Since the season is still a good ways out, I’ve decided to write this in a series, breaking down the main positions and players on the Alabama roster. Hang in there my fellow fans, the season will be here soon enough.
Runningbacks: With most teams, I may have opened this series with quarter-backs, but with the Heisman last year and Alabama’s long history of running-backs, I figured this was the only place to start.
Of course, this may not be the most interesting preseason topic to talk about, as we pretty well know what we’re getting next year at this position. Obviously, Heisman winner Mark Ingram should be a great runningback yet again, both running the ball up the gut, and doing a little more receiving out of the backfield. As we’ve seen, the Heisman is an award hard to win twice. It just so happens, Ingram may share the backfield with his greatest Heisman obstacle.
Trent Richardson will not win the Heisman in 2010, you heard it here first. But, he is developing into an amazing player that will rival Ingram for carries and the spotlight. Then again, he could also push Mark Ingram right back to New York next year. Trent Richardson served as a valuable asset last year for the tide, reaching considerably less numbers than Ingram, but bringing a dynamic dimension to the game. Now, with a year of experience under his belt, Richardson is developing into a superstar, waiting to fill Ingram’s shoes for his chance to shine. We’ve seen his speed, strength, and footwork in his first season. This season, he looks to be a bigger receiving threat and a better player overall.
Roy Upchurch is gone, in my mind, a much overlooked help to this Alabama team. The Senior was overshadowed mostly by the two afore-mentioned backs until his game-winning catch in the Iron Bowl. He may not have had the talent of the first two, but he was clutch, and he will be missed.
As for the other backs, it’s really a mystery. I’ve heard good things about Eddie Lacy, but We’ve yet to really see what he can do behind two stars. Demetrius Goode looks to be a consistent and helpful back.
To make a long story short, I think we have things pretty well locked up at the runningback position for a while. I promise tomorrow’s article on the Wide Recievers will be a bit more interesting.