HawaiiAthletics.com Preview: Running Backs

HawaiiAthletics.com continues their 2009 previews with a look at the running backs.

“We’re putting a lot of emphasis on the running game,” running backs coach Brian Smith said. “The run-and-shoot will still be a wide-open passing attack. We think we have a lot of depth at running back and we think we can do pretty well up front, so we expect that to be a big part of our offense again. But we’re definitely not taking anything away from the passing, because passing always sets up the run here.”

A former offensive lineman at UH, this season will be Smith’s first year coaching the running backs after joining the staff last year as offensive line coach.

“You always want to, especially in the running backs, to instill a lot of toughness in them.” Smith said. “Coaching offensive line and coaching running backs really go hand- in-hand in the blocking.”