It's hard to believe that the 2014 season is already half way over, but it's true. We know that the Cardinal is 4-2 after the first six games, and we know how they got there, but how have the individual groups done? I'll look at several different position groups this week, break down what they've contributed thus far, and where needed give some suggestions about should be done in the second half of the season.
Coach Shaw promised a running-back-by-committee approach in 2014, and for better or worse, he's been true to his word. Remound Wright, Barry Sanders, and Kelsey Young have essentially split carries thus far, with Wright leading the way with 51 carries, and the others with 31 and 33, respectively. Entering the year, I was of the belief that the total production of the running game wouldn't change that much from last season to this. Not to slight Tyler Gaffney, who looks more like one of the top running backs in Stanford history the farther we get from 2013, but I felt like the offensive line would be so good this year (more on them later this week) that it might not even matter which back was carrying the ball. I was wrong. Or was I?
Let's take a look at how Wright, Sanders, and Young compare to Gaffney through six games. You just might be surprised. (I certainly was.)
Tyler Gaffney, 2013: 109 for 578 (5.3 YPC) 7 TDs
RW/BJS/KY, 2014: 115 for 679 (5.9 YPC) 2 TDs
Somehow, this committee of running backs is actually doing the job, outrushing Gaffney to this point in the seaon. Of course, no one would suggest that it's better for an offense to have three main backs as opposed to one, even if the three account for a hundred extra yards of offense. In fact, as Stanford has struggled in different situations, especially in the red zone, one of the most frequent criticisms has been the team's inability to select a lead back.
Shaw has maintained that he prefers to play the back dictated by the situation. The problem with this, however, is that no single back can establish a rhythm. Just last week against Washington State, Sanders opened up the game in dramatic fashion, running for 21 yards on the second play, then 29 more two plays later. He had a short two-yard gain the play after that, giving him 52 yards in the game's opening minutes, but he had only four carries after that.
I've gone back and forth on this throughout the season, but I think the coaching staff finally got the rotation right in that Washington State game. Kind of. Kelsey Young is at his best when he's getting the ball in space or taking the ball on a jet sweep out of the wildcat. He hasn't been nearly as successful when lined up in the backfield for a traditional running play, so there's reason to put him in that position, particularly when you have two players (Wright and Sanders) who are averaging 5.5 and 7.6 yards per carry.
So if I were in charge I'd commit to Wright and Sanders, and I'd also commit to playing each back for an entire quarter at a time, not just a series at a time. Consistency will only increase each player's productivity. Added to those two, freshman Christian McCaffrey deserves continued playing time, slightly more than the amount he's gotten over the first six games. He's had fourteen offensive touches thus far (eight carries and six receptions), and he's averaged more than 13 yards per touch. Production like that can't be ignored, and Shaw said as much after last week's game, saying that McCaffrey has earned the right to stay on the field. (I don't see the benefit of having Patrick Skov or Ricky Seale carry the ball in any situation.)
Semester Grade: B-
Comment: It's not their fault they're being used incorrectly.
