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Home > Blogs > RedHawk rumblings | Miami University sports news > Archives > 2008 > August > 20 > Entry
Still waiting for a running game
By Pete Conrad
I see a trend here.
For the second straight weekend the Miami RedHawks’ running game was overshadowed on offense — coming in a very distance second, in fact — by the passing attack during the team’s scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 16 at Yager Stadium.
Wideout Dustin Woods alone caught 170 yards worth of passes. Which was 138 yards more than those gained on the ground by the RedHawks’ top two tailbacks, Andre Bratton and Thomas Merriweather.
“We’re not running the ball as well as we need to,” Miami head coach Shane Montgomery said. “Of course, part of that is our defense.”
No, the offense does not need to be reminded that all three starting linebackers, against whom they butt heads every day, have been named to the Butkus Award watch list for the nation’s top linebacker.
And there are more where they came from. According to Clayton Mullins, one of the three, there isn’t a huge fall-off in talent once you get past him, Joey Hudson and Caleb Bostic. Not with super-sub Chris Shula waiting in the wings, not to mention Ryan Kennedy and David Davis.
To be fair, Bratton and Merriweather combined for only seven carries during the scrimmage. And Bratton did pick up 23 yards on three rushing attempts.
Part of the reason for those limited attempts is that Montgomery wanted to take a good look at running backs Jamel Miller, Dan Green and J.R. Taylor in case something happens to Bratton or Merriweather.
Also, part of it might be that Montgomery doesn’t want that something to happen during a scrimmage.
Still, Daniel Raudabaugh and Clay Belton had a combined total of 343 passing yards. All three touchdowns scored in the scrimmage came through the air.
Last year Miami passed the ball 52 precent of the time and ran it 48 percent.
It makes me wonder whether the RedHawks, with a running game short on depth and a receiving corps filled to the brim, doesn’t intend to be nearly so balanced this fall.
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