Although the LSU football team’s passing game may have some question marks heading into 2009, there is no question who the stud running back will be for LSU: senior Charles Scott.The Saline native ran for 1,208 yards last season, scoring 18 times on the ground with an average of 90.3 yards-per-game to lead the Tigers’ running game.The Tigers graduated nobody from a 2008 squad that was No. 4 in the Southeastern Conference with 166.8 rushing yards per game.”Overall we look good,” Scott said. “We just need to clean up with the little things — a step here, a step there.”Scott headlines a trio of running backs and will likely again carry the load for LSU this season. But senior Keiland Williams and junior Richard Murphy will see numerous touches in a backup role for the Tigers if last year is any indication.Williams is coming off a junior season with two touchdowns and 444 yards on 83 attempts but contributed to the passing game more so than any other back with 11 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown.LSU coach Les Miles said Williams will have an improved senior season if he can see the hole a little better than he has in the past.”There are runs where he can get to a place that maybe other running backs can’t, and I ask him to see that,” Miles said. “He’s playing tough. Toughness has never been an issue with Keiland. It’s his vision, and making that quick plant and getting north and south.”Murphy wraps up the trio with 44 carries last season and 202 yards.”Richard Murphy is probably bigger and stronger than he’s ever been,” Miles said. “He’s more ready to see the field and have opportunities than he’s been in the past, so we’re happy with that.” In addition to the core group, senior fan favorite Trindon Holliday will likely get a few touches this season, coming off a junior campaign that saw him carry the ball 21 times for 114 yards.Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said Holliday wasn’t as effective last season as he was his sophomore season — when he had 53 rushes for 364 yards and two touchdowns — so the coaches have decided to make a change.”Trindon will be moved to running back, so he will be a more every down type guy at that   position rather than being a receiver and coming in at running back,” Crowton said. “That will help him get more big plays, and it gives us the ability to keep him on the field.”Though the big four will take the majority of the carries, freshmen Drayton Calhoun and    Michael Ford may have a chance to make an impact, according to running backs coach Larry Porter.”In time, they are all going to be really good players,” Porter said. “But again, this is just the beginning of the process in terms of polishing those guys to be players we can count on game in and game out.”Miles said the running game may help take pressure off the quarterback, whoever that may be.”Anytime you can count on the running game and count on being able to hand the ball off and get yards, and put yourself in a down and distance that favors both the run and pass, it helps any offense,” Miles said. “Hopefully that running attack will be a very efficient one and lead us to third-and-shorts.”FULLBACKS FIGHTThe fullback position has been left open after two-year starter Quinn Johnson’s graduation. Johnson had 14 rushes for 28 yards and three touchdowns last season along with two catches for 33 yards.Stepping in to fill that role could be sophomore Stevan Ridley, newcomer Dominique Allen — the nation’s fifth-best fullback as rated by Rivals.com — and sophomore James Stampley.Miles said he likes the depth at the position and added Ridley has made a great leap into his new position.”Stevan Ridley is so far ahead of projections,” Miles said. “His early practices have been very good. His quickness and cuts and the ability to run hard will certainly develop through camp and will be an ongoing story.”
 
 
 
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