have seen a few posters mention today and a few weeks ago that the reason Ty got so few carries last year was due to his fumbles. While that was clearly the case in 2015, not so last year. Surprisingly game time fumbles were closer to being rewarded last year. Isaac did not fumble once last year. Only one back fumbled and turned the ball over last year - Smith in Game 6. That game (Rutgers) Smith was ineffective, 5 carries for 11 yards. The next week Smith "earned" 18 of our 37 rushing attempts, despite the fact that Evans/Higdon/Isaac combined for 360 yards the week before against Rutgers! Week 7 Evans fumbled (we recovered), and Evans was credited with one rushing attempt. The following two weeks Evans carries totaled 8 - so some negative reward for fumbling (possibly). Evans had the only other fumble in 2016, against Iowa, a game where Evans carried 8 times - Evans carried the ball 9 times the next week against Indiana.
I have no special insight as to why our running backs were allocated carries as they were in 2016. Why did Smith get as many carries as he did? It is possible that Isaac had fumbling issues in practice. Also possible that Smith was the most impressive back in practices. The only thing I think I know is that Isaac's playing time in 2016 was not a result of fumble issues in games. Does further make me wonder how RB personnel decisions were made last year.
I have no special insight as to why our running backs were allocated carries as they were in 2016. Why did Smith get as many carries as he did? It is possible that Isaac had fumbling issues in practice. Also possible that Smith was the most impressive back in practices. The only thing I think I know is that Isaac's playing time in 2016 was not a result of fumble issues in games. Does further make me wonder how RB personnel decisions were made last year.
