Gophers running backs expect to continue making an impact in new offense

After establishing himself as one of the Big Ten's best running backs last season, Gophers junior Rodney Smith still had to wonder if his role might change under a new coaching staff.

Smith studied Western Michigan's game film to see how coach P.J. Fleck and offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca used their running backs last season before coming to Minnesota.

"I enjoyed watching them," Smith said Saturday. "Exciting players, exciting scheme they were in."

Ciarrocca runs a spread offense but is a big believer in balancing the run and the pass. Last season, Western Michigan rushed for 3,204 yards and passed for 3,533 on its way to a 13-1 finish.

With a projected first-round NFL pick at wide receiver, in Corey Davis, and a fourth-year starter at quarterback, in Zach Terrell, the Broncos weren't afraid to throw the ball. But they relied heavily on two running backs: Jarvion Franklin (248 carries, 1,353 yards) and Jamauri Bogan (179 carries, 923 yards).

The Gophers have their own 1-2 punch in Smith and fellow junior Shannon Brooks. After leading the team in rushing as a freshman, Brooks suffered a foot injury during training camp last year that forced him to miss the first two games.

By season's end, Smith had 240 rushes for 1,158 yards and 16 touchdowns, which earned him third-team All-Big Ten honors. Brooks added 138 carries for 650 yards and five scores.

Smith and Brooks, who both hail from Georgia, continue bringing out the best in each other. Smith has added muscle to his frame this offseason, and Brooks looks faster than he did after returning from the injury last fall.

"We have a great relationship, on and off the field," Smith said. "We've got a new coach in town, so there is no starter and backups. We compete every day — competing with each other and not against each other — that's the key."

Fleck said he learned the value of using multiple running backs from former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, when Fleck served as a graduate assistant on the Buckeyes staff in 2006.

In 2014, Fleck's second season at Western Michigan, Franklin was a one-man show at running back, racking up 306 carries, similar to the 315 the Gophers gave David Cobb that year.

"[Franklin] was a freshman, and we just wore him into the ground," Fleck said. "At the end of the year, we faded. We lost our last two games. When we got two backs into the system [in 2015], we took off."

A fifth lineman, Bronson Dovich, returned Saturday, and Fleck took advantage, stretching out the team's scrimmage.

"We needed to play some football," Fleck said.

He added, "This is going to be the most memorable, valuable film of the spring because we will have to make a lot of decisions on this heading into training camp and obviously the summer."

The Gophers will hold their spring game next Saturday, but with the offensive line banged up, it won't be an actual game. Fleck is determined to make it entertaining for fans with some of the drills the coaches run.

But it sounds like Smith and Brooks have already made their impression on the staff.