Dec 22 2008
Bears looking to run against Miami
Backup running back and special teams ace, Tracy Slocum won’t be making the trip across the Bay for Cal’s Emerald Bowl appearance due to a suspension. For as talented Slocum is, the Bears won’t be needing his services as long as Shane Vereen and Jahvid Best are able to play - which they will.
The two backs have combined for 2,073 yards and 17 touchdowns with Best averaging over eight yards-per-carry and Vereen averaging over five. Both runners have had scoring touchdown runs of over 80 yards and each can carry the load if the other isn’t around to help out. They’ve also combined for 52 receptions for 460 yards and two touchdowns.
On the other hand, Miami will come into the game needing to do something they haven’t done well most of the year - stop the run. Unfortunately for the U, they rank 69th of 119 FBS teams in rush defense. They allow 146.42 yards-per-game on the ground and that doesn’t bode well for a team about to play without their starting quarterback.
If the Hurricanes can’t stop the run, they’ll be playing the Emerald Bowl from behind. The Bears are not a team you want to play from behind because while they haven’t been prolific in the passing game, they have all of the weapons you need to be a high-scoring offense.
In games where the Bears have scored 40+ points, only one game did they rush for less than 200 yards (189). In two of the games, they rushed for over 350 yards! There’s no other way to say it, the Hurricanes need to be good when the Bears put the game in the hands of their running backs.
