April 15, 2009

Olin Buchanan
Rivals.com College Football Senior Writer

Times change, but perceptions often do not. What you were years ago doesn't necessarily define who you are now. Still, reputations aren't easily lost.

For example, what "Big Six" conference has the reputation for having the most run-oriented offenses?

The popular answer probably would be the Big Ten and its "three yards and a cloud of dust" legacy that dates back to the eras of Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes. Or maybe it would be the SEC, which counts Herschel Walker, Bo Jackson and Emmitt Smith among its running back alumni. This decade alone, the SEC has had eight running backs taken in the first round of the NFL draft.

Yet, a strong case can be made that the Pac-10 projects as the most grounded conference in '09. Six Pac-10 running backs rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, and five are back for the '09 season. The Big Ten also had six 1,000-yard rushers a year ago, but Penn State's Evan Royster is the only returnee.

Of course, cynics will scoff. Some view the Pac-10 as a league of finesse passing teams with all the physicality of a pillow fight.

"I think those assumptions are basically based on history," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. "You know, when you think of the Big Ten, you think power running and the Michigan-Ohio State type of football. But Michigan is doing something totally different now. Ohio State is a spread team a lot of the time. Some of the assumptions are not correct anymore.

"There are teams that are really dedicated to running out here. We are. Cal is. USC is for sure. And [Pac-10 teams] are running a lot of either two tight end or two-back sets, which is unusual today. At a lot of places with the spread, the fullback is non-existent. But you still see it out here. Teams are dedicated to the run in this conference."

Last season, six Pac-10 teams ranked among the nation's top 50 in rushing offense; that's three more than in 2006. Talented running backs, injured quarterbacks and coaching philosophy are contributing factors in the spike in rushing success.

California's Jahvid Best, who rushed for 1,580 yards last season, is the most explosive running back in the country. Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 1,253 yards and was one of two players to exceed 100 rushing yards against USC. Stanford's Toby Gerhart, who rushed for 1,136 yards, was the other.

Also returning are Oregon's LeGarrette Blount and Arizona's Nic Grigsby, who both ran for more than 1,000 yards. And USC returns its three leading rushers ? Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight and C.J. Gable (a combined 1,981 yards).

Giving the football to productive running backs like that only makes sense, especially if there are problems at quarterback. Last season, Oregon, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, California and Arizona State had injury issues at quarterback.

But Riley said those injuries were a secondary reason for the move to the running game.

"The coaches out here realize just giving the ball to the quarterback and telling him to win the game when you don't have good depth at that position is hard. You better have some balance," he said. "But I think it's probably more about the philosophy of the guys coaching the teams; that's probably the No. 1 reason. Nobody is dedicated totally to passing."

Perhaps that's because so many Pac-10 coaches have ties to the NFL. Riley, USC's Pete Carroll and Arizona State's Dennis Erickson have been head coaches in the NFL. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel spent three seasons as an NFL assistant before being hired by the Bruins. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh had a 15-year career as an NFL quarterback.

"Jim didn't coach in the NFL, but his philosophy probably came from that," Riley said. "Stanford is a two-back team. They run the ball really well. He changed Stanford and made them become physical."

Last season, Stanford ranked 19th in the nation in rushing offense; two years ago, it ranked 115th. Last season, Gerhart became Stanford's first 1,000-yard rusher since Tommy Vardell in 1991.

It's possible the Pac-10's rushing success is a fad instead of a trend. But there are indications that would suggest otherwise.

Cal has produced a 1,000-yard back in each of the past seven seasons. USC has run well under Carroll. Oregon has had three 1,000-yard rushers in the past two seasons and projects to continue to run under new coach Chip Kelly. Oregon State has had an impressive streak of 1,000-yard rushers with Ken Simonton, Steven Jackson, Yvenson Bernard and now Rodgers.

"I'm proud of that," Riley said. "I recruited Kenny Simonton in '97, and he may be the first or second all-time rusher in this league. We have had a good string and I am excited about that.

"And I love recruiting to that."

No doubt, several Pac-10 coaches will, too.

Southern Miss' Brown improving

The sight of Southern Miss wide receiver DeAndre Brown breaking his left leg in last season's New Orleans Bowl was so ghastly that is caused concern that it could be a career-ending injury.

But Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora said Brown has made significant progress and is expected to play this fall.

"He's doing well," Fedora said. "He's off crutches and in a boot right now. We anticipate him being back in the middle of the summer full speed. He told me the other day he's faster than he was.

"I said, 'How do you know? You're in a boot.' He said, 'I just know.' "

Brown had 67 receptions for 1,117 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true freshman last season.

The Edge

This week, it's Nebraska vs. Miami. The edge was requested by reader Stuart Mitchell of St. Louis.

Each week, we'll match two teams to determine which has the edge in various categories. Got a matchup you want to see? Send it to olin@rivals.com and we'll work on it.

Olin Buchanan is the senior college football writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at olin@rivals.com.