One of the major tasks for Pitt's coaching staff coming into this season was figuring out a way to replace the production lost when fullback Conredge Collins and tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling graduated and tailback LeSean McCoy opted to leave school early and head to the NFL.

That trio combined for 1,885 yards and 26 touchdowns on 406 carries last season. To put that into perspective, the Panthers as a unit rushed for just 1,808 total net yards (they had almost 230 lost yards because of sacks and team rushes) and 29 touchdowns.

Clearly, this was an area of major concern, particularly once it became apparent that the top two running backs at training camp -- Dion Lewis and Ray Graham -- were both true freshmen and they would start the season as the Panthers' one-two punch at tailback.

And given that Henry Hynoski, a redshirt sophomore with one career carry before this season, won the fullback spot, it would have been safe to assume the production from the backfield would go way down from last season.

However, though it is still early in the season at just five games in -- and the Panthers will be facing some much tougher defenses in upcoming weeks -- this much is certain: This trio has been every bit as productive as the trio of Stephens-Howling, McCoy and Collins.

Lewis, Graham and Hynoski combined are averaging 148.6 yards rushing per game and 5.4 yards per carry and they are on pace to score 27 touchdowns. They also have 18 receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown, which is a pace of 3.6 receptions for 22 yards per game.

Last season McCoy, Collins and Stephens-Howling averaged 145 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry; they had 52 receptions for 491 yards and no scores, which is an average of four receptions for 38 yards per game.

Again, the numbers don't tell the entire story and don't necessarily mean this trio of backs is better than last year's, but they do show that the production has not dropped off. And these are the kinds of numbers that ease the minds of the coaches.

"Where we are at now compared to where we were at in August is pretty amazing," said running backs coach David Walker. "The guys we were hoping would step up have stepped up and given us quality play. We've been productive and I think what was a big question mark with LaRod, LeSean and Conredge moving on -- there is no question now.

"They've done what they've asked, they are playing smart, they are for the most part protecting the football and all three have shown they can make plays."

Walker said that while most people tend to focus on the rushing yards, the areas of pass protection, blitz pick-ups, catching the ball out of the backfield -- all the things that running backs are asked to do, too -- were probably more worrisome for the coaching staff than running the football.

And in those areas, according to Walker, this group has stood tall.

"We knew they could run the ball; they are all talented guys and that's why they are here," Walker said. "The other things, however, young running backs struggle with them because they really develop with experience, but these three have really come a long way in a short time."

The Panthers are clearly benefitting from the work of the three running backs and so is the offense as teams respect the running game and line up to stop it first.

As starter at tailback, Lewis has gotten the bulk of the work (107 carries for 580 yards, seven touchdowns) but Graham (24 carries, 123 yards) has shown in recent weeks he can carry the load as well.

And while Hynoski is primarily a blocker, he has been a wrecking ball when he does get carries as he has rushed six times for 40 yards.

Perhaps the most exciting fact about the Panthers' backfield is that they are still learning -- Hynoski has two more seasons and Graham and Lewis both have three -- which means they all have room for improvement.

"It has been fun for us," said tackle Jason Pinkston. "Dion is a power runner, Ray makes people miss, kind of like LaRod mixed with Shady [McCoy], and Henry is blowing people up. But they are still really young and when you watch film sometimes, they will miss a hole or cut it back too soon. So once they get more experience and caught up with that, we'll all be stronger for it."

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