Lester announces return as weapon

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Lester announces return as weapon

Thursday, September 07, 2006

CHARLES GOLDBERG

News staff writer

AUBURN - Auburn's Kenny Irons is a power back who pounded his way to the SEC rushing title last year, is off to a fast start this season and has received exactly 190,000 tons of hype.

And now we present something completely different.

Smooth Brad Lester has jumped back into Auburn's psyche to make an effective 1-2 running back punch after an injury-plagued season that cost him - don't you remember? - the No. 1 tailback job. It was Lester who was starting as late as the sixth game last season before lingering hamstring and groin injuries limited him to only nine carries the rest of the year.

Lester happily announced his return last Saturday with a 12-yard touchdown run and a 34-yard touchdown reception in a 40-14 win over Washington State. The Tigers will likely give both Irons and Lester more work in Saturday's sure-to-be-steamy 11:30 a.m. game at Mississippi State on Saturday.

Irons is like a Nolan Ryan fastball: Speed plus power. Lester is like a Phil Niekro knuckler: Plenty of movement and a little dipsy-doodle.

"He's such a great change-up back to Kenny," said offensive coordinator Al Borges. "Kenny is such a downhill guy, hits it hard and fast. Brad does it to a certain degree, but he's got more sideways, more stop-and-go-type stuff. When you've been trying to tackle Kenny all night and Brad comes in there, a smaller target but has a different style of running, it really does a lot for us."

Lester didn't beat Irons in all-purpose yards in the opener, losing that battle 223-71. But Lester won the touchdown battle by a 2-1 margin.

"The best thing about it that when we put Brad in there, we're not losing anything. He's physical and he has a burst about him that you can't coach," said running backs coach Eddie Gran.

Irons started most of the games last year, but Lester was in the running for the starting slot at midseason. He was the starter at Arkansas, got hurt and struggled to return. Lester now shrugs at the role reversal that made Irons the starter because he couldn't stay healthy. His leg still bothers him some, he says, but he can usually do enough stretching not to be hampered.

He says he understands his role as the No. 2 tailback. No matter. He always has his patented smile.

But, he adds, "I'm going to keep pushing for that No. 1 spot. They've been giving me the opportunity to get that role back again."

That could take a Brad Lester-like injury to Irons for that to happen. But that scenario is exactly why Auburn loads up with running backs, and exactly how Irons was good enough to replace Lester last season.

Welcome back:

While Irons isn't saying he's going to give the No. 1 tailback job back, he does say he welcomes a healthy Lester back into the fold.

"It's great to see him come back out there and try to finish off where he left off from last year," Irons said. "He battled his groin and hamstring and everything, so it's great to see him out there."

Auburn made sure Lester could stand up by putting him through a rigorous spring training. He passed the test. Saturday; he scored Auburn's first touchdown of the season.

The Tigers have shown they are willing to spread the wealth. Remember those two guys named Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown? Auburn has three front-line-like backs this season in Irons, Lester and fullback Carl Stewart.

But Borges says Lester is the wildcard.

"One thing I noticed about him is he scores touchdowns. There's a reason for that. He's doing something," Borges said. "You have to have a certain amount of touchdowns scorers, and when he touches that ball, he has that ability."

Gran, who decides which running backs play when, says Lester is ready.

"As the year goes on, and Kenny starts to get beat up, you might see him get a few more carries," Gran said.

"As long as he gives us both an opportunity to play," Lester said, "I don't have any problems."