Here is a quick look at Iowa's running backs:
| RUNNING BACKS | | | |
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| The sure thing | | | |
| With so many new, unproven players, there is no sure thing in the Hawkeyes’ backfield this season. |
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| The question | | | |
| Can Shonn Greene regain his pre-hiatus form? Greene showed a lot of potential in 2005 and ’06, rushing for 378 yards and two touchdowns in limited action. He gained 116 yards in his first college game in 2005 and has a career yards-per-carry average of 5.5. |
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| The wildcard | | | |
| Walk-on sophomore Paki O’Meara has impressed the coaching staff enough to be listed as the starter on the depth chart. Ferentz said Saturday that Greene will start but that O’Meara will be given an opportunity as the No. 2. |
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| Final analysis | | | |
| It’s all going to depend on the offensive line. If the guys up front give Greene, O’Meara and the others room to work, the Hawkeyes have enough bodies to move the ball. |
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| Depth chart | | | |
| Halfback | | | |
| Player | Yr. | Ht. | Wt. |
| Shonn Greene | Jr. | 5-11 | 235 |
| Paki O’Meara | So. | 5-11 | 210 |
| Nate Guillory | Jr. | 5-10 | 185 |
| Fullback | | | |
| Brett Morse | So. | 6-3 | 235 |
| Jordan McLaughlin | Sr. | 6-0 | 230 |
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| Others to watch: RB Jewel Hampton, Fr., 5-9, 200; RB Jeff Brinson, Fr., 5-11, 215; RB Jayme Murphy, So., 5-11, 207 |
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| Inside the numbers | | | |
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| Here is how Iowa’s running backs stacked up against the rest of the Big Ten: |
| | Stat | Rank | |
| Total offense | 316.3 | 11 | |
| Rush offense | 126.2 | 10 | |
| Scoring | 18.5 | 11 | |
| Time of poss. | 28:46 | 9 | |
Andrew wrote on Aug 22, 2008 12:19 AM: