Auburn wants to get running backs more involved in the passing game in 2017
By Adam Spencer
Published:
In the Gus Malzahn era, Auburn’s running backs haven’t played a very big role in the passing game.
However, under first-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, that could all change, as he wants to see star RBs Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway get more involved in all aspects of the offense.
According to OANow.com, Lindsey said the running backs should be ready for more work in the passing game this fall:
“When you go into a game,” Lindsey said, “I think it’s important to identify your playmakers in fall camp, figure out who they are, build the offense around those guys, try to get them the ball as much as you can.”
The former Arizona State coordinator oversaw an offense that got the ball to its running backs 63 times for 619 yards in 2016.
Lindsey said he simply wants to get the ball to the best players as often as possible:
“That’s something that I’ve done everywhere I’ve been,” Lindsey said Thursday on Tiger Talk. “If they’re one of your playmakers, you want to make sure they get the ball, and in certain coverages, the ball will go to go to those guys. I think we’ve improved in route-running, we’ve improved in pass protection. Hopefully that will pay off as the season plays out.”
Pettway (1,224 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016) and Johnson (895 yards, 11 touchdowns) should continue to play big roles in the running game, but Lindsey wants them to have even more opportunities to show off their skills this year.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
