STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) -Mississippi State’s Anthony Dixon and Charles Scott of LSU are a pair of power runners in the age of the spread offense.
They face off for the final time in their college careers Saturday when the seventh-ranked Tigers travel to Starkville. After 30 years of dominance, the Power I formation is passing out of vogue, and with it the need for those bullish big guys with the 235-pound build and the nasty attitude.
Both Mississippi State and LSU have made the transition to the spread offense, but a few times this weekend Dixon or Scott will likely dig in 7 yards deep with a fullback to lead the way and go on a search for violent contact.
ack-yard football. No holds barred. It’s big on big, man on man.”
There was a time when a coach in the Southeastern Conference could build his reputation around a powerful back with a little bit of speed. Players like Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson – guys who could run over or around tacklers depending on their mood.
Instead of carrying the load, Scott and Dixon find themselves taking on situational roles as they meet. Both still have significant roles in their offenses, but are sometimes asked to do very different things than what they were recruited for.
They share time in crowded backfields. Dixon is splitting time with three others, while Scott is giving up carries to Keiland Williams and Trindon Holliday, two smaller backs. Scott recently showed his versatility by catching a touchdown pass but is well off the pace of carries he was getting last season.
“We have flashes of greatness,” Scott said of LSU’s rushing game, which averages 163.7 yards per game. “But I would say the main thing is getting used to the shotgun runs … converting when you’re used to being a two-back guy, then going to a spread offense and running, because it’s a little bit different.”
, Miss., native has quickly shown he’s in the best shape of his career both physically and mentally.
Dixon was the centerpiece of Sylvester Croom’s power-running West Coast offense and entered the season as Mississippi State’s career rushing attempts and touchdowns leader. With 2,818 yards, he needs just 3 to move into second place on the career rushing list.
He has fit in well with Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen’s spread offense so far and appears poised to pass Jerious Norwood’s 3,212 yards by the end of the season, achieving a goal he set four years ago.
“When I first got here I set out to be the best,” Dixon said. “It feels good to know I’m moving toward that way, but at same time I just want to do my job and win this game. If that requires me to break this record then that’s what’s up, that’s what I want to do.”
Scott, a 6-0, 234-pound Saline, La., native, is nearing the 2,000-yard mark for his career as he tries to become the fourth LSU tailback to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. Scott had 18 touchdowns last season, picking up two along with 141 yards in a 34-24 win over Mississippi State last year.
Fittingly his scores came on power dives from 1-yard out.
standing in the backfield.
“I enjoy watching Charles Scott play,” Love said. “Really, he’s one of my favorite runnings backs in the SEC or the nation because he’s a guy who has one tempo, that’s full speed, straight downhill. He don’t care if his offensive line is in the way, your linebackers, the D Line. He don’t care who’s there. He’s going to make sure he’s going to run through you.”
Mullen doesn’t think we’ve seen the last of the power backs. We may just have to wait a while for the next group to come along.
“Offense is always cyclical,” Mullen said. “I think the key is to be a little bit ahead of the curve maybe. I think you’ll see as more teams go to spread and the defense goes to a design to stop the spread, you’ll see more teams go back to Power I or Wishbone offenses to counterbalance what the defense is doing.”
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