The first half of the 2010 season the Ohio State running game was under fire. Brandon Saine was the starting tailback splitting carries with Boom Herron. Both players seemed unable to get into a groove. The Ohio State offense turned to Terrelle Pryor to supplement the running game. The combination of Boom, Saine and Pryor along with Hall and Berry running well in mop up time have Ohio State respectable total rushing statistics nationally which masked the issue at tailback.
Many people, including myself were asking for more playing time for the younger Jordan Hall and Jamaal Berry. Saine after his good game vs. Marshall had dropped off averaging just over 2 yards a carry his next 5 games and Boom Herron who has always been a dependable back was averaging 4.6 yards a carry his first 6 games.
A change in the Ohio State offense was coming. Saine lost his starting tailback position to Boom Herron who was delivering steadily. Boom was made the primary tailback for the Wisconsin game and since that game Boom Herron’s performance has been outstanding. Let’s look at the numbers between games 1-6 and 7-12:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Not only did Boom deliver his usual steady performance, but he embraced his starting position and at times put the entire Ohio State offense on his back. What he did against Ohio State’s two biggest rivals is impressive. Penn State and Michigan saw Herron run for a combined 365 yards.
Some players tend to shrivel when the spotlight hits them and some players shine. Boom Herron as a starter helped make this Ohio State offense one of the most dynamic offenses in the school’s history.
He has proven me and many others wrong this year and that makes me happy. Happy because I think about him running the ball next year as the full time starter and senior captain of one of the best teams in college football.
Boom has progressed tremendously! Hard runner and great kid. Hope he gets back to back 1,000 yard seasons next year.