Entering the season, there was an influx of starting running backs vying for playing time. Last year it was Byron Marshall running the show with true freshman Thomas Tyner learning the ropes.
Now, the Ducks pose a three-headed monster that features Marshall at the slot receiver position.
“He’s (Marshall) done a really nice job,” Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said. “I know that was met with a little bit of hesitancy from (the media) as far as the three-leveled tailback race. Byron has really elevated how he’s trained and that’s shown up.”
The verdict is still out on whether or not running backs coach Gary Campbell will successfully utilize all three backs, but the three have looked more comfortable in their new roles following each game. It appears that, at least for now, Oregon has a unique rotation and it’s helped the team begin the season on the right foot.
“He (Marshall) is really taking pride in that role of being a dual threat guy,” Helfrich said. “Those other two guys, down the road, have that capability and are just working their way into it.”
Through this transition, all three backs have learned to be versatile. Marshall has molded into a formidable receiver, while Tyner and Royce Freeman have tried to position themselves as feature backs. Offensive coordinator Scott Frost hasn’t been shy about switching up the rotation between the three and it’s allowed Oregon to keep its element of surprise in tact.
All three running backs have recorded over 175 rushing yards each through the first four games, with Marshall adding 235 receiving yards. Freeman currently leads the team with 261 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
The Ducks are known to play a plethora of different players and it has been especially true for the three backs.
“We’ve all been pretty comfortable (with our roles),” Tyner said. “We’ve all been doing pretty similar things.”
In addition, these refined roles have also alleviated the three running backs of any worries concerning being a starter. The one common denominator among the three has been consistent playing time and the distribution of minutes has appeared to work early on.
“We’re winning,” Tyner said. “That’s a team effort and the outcomes have been good so I can’t complain about it.”
Heading into the Thursday matchup with Arizona, it is unclear how the Ducks will use all three running backs. Having said that, this will be another opportunity for the players to get more comfortable in their roles.
There may have been concerns early on that the Ducks would struggle to handle the three ego’s of each respective running back, but that hasn’t been the case. Instead, the three have learned to play their role and have gone as far as embracing whatever Campbell or Frost thinks is appropriate for the situation.
“We’re all happy about it,” Tyner said.
Under this context, the Ducks have won their first four games of the season as they get ready to face Arizona this Thursday night at Autzen Stadium.
“This league is tough and we’re really going to get into the meat of it right now,” Campbell said. “It’s going to take its toll on our running backs.”