Rushing Statistics 2002-2012

[howellc33]

It’s obvious we don’t have much of a running game (or offense for that matter) and it’s been discussed heavily since the season began, but I thought I’d research a few statistics. Iowa State hasn’t had a 1,000 yard rusher since A-Rob in 2009. However Robinson was close in 2010 as he rushed for 995 yards. Since 2002 Iowa State has only produced two backs that have rushed for 1,000 yards or more in a season. I don’t think it’s likely we will eclipse 1,000 yards with a single back in 2013, but we all know there are several things holding us back and I won’t even get into that. Does anybody think we have a back on the roster that will reach 1,000 yards anytime soon? If so, who? …Below are statistics from the top rushers per season dating back to 2002.

RUSHING
2012-J. White 99 carries, 544 yards, 5.1 avg, 2 td, 45.9 yards/game
2011-J. White 159 carries, 819 yards, 4.7 avg, 8 td, 57.2 yards/game
2010-A. Robinson 202 carries, 995 yards, 4.7 avg, 9 td, 78.8 yards/game
2009-A. Robinson 232 carries,1,232 yards, 5.2 avg, 6 td, 99.6 yards/game
2008-A. Robinson 153 carries, 734 yards, 4.6 avg, 6 td, 63.9 yards/game
2007-A. Robinson 118 carries, 509 yards, 3.9 avg, 6 td, 42.3 yards/game
2006-S. Hicks 107 carries, 547 yards, 4.9 avg, 2 td, 65.4 yards/game
2005-S. Hicks 149 carries, 572 yards, 3.7 avg, 4 td, 60.6 yards/game
2004-S. Hicks 270 carries, 1,105 yards, 3.9 avg, 5 td, 88.5 yards/game
2003-S. Hicks 123 carries, 497 yards, 3.8 avg, 0 td, 42.8 yards/game
2002-H. Rutland 160 carries, 678 yards, 3.8 avg, 6 td, 43.9 yards/game

 

[CycloneRulzzz]

Those numbers are depressing considering we had TD go for 2,000 back to back years playing less games than running backs today get.

 

[Luth4Cy]

It should be noted that in a lot of those down years the top back either had injuries or it was a running back by committee. White would have maybe had 1000 in 2011 if he hadn't split time with Shontrelle the first three plus games before SJ's injury.

 

[AWOL2000]

More interested in total team stats on this to see if we are as committed to running the ball as we were in the past.

 

[State43]

Me sad...

 

[Rabbuk]

Well that is awful

 

[howellc33]

Well that is awful

Draws up the middle with our 190lb backs behind a suspect offensive line are awful also.

 

[theshadow]

Since 2002 Iowa State has only produced two backs that have rushed for 1,000 yards or more in a season.

That's what happens when you go from using 1 RB to using 4-5.

 

[theshadow]

White would have maybe had 1000 in 2011 if he hadn't split time with Shontrelle the first three plus games before SJ's injury.

Shontrelle + White in the first 4 games (until SJ's injury) = 422 (105.5 ypg)
White + Woody in the last 9 games = 927 (103.0 ypg)
Season Total = 1,349 (103.8 ypg)

 

[Cyclonin]

God I miss A-Rob

 

[JohnnyFive]

If ARob didn't have a bum groin for basically two years he would've been around 1500 at least once, maybe twice. I don't know how many times that dude broke would-be 70 yarders but got caught 30 or 40 yards downfield because of that groin.

 

[BallSoHard4Cy]

Makes me miss ARob so much. I did not think that in 2009, that in 5 years down the road, that I would be wanting 2009 back.

at least were good at basketball.

 

[LindenCy]

There is also a problem when you have freshman leading the team in rushing at around 500 yards as Hicks and ARob did (both with averages under 4 yds a carry). Nothing against them, but that would seem to indicate a major lack of RB depth over the years. We were spoiled from 95-2001.

White could really do well if we set him up for it, but um, see other threads on this board about that.

 

[theshadow]

The only back who got more than 2/3 of the total RB carries and didn't break 1,000 yards was ARob in 2010.

Carries by RBs (1,000-yard rushers in bold)

1997: D Davis 213 (67.4% of RB carries); all other backs 103 (Davis only played appx 7.5 games)
1998: D Davis 284 (87.7%); all other backs 40
1999: D Davis 287 (77.8%); Haywood 55; all other backs 27
2000: Haywood 250 (68.7%); Wagner 86; all other backs 28 (Haywood missed OSU game; Wagner filled in)
2001: Haywood 278 (76.6%); Wagner 48; all other backs 37

**********
Since 2002, the leading back got less than 1/2 of the total RB carries in 7 of 11 seasons. Plus, look at all of the potential carries that were eaten up by QBs.
**********

2002: Rutland 160 (39.7%); Wagner 153 (38.0%); B. Thompson 83; Woodley 7 (QBs combined for 126)
2003: Hicks 123 (47.9%); Wagner 96 (37.3%); Rutland 30; Kock 8 (Flynn led team with 124; QB total 174)
2004: Hicks 270 (79.9%); Scales 37; T. Thompson 21; all others 10 (QBs combined for 176)
2005: Hicks 149 (43.1%); Coleman 116 (33.5%); Kock 54; all others 27 (Meyer 133)
2006: Hicks 107 (41.5%); Kock 74; Scales 54; J. Johnson 23 (Meyer led team with 137)
2007: Bass 123 (36.2%); Robinson 118 (34.7%); Scales 99 (29.1%) (QBs combined for 112)
2008: Robinson 153 (58.0%); Scales 60; Bass 42; all others 9 (QBs combined for 133)
2009: Robinson 232 (75.1%); Schwartz 71; all others 6 (QBs combined for 191)
2010: Robinson 202 (69.9%); Woody 47; S. Johnson 35; White 5 (QBs combined for 148)
2011: White 159 (47.9%); Woody 90; S. Johnson 51; all others 32 (QBs combined for 188)
2012: S. Johnson 115 (41.4%); White 99 (35.6%); Woody 40; all others 24 (QBs combined for 163)

 

[The_Architect]

If ARob didn't have a bum groin for basically two years he would've been around 1500 at least once, maybe twice. I don't know how many times that dude broke would-be 70 yarders but got caught 30 or 40 yards downfield because of that groin.

Yep. We lost one of those games against KSU at Arrowhead because of that exact situation. IIRC, he had a breakaway and got caught with the bad groin, then we turned the ball over and KSU scored. 14 point swing.

 

[Luth4Cy]

Do a lot of you not realize it was running back by committee in years where the top rusher had so few yards?

 

[howellc33]

Do a lot of you not realize it was running back by committee in years where the top rusher had so few yards?

Yep sure do. I gathered that when I looked up the stats. It's still interesting to take a look back at the numbers.

 

[theshadow]

Those numbers are depressing considering we had TD go for 2,000 back to back years playing less games than running backs today get.

He also averaged 34 carries per game in those two years.

The last guy to carry the ball 34 times even once (never mind averaging it for two full seasons) was J.J. Bass in 2007. Before that: Ennis Haywood (2001 at Kansas).

 

[Bret44]

He also averaged 34 carries per game in those two years.

The last guy to carry the ball 34 times even once (never mind averaging it for two full seasons) was J.J. Bass in 2007. Before that: Ennis Haywood (2001 at Kansas).

Ugh... I was so pumped for him, he had 400 yards through the first 3 games and then he got hurt right? Never the same again.