The Strange Case of Carlos & Hyde – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/23/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2013
- Game Day Magazine Feature (Nov. 23, 2013) – The Strange Case Of Carlos & Hyde
The story of Ohio State’s backfield in 2013 is complicated, albeit successful. The team has rushed for 3,151 yards, averaging 315.1 yards per game, and scored 33 touchdowns on the ground. The focal point of the potent rushing attack has been Carlos Hyde. However his story is made up of two elements that make him a fan-favorite at Ohio State – “Carlos,” the embodiment of his off-the-field humility and “Hyde,” the culmination of his work ethic and determination to be the best and on-field success.
It is a well-known fact in Urban Meyer’s 12 years of head coaching he has never had?a running back rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. Hyde is on pace to do just that, despite missing the first three games. On just 120 carries, Hyde has amassed 947 yards and with three games remaining, Hyde needs to only rush for an average of 17.7 yards a game to be the first 1,000 yard back in a Meyer-coached offense.
“If I can be the first 1,000 yard running back Coach Meyer has had, it’s going to mean a lot, it’s a big thing to me,” Hyde said.
As important as it is to him, Hyde always puts the team first. The “Carlos” side comes through as Hyde credits a number of factors, which have all contributed to his on-the-field successes – His preparation in the off-season, a senior-laden offensive line creating huge holes for him to run through, the ever-present threat of Braxton Miller as a runner, the effectiveness of the passing game and Hyde’s running style in general are just a few.
“Braxton and I are a two-headed monster,” Hyde said. “It is basically pick your poison with who you’re going to try and stop. If you pick him then you’re not going to stop me and vice versa.”
Because there has not been a need for Miller to run as much, the passing game has excelled. Hyde stressed the importance of the passing game in opening up the running game and the successes of both are critical. Sometimes this season, as with every team, not everything has worked according to plan. There have been times when the opposing team has loaded the box, focused on Hyde instead of Miller and the passing game has not been successful, but still Hyde is unable to be contained. This is where “Hyde,” the half with the determination to be the best and ability to break tackles comes into play.
“My mindset is what makes me so hard to tackle,” Hyde said. “I am not going to be tackled by one guy.”
A moniker for the style of running Hyde emulates is “Beast Mode.” A reference to Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawyn Lynch, one of the more powerful running backs in the NFL. However, Hyde does not make comparisons. He is happy to just let others do the talking.
“It is just my game, I’ll let somebody else put a name on it,” Hyde said. “But when I get the ball, I’m coming off explosive. It’s going to take the whole other team to try and tackle me.”
Whatever the exact recipe for success is, the Buckeyes know one thing is for certain – It contains a healthy dose of both “Carlos” and “Hyde.” If the senior running back continues to run right through the arm tackles en route to a 1,000 yard season, not only will his story have a happy ending, but it is likely something even more important to him will continue as well – team success.
By John W. Samuelson, Athletics Communications
