Don't put me out to pasture just yet! (AP: LaPrete)The continued emergence of Brandon Saine has created quite a stir among the faithful with many now clamoring for Zoom to supplant Boom Herron as the starting tailback. In his presser, Tressel didn't quote the general rule that a starter can't lose his job due to injury, instead opting to confusingly say it doesn't matter which of them is his number one running back before then indicating Boom would start this week.
Sounds like the bottom line is Boom will get first crack at the Wisconsin defense but the question is will he rise to the occasion? It's an unfortunate twist of fate for Boom that Saine was able to make his statement game against porous Indiana while Boom needs to do so against the physical Badgers, the same team that concussed him last year on what I will go to my grave thinking was pass interference. Zoom also had the benefit of operating in space last week thanks to the recent installation of a nearly exclusive approach to running out the shotgun. This same attack is what helped Boom rush for 5.4 yards per carry against Illinois (14/75) though that seems lost in the eyes of many.
I don't mean to sound like a Boom apologist - you create your own luck - I just think it's a little too early to trumpet Saine as the starter and want him to get 25 carries a game. The fact is, this team needs Boom and Zoom to compliment each other to avoid one or the other wearing down though I have no problems with Saine seeing more than 50% of the totes based on what he's shown thus far. He's earned it.
Right now, the biggest difference I see in these two from a purely rushing standpoint is Zoom has been able to peel off at least one nice run in every game whereas Boom hasn't been able to get into the secondary with the same regularity. In the new look offense, he was able to bust runs of 14 and 13 yards on Illinois and didn't have one negative yardage play in 14 tries but Zoom has in-arguably been the more lethal runner as evidenced by his longs of 30, 19 and 31 yards in the last three weeks. Still, Saine has 0 TD's to show for his efforts while Boom has 5 TDs this season and at least 1 TD in eight straight games (10 total). That's gotta count for something. Let's also not forget amidst the gripes about his 3.6 ypc average this year that Boom did average 4.9 last season in 89 carries. Meanwhile, Saine averaged 3.9 a pop on 86 carries in '07 and '08 combined.
So what's the verdict? Will Boom deliver the goods this weekend giving the Buckeyes an effective tandem alongside Pryor or will the momentum swing toward Saine as the workhorse with Boom coming in only for a few series to give Saine a breather? Of course, all this assumes the flu ridden offensive line has enough gas in the tank to create the same holes we've seen against lesser foes these past few weeks.
Comments
workhouse?
"This same attack is what helped Boom rush for 5.4 yards per carry against Illinois (14/75) though that seems lost in the eyes of many. "
Not lost, just overshadowed by the 13/82 and 6.2 average that Saine had in the same game against the same competition.
Also, I don't judge a RB on touchdowns unless they are more than 5 yard runs. Twice this year Zoom has lead us down the field and we have done a QB sneak into the endzone and once a play action. While, I don't disagree with any of those calls, you have to remember how we got there. Not just who scored.
Hand, hound, horse, house. It's all good. Fixed.
I said before the year started that I believed Saine would end up the top back on this team. I definitely believed it before last week. That being said, I hope Boom does answer the call and tear it up. 2 Backs competeing is a good thing.
Great point, Wil. You definitely can't let TDs be the sole judge of an RB's effectiveness. Just sayin' he's got a pretty good streak of finding the end zone that shouldn't be dismissed. I'm simply of the opinion this team needs two backs to get significant carries based on the fact neither of these guys has been asked to shoulder the load in college before and doing so could cause them to break down or be less effective when we finally hit a stretch of playing legit teams toward the end of the season. (not discounting this week's game, of course)
I couldn't care less who gets the nod to start. We definately need both to be productive this weekend; especially with the O-line in total flux with the bug. I hope they do a lot of misdirection and bootleg options Saturday.
I am going to badger their defense the whole game
The nit-picking of the writing is getting out of hound
Sad thing is, we know it's going to happen and we still make errors. I must say though, I was on a good few-weeks run with no errors so I was overdue.
