The Illinois coaching staff is faced with an interesting dilemma this week in regard to the use of the team’s running backs in light of Jason Ford’s 172-yard, three-touchdown performance against Indiana.

Based on one great game against a questionable defense, should the freshman from Belleville be given the opportunity to earn a major role in the offense? Or should carries continue to awarded based on who has the hot hand in any given game?

For his part, coach Ron Zook said Sunday that he doesn’t see any need to change the system.

“I don’t know why anything has to change,” Zook said. “Nothing has changed. He got a little hot. If another guy gets hot, we’ll leave him in there. When (Ford) was in, he was having some success.”

Ford ran with the first-team offense in practice more than ever last week and had 19 carries against the Hoosiers while Daniel Dufrene had only six, marking the first time he has been below 10 in a game this season.

Ford displays more of a Rashard Mendenhall-type style in that he has speed to get outside but also can run over defenders for his yards. But Dufrene’s contributions can’t be marginalized. He has had games of 99, 126 and 96 yards and averages 5.7 yards per carry.

Zook said he doesn’t care who starts and pointed out that Mikel LeShoure was actually on the field for the first offensive play against Indiana.

“A lot of times it is running back by committee,” Zook said of the current system. “You try to put a guy in you feel has a little bit of an upper hand.”

 Loading …