UNI running backs forming identity

CEDAR FALLS - Over the course of the last 15 seasons, Northern Iowa Coach Mark Farley has done his best to instill the right attitude in the Panthers.

The intensity and passion with which he coaches has rubbed off over the years.

As UNI goes into its bye week, Farley was asked about some specifics on what his team needs to get better at before Missouri Valley Football Conference play starts. He landed on attitude - specifically from his running backs.

For the last four years, opponents went into games against the Panthers knowing David Johnson and Co. were going to give them everything they could handle - and do it with swagger. Farley wants that back.

'What I'm always looking for is that toughness, that grit and that power where you're somewhat of a factor; that every down you're concerned about that big run pop,” Farley said. 'Last year when you had David, it was, ‘Man, this guy can pop it at any time.'

'I want teams to sense that when they play us, that this team can pop (a run) at any time if (they) don't defend it right. That's what we need to get this (group's) play to, that there's that sense of, ‘Hey, they're that good at it'; that it's a scheme they have to stop whether it's first down or third down.”

When taking a measure of what a team's run game should be, it would be all but impossible at this point for Farley or running back's coach and former offensive coordinator Bill Salmon not to invoke the name of the reigning NFL Special Teams Player of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Week.

But even if what Tyvis Smith, Darrian Miller and Savon Huggins are doing as a group isn't yet what Johnson did (with some backup from Miller), the coaches aren't using him as a barometer in practice.

Yes, they want the mentality and opponents' intimidation factor to be the same, but Farley, Salmon and offensive coordinator Joe Davis are coaching this group as this group. Huggins said this week and before the season there's no comparing Johnson to this group - both because it's not fair and impossible to accurately do. He said the coaches and the group have carved their own mold in a way.

'I think we have a different identity than we did in previous years. Obviously what David did here was phenomenal, but we have a different identity on offense. The offense in itself uses different players and gets the ball in their hands,” Huggins said. 'He definitely still has his name among the halls and on campus here. He left his mark here forever. Obviously whatever he did and records he set are always going to be what comes up. But at the same time, I think because we have so many different options and so many ways to get people the ball, it's spread out equally. It's beneficial for us and makes the defense have to game plan even more.”

Through three games, quarterback Aaron Bailey is the team's leading rusher with 52 carries for 276 yards and two touchdowns. Smith has 28 carries for 140 yards and two scores, Miller has 26 carries for 130 yards (112 of which came against Eastern Washington) and Huggins has 15 carries for 30 yards and a touchdown. As a team, UNI is averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

Farley likes how the dynamic has played out so far, and wants to see it continue.

'I'm very pleased with how that's working out between Tyvis, Savon and Darrian,” Farley said. 'I think all three of them are working well together and are on the field and being productive for us. I think one of them wants to be the guy on the field carrying the ball 25 times a game, but I think what's nice right now is they understand and are working well together in a shared role. It's been very good to us right now.”

Huggins certainly echoed that sentiment.

Yes, each of them wants to be The Guy. But if they're going to find whatever it takes to strike fear into opponents and make them game plan specifically against the run game, they have to do it together.

'At the end of the day, we all want to win. The most important thing is to make the most of your opportunities. Go out and do your job,” Huggins said. 'I think, for the most part, we've done a good job splitting up the reps equally and giving each person an opportunity to go out there and be successful.

'Everybody wants to be the guy, but in this scenario, we have very good talent in different aspects. The defense can never get used to one guy. It has its pros.”

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com