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| Thursday, May 23 Teams in NFC South searching for ground attacks By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com |
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In rationalizing the trade of tailback Ricky Williams to the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett is fond of noting that The Dreadlocked One never had a touchdown run of longer than 26 yards in three seasons. And he is equally quick to point out that second-year tailback Deuce McAllister, the 2001 first-rounder who inherits the starting spot, authored a 54-yard scoring jaunt as a rookie. Those convenient numbers, summoned up time and again by Saints officials during this offseason, don't lie. And neither do these: Take away McAllister's lone shining moment, and the former Ole Miss star who spent nearly as much time in the whirlpool as he did on the field during his college career, averaged an anemic 2.5 yards on 15 other carries. His weirdness aside, Williams averaged 3.8 yards per rush before departing.
In the NFC South, the new amalgam created by the league's wholesale realignment, that could well be a mantra for all four teams. At least when their respective rushing attacks are considered, there remains plenty to prove for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Saints. None of the four teams ranked in the top half of the league's rushing statistics for 2001. When it came to running the ball, these four teams were, well, running on empty. More remarkably, all four will have new starting tailbacks in '02 and will try to establish at least a representative ground attack. Whether the new faces in new places approach is successful remains to be seen. The South may rise again, but whether it can run again is still dubious. This much, however, is certain: Unless the franchises in the NFC South can run the ball on a consistent basis, none will be capable of advancing deep into the playoffs. At least three of the four teams will feature in 2002 quarterbacks with less than two full seasons of starting experience, and it is imperative the young passers have a viable ground game on which to fall back. Joining the versatile McAllister as starting tailbacks in the division are Warrick Dunn in Atlanta, Tampa Bay's Michael Pittman and Lamar Smith at Carolina. Given the subpar results of 2001, none of the four teams in the division can be blamed for enacting backfield alterations, but no one can yet guarantee if the refurbishing translates into resurrection. After all, the five players who project as feature backs (counting Tampa Bay veteran Mike Alstott, who figures to play in one-back sets) for the four teams have combined for only three 1,000-yard campaigns. Certainly there is no superstar in the group. No matter the pedigree of the tailbacks in the division, though, all four teams will have to be more dogged in their approach to the running game. "It seems like the perception of us in Oakland was that we were a throwing team," said new Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden. "Nothing could be further from the truth. We were about as balanced as anyone in the league. But everything started for us with the running game. We like the power game, banging at people between the tackles, establishing some superiority that way. It's still the way you win in this league." Here's a look at the running game prospects for the four NFC South franchises:
Coach Dan Reeves has publicly promised to get Dunn 20-25 "touches" per game, no small feat given that the former Florida State star has averaged fewer than 18 in his career and never averaged more than 18.2 in a season. Everyone in the Falcons front office is preaching speed, but Reeves has always preferred the power game, and his stolid approach and reluctance to hire a full-time offensive coordinator creates skepticism about his ability to change his ways at age 58. First-round draft choice T.J. Duckett of Michigan State should provide the hammer for Reeves, but he figures to play a backup role at the outset. The elevation of Michael Vick to the starting quarterback spot gives the Falcons a big-time running threat, but he is being paid to win games with his arm, not his feet. The Falcons finished No. 16 in the rushing statistics in 2001, and improving that status will depend on creativity in getting the ball to Dunn and on a quantum leap from the offensive line.
"We've got to establish an attitude of toughness here, a physical environment, and maybe the fastest way to do that is to run the football hard," said rookie head coach John Fox. "It all starts right there. Everything feeds off that." Problem is, the Panthers are likely to get heapin' helping of mush, particularly if Smith is the starter. The eight-year veteran appeared old and used-up with the Dolphins in 2001. Despite rushing for 968 yards, he averaged but 3.1 per carry. At age 31, he is a step slow getting to the hole, and, frankly, there aren't a lot of open creases created by the Panthers offensive line. Smith may not be able to hold off the challenge from second-round selection DeShaun Foster of UCLA, a big back with speed but one who is prone to fumbling. Foster was a hit in the early minicamps and figures to be the long-term answer.
Certainly the 2001 first-round choice has the potential to score from any spot on the field, and he flashed his "long speed" on his 54-yard touchdown run last year when he turned the corner and simply sprinted past the defense. But there aren't many 40- or 50-yards runs in the NFL, a league where real estate is gained in 4- and 5-yard increments. McAllister is going to have to prove to the skeptics that he can get the tough inside yards for a Saints team that was No. 18 in league rushing a year ago. "Really, last year I played so little that it was hard to get into any kind of rhythm," said McAllister. "I'm not afraid to run the ball up inside, but I've got to get the chances." Doubtless, he will get them, since the Saints really have no viable alternative. The most experienced back on the roster, Fred McAfee, is more noted for his special-teams play. There is a Ricky Williams on the roster, but he is an undrafted rookie, a smallish back who doesn't figure to play much, if at all.
Pittman has rushed for 1,565 yards and nine touchdowns the past two seasons, and those numbers should improve in Gruden's clever offensive design. Certainly the four-year pro brings flexibility to a Buccaneers ground game that ranked 30th in the league in 2001. He is a powerful but elusive inside runner, a physical specimen with some outside wiggle and very good hands. "Getting with (Gruden) could be the best thing that ever happened to Pittman," said an NFC pro scout. "He could really blossom, believe me, because the talent is there." Alstott restructured his contract to avoid being released but, despite being a perennial Pro Bowl selection, remains one of the NFL's most overrated players. He has never been as good a blocker as advertised and, despite soft hands as a receiver, is miscast at fullback. Essentially he is a one-back runner, and that is probably how he will be used by Gruden. The roster includes journeyman tailbacks Aaron Stecker and Byron Hanspard, but one guy who could provide a boost is Travis Stephens, a fourth-rounder from Tennessee. A smallish back, Stephens runs with great balance and vision, and could spell Pittman in some situations down the road. One advantage for the Bucs is the addition of Bill Muir, one of the best offensive line coaches in the league. Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. |
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