See what he did there? With the words!?!?!
Boom be clever.
I would much rather have both of these guys than Beanie Wells.
Yeah, I hated having an all world talent too. I mean really who wants a guy that can bull people over, run past them, or knock them to the ground with a crazy stiff arm. I know he was hurt, but come on he was the best RB since Eddie was here. The kid played through pain; he crushed scUM, and ran all over everyone when we had one of the worst O-lines that I can remember.
On a side not, JT said that Berry was doing better with his injury on his call in show today
note*
...it would be great if they try to out-do eachother all season. It will bring out the best in both of them.
I am going to punk da shizz out of Wisconsin's squid.
I agree, both of them have missed time due to injuries, so keeping them both involved is very important. I also agree that Boom is a very solid back and should get carries. I just don't want to see a repeat of the USC game where Boom has trouble finding room and we only give Zoom 1 carry.......likewise if the roles should end up reversed, if Zoom isn't finding any room, I don't want Boom getting 1 carry.........no if either one of them develop a hot hand during a game, then stick with them that game....... I just think Zoom has done nothing to warrant him not getting at least equal carries, and that hasn't really happened until Illinois and because of the injury last week.
True. Tressel did seem intent on giving Boom ample opportunity to hold his spot before the injury. I think JT's rightfully turned the page on that plan now though since Saine has been so solid plus he gives us that dimension of catching the ball out of the backfield.
HA!!!!!
you forgot the "and so forth" on the JT comment.
Saw Duron eating a Snickers bar the other day. Let's see if it affects his game on Saturday.
I like it... he's a workhouse!
'guy that can bull people over, run past them, or knock them to the ground with a crazy stiff arm"
How can you forget, leap over them in a single bound!?!?!?!
I'm glad you don't recruit for the buckeyes.
Way off subject but isn't Anderson's official visit tomorrow or Saturday? I knew the date was coming up but Rivals had no dates for his visits.
Was he hanging out with Patrick Chewing?
...or perhaps Adam Nougiteri?
Pushed back until after the season.
you are no longer master of your domain.
that is the dumbest thing I have heard all day, and I watch sportcenter every morning. so that's really saying something.
as long as it's not Joe Peanuterno
Figures, I was hoping to land a 5 star this weekend.
OK, here is the thing from a pure running perspective Herron does not have any advantages over Saine. He is not faster, bigger or more powerful. In fact Boone is smaller than Saine yet runs like he is Beanie. It makes no sense. Saine has been better than Boone in every game except USC where he really just didnt have the opportunity to show he was better. Rehashing above comments but Saine was given a grand grand total of 1 carry. ONE!!! I honestly have no idea how that even transpired. In that same game Boone managed to get the ball 18 times and run for 44 yards. 44 - that is awful. I know USC is good, but 2.4 Yds per carry. There is no way he should have been given the ball 18 times. In every other game the numbers not only show that Saine is better but he just looks better than Boone. He is more electric and gives the offense an energy that is not present with Herron in the game. There is no question about who is a better runner: it is Saine hands down.
Personally, I would advocate for Saine as the unquestioned #1 RB with #2 being a battle between Herron and Hall. It is clear at this point that while Herron is a solid back, he is not going to be a truly dynamic player at Ohio State. Taking that into consideration I dont think its bad move to try and get our talented Freshman more experience.
I believe they are both solid backs and would start for any team in the BIG 11 TEN. Giving them shared duties is the best thing for this team, as mentioned before. RB's trying to one up another is only bringing out the best in each of them. The competetion between them is friendly and proactive vs. a distraction and or a demoralizing statement.
Why should it matter who starts? They both will carry during the game! They compliment each other with "BOOM" a more physical game and "ZOOM" being more elusive! Why not have Boom start by bruising the D line, then Zoom tear up the outsides (leaving the D, as a whole, worn down and exhausted)!
On another note, some more 11W shirt ideas:
"workhouse"
-eleven warriors
"and so forth"
-J.T.