And had the best running game we have had in 10 years (with very average RB's). That is pretty good evidence that the problem is not the plays being called but rather the execution of those plays.
I keep reading on here about how awesome our running game was last year and it kind of confuses me, because from memory, I don't really recall that many great offensive performances.
So, I went back and looked a little closer at the numbers.
True, overall, we did have a better yards per carry average over the course of the season than we've had for many years before that. Of course, some of that were big running games against the cupcakes. So, I decided to look at just the SEC games.
In terms of just SEC games, we averaged 4.34 yards per carry in 2013. That's pretty good. But the Dooley-coached team in 2012 did a little better, averaging 4.39 yards per carry. Kiffin's lone season in 2009, where we started 2 walk-ons on the line (iirc), averaged 4.30 yards per carry in SEC games.
In terms of touchdowns, we scored 8 rushing touchdowns in SEC play in 2013. In 2012, that number was 10. In Dooley's first season, 2010, we also scored 8 rushing touchdowns in SEC play. In Kiffin's 2009 season, we scored 10 in SEC play. In Fulmer's last season, 2008, the number was 9.
So, by those numbers, it looks like 2013 was a decent rushing year, but nothing that really stands out from recent history, at least when judged against conference competition.