I think the running game will be the X-factor in games. We haven't had a versatile run game for a while now and that has caused us problems. We became one dimensional if you could even call our pass game a dimension (not including Bray's last year).
If you look at who wins the SEC or the NC every year, they have a great ground game at least. QB play, of course, is huge but Alabama hasn't had any super talented QBs but they've had game managers like McElroy and McCarron. They were efficient. Last year Elliot really gave OSU the boost...with solid QB play. Mariota had a decent run game around him.
In short, DeBord wanted demanded, actually that Tennessee's offense get better at rolling up its sleeves and hitting people in the mouth. In his mind, you can do that with a modern, no-huddle, uptempo spread just as well as you can do it with an old-school Power-I. The formation is just dressing. Commitments to fundamentals and a nasty disposition are the meat and potatoes.
I hope to see over 250 rush yards as a team against BG. Make it happen.
I agree with pretty much everything except Elliott giving tOSU the boost. The deep ball by Cardale Jones opened everything up for OSU and I that's when they really started rolling and Elliott started gashing people...
Veteran defensive line coach Steve Stripling has let his group know that anything less than the SEC lead in sacks this season will be a disappointment for a group that has plenty of future NFL players.
And another positive from this is these guys are the ones our O-Line has to go against every practice. That has to be a major plus going into the season.Reading further, this was mentioned in another article:
Regarding the D-line...
Inspiring. I'm still getting used to UT being able to pressure opposing QBs at all, much less being expected to lead the league in sacks.