we don’t have an experienced quarterback like Nick Arbuckle, we need the running game to step up this year,” Dorn said. “We all know it’s very important. Every day the running backs have been putting that in their head. We’ve bee n working hard together as a unit, putting in extra work. This year, it’s especially going to depend upon us and what we do.”
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