The running game for the 2005 Penn football team looks to be, at least on paper, quite vexing for head coach Al Bagnoli.
This is not because Bagnoli must figure out how to get production from the corps, but rather because he must distribute the ball enough among several talented backs.
The Quakers return three letter-winners from last season in seniors Sam Mathews and Kyle Ambrogi and junior Von Bryant. In addition, junior Joe Sandberg, a transfer from Rutgers, figures to be in the mix.
Bagnoli, for one, isn't fretting about the situation.
"Those are pleasant problems," he said. "They each have some strengths, they each have some things they're really good at, so I think some of it will handle itself."
Indeed, each featured back should be able to play a different role in the offense.
The linchpin of the unit is Mathews, who in his two years at Penn since transferring from Navy, has already rushed for 1,982 yards -- good enough for ninth all-time on the Penn list.
Bagnoli envisions Mathews being a renaissance man -- running both inside and outside of the tackles and even catching passes out of the backfield.
The Pittsburgh native feels comfortable with this role, willing to do whatever the coaching staff asks of him.
"I just run the ball, whatever they need me to do," Mathews said. "Whether it's inside, outside, whatever."
Mathews needs 1,199 yards to surpass Kris Ryan for first on Penn's all-time list, a feat he could attain if he comes close to matching his 2003 rushing total of 1,266.
Seemingly, the biggest challenge for Mathews to break the record will be to get enough carries.
Bagnoli said that he and his coaching staff have devised ways to keep everyone involved.
"We've done a lot of creative things trying to get two backs out there at the same time," he said.
If Mathews is the jack-of-all-trades on the unit, then perhaps Ambrogi and Bryant can be considered thunder and lightening.
The 210-pound senior Ambrogi is described by Bagnoli as a "banger" who will run mostly inside the tackles. Last season, the Havertown, Pa., native rumbled his way to 231 yards and two touchdowns.
Though Ambrogi does not dispute his role, he believes he can contribute in other ways.
"I guess I'm more of an inside runner," he said. "I think I still can catch pass routes when need be."
Bryant, a former cornerback at Duke, is Ambrogi's foil. Bagnoli described him as a "speed guy" who runs a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and possesses great explosion.
Last season, the Turnersville, N.J., native amassed only 151 yards, but turned heads with his 7.9 yards-per-carry average.
Just like his counterpart, however, Bryant does not like to be pigeonholed into one role.
"I wouldn't pin myself into an inside or an outside [guy]," he said. "I feel like I can do both."
One challenge that such a talented group poses is that no one can become complacent. Given the opportunity, each back must impress or face reduced playing time.
This challenge does not faze Bryant.
"That's just the nature of the situation and you just need to stay focused on the moment, and when your number's called, you gotta be ready."
But does fighting over a finite number of carries create any tension or malicious competition among the ranks?
According to all three, a resounding no.
"It just makes you better because you feed off of each other and pick each other up when you make a mistake and then get excited when they're doing well," Ambrogi said. "It's a good problem to have."
Bryant concurred, conceding that perhaps there is a friendly rivalry, but one that ultimately makes each a better player.
"It's definitely competition because we're all talented and we love to play football," he said. "But there's also a lot of camaraderie because we love winning as well."
If the running back corps remains as productive as least season and as harmonious as it claims to be, then Bagnoli will have no problem at all.
