Hello Cougs!

Because of this awful, terrible 3 weeks without Cougar Football in our lives, I decided that I want a full look at the roster, positioin by position, and see how much the cougs have accomplished this year and to take a look at the "health" of the positions in the future.

These will be coming first for the offense over the next week or so, position by position as I finish them.

Anyways, let's start with the Running Backs.

Leon Brooks *Fr 5-7 170 CA, No carries

Diminutive back who has been decent at returns, not so great rushing the ball.

Arthur Burns *Fr 5-11 206 CA, No carries.

The man of many talents came as a running back, then pulled a 180 and played some backer. But wait, there's more! After the injuries hit the RB position, he magically turned into an RB again. If he is ever at a position long enough to see time, we can discuss the merits of these magic trcks.

Ricky Galvin Fr (Shirting) 5-8 162 CA, 1 carry, 2 yds

Really think he could have made some significant contributions this year, but being forced to Redshirt s something I think we may really like 3 years down the line. Had a better camp than Marquess Wilson, but a year to add size and learn the offense lands us a gem down the road.

Logwone Mitz *Jr 6-1 232 Redmond WA 70 carries, 252 yds, 3.6 ypc 4 tds

Local product is probably the most consistent guy when it comes to running the football. He makes his mistakes in protection and routes, but running the ball he is an enforcer and a guy that is always the hammer, and never the nail. That quality is rare, and something our offense needs.

James Montgomery Sr* 5-10, 201 CA 110 carries, 400 yds, 3.6 ypc, 5 tds

James is a good back and an incredible story. I really hope that the story isn't finished yet, because if he gets a 6th year and can get a full off season to finish his physical recovery, look out. I do not think he has played a game this year at 80% of his former self was. I also know that the second year after major injury and surgery is the year when an athlete truly regains their physical prowess. If he can get a year and come back at 100% (or better) the running back position goes from sketchy at best to a strength.

Marcus Richmond Sr* 5-10 202 CA 12 rushes, 18 yds, 1.5 ypc

Richmond has filled in dutifully at FB this year and when given opportunities he has made the most of his touches. Game of his life against Furd, but other than that he is a FB in a spread offense. One of these things is not like the other....

Chantz Staden Sr* 5-10 211 CA 22 carries, 91 yds, 4.1 ypc 1 td

Staden reminds me of a poor man's Justin Forsett. Top end slow and undersized, you would think that he would have no chance. Staden has dominant quickness though, which is a trait that exploits poor tacklers but doesn't punish like power or raw speed can punish. He is versatile though, and does a lot of things for the Cougs.

Carl Winston So 5'8- 201 CA 28 carries, 90 yds, 3.2 ypc

Hopefully a guy that shows more as he gets older, but as of now he is getting just a couple touches a game and is under 100 yards rushing on the year.

Performance in 2010:

I don't think anyone has been happy with the play of our running backs this year. We do not have a healthy back on the roster with breakaway speed. Ricky Galvin may have it, and looked to have it against our Defense in camp, but we will have to wait until next year to know. Monty has not fully recovered from injury, and none of us could have expected him to be 100%. Mitz has good power, but not enough speed to get through the quickly closing holes opened by our O line. As a group, our running backs average 3.7 yards per carry, which is pretty terrible. If Monty can get another year and get back to his '09 form, Galvin can add some pounds and be healthy and Bishop Sankey is as-advertised, this position could become very good. If Monty can't get the year, Galvin is rail skinny and limping around and Bishop is wearing purple, look for the running game to continue to flounder.

Outlook for 2011:

If Monty can get another year and get back to his '09 form, Galvin can add some pounds and be healthy and Bishop Sankey is as-advertised, this position could become very good. If Monty can't get the year, Galvin is rail skinny and limping around and Bishop is wearing purple, look for the running game to continue to flounder. The known newcomers are Sankey and 5-9 216 DeMarcus James from Alabama. Sankey could be a potential game changer and a guy who can score from anywhere on the field. James is a bruiser who is supposed to be great between the tackles but has poor top end speed. This outlook for this group is highly variable, and there are just too many questions for any kind of real answer.