The combination of sophomore running backs Jahwan Edwards and Horactio Banks is lethal, and it has provided Ball State with a weapon: an explosive running game.
Edwards and Banks have punished opposing defenses, scampering past them and leaving nothing but a trail of dust in their wake.
We saw Edwards handle the Eagles' veteran defense with ease, dashing for a career-high 200 yards en route to three touchdowns in the home opener. Last weekend, it was Banks' turn to get in the fun, bolting for 120 yards and a score against the 12th-ranked Tigers.
The Cardinals are seventh in the nation with 581 total rushing yards, more than any team in the Southeastern Conference. And while Ball State continues to have success running the football, there's no need to alter its plan of attack.
"It's a good chunk of yards on the ground, and that's exciting, and you have to play to the strengths of your team," coach Pete Lembo said.
Those strengths have been showcased behind the most experienced offensive line in the country.
Even if, for some unimaginable reason, Edwards and Banks drastically decline or suffer a severe injury, Lembo could turn to a list of other running backs, including senior Dwayne Donnigan and juniors Toney Williams and Barrington Scott, who have already established themselves as reliable options.
And with junior quarterback Keith Wenning struggling to find the end zone with his receivers, Lembo seems content with leaning on his workhorses in the backfield.
"If we have to play and be truly a little bit more balanced to be effective, then we're going to do what we have to do," Lembo said.
Wenning will need to bounce back, and I believe he will. It's early in the season and the immense efforts from Edwards and Banks will allow him to become more comfortable to get back on track to where he was last year.
If Edwards and Banks continue to perform at such a high level every week, this offense could be scary, especially during Mid-American Conference play. Imagine the possibilities the Cardinals would have if they were able to make opposing defenses respect the run as well as maintaining a consistent passing game, forcing linebackers and defensive backs to drop into coverage rather than jam the line of scrimmage.
Whether Lembo decides to utilize his talented backfield to the fullest will remain in question, but his decision could dictate where the Cardinals end up in 2012.
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