B-Backs....the 2010 Edition......

Writing about our B-back corp in this offense should never be too hard. If it is, we have a VERY big problem. And luckily this year there's plenty to write about: Anthony Allen's position change, Lucas Cox- Human Battering Ram, & two more solid back-ups.

Gone is two-year starter & 2008 ACC Player of the Year Jon Dwyer. Dwyer was a fine player for us & an ideal B-back with the size to break tackles & the speed to take it the distance if he got a seam. It's more of a testament to our depth than a knock on Dwyer when I say I don't think we'll miss him at all this year. In fact, no position is deeper for us in 2010 than B-back, where we have four players who can contribute. Let's start from the top:

Allen will replace Dwyer quite nicely in 2010......

• senior Anthony Allen is the starter entering the year and we should see little drop off from Dwyer's previous numbers. Allen, a starter at A-back last year who led the nation in yards-per-carry at 9.7, should make a seamless transition to his new, and certainly more natural, position directly behind Joshua Nesbitt. Allen has prototype size for the position at 6'0" & 229 pounds and certainly relishes contact. While he may not have the breakaway speed Dwyer had, he can take it the distance & has enough speed to get the job done. While his gait may be unorthodox, I expect Allen to have a very successful year. One other thing about #18: he has very good hands. Expect to see CPJ use him on screens & other pass plays more frequently than Dwyer. And one note on the transition aspect of Allen's move to B-back: there's no position that's easier to play in our offense. Once you master the mesh with the QB (which is more of a matter of repetition than anything else) it's full steam ahead into the breach......

Luke Cox will be used late in games to seal the deal.....

• behind Allen on the depth chart is senior Lucas Cox. Perhaps no player had a better spring than Cox, who proved a bulldozer of a back. It was not at all uncommon this spring to see the 6'0", 245 pound Cox carrying multiple players forward as they attempted to tackle him. Once an A-back out of necessity, Cox is firmly entrenched as the #2 B-back this year & I expect he'll see more carries than past backups for two reasons: 1) he can lessen the wear & tear on Nesbitt by carrying the ball in short yardage situations, & 2) a fresh Cox late in the game or on a drive would simply wear down & demoralize a defense. Not only can Cox serve as an experienced back-up this year, he can be a true weapon late in games.
• redshirt junior Preston Lyons missed the spring with a shoulder injury but returns ready for action this Fall. Lyons proved an effective back-up to Dwyer last year & a nice change of pace. While not as big & bruising as the other B-backs, Lyons possesses great body control & is able to wriggle through seemingly non-existent holes at the line of scrimmage. He's surprisingly elusive & difficult to get a good hit on. While I don't expect he'll play extensively this year in our base set, Lyons is a valuable back-up & contributor on special teams.
• It might be easy to forget RS sophomore Richard Watson with all that depth at B-back & while Watson may not see the ball too much this season he will have a chance at the starting job in 2011. It seems to have taken a while for the light to come on but Watson will contribute, at least on special teams, in 2010 & the staff feels with a good Fall & Spring he may be in line to start next year.
• Expect freshman Charles Perkins of Collins Hill to redshirt this year & give Watson a good run for the starting job in 2011. While he's been talked about as an A-back at soem points, Perkins' future lies at B-back. And a bright future it should be.....

As I said earlier, there's no position as deep on our squad as B-back in 2010. I expect tremendous production from any of the four who may play there this year, particularly with our improved offensive line play. Watch for a few more screens & even a couple wheel routes to Allen out of the backfield. I also expect us to try & use Allen & Cox as a 1-2 punch; Allen to soften things up while Cox comes in, wears out the defense, & closes the deal. I also expect Cox to play a greater role in short yardage situations this year. Anyway you cut it, we are in great shape at B-back in 2010.....