Published Thursday December 18, 2008 in The Ledger
EVOLUTION OF A GROUND ATTACK
THE HOT HAND
Dreadnaughts Can Go to Any of Three Running Backs.
By ROY FUOCO, LEDGER CORRESPONDENT
Lakeland
When the 2007 season ended, one of the last things it appeared Lakeland coach Bill Castle would have to worry about was the running game. Little did he know at the time that the backfield combination would morph four times before finally being settled.
Plan A was to build around returning 1,000-yard rusher Jason Guzman and add returning backs Ben McRoy and Rodney Watson to pick up for the loss of T.K. Lamb and his 517 yards, and bring along JV call-up Steward Butler as needed.
By spring practice, however, that plan had long been shelved as Castle learned Guzman would be ineligible to play this season.
Plan B was to build the running game around McRoy, Watson and Butler.
By fall practice, the Dreadnaughts were on Plan C when Lake Gibson transfer Aaron Truedell entered the equation. They were left with Plan D when McRoy moved full-time to defensive back, leaving Truedell, Watson and Butler as the primary backs.
"We've got a lot of different weapons in the backfield," running backs coach Frank Webster said. "At times it's great because you can pull from whatever you need. Everybody has their own little talents.
"They're all very different. Truedell is more of a powerful slasher where he really attacks the line of scrimmage. Butler is a little bit more of a gazelle. He doesn't have a lot of size so we try to spread a team and take advantage of the cutback. Rodney is more powerful and one of my better blockers."
When the season began, McRoy at tailback and Watson at fullback were the starters and
Butler and Truedell came off the bench.
After the sixth game, McRoy was playing strictly on defense.
Truedell, who has 735 yards rushing for the season, was the most consistent early, from the second through six games he rushed for between 54 and 116 yards.
Butler (655 yards rushing) seemed to have a lot of yards every other game and has 100-yard games against Winter Haven (121) and Kissimmee Osceola (134).
Watson (582 yards rushing) battled injuries early in the season, rushing for just 106 yards in the first six games. However, he has come on strong. He rushed for 78 yards against George Jenkins, and then had 157 yards against Ridge.
Last year Watson didn't get a lot of carries despite being on varsity all season.
"It feels great," he said. "This year I have a lot more control over a game. Last year, I felt like I was part of the fans and the crowd. I was just watching the game."
The trio gets support in the running game from quarterback Jarred Haggins, who is effective running the ball, and the occasional runs by wide receiver Javares McRoy.
It is usually not until a game develops when it becomes apparent who will have the best game. Despite not knowing how many carries they'll get week to week, all three backs have adjusted.
"It's not hard," Watson said. "You just go out there and do your best. Whoever is running the ball the best, that's who will get the ball. That's what we expect, and that's what the coaches expect."
Of course, there is a benefit to the rotation.
"You get some breathing time," Butler noted.
Castle wasn't panicking when he learned about the loss of Guzman as he had faith in the remaining players.
"We felt like they had talent and potential," Castle said. "Each one of them has had their night."
Copyright © 2008 TheLedger.com — All rights reserved.
