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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Miami’s tailback situation is a little fuzzy
By Pete Conrad
There has been a shake-up for the Miami RedHawks at tailback as well as quarterback.
The gist of it is that true freshman Roman Lawson is in the rotation at running back and redshirt freshman Danny Green is out, placed on the scout team for this week’s practice.
Lawson, like Miami’s new starting quarterback, Zac Dysert, had a good fourth quarter last weekend at Western Michigan. He finished the game as the RedHawks’ leading rusher with 43 yards on seven carries. The 43 yards is the most gained by a Miami runner this season.
“He did some nice things,” Miami coach Mike Haywood said of the 6-foot, 224-pound Lawson. “He’s a big, strong young man and has tremendous upper and lower body strength.”
The starter last week was junior Thomas Merriweather, who had another rough game, running nine times for 14 yards and losing the fumble on the first play from scrimmage which resulted in a Western Michigan touchdown. In three games Merriweather has rushed for just 46 yards in 32 carries.
But that hasn’t all been Merriweather’s fault, Haywood said.
“We have to do a better job of blocking up front,” Haywood said. “We’re going to be pounding it and pounding it until the offensive line likes run blocking.”
When asked whether Merriweather’s slow start has been a result of poor blocking or inconsistent running, Haywood said, “It’s a combination of both. I do believe Merriweather is running the ball harder and is playing more physical, but occasionally he has some mis-reads.”
Complicating the situation is the fact that senior Andre Bratton, who hasn’t played since the opener against Kentucky with a groin injury, may or may not ready to play in Saturday night’s game at Kent State.
“We haven’t decided where we’re going to place Bratton, one or two,” Haywood said. “Bratton’s feeling better. He told me (Sunday) he’s going to be a go this week. He’s as fragile as china. But he has a great attitude and is a hard-working young man.”
