MATADORS HAVE NOWHERE TO RUN; CSUN STRUGGLES TO DIVERSIFY OFFENSE AS RUSHING GAME SPUTTERS.

Byline: Brian Dohn Daily News Staff Writer

The commitment was made when Ron Ponciano was named head coach. Gun-slinging Cal State Northridge would run the ball more often, create more balance on offense. Three games later the philosophy remains intact, but the results aren't close to what the Matadors expected.

So after running for 59 yards on 37 carries in last week's win against Eastern Washington, an evaluation of the running game took place.

``It's nowhere where it needs to be. It lags big-time,'' CSUN offensive coordinator Rob Phenicie said after Tuesday's practice. ``We're looking at our last three games and seeing what Melvin (Blue) does best and focusing our running game on those things.

``We're going to show a little multiplicity in the running game and hopefully keep people a little bit softer by letting (wide receiver Anthony) Ramos touch the ball. We're kind of isolating what Melvin does. Averaging (less than 100) yards per game with a potential NFL back is horrible.''

With the detail paid to the running game in spring practice and training camp, CSUN figured it would be better. Instead, the three yards and a cloud of dust has been chopped to measly 2.2 yards per carry, creating far too many third-and-long situations for a strong passing game that ranks third in the Big Sky at 276 yards per game.

The Matadors, despite being 2-1 heading into Saturday's nonconference game with Southern Utah, are less successful running the ball this season than in their pass-happy days. They are seventh in the nine-team Big Sky Conference in rushing at 99.7 yards per game and last with two rushing touchdowns.

``We've had a small improvement so far and we're only getting better,'' Ponciano said. ``If you look, the only people that have beaten (Big Sky power) Montana is people that have run the ball well. Therefore, to beat the upper-echelon teams in any division, you have to run the ball. We need to put some plays in there to enhance our ability to run the ball.''

So far Blue, who might have become the first collegian to set a goal of running for 3,000 yards in a season, is finding the going very difficult between the tackles. The youthful offensive line is creating very few holes, and Blue hasn't exhibited the necessary acceleration to get through some of the gaps.

Blue's averaging 80 yards per game, but at a workmanlike 3.2 yards per carry. However, the CSUN coaching staff does like the toughness Blue's shown to this juncture. He ran for 77 yards against Eastern Washington, but 40 of those came after the first hit.

Yet Blue admittedly runs the ball better with more work.

``I don't think we run the ball enough in the first half,'' said the 6-foot, 230-pound Blue. ``I like beating up on the defense in the first half, running them over. Then in the second half, the holes are there. They're not going to want to tackle me the whole game.

``They say they're not afraid, but I see them. They don't want to keep hitting me, so they try to go low, and once they try to go low, you can go.''

As it turns out, even with the emphasis and importance placed on running the ball, CSUN is averaging only 1.1 more yards per game on the ground this season than the Matadors did a year ago. But CSUN is running the ball 12 more times a game this year, though most of that is Blue.

Jamaul Bradley (nine carries, 14 yards) is the only other CSUN running back to carry the ball.

Not to be overlooked in this year's paltry running statistics is the sack factor. In college statistics, sacks count as rushing yards lost, and quarterback Marcus Brady has been sacked 13 times for 108 yards.

And that comes back to an inexperienced offensive line that starts a pair of freshmen - Tim Shoffeitt and Keith Kincaid - on the right side.

``I think it's all reps, really,'' Shoffeitt said. ``I think when we do get to our potential, we should be No. 1 (in the conference in rushing). We have the best running back in the league. And we should have the best offensive line in the league when we can get more reps.''

Notes: CSUN kick returner Marcus Bivines pulled up lame during conditioning drills and limped off the field with a leg injury. Ponciano said he was unsure of Bivines' availability for Saturday's game against Southern Utah. . . . After last Saturday's win against Eastern Washington, Blue and former Utah State teammate Bashir Levingston, who caught three touchdown passes, got together. ``He said, `You just can't stop me. You're just not fast enough,' '' Blue said.

NO RUSHING ATTACK

Cal State Northridge has averaged under 100 yards per game on the ground this season, good for eighth in the Big Sky Conference.

CSUN Game-by-game

Opponent Att Yds Avg. TD

Boise St. 50 68 1.36 0

N. Arizona 49 172 3.51 1

E. Wash. 37 59 1.60 1

Big Sky Team statistics

School G Att Yds TD Avg.

Weber St. 4 174 971 7 242.8

Sacramento St. 4 203 899 8 224.8

Montana St. 4 150 696 9 174.0

Portland St. 3 110 499 6 166.3

No. Arizona 4 140 558 4 139.5

Idaho St. 3 132 389 4 129.7

CSUN 3 136 299 2 99.7

E. Washington 3 98 297 4 99.0

Montana 4 90 341 8 85.3

CAPTION(S):

Box

BOX: NO RUSHING ATTACK (see text)