Struggling run game looks for improvement
Ryan Buchan
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: Sports
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This year, SJSU returns with many of its key players, and added some new weapons.
"We got our whole offensive line back, I think those guys have worked hard in the offseason to be better," said SJSU head coach Dick Tomey during a practice over spring break. "We signed MoJo (Lamon Muldrow) from Sierra who is an outstanding junior college running back … and we add Patrick (Perry)."
Senior running back Perry is expected to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him since 2006 when the team won the New Mexico Bowl.
"It is early in camp right now, so I have a lot to work on," Perry said. "As long as I just progress by the day, I am happy. Hard work and dedication is what it is going to take to get back and that is all I am focused on right now."
Tomey said the team is still waiting to hear if the NCAA will grant Perry another year of eligibility. Tomey added that in a situation where an injury keeps an athlete off the field, the player usually would get the extra year.
Perry split carries with Yonus Davis in 2006 and averaged 4.45 yards per carry while leading the team with seven rushing touchdowns.
"In '06 he and Yonus were a dynamite combination," Tomey said. "Pat was kind of our inside downhill runner. (Davis and Perry) were kind of thunder and lightning and he was thunder, so we expect the same type of performance from him."
Tomey said that he thinks Perry has not completely recovered from his injury, and is currently about 95 percent. Tomey added that he thinks Perry will have no problem adjusting to the game and playing strong when he returns.
Another addition to the Spartans is Muldrow, a running back who transferred from Sierra College. Rivals.com, a Web site that ranks college recruits, gave Muldrow a four-out-of-five star rating.
Tomey added that he is "another downhill runner who is a stronger, bigger guy."
During the practice, Muldrow showed both his power and elusiveness. On one play during a team scrimmage, he had three people grabbing onto him, broke free and darted downfield.
In another play, he took the ball to the outside and had one man to beat. When the defender went in for the tackle, he got nothing but air as Muldrow changed direction and continued to run.
"With the addition of me and MoJo and the offensive line, we can fix that problem," Perry said about the offense's poor performance last year. "As long as we can work together and work hard and stay dedicated and believe what the coaches told us, we are going to be fine."
Last year, the Spartans had three backs that split the majority of the snaps and two of them will return - Brandon Rutley and Chris Reese.
"Brandon is still a major player for us," Tomey said. "We are going to need them - you can't have too many backs. Chris Reese established himself last year as somebody who can get tough yards in a critical situation. We are glad he is back. We are going to have a deep position at running back in the fall and I think it is going to be a good position."
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