10 days from the SU opener in the Carrier Dome, we continue our positional preview of Syracuse football with a look at the running backs.

Plain and simple, Syracuse’s running attack needs to be better than it was last year. The Orange had just one game last year with a 100 yard rusher— Dontae Strickland against USF— and nobody finished with more than 600 yards on the ground. While Moe Neal showed flashes of potential late in the year, he finished with just 357 rushing yards on the year. Eric Dungey finished third on the team in rushing yards. As the QB. Only playing in 8 games.

Bottom line, the rushing attack needs to be better. But there is good news: Strickland, Neal and Dungey all come back. On top of that, it is year two in the offensive system, which you’d imagine leads to a better understanding off play calls and thought processes.

As great as it is to have a high flying passing attack, that goes for 4,200-4,500 yards, the Orange needs to be able to run the ball too. You need to be able to compliment. To take time off the clock when the situation calls for it. To get that one yard on a 3rd and short, 4th and short, or goal to go situation.

Being able to run the ball balances the offense. It opens things up for Steve Ishmael to go to work down field. It makes it easier for a tight end like Ravian Pierce or slot guy like Erv Philips to find room in the middle. It would allow for the defense to take a bit longer of a breather, and keep some of the great quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson off the field for just a little longer.

The running game is very important for the Orange. Last year, SU ran for less than 1,500 yards. That needs to improve for the Orange to take the next step. It should come as no surprise that the Orange had one of its best rushing games last year when it toppled 17th ranked Virginia Tech. The balance is necessary, and makes the high flying passing half of the offense better.