WholeHogSports
NFL NUGGETS : Who’s the top Hog in the backfield?
Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2007
URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/58705/
Many folks think the Heisman Trophy ship has sailed for Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. With four chances remaining against tough SEC opponents, I’m not so sure about that.
But to me, the question isn’t whether or not McFadden is the best back in the nation, but rather is he the best back on his own team ?
In Saturday’s 58-10 win over Florida International, McFadden and running mate Felix Jones again showed why they are one of the most feared tandems in college football. FIU stacked the line every down, and Arkansas was still able to rush for 259 yards and six touchdowns.
Arkansas’ defense forced seven turnovers from the hapless Golden Panthers, so the Arkansas offense didn’t have far to go to find paydirt.
Jones led the team with 89 rushing yards and a score while McFadden ran for 61 yards and a careerhigh four touchdowns.
“ It felt good to get back into the end zone after not scoring for a couple of weeks, ” McFadden said.
McFadden, the school’s career leader in rushing yards, became Arkansas’ career leader in carries (648 ) on Saturday.
It’s old news that McFadden and Jones are two of the top ground-gainers in the SEC and are the bellcows of the nation’s fourth-ranked rushing attack.
But the question remains: Who’s better ? Hey, someone had to ask.
UA center Jonathan Luigs said the offensive line’s mindset doesn’t change whether it’s McFadden or Jones lined up in the backfield.
“ They do different things, but they’re equally effective, ” he said.
Being good teammates, Arkansas’ O-linemen avoid the “ who’s better” question like it was the South Beach Diet. But they all agree that McFadden and Jones are very, very good.
“ You hear the people cheer and you don’t know what they did until you look up at the [Jumbotron ], ” offensive guard Robert Felton said. “ Then you’re like ‘ Wow. They did that ?’”
And they’ve been doing it all season. McFadden is a stat monster, leading the SEC with 993 rushing yards. He did fumble the ball twice in Saturday’s game, losing one.
“ That’s not like him, ” head coach Houston Nutt said. “ He’s a strong-armed guy. ”
But while McFadden is averaging a respectable 5. 28 yards per carry, Jones is gaining an eye-popping 8. 81 yards every time he takes a handoff. That leads the entire nation, by the way.
Also, Jones is the leading kickoff returner in the SEC and fourth-best in the country.
Auburn faced a similar situation a couple of years ago when Tiger tailbacks Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown were considered the top two runners in country.
Williams was thought to be a step ahead, but when the 2005 NFL Draft rolled around, Brown went off the board first (No. 2 overall, Miami ). Williams fell to Tampa Bay at the No. 5 overall spot.
So when it comes to which back is best, I’d say flip a coin. Pick your poison. Whatever. McFadden and Jones are both great runners.
But I didn’t ask this question just to be rhetorical. I’m going to try and answer it.
If I’m a college coach, I’m taking Jones first because of his elusiveness and all the different things he can do on the field. If I’m a pro coach, I’m taking McFadden first because of his acceleration, his between-the-tackles running and the way he finishes his carries.
There you go. I’ve managed to straddle the fence yet again.
Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times. Check out the Times ’ Razorback sports blog at nwanews. com / blogs / slophouse /.