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spt_usc_tailbacks_05.sTitle = "Comparing the great USC tailbacks";
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spt_usc_tailbacks_05[i++] = new Array("","Reggie Bush (2005)","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/z_Projects_in_progress/051202_usc_heisman/051202_heisman_bush.vsmall.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Frazer Harrison", "Getty Images ", "198", "145", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_usc_tailbacks_05[i-1].body = "Finding holes: With his superb acceleration, Bush doesn’t need huge gaps to run through -- he got them anyway, especially in 2005 -- just a crack will do. Often times he would create his own “holes” by reversing his field or improvising with a bounce and burst to the outside. His speed and talents meant that he didn’t need to be as much of an attacker as his “Tailback U.” predecessors.
Open field: Few players in the history of the game have the kind of ability Bush has when given space to work with. His knack for going from full speed to a dead stop to full speed again is already legendary. Not only can he turn on a dime, he can also come to a complete stop on a quarter and do a full spin on a nickel. Bush is this generation’s Gale Sayers.
Receiving: Without question, Bush is the best pass-catching tailback in USC history. Defensive coordinators lose sleep over how to defend the Trojans when he lines up as a wideout. Unlike those who came before him at USC, the game plan emphasizes getting Bush downfield, but it all starts with the fact that he has all the tools to make it happen in a big way. Bush could have been a tremendous split end if he wanted to be, but he is more dangerous coming out of the backfield to get more than his fair share of one-on-one matchups.
Yards after contact: Between his sophomore and junior seasons, Bush made a conscious effort to strengthen his body and add a little bit of LenDale White’s “thunder” game to his repertoire. Extra yardage really isn’t Bush’s bag. He’s not a pile-pusher. However, that didn’t matter so much on more than a few occasions as the speedster was never touched on his way to the end zone.
Intangibles: Whenever he’s out there on special teams and the ball is kicked to Bush, a hush falls over the crowd. But if you are looking for a guy to get you a consistent chunk of yardage on each return, he might not be your guy. However, if you covet a return man that will make the big play when you need it the most, he’s the one you want.
Statistics during Heisman season:
Games: 13
Carries: 200
Yards: 1,740 (8.7 average)
Rushing TDs: 16
Receptions: 37
Yards: 478 (12.7 average)
Receiving TDs: 2
Punt returns: 18
Yards: 179 (9.9 average)
TDs: 1
Kickoff returns: 28
Yards: 493 (17.6 average)
TDs: 0";
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Crunch time: As a senior in 1981, Allen led the way in three dramatic victories over Oklahoma, Notre Dame and UCLA. He rose to the occasion in the toughest situations and had a relentless will to win. Allen wasn’t always the one providing the winning margin at the end, but he could often times be counted on to pave the way.
Finding holes: Anticipating where the running room would be even before it materialized, Allen didn’t spend a lot of time stutter stepping or dancing. He attacked the line of scrimmage as the hole was opening. Perhaps stemming from his days as a prep quarterback, Allen had a great understanding of what the defense was trying to do to stop him. He also had a unique way of worming his way through the line when there was only a sliver of daylight, causing John Robinson to once liken him to a contortionist.
Open field: An intelligent runner who learned the art of the tailback position as an upperclassman, Allen had an innate ability to set up defenders and glide past them with his long stride. Neither a speedster nor jitterbug, he relied on his savvy and high level of athleticism when he found room to roam. His great vision would regularly lead to dazzling cutback runs.
Receiving: With career totals of 86 receptions for 801 yards, Allen was an effective weapon within USC’s rudimentary aerial attack, but that aspect of his game was clearly a sidenote to his prowess on the ground. His skills as a receiver really blossomed at the next level.
Yards after contact: Having already played fullback, Allen was well accustomed to contact by the time he took over the tailback position and rarely went down due to the first hit and was a great finisher. A sophisticated runner, he would cut at the right time to avoid getting hit flush and would regularly bounce off and continue downfield.
