Norvell: Taylor game-time decision
Memphis coach Mike Norvell said Wednesday that running back Patrick Taylor would be a game-time decision against Houston, echoing what he's said the previous four weeks.
The difference is that last week during the Tigers' open week, Norvell said, things “were finally at that point where it's time," meaning Taylor's return was imminent instead of a possibility.
If Taylor does return for Saturday's game (2:30 p.m., ESPN2) against Houston (3-6, 1-4 AAC), it could force changes to the offense – especially for running back Kenneth Gainwell, whose workload increased after Taylor went out in Week 1 with a foot injury.
Gainwell, a freshman, leads the AAC with 1,067 rushing yards, but with Taylor back, he would be used more as the hybrid back/receiver that Memphis (8-1, 4-1) envisioned before the season.
Gainwell had 45 carries in the Tigers' previous two games, including a seasonhigh 24 against Tulsa. Over the past eight games, he's averaged just under 18 carries per game.
That will change with both Taylor and Gainwell getting double digit carries to share the load. But it also means Gainwell gets to remind defenses how effective he is as a receiver.
“That's going to be a nightmare for whoever we get ready to play,” said Gainwell, whose 454 receiving yards leads all running backs nationally. “We both want great for each other, and we're going to make sure that we do that.”
Against Ole Miss in the season opener, Gainwell was used in a similar role to Tony Pollard whether he shared the backfield with Taylor or lined up in the slot.
Against Tulane, Gainwell resumed that role by being in the backfield with Kylan Watkins or lining up as a receiver with Watkins at running back. Gainwell finished that game with nine receptions as he became the first college player since 1997 to have 200 receiving yards and 100 rushing yards in the same game.
It was a foreshadowing of what he can do when Taylor returns. Taylor said last week that he wanted to play only when he can do everything he did before the injury.
Norvell said Taylor will be eased back similar to the way defensive back Chris Claybrooks was used against Temple. Claybrooks was limited to 30-50 plays in his season debut after an injury.
“He's probably not going to play every play in the game, so we're going to play him just like we did with Chris (with) as many plays as he can play,” Norvell said about Taylor. “We'll see what that looks like.”
In the meantime, Norvell and the team remain encouraged seeing Taylor practice and envisioning how much more versatile the Tigers' offense can be.
“If we can get him to get out there and finish the rest of the season,” quarterback Brady White said, “it's going to be a lot of fun.”
You can reach Tigers football beat writer Evan Barnes on Twitter (@Evan_b) or by email at evan.barnes@commercialappeal.com