We have seen it many times: starter at a position gets injured, one of the backups comes in and starts doing well and, when back healthy, the guy who began the season as the No. 1 option doesn’t fit into the rotation any longer.
Could that be the case with Shaun Shivers?
It has become apparent that the Auburn offense is just different when Tank Bigsby — and to a lesser degree, D.J. Williams — are on the field. Bigsby, a true freshman who came with all of the hype of a 5-star running back, has proven his rating was right. He has made a less than mediocre offensive line look good at times as he has found holes by himself. He has also proven that he is a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield.
More importantly, he is willing to put down the beating and take the punishment that a back must take especially in a SEC-only schedule. He’s a playmaker first and foremost and was the key asset for Auburn in Saturday’s win against Arkansas.
When given a chance to make his mark, Williams, especially against the Razorbacks, showed why he should earn playing time as well. Despite being one of Auburn’s top-two backs returning from last season, Williams has earned just 16 carries so far in three games this year, including zero against Georgia. Against Arkansas, eight carries turned into 71 yards (good for 8.88 yards per carry) as the Tigers offense got rolling.
Bigsby and Williams are built for the brutality of a SEC season. Big bodies that allow them to hand out abuse as well as take it are key for these two. In the Arkansas game alone, Bigsby made the Razorbacks miss 14 tackles.
So what should the Tigers do with Shivers?
It is unfortunate that, after working all offseason to earn the starting job, he had to get hurt. He’s earned enough respect and praise from both teammates and the coaching staff to be named one of the four captains for the Tigers this season. He deserves to have a chance at getting his job back yet, would that be the right move for Chad Morris and company?
When Shivers returns, how much time do you give him to try and get back into that rhythm of the game? One series? Two? If he struggles, you have to pull him and go with exactly what worked against Arkansas and that was a dose of Bigsby and Williams.
It is apparent that Bigsby and Williams are the future of this offense at running back. Will they also be the present? Cadillac Williams, Morris and the entire staff have a tough decision on their hands but for me, the answer is simple: more Tank.