Intangibles: A complete footballer if there ever was one, Allen entered the Trojan program as a defensive back and left as one of the school’s all-time best runners, a devastating blocker, an effective receiver and the consummate team player. He was perhaps the best overall athlete among USC’s first four Heisman Trophy winners.
Statistics during Heisman season:
Games: 12
Carries: 433
Yards: 2,427 (5.6 average)
Rushing TDs: 22
Receptions: 34
Yards: 256 (7.5 average)
Receiving TDs: 1";
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spt_usc_tailbacks_05[i-1].body = "
Crunch time: The game-winning drive in the 1980 Rose Bowl victory over Ohio State, which included White’s six carries for 71 yards, is the focal point of his career. You would be hard pressed to find a string of clutch moments by a USC tailback better than that series by White. He also led the Trojans to two other Rose Bowl victories, including a save-the-day 122-yard effort as a freshman, subbing for 1976 Heisman runner-up Ricky Bell, whom Michigan knocked out of the game. White never let the Trojans down.
Finding holes: Buoyed by an offensive front that was the best in Trojan history up until that point, White didn’t spend as much time searching for holes as he did choosing amongst them. He even had an effective blocker at fullback by the name of Marcus Allen, providing running room.
Open field: Lacking the speed and shiftiness of the other “Tailback U.” luminaries, White wasn’t a put-the-moves-on-you kind of back. He preferred to take a more direct route downfield ... and if you happened to be in his way, he had no problem running you over. White wasn’t a home run threat at all, but his career per carry average of 5.4 yards is the best among USC’s first four Heisman Trophy winners.
Receiving: When a player gains 6,245 yards on the ground, who has the time to be catching passes? Nevertheless, White finished his collegiate career with 59 receptions for 541 and four touchdowns. The majority of these were swing passes of the keep-the-defense-honest variety.
Yards after contact: Playing much larger than his 185 pounds would suggest, White sent more than his share of defensive backs hobbling off the field. He enjoyed contact and feared no one on the football field. Many had more polished moves than White, but no one could match his aggressiveness. He was the toughest player on the field at any position and shaking off defenders to gain additional yardage was commonplace.
Intangibles: White carried the football a whopping 1,147 times as a Trojan. That’s a lot of bumps and bruises, but he missed only one of 49 games. That shows incredible durability and is extremely valuable. A great tailback does you no good standing on the sidelines with a sprained ankle or a bruised shoulder. Always there and always charging forward, White had the devastating consistency of a wrecking ball.
Statistics during Heisman season:
Games: 11
Carries: 332
Yards: 2,050 (5.4 average)
Rushing TDs: 19
Receptions: 22
Yards: 145 (6.6 average)
Receiving TDs: 0";
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Crunch time: USC’s 21-20 victory over UCLA in 1967 is part of college football lore and Simpson’s clutch performance with everything on the line was the focal point. His breathtaking zigzag 64-yard touchdown masterpiece is regarded as one of the most famous runs in college football history, but his 13-yarder earlier in the game was technically superior. Simpson was at his best when the games were the biggest.
Finding holes: As USC’s I-formation attack began to be refined with physical play between the tackles, Simpson made some additions to the edges as “28 pitch,” more commonly known as “Student Body Right,” became coach John McKay’s most fearsome weapon. He could squirt through interior holes with the best of them, but few -- if any -- shared his ability to turn the corner on the outside.
Open field: With moves that come along once in a generation (see Reggie Bush), Simpson was devastating when he broke into the clear. If he was allowed to get to the edge, his world-class sprinter speed would take over. If he needed to shake a defender or two, he’d use those magical hips to leave foes frozen and eventually lost in the dust.
Receiving: McKay didn’t need to invent new ways to get the ball to Simpson. Simply handing it to him was more than enough, but Simpson did catch 36 passes for 320 yards in his two seasons as a Trojan. However, none of those grabs went for touchdowns. Ironically, Simpson was more of a giver than receiver, throwing three touchdown passes as a junior in 1967.
