Mountaineers looking for a big boost from Terrence Upshaw
Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2014 12:03 am
Tommy Bowman/Winston-Salem Journal

BOONE — Marcus Cox burst upon the scene as an impact young running back for Appalachian State last season.
Terrence Upshaw, who watched and waited, might do the same this season. The Mountaineers are seeing a complementary combo in the making with Upshaw now in the mix.
“Last year we just had Marcus, basically,” Coach Scott Satterfield of the Mountaineers said in regard to his team’s running game.
Cox ran for 1,250 yards and scored 21 touchdowns and was named the Southern Conference’s freshman of the year. He supplied 75 percent of the Mountaineers’ rushing yards.
Upshaw, a freshman who redshirted, is gaining notice this spring.
“Last year the biggest thing was that I needed to learn the plays but I’m definitely feeling more comfortable,” said Upshaw, who served as a scout-team running back last season. “I know the playbook now and I’ve gotten bigger and stronger.”
Upshaw, a 5-10, 195-pounder from Duluth, Ga., was well-acquainted with Cox before the two arrived at Appalachian. They are from the same county, and their high schools are about 10 minutes apart. The two are roommates at Appalachian.
“Our goal is to both go over 1,000 yards this year,” Upshaw said.
Upshaw said that he received an offer to play at Vanderbilt his junior year of high school, and offers followed from Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Navy, South Alabama, Samford and Furman.
“Terrence could have played for us last year, no question, and he has really come on this spring,” Satterfield said. “I think he’s going to give us a good 1-2 punch with Marcus at running back.”
Both Upshaw and Cox could be on the field at the same time, at least occasionally.
“I think we definitely could play both,” Satterfield said. “We have a two-back set that we really didn’t use last fall. We’ve been looking at that this spring, to get both running backs on the field at the same time. That’s been good for us.
“It gives you two big-play threats there, not only in the running game but you throw a swing pass to them they’re able to take it the distance just like Marcus did for us last year. Upshaw is able to do the same thing.”
Comparing the two, Satterfield said that while Cox is a “smooth” runner, Upshaw provides a sudden burst.
“Terrence has got that quick twitch where he can stick his foot on the ground and then bounce it north and south really fast,” Satterfield said. “He can make you miss in the open field with his quickness, but he also has that power. He’s a little bit shorter than Marcus, he’s more compact, he’s a lower body, but he’s solid.
“You can’t arm tackle him.”
That was evident in a recent scrimmage, Satterfield said.
“There were a couple of plays where defensive backs tried to hit him and he hit them with his shoulder and knocked them down and kept on going,” he said. “He does have the power to go along with the quickness, and that combination is what allows him to be an explosive back.”

This is music to my ears. I've been waiting to hear something like this for a long time. Just maybe we will be able to handle the redzone a little better. Hopefully, we can get a QB that can learn the motions of taking the ball from center, when we are backed up down field, too. Nothing wrong with the spread, but you have got to have the ability to handle different situations. Hopefully, we can have a decent air attack to correspond.

asu66 wrote:
Mountaineers looking for a big boost from Terrence Upshaw
Satterfield said. “I think he’s going to give us a good 1-2 punch with Marcus at running back.”
Both Upshaw and Cox could be on the field at the same time, at least occasionally.
“I think we definitely could play both,” Satterfield said. “We have a two-back set that we really didn’t use last fall. We’ve been looking at that this spring, to get both running backs on the field at the same time. That’s been good for us.
“It gives you two big-play threats there, not only in the running game but you throw a swing pass to them they’re able to take it the distance just like Marcus did for us last year. Upshaw is able to do the same thing.”

That is something many of us have been "wishing" for, for a while.....I like the two back but I also like the weardown factor! Control the ball, wear them down and pound it.....don't get me wrong, i like the quick strike but when you need to control the ball and give the defense a break....give me two backs who can pound it and I am a hAPPy camper.

This Friday night someone is going to complain about tackling fundamentals vs this guy!

Is it football season yet????? Friday get here FAST!!!!

OT, but I wonder if we have installed a needed change to our formation when we are backed up on our own goal line, like the QB being under center?

Black Saturday wrote:OT, but I wonder if we have installed a needed change to our formation when we are backed up on our own goal line, like the QB being under center?

That's actually part of the lost or stolen playbook. I have dvd's with Richie Williams and Trey Elder actually in game situations under center, but I think Coach Red Beaulieau stole our playbook...

What is the obsession with going under center?

What good will it do if the OL doesn't get any kind of push? If the OL does it's job, then yards will be picked up regardless of formation. If anything, going under center in tight formation brings more defenders in the box. That's why this offense is called the Spread

I have less of a problem with it when we are driving on the opponents goal line, however when we are backed up to our own goal line I would like to see us go under center (instead of 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the end zone). This very situation happened at Georgia Southern in 2008 and led to a safety with Armanti and made the end of the game very exciting.

Longrifle28 wrote:I have less of a problem with it when we are driving on the opponents goal line, however when we are backed up to our own goal line I would like to see us go under center (instead of 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the end zone). This very situation happened at Georgia Southern in 2008 and led to a safety with Armanti and made the end of the game very exciting.

That is a good prime example, there have been other times as well that have been dicey over the years. I love the spread and what it is all about, but there are certain situations to be under center to lessen the odds of a bad outcome.

Black Saturday wrote:

Longrifle28 wrote:I have less of a problem with it when we are driving on the opponents goal line, however when we are backed up to our own goal line I would like to see us go under center (instead of 4 yards behind the line of scrimmage in the end zone). This very situation happened at Georgia Southern in 2008 and led to a safety with Armanti and made the end of the game very exciting.

That is a good prime example, there have been other times as well that have been dicey over the years. I love the spread and what it is all about, but there are certain situations to be under center to lessen the odds of a bad outcome.

Like on the goal line when the defense is in the box anyway and the qb has to start 7 yards deep. Makes sense!