Preview '08: RB

HB/FB Depth Chart
HB	FB
Anthony Dixon Jr.	Brandon Hart Sr.
Christian Ducre RJr.	Eric Hoskins RSr.
Robert Elliot RFr.	Arnil Stallworth Jr.
Wade Bonner RFr.

2007 Stats
Name	Att	Yds	TDs	Yds/Att	Rec.	Yds.	TD
Anthony Dixon	287	1066	14	3.71	14	167	2
Christian Ducre	112	487	3	4.34	16	83	0
Arnil Stallworth	4	21	0	5.25	10	68	0
Brandon Hart	1	4	0	4	3	19	0
Eric Hoskins	0	0	0	0	9	70	0

This is easily the strength of the offense. Anthony Dixon has a death grip on the starting position and rightfully so. He is a monster at somewhere between 235 and 240 pounds. While he is more apt to run over the defender, Dixon has above average speed and quickness especially for his size. His yds/att looks poor, but that is in part due to the type of back he is. Dixon just pounds on the defense, wearing them down. As you can see, Dixon was pretty much the whole offense last year accounting for a whopping 16 touchdowns. One weakness Dixon must overcome is his propensity to dance in the backfield. Too many times on 4th and 1 he wasted time juking noone in particular behind the line of scrimmage and running horizontally, negating his strength and size advantage. He was just a sophomore though, and if he starts hitting the hole immediately he could go from a good to a great running back.

Christian Ducre came out of nowhere last year to be a very good #2 back. He is essentially a slightly less talented version of Dixon, preferring to run through the defense than around them. He'll be used to give Dixon a breather but may lose some carries to redshirt freshman Robert Elliot. Elliot was a blue chipper coming out of high school, getting offered by the likes of Florida State and Georgia. He had problems fumbling the football in practices and like most freshman RBs, struggled with pass blocking, thus the redshirt. Supposedly he has corrected those problems and is ready to play. Elliot isn't the bruisers that Dixon and Ducre are. He has a touch more speed and quickness to him. The problem is, how do you get him the ball? He isn't taking Dixon's spot and it is hard to replace Ducre who has already proven himself, but if he is as good as the hype MSU needs to get him some touches somehow.

Wade Bonner was moved from safety to running back in the spring due to the fact he "has too much athleticism" not to be on the field. Along with Elliot he is supposed to bring more speed and explosiveness to the running backs. Unless there are injuries though, I can't see him playing much.

Brandon Hart and Eric Hoskins are a rarity in today's game of football, true fullbacks. They'll basically be co #1s at FB, splitting time pretty much 50-50. They'll mostly be a lead blocker but will see a pass or two thrown their way a game. Stallworth was moved to FB due to too much depth at HB. He is only around 205 pounds so I don't know how effective he can be as a lead blocker. They might use him situationally as more of a receiving fullback.

Grade: 8/10

One note, if Robert Elliot does live up to the hype, I would bump this up to a 9/10. Dixon and Ducre will continue to pound on defenses hoping to leave them worn out in the 4th quarter. Elliot is an unknown still, but the coaches seem high on him and want to get him involved in the gameplan.