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RB Greene Keeps Hawkeyes Offense Going

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By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: January 2, 2009

TAMPA - Iowa used its two best weapons to rip South Carolina's defense in Thursday's Outback Bowl:
Shonn Greene and the threat of Shonn Greene.

Greene, who announced after the Hawkeyes' 31-10 victory that he is forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft, rumbled for 121 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries.

When he wasn't carrying the ball, his presence was helping open up Iowa's passing attack.

"It's been like that all season," said Iowa sophomore quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. "Teams have to bring guys down into the box to stop Shonn. When they do that, it gives us a chance to get guys downfield and make some plays."

The Doak Walker Award winner and the nation's No. 2 rusher was "as good as advertised," said South Carolina cornerback Captain Munnerlyn. Greene added to his 1,729 rushing yards with his 13th 100-yard game of the season.

He didn't have a run longer than 11 yards, but he kept the chains moving.

"When you got Shonn coming at you every time, after a few times, you don't want to hit him anymore," Iowa tight end Brandon Myers said.

South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson was impressed, saying Greene was the "most complete" running back his team faced.

"He's tough, he's durable, he's got a step of speed," Johnson said. "I thought we did a good job early on. But we just wore down."

South Carolina didn't give itself much of a chance, committing five turnovers and letting Iowa start four of its first seven possessions in Gamecocks territory. Johnson's defense also was playing without starting safety Emanuel Cook, the team's leading tackler, and starting nickel back Akeem Auguste.

Greene did much of the rest for Iowa. His domination was so thorough it helped convince him that moving up to the next level is the right decision.

"I pretty much did my damage on the college level," Greene said. "The SEC is supposed to be one of the toughest conferences for defense. I think I did pretty good today, so I think I'm going to take my chance in the NFL."

Iowa opened the game with a 64-yard touchdown drive, during which Stanzi converted three third downs with passes to Myers. The tight end was open not because the defense was spying on Greene, but because safety Chris Culliver failed to pick him up.

After that, though, Stanzi made some key completions on play-action fakes to Greene, including a 39-yarder to Tony Moeaki that led to a Greene 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

"I guess everybody was anticipating the run so much that we didn't pay enough attention to their passing," South Carolina linebacker Jasper Brinkley said. "On the play-action, we were biting when we shouldn't have been."

Said Stanzi, "They Carolina did a great job of not letting us get any big runs, really. They swarm to the ball really well. But Shonn kept trucking and kept moving to the hole and finding little spots where he could get 10, 11 yards at a pop.

"He really moved the offense today."

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