Zach Line

[Get_Some_Ponies]

He played like a horse. We're not going to replace Shawnbrey right away but between those little screens to Beasley and Zach bruising there are good options to pick up a few yards and keep the d honest.

[PerunaPunch]

Game MVP IMHO.

[PerunaPunch]

BTW, Zach's 6.0 YPC against Big XII-II talent is better than McNeal's average last year.

[WSGJ]

I guarantee that we will be very successful with Zach as our starting running back and he will have a great career (think of Jerome Bettis).

I like Zach but he will never have the career of Jerome Bettis. It's unfair to Zach to mention him in the same breath as a future NFL Hall of Famer.

[EastStang]

He had 72 yards rushing. If he keeps that up, he'll be knocking on the door of 1000 yards by year end.

[ponytailgater]

How about in the 3Q when line literally threw one of the defenders off him while going to the ground! Talk about physical!!!

[Harry0569]

I guarantee that we will be very successful with Zach as our starting running back and he will have a great career (think of Jerome Bettis).

I like Zach but he will never have the career of Jerome Bettis. It's unfair to Zach to mention him in the same breath as a future NFL Hall of Famer.

These were my thoughts as I was watching the game. Maybe he could be the Bus late in his career (with stat lines of l10 carries 20 yards 3 TDs). I remember one game in particular where Bettis had less than 6 carries for 5 yards and 3 or TDs.

[Nacho]

he definitely looks better this year. i agree that he seems faster and quicker but he is a pure fb, north south runner. he has his role but fields or pope need to be groomed to take over the role rb.

[kull]

Line was effective, no question. if he continues to work on his burst and quickness, he will be a good one while at SMU.

Bettis was asthmatic and thus also benefited from the use of steroids throughout his career.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

Watching Line this weekend, he kind of reminded me of John Riggins in his running style. I know that's going back pretty far for some on this board. Take a look at Riggins on YouTube and see if you don't agree.

[couch 'em]

Line's greatest attribute is his blocking where he really shined. Nobody ever gets credit for blocking.

[StingStang]

I liked Zach Line a lot. He did a great job of reading his blocking and setting up the run. Which is key in this type running attack. When you're running a bunch of draws or shovel pass plays in a spread, there is usually a hole to find. Zach found it more often than not.

[EastStang]

Earl Campbell and John Riggins were protypical fullbacks with halfback speed. Riggins was a sprinter in HS. EC played the fullback position in the UT wishbone offense and I still remember him as a freshman rumbling for 100 plus yards against the Ponies. Lines is going to have some 100 yard games this year especially against teams that overpursue.

[42sparty]

Zach Line embracing bigger role in SMU offense

12:01 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 8, 2010
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

Sophomore running back Zach Line proved a steady producer on the ground for the Mustangs in Lubbock. He rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, averaging 6 yards per carry. Line said he dropped 15 pounds during the off-season in an effort to gain quickness.

As the solid, short-yardage back last season, he was a low-key complement to the flashier speed of Shawnbrey McNeal, who rushed for 1,000 yards. With McNeal's departure, Line said he wanted to become more of an every-down back. Line scored seven touchdowns on 49 carries last season. His season-high came in rushing for 34 yards and two TDs against Navy.

"Last year, getting carries kind of randomly, it was hard to get a relationship with the linemen," Line said. "After getting a few carries Sunday I knew where they were going to be."

Chris Butler had five carries Sunday for 29 yards. Freshman Darryl Fields got just one for a loss of 2 yards. Jones said he will gradually work Fields in to get more chances at running back. Fields wowed by breaking away on a 92-yard kickoff return. But during sprints at the end of practice Tuesday, Fields was more focused on the fact that a Tech defender chased him down.

"I was thinking 'I don't want that to happen again,' " Fields said. "That could've been the difference."

• • •

[kull]

"I was thinking 'I don't want that to happen again,' " Fields said. "That could've been the difference."
• • •

good attitude