n.e.husker
Starter
Sounds about right to me, although i may put him at #4 over Ohio St. Dan Herron.
Last edited by a moderator:
Ranking the Big Ten running backs
- Thread starter n.e.husker
- Start date
n.e.husker
Starter
fearandloathing
Three-Star Recruit
Hujan
Starter
That was true of the 2009 and 2010 editions, but something tells me the 2011 version of Rex Burkhead will bring some added explosiveness to his bruising ways.
Part of the reason Rex doesn't have a lot of long carries is because he is such a committed north-south runner. He doesn't dance around behind the LOS. He sees the hole and hits it. The downside is that he doesn't take a lot of runs to the edge that he can break for 40 yard gains. The upside is that he rarely gives up a TFL. Give him a fullback to run behind and he might start popping some runs for 20-yard gains.
n.e.husker
Starter
He has been sure handed on a team that struggles with ball security.
True2tRA
Banned
The offensive line is going to blow open some huge gaps this year! ( If I say it with enough confidence it will make it reality, right?). I'm really hoping the offensive line comes together very strong this year and I have every reason to believe it will. With that in mind, I don't think you'll find a more instinctive back in the B1G, possibly in the country than Rex. I'm a huge Burkhead fan, but I really think his vision and effort after contact is one of those things that just can't be taught. This guy has got it, and if the offense gives him the chance, I expect Rex to come out of this season as a Top 3 back in the country.
da skers
Starter
They can't be much worse. I read somewhere they were 113th in the nation in sacks allowed or TFL. That means they aren't blocking long enough or reaching the second level of the defense very often. I'm surprised our RBs had the large yard per carry stats they did and it's no wonder our qbs struggled to find consistency. If it weren't for Tmarts quick first step the first part of the season it would have been a very long year.
Well, if you get into the "What is the MVP?" debate, I'd go with Martinez, given that our offense completely fell apart when he wasn't 100%. However, you could make the argument that once that happened, Burkhead was the only player capable of holding it together.
Anyways, while Burkhead isn't as flashy as the Wisconsin backs and some others throughout the conference, he's going to surprise a lot of people. He is SO fundamentally sound, and he's faster than people give him credit for... He looked absolutely fantastic in the spring game, and I don't think that our coaches would trade him for anyone else in the conference. I wouldn't trade him for anyone else either.
Last edited by a moderator:
Husker from Kansas
Starter
maybe its just me, but i wonder how much of an effect the new offense will have on his production, i should say rushing yards really, idk if he will get as many carries as helu had last year, but it wouldnt surprise me to see him catch the ball out of the backfield alot, he has sure hands and is a threat anywhere on the field, but idk if he will have a ton of yardage on the ground because of this new offense, i hope the coaches give it to him alot and let him wear down the defenses, i think he is that kinda back but idk if he will get the chance to do that all that much
BOJ
Special Teams Player
I believe the idea was running back corps. total not just starting back. He said (I think) that tOSU would have been higher than #4 had Herron not been suspended for the first five games, one thing tOSU is never short of is tailbacks and they have a stable this year even w/out Herron. I may be thinking of a different poll but it was also today so it leads me to believe it was the same one.