Article from the Palm Beach Post where Coach Saban discusses the backup running back position. It sounds as if he's not totally sold on anyone on our roster going into the season as Ronnie's backup (and neither am I):
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2006/08/23/a3c_fins_notebook_0823.html
Here's an exerpt:
I like Sammy Morris. He's tough, hard-working and a great special teams player. He'll do anything the team asks him to do. I definitely think we should keep him. But as the article points out, Sammy missed 10 games between 2003 and 2004. He was healthy in 2005, but you don't want your top pick to have a history with injuries, otherwise with an injury to Ronnie and if Sammy gets dinged up, you're looking at Travis Minor being our starter with Kay Jay Harris being the top backup. That thought doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Make no mistake, Travis Minor is a HELL of a special teams guy, and a decent change of pace back, but isn't the kind of back that could carry the ball 20-25 times a game.
So what options are out there at RB? The names T.J. Duckett, Stephen Davis and Chris Brown have been mentioned. Duckett and Brown would require somewhat high draft picks to acquire, so I think you can rule them out (not to mention the fact Chris Brown, a hell of a running back when healthy, has had problems staying healthy as well). Now I'm not sure of the status of Stephen Davis' health (he missed a few of the final games in 2005), but still managed to score 12 TDs. He doesn't have a lot left in the tank, but he could help us out for a year and would be a great mentor to Ronnie. In fact, there are a lot of similarities between Ronnie and Stephen Davis. Both are Auburn alumni and are roughly the same size and build.
There aren't a lot of studs out there left to sign (that's why the Patriots signed Junior Seau last week). I think it would be good to sign a back who has had to carry the rock before and done well doing it. Who that back is remains to be seen. Any thoughts?
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2006/08/23/a3c_fins_notebook_0823.html
Here's an exerpt:
I like Sammy Morris. He's tough, hard-working and a great special teams player. He'll do anything the team asks him to do. I definitely think we should keep him. But as the article points out, Sammy missed 10 games between 2003 and 2004. He was healthy in 2005, but you don't want your top pick to have a history with injuries, otherwise with an injury to Ronnie and if Sammy gets dinged up, you're looking at Travis Minor being our starter with Kay Jay Harris being the top backup. That thought doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Make no mistake, Travis Minor is a HELL of a special teams guy, and a decent change of pace back, but isn't the kind of back that could carry the ball 20-25 times a game.
So what options are out there at RB? The names T.J. Duckett, Stephen Davis and Chris Brown have been mentioned. Duckett and Brown would require somewhat high draft picks to acquire, so I think you can rule them out (not to mention the fact Chris Brown, a hell of a running back when healthy, has had problems staying healthy as well). Now I'm not sure of the status of Stephen Davis' health (he missed a few of the final games in 2005), but still managed to score 12 TDs. He doesn't have a lot left in the tank, but he could help us out for a year and would be a great mentor to Ronnie. In fact, there are a lot of similarities between Ronnie and Stephen Davis. Both are Auburn alumni and are roughly the same size and build.
There aren't a lot of studs out there left to sign (that's why the Patriots signed Junior Seau last week). I think it would be good to sign a back who has had to carry the rock before and done well doing it. Who that back is remains to be seen. Any thoughts?
