MONAHANS It’s a chicken-and-the-egg argument.

Is it the line that makes the offense go for the Monahans Loboes? Or is it the running backs?

The Loboes have had running backs among the area’s rushing leaders the last two seasons, with Sam Graves leading the way in 2005 and then Josh Rodriguez last year.

Chris Roberson added a solid second option both seasons for Monahans.

“We’ve had some good running backs the last few years,” third-year head coach Mickey Owens said. “But if we were a spread team, we wouldn’t have those running backs racking up those yards.”

A good line of running backs has helped, but the Loboes also have had a slew of quality offensive linemen.

“It starts with the offensive line,” Owens said. “It doesn’t matter if you put Emmit Smith back there, without the offensive line you don’t have anything.”

This year, it will definitely depend on the line as both the fullback (Rodriguez) and tailback (Roberson) graduated.

Monahans returns four players on the line who started somewhere last year — Ruben Rodriguez, Chase Williams, Kelvin Marlow, Evan Hemingway — while Stephen Neal and Tyson Childress will take over in the backfield.

“I think we’ll be solid,” Williams said. “We have four seniors on the line. We just have to take care of business.

“I think (the running backs) can do the job. We’ve had a lot of backs up here this summer and they are stepping up.”

Neither Childress nor Neal has much experience at the varsity level.

“The line has been big over the years,” quarterback Steven Valles said. “There have been a lot of big running backs and they are not as big this year, but very quick.

“As long as the line does its job of blocking they have the speed to get loose and do what Sam and Josh did.”

Valles was a part-time starter under center last year. He was primarily used as the passing quarterback last year, while departed Kenny Almanza was the so-called running quarterback.

Valles is hoping to diversify his game this season and become a runner as well.

“It’s very important for me to have played last year,” Valles said. “I just won’t be as nervous in the pocket.

“We will probably pass more this year, but I can run as well.”

Defensively the Loboes lost four starters out of their secondary but return Clay Anthony at linebacker and Anthony Santiago at defensive tackle.

“We’ll be OK,” Owens said. “We’re good with our front six, just young on the outside.”

The Loboes also will feature more youth than in recent memory, starting four sophomores.

“We’ve got to have some young kids come through,” Owens said. “It probably won’t be the first few weeks. We are hoping to have this group ready for Pecos. We have a lot of growing pains ahead of us.”