Best Running Back room since …

GoAndRunIsGoneAndDone

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2023
999
1,228
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A good offensive line is the best friend of the rb and qb rooms.
The best backs will struggle with a poor o line. So far, our own line is the definition of our team.

I don't say that to take anything away from our backs. I think we are solid there too.

We came into this game with the plan to dominate the line of scrimmage offensively and run the ball...imposing our will on them. We did just that. That team is no slouch and we wore them down and took absolute control of the game in the 2nd half. We sucked at just about everything in the first half though.

The best thing about this team is the o line. We've got pretty good skill players on offense too. We need a stud wideout that can go make plays...but were pretty solid everywhere on offense.

Combined, were pretty good and should get better with time playing together up front. Just gotta stay healthy.

Gotta improve on defense and get better depth next year.

In the meantime..let's stay healthy and make some noise in the SEC.
 
Last edited:

The Ganner

All-Conference
Nov 21, 2009
437
1,191
93
Last year's group was better and it wasn't close. McGowan was incredible. Dowdell was really good and Patterson was behind them.
I agree, put those guys behind this line and they'd go bananas. This group is GOOD but what they accomplished today was less about unique talent from the RBs and more about superb blocking. I haven't yet seen anything from the backs to set them apart from several other GOOD running back rooms we've had.
 

CB3UK

Hall of Famer
Apr 15, 2012
64,965
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What I love is that Stein saw they couldn't stop the run, and made the call at halftime to just keep running it on em. Not complicated.

Stoops seemed to usually have a solid game plan most games, but refused to adjust at halftime and would pucker up his turd cutter and white knuckle it to the finish line.

Make the adjustments at the half and attack them where they are weak. It isn't rocket science. Stein gets it.
 

entropy13

All-American
Apr 27, 2010
3,740
7,080
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McGowan was excellent, shame his talent was wasted on an overall crappy team (largely due to poor coaching).

Dowdell was mid. Average, not bad. Every good SEC team has 1-2 backs like him for depth.

Patterson was decent last year but very good this year.

In sum, the ceiling for this current group is much higher. Man, if McGowan had another year of eligibility, that'd have been awesome.
 

theKybluedude

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
889
1,986
93
Last year's group was better and it wasn't close. McGowan was incredible. Dowdell was really good and Patterson was behind them.
Adams > McGowan
Higgs>Patterson
Logan >Dowell

Respect your opinion but we will disagree. Better trio in my opinion. Tougher and more durable as well. All home grown. Adams 1000 yards by himself in 84. 13 tds. First round pick if I remember correctly.
All NFL pros.
 
Jul 6, 2025
2,691
7,291
113
Adams > McGowan
Higgs>Patterson
Logan >Dowell

Respect your opinion but we will disagree. Better trio in my opinion. Tougher and more durable as well. All home grown. Adams 1000 yards by himself in 84. 13 tds. First round pick if I remember correctly.
All NFL pros.

Your group is way better. My post didn't say last year's group was the best, just that they were better than this group.

Ps i think Baxter should be third string for this year.
 

L.O.D.

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2024
1,321
1,706
77
Baxter and Patterson are a great thunder an lightning combo . Both play at next level Patterson of he keeps improving could be legit nfl starter
 
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seccats04

Heisman
Dec 6, 2004
14,701
24,037
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I still don't understand how and why Stoops couldn't recruit elite RB's the way we featured our backs. And when he had things rolling we ran the ball really well. Overall, Stoops was a pretty good recruiter until the last few years when the wheels fell off but he never recruited RB's at a high level.
 

KyWideWes

Junior
Dec 11, 2025
188
358
63
I agree, put those guys behind this line and they'd go bananas. This group is GOOD but what they accomplished today was less about unique talent from the RBs and more about superb blocking. I haven't yet seen anything from the backs to set them apart from several other GOOD running back rooms we've had.
Mostly agree but Barnes did some things that really jumped out to me. Interested to see how he progresses.
 

AJBlue

Senior
Dec 16, 2015
331
564
93
Baxter and Patterson are a great thunder an lightning combo . Both play at next level Patterson of he keeps improving could be legit nfl starter
Yeah and Barnes came in looking like he was trying to prove something himself, running like a madman.
 

UKSanders

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
426
847
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Mostly agree but Barnes did some things that really jumped out to me. Interested to see how he progresses.

Yeah and Barnes came in looking like he was trying to prove something himself, running like a madman.

Yeah, I thought the same thing. He came in and played like it was his ONE shot at an audition for the NFL. I'd argue (and probably most anyone else) the biggest thing he can prove for an NFL audition is durability. If he can stay healthy and run like he did Saturday, he definitely bring some extra juice to that room.
 

L.O.D.

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2024
1,321
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Rbs are clearly the class of tbe offense. We need a wr to really break out to throw deep off PA .
 
Jul 6, 2025
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Rbs are clearly the class of tbe offense. We need a wr to really break out to throw deep off PA .

The OL is actually the best unit.

Wrs and tes are plenty good enough. If anyone really looks, qb is the weakest link. He had some really good moments vs a&m but still doesn't trust his eyes. Once he starts trusting his reads and they no longer have to scheme everything for him, we will really start clicking.
 

UKSanders

Senior
Aug 27, 2007
426
847
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Who gives a rat’s a$$. He lives and dies with his decisions. Staffs have never been bigger. If he likes the roll of this staff and does not want to infuse something new, his call. Maybe he sees a target that he thinks will come free soon or next year and wants to hold the position. Who cares? This board is like living with a doomsday cult.

Ummm... wrong thread, perhaps? ;)
 
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