We’ve already spent plenty of time this offseason discussing the success of Dan Mullen’s rushing attacks during his Mississippi State tenure. Or at least this writer has.

We’ve discussed Mullen’s history of producing 1,000-yard rushers (four players posted five 1,000-yard campaigns in his first six years at MSU), and we’ve discussed the major losses the Bulldogs suffered along the offensive line after last season. To recap: Mullen’s offensive system has always been kind to workhorse tailbacks, and if he can shore up the offensive line that trend is likely to continue in 2015.

But while Mullen and his coaching staff aim to settle their offensive line this spring and again in fall camp, let’s take a look straight into the backfield. With Josh Robinson on his way to the NFL, there’s room for a new sheriff in town to lead the ground game. In fact, there might be room for two.

Ashton Shumpert and Brandon Holloway seemingly shared the backup duties last season behind Robinson, earning nearly the same number of carries (47 for Shumpert, 45 for Holloway) while posting nearly even yardage totals (294 for Holloway and 274 for Shumpert). However, their running styles couldn’t be much different.

The two tailbacks form the ideal “thunder and lightning” combination that coaches crave when considering employing a running back-by-committee system. Shumpert, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound bruiser, does most of his work between the tackles. Holloway, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound slasher, is at his best when he can get to the edge and make defenders miss in open space.

Their polar opposite yet perfectly complementary styles, matched with their near-even standing on last year’s depth chart, could inspire Mullen to go running back by committee in 2015, something he has never done in full effect since arriving in Starkville prior to the 2009 season.

These systems can sometimes take players a few weeks to settle into — they create inconsistent workloads that might take a tailback out of his rhythm, for instance — but there are plenty of benefits to the system, too.

Shumpert and Holloway can have plays designed specifically to fit their skill sets, which should in turn benefit their production on the field. They can also enjoy half the work of a featured back, which would seemingly keep them both fresh for a late-season push that may decide the SEC West.

Plus, using two backs with differing styles forces opposing defenses to game plan for both styles. When Shumpert is on the field and Holloway is on the bench, it’s no secret MSU may be looking to pound the ball inside. But even if you stop that, Holloway can come in on the next play and force you to change your entire defensive approach just seconds later.

Mullen has coached powerful backs reliant on yards after contact. Robinson was that kind of player during his 1,000-yard season a year ago. And Mullen has coached slashers who can break ankles on the perimeter, like former MSU tailback Ladarius Perkins, who doubled as a track star before landing in Starkville.

So we know Mullen knows how to use either guy. And he certainly knows how to balance how often he uses the two; he struck that balance on the second-team last year and can do the same on the first-team this fall.

Which is why we can expect Mississippi State’s ground game to be as effective as any other year, even if the numbers don’t indicate it. Using two backs would likely keep either from adding his name to the list of 1,000-yard rushers in the Mullen era. But together the tandem may exceed 1,500 yards, nearly as many as Robinson, Holloway and Shumpert all combined for in 2014.

No matter how Mullen handles his backfield, the bar will be high. If he opts to go with one workhorse in the starting lineup, that player would have to possess obviously dynamic skills that could torch the SEC. And if he sticks with two guys, they can stay fresh and keep defenses in conflict all season.

The offensive line remains a mystery and there are dozens more practices and nearly six more months until the start of the 2015 season. But that shouldn’t stop MSU faithful for setting high expectations for the Bulldogs’ ground game come the fall.