Yards after contact: Although generally regarded as a finesse runner, Simpson was equally physical. On his epic 13-yard touchdown run versus UCLA in 1967, he broke no less than seven tackles. Effectively using all of his 207 pounds and a good natural lean, he always dragged defenders for an extra yard or two. Simpson wasn’t the type to move a pile, but he became less of a dancer and more of an attacker between his junior and senior years.
Intangibles: Simpson had something extra. His charisma was galvanizing. He was the team’s undisputed star, but also was sacrificing his body in every game. That pulled the Trojans together as a team, especially during his senior year in 1968 when the supporting cast wasn’t as good as the previous one.
Statistics during Heisman season:
Games: 11
Carries: 383
Yards: 1,880 (4.9 average)
Rushing TDs: 23
Receptions: 26
Yards: 211 (8.1 average)
Receiving TDs: 0
Kickoff returns: 7
Yards: 151 (21.6 average)
TDs: 0
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Crunch time: In his first two years at USC, Garrett led the Trojans to a pair of victories over UCLA, but neither led to a Rose Bowl berth. As a senior, when a trip to Pasadena was on the line, USC lost, 20-16. Garrett finished with good numbers, rushing for 210 yards, but he had a critical fumble at the Bruin goal line, which played a part in him becoming “the greatest Trojan to never play in a Rose Bowl.”
Finding holes: The success of the revolutionary I-formation really began with Garrett. Lining him up deep in the backfield and up out of a three-point stance allowed him to see the defense effectively before taking the handoff. Then, with some extra space between him and the line of scrimmage, Garrett was extremely effective in recognizing and running to the daylight provided by linemen such as 206-pound guard Frank Lopez (yes, this was very much a different time).
Open field: Slightly ahead of his time, Garrett was like Barry Sanders without the speed. Possessing extremely quick feet, he could cut right or left at full speed. Garrett had the moves to fake defenders out, but even if he didn’t completely juke them, it was enough to ensure that they didn’t get a good hit. His shiftiness also was evident in his quality work on punt and kickoff returns, averaging 11.6 and 23.7 yards, respectively.
Receiving: Back in the day when running backs weren’t gaining 1,000 yards, they certainly weren’t getting into the pass patterns much, but Garrett was changing the game. He caught 36 passes for 399 yards and three touchdowns in his three seasons at USC. Also a factor in the passing game in other ways, Garrett threw three touchdown passes, tossed a pair of interceptions, but also once intercepted a pass himself while playing on defense.
Yards after contact: Although just 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Garrett packed a powerful punch, stemming from his strong legs. They didn’t call him “Iron Mike” for nothing and arm tackles didn’t bring him down. With a low center of gravity, he had that pinball quality and defenders would frequently bounce off, allowing Garrett to gain some extra yardage.
Intangibles: The indestructible Joe Frazier of college football, Garrett’s teammates knew that he could be counted on to be the featured back and to provide strong leadership in his quiet way. His incredible determination and relentless passion personified USC at the time and paved the way for future greatness at the tailback position.
Statistics during Heisman season:
Games: 10
Carries: 267
Yards: 1,440 (5.3 average)
Rushing TDs: 13
Receptions: 9
Yards: 94 (10.4 average)
Receiving TDs: 1
Punt returns: 13
Yards: 235 (18.1 average)
TDs: 2
Kickoff returns: 5
Yards: 105 (21.0 average)
TDs: 0
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How often does the player rise to the challenge with the game on the line? Which one of them would you want with the ball in the closing seconds?";
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Go inside or make a move outside? How does each tailback take advantage of openings generated by linemen, some of whom were stars in their own right?";
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Once past the line, how do these tailbacks react? Some relied mainly on ungodly speed, while others had moves that few backs can repeat.";
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As the game evolves, tailbacks are becoming more of a duel threat by coming out of the backfield to catch the ball. ";
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Let's get physical. While members of Tailback U. are revered for their finesse, each was able power his way for extra yardage when called upon.";
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Can they block? Return kickoffs and punts? Avoid fumbles? Stay healthy? And, most importantly, did they display leadership abilities?";
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// END editorial data