Tennessee football’s return to health could shock Florida in this area
On paper, it seems like Tennessee football has no chance of running the ball against the Florida Gators. Over the past two weeks, its running backs have averaged fewer than three yards a carry, even while quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III have inflated the rushing numbers.
However, the health of the Vols on Saturday could throw the Gators for a loop on this front. It’s such a loop that although we’re partially talking about their return to health in the backfield, we’re not talking about Milton’s return to health.
Saturday should be the first game since their opener in which both of their starting running backs, Tiyon Evans and Jabari Small, and center Cooper Mays are all back if you go by what’s on the depth chart that was released for Saturday. This is a huge deal.
Over the past two games, only one of the three players has been able to play, with Mays and Evans missing the Pittsburgh Panthers game and Mays and Small missing the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles game. These absences led to numerous miscues.
Remember, the offense was clicking on all cylinders early on in the opener against the Bowling Green Falcons, as the Vols jumped out to a 14-0 lead. When Mays went down, though, Tennessee football ended up limping to a 38-6 win. Four fumbles in the backfield have ensued in his absence along with a failed 4th and 1 run.
Running Ollie Lane at center didn’t work out, and the Vols then had to move Jerome Carvin over. Not only was Carvin not as good as Mays, but then the Vols lost him as one of their key guards. His absence has been the most devastating.
Meanwhile, Evans and Small feed off rotating time at running back. Both had over 100 yards, scored one touchdown and averaged over five yards a carry in the opener. Without Evans, though, Small had just 18 yards on eight carries against Pitt. Then