The 2007 Running Game

Yes, it's fair to say you can call me a dolt if I say, "The success of the 2007 UNH Wildcats depends on how Ricky Santos adjusts to a season without David Ball." However, I will say exactly that, in a capacity you probably don't expect. The 2007 season will depend on Ricky Santos' (and his trifecta of running mates in Chris Ward, Chad Kackert and Bobby Simpson) ability to run the football. If anyone saw the game against Delaware where he simply couldn't be tackled, you'll understand exactly what I mean. Santos rushed for 384 yards, and those numbers are hurt by scrambling and getting sacked. I'd really like to see him use his feet. We saw, quite often, Santos rolling out and just running for five or six yards because that is what the defense game him. We'll need more of that in 2007 to be successful.

However, the real key is the performance of the other three running backs. I'll start with Bobby Simpson, because to me, he's the clear answer as a #1 RB. On just 56 rushes, he rushed for 342 yards (6.1 YPC). For some reason, he didn't play until the coaching staff realized Chris Ward couldn't get it done, which was like game five or six. He's really a power running back, and I see no reason why he won't duplicate the success he had last season behind a very strong offensive line. In my opinion, if you give the ball do Bobby Simpson, the team will control the clock and get the tough first downs it couldn't do last year. It also might neutralize teams attempting to exploit our patchy at best defense. Now, I don't expect us to suddenly huddle or anything, but Simpson should prevent the three-and-outs that happened far too often in 2006, and should offer a reasonable option on 4th downs (as opposed to Ricky Santos rolling out and throwing it no one in particular). Anytime we want the ball to go within the tackles, Simpson should be in. He's capable of going outside, but I'm not sure he has the speed to go out there too often.

Chad Kackert, on the other, is as dynamic as they come and one of UNH's best weapons on offense. I want to see screens, draws, pitches and options coming Kackerts way very often. In the last three games of the season, Kackert won nearly all three. He got the game winning pitch from Santos and scrambled to the endzone against Maine. He caught the deep ball from Santos in the closing minutes against Hampton. And on the first play of scrimmage on the offensive side of the ball against UMass, Kackert scrambled nearly 80 yards for a touchdown on a reverse. Other than Santos and Levan, no one should touch the ball more than Chad. HOWEVER, he is not going to successfully pound the rock, so if UNH intends to do that, then they have the same results coming as early last year. Use him to the outside and run him on the inside only to keep the defense honest or to trick them up.

Chris Ward just doesn't do it for me. I think he's probably the guy who's least likely to fumble or give the ball away, but as someone who seems like a real athletic phenom, he's never impressed me. He's a very capable backup, and I don't mind him in two back sets with Kackert or Simpson, but I don't think he should ever be the main guy. If we're going to use him, he's almost strictly an up the middle guy, despite the fact that he should really be able to make it to the outside with regularity.

Toss in the reverses and direct snaps to WR's, and I think the running game can really be a threat. It can keep the offense on the field longer (and thus keep our wretched defense off) and it can prevent defenses from dropping back to cover Santos and the pass. It's key Simpson and Kackert pickup where they left off last year.

I'll talk about the coaching in the next edition.