LSU football historically has relied on its hard-nosed running game.
Dating back to 2007, the Tigers have produced four 1,000-yard rushers making the school a magnet for young, running-back talent with dreams of playing in the NFL. And with the 2014 recruiting class, the appeal of Baton Rouge was clear.
LSU gained the No. 1 recruit in the nation in freshman Leonard Fournette and the No. 11 running back in the nation in freshman Darrel Williams.
The 2014 class added talent to the position, but coming into the season, outsiders questioned how the Tigers’ offense could keep its stable of running backs happy with seniors Terrence Magee and Kenny Hilliard returning.
But LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron quickly identified the best use for the Tigers’ tailbacks: put them on the field at the same time.
After the season opener against Wisconsin, where the Tigers struggled on the ground for most of the game, Cameron decided on a new approach.
In the home opener against Sam Houston State, he inserted both Williams and Hilliard at fullback in short yardage situations with either Fournette or Magee in the backfield.
The scheme worked for the Tigers, as both Williams and Hilliard punched in touchdowns from the fullback position en route to a 56-0 blowout of the Bearkats.
Senior linebacker D.J. Welter said a big reason for putting both Williams and Hilliard at the fullback position is because of the mismatches they can create with talent like Fournette or Magee behind them.
“It’s definitely a mismatch for opposing defenses because most defenses key the tail back,” Welter said. “So with them being right there, if they hit a seam, they might be gone.”
Since the Sam Houston State game, both Williams and Hilliard have been featured more in the newly revamped offensive scheme.
In the following game against the University of Louisiana at Monroe, the adjustment again made a difference. The Tigers scored three touchdowns from their new pair of fullbacks, including a 22-yard touchdown run by Williams.
Senior starting fullback Connor Neighbors said the formation is all in the game plan to catch the defense off guard.
“It can [create a mismatch for the defense] because you got to cover a guy who’s just as fast as a tailback, who has just as much ball skills, if not more,” Neighbors said. “Sometimes it can force a defense to put a different type of personnel in the game and it can mess with them at times, which overall is a positive for us.”
Neighbors said fullback is similar to running back, so with backs the size of Williams and Hilliard, they capably can handle the responsibility.
Welter said the duo’s ability to adjust based on what the defense gives them is what makes them successful from the fullback position.
“When you see them run a goal line play, they just have that feel,” Welter said. “They can hit the seam or get over the top. They just have that vision. They know how to cut. And when they play at fullback, that’s a good spot for them because they have a good feel of where to fit in the line — and definitely on goal line. They get it in there.”
The formation was featured again when LSU faced Mississippi State, but neither Williams nor Hilliard were able to get anything going since the Tigers played from behind for most of the night.
Although the Bulldogs halted the run game, senior center Elliott Porter expects big things from the Tigers’ new scheme moving forward.
“[Williams and Hilliard] are running backs, so it’s an advantage, and I see some great things happening in the future,” Porter said.
You can reach Jack Chascin on Twitter @chascin_TDR.
