DL916
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- Jul 25, 2011
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I've heard a lot of media and some uninformed fans discuss our running game. Most of them say we can't run the ball. So I'm here to break it down and explain.
We're currently 3rd in the SEC in rushing at 187.5, higher than Bama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to name a few. We haven't played super tough defenses so the numbers are a bit skewed at the moment.
I think where the "we can't run the ball" comments are coming from are people who haven't watched a lot of UT since the Fulmer days.
The reason I say this is because our leading rusher might have 60-70 yards and to the traditionalist that's a bad rushing day. They don't take into account that we might have 2 or 3 other guys with 30+ and in some cases 2 with 60 and 2 with 30.
What needs to be understood is that we aren't a traditional Tennessee football team. We don't have a stud RB and we don't rely heavily on the running game. The running game is used to keep the defense honest so we can keep throwing the ball and not just have defenses sit back and wait for a pass.
We use it to setup playaction passes. Five of Tyler's six TDs have come off of playaction passes. We are a passing team. The pass is our bread and butter, unlike the Fulmer days where running the ball was our bread and butter and a side order of coleslaw.
The biggest concern about the running game for me is our inability to pick up short yardage. Hope that can be fixed soon. We have RBs with speed who can break the big runs if given the opportunity, but they will have to toughen up between the tackles in short yardage situations.
So to everyone freaking out about the running game, calm down. As long as we can use the run effectively enough to keep the defense honest we'll be good to go on the offensive side.
TL
R running game is doing it's job in keeping defenses honest. We are a passing team first unlike during the Fulmer era.
We're currently 3rd in the SEC in rushing at 187.5, higher than Bama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to name a few. We haven't played super tough defenses so the numbers are a bit skewed at the moment.
I think where the "we can't run the ball" comments are coming from are people who haven't watched a lot of UT since the Fulmer days.
The reason I say this is because our leading rusher might have 60-70 yards and to the traditionalist that's a bad rushing day. They don't take into account that we might have 2 or 3 other guys with 30+ and in some cases 2 with 60 and 2 with 30.
What needs to be understood is that we aren't a traditional Tennessee football team. We don't have a stud RB and we don't rely heavily on the running game. The running game is used to keep the defense honest so we can keep throwing the ball and not just have defenses sit back and wait for a pass.
We use it to setup playaction passes. Five of Tyler's six TDs have come off of playaction passes. We are a passing team. The pass is our bread and butter, unlike the Fulmer days where running the ball was our bread and butter and a side order of coleslaw.
The biggest concern about the running game for me is our inability to pick up short yardage. Hope that can be fixed soon. We have RBs with speed who can break the big runs if given the opportunity, but they will have to toughen up between the tackles in short yardage situations.
So to everyone freaking out about the running game, calm down. As long as we can use the run effectively enough to keep the defense honest we'll be good to go on the offensive side.
TL
R running game is doing it's job in keeping defenses honest. We are a passing team first unlike during the Fulmer era.
