Coker still growing his skills

IOWA CITY -- Even 6-foot, 230-pound running backs have to hit the gas pedal.

That's been coach Kirk Ferentz's main point of debate with Hawkeyes running back Marcus Coker through the first half of the season. Coker, the aforementioned 6-0, 230-pound running back, did more thinking than bashing.

Then last week, Coker, who's sixth in the Big Ten with 96.3 yards a game, hit the gas pedal. He rushed for 124 yards and two TDs in Iowa's win over Northwestern. He was decisive, aggressive and ran low and hard. All items he wanted to check off.

“It looked like Marcus out there and that's what we're hopefully working toward,” Ferentz said. “He was a lot more decisive today. He didn't over-analyze things, which he'll tend to do.

“He's a deep thinker and maybe that carries over to his running game a little bit.”

What does overthinking it mean for a running back? Exactly what you think it means.

"Just not being decisive. It's second-guessing. Just guessing and trying to see," said Coker, who has 578 rushing yards and six TDs. "Am I making the right play? Am I making the right cut? Just trying to be perfect on everything, instead of just going out there and playing."

As far as Coker's learning curve goes, try to keep in mind that he's started just 10 games in his career and has played in just 13. A couple things have become clear: 1) Coker is a physical runner, as Penn State and Northwestern safeties can attest to and 2) he won't make you miss.

Ferentz wants Coker to take advantage of his obvious physical talents, size and strength.

"Marcus is a strong runner . . . I can't imagine it's a lot of fun tackling him," said Ferentz, who played linebacker for Connecticut. "It's been 35 years since I've played, but you know, to me I think he's got to make that an advantage."

The book is still being written on Coker. No reason to run and jump to conclusions.

"I'm still growing every day as a player," Coker said. "I know what my strengths are right now and I'm trying to grow those and work on my weaknesses."

1 Denard Robinson Michigan JR QB 7 120 762 6.35 9 17.14 108.86

2 Montee Ball Wisconsin JR RB 6 107 653 6.10 16 17.83 108.83

3 Rex Burkhead Nebraska JR RB 6 107 635 5.93 9 17.83 105.83

4 Silas Redd Penn State SO RB 7 147 705 4.80 5 21.00 100.71

5 Taylor Martinez Nebraska SO QB 6 100 584 5.84 9 16.67 97.33

7 Marqueis Gray Minnesota JR QB 5 77 371 4.82 1 15.40 74.20

8 Edwin Baker Mich St JR RB 6 88 419 4.76 2 14.67 69.83

9 James White Wisconsin SO RB 6 69 416 6.03 4 11.50 69.33

10 Kain Colter N'western SO QB 6 68 370 5.44 5 11.33 61.67

10 Ralph Bolden Purdue JR RB 6 70 370 5.29 3 11.67 61.67

12 Carlos Hyde Ohio State SO RB 7 78 408 5.23 5 11.14 58.29

13 Nathan Scheelhaase Illinois SO QB 7 110 396 3.60 4 15.71 56.57

14 Fitzgerald Toussaint Michigan SO RB 6 62 333 5.37 4 10.33 55.50

15 Troy Pollard Illinois SR RB 7 42 385 9.17 1 6.00 55.00

16 Stephen Houston Indiana SO RB 7 73 354 4.85 2 10.43 50.57

17 Akeem Shavers Purdue JR RB 6 57 296 5.19 5 9.50 49.33

18 Le'Veon Bell Mich St SO RB 6 59 287 4.86 6 9.83 47.83

19 Donovonn Young Illinois FR RB 7 55 327 5.95 4 7.86 46.71

20 Jason Ford Illinois SR RB 7 91 309 3.40 5 13.00 44.14

21 Duane Bennett Minnesota SR RB 6 68 250 3.68 1 11.33 41.67

22 Braxton Miller Ohio State FR QB 6 61 243 3.98 0 10.17 40.50

23 Adonis Smith N'western SO RB 5 47 195 4.15 3 9.40 39.00

24 Vincent Smith Michigan JR RB 7 37 251 6.78 2 5.29 35.86

25 D'Angelo Roberts Indiana FR RB 6 45 194 4.31 1 7.50 32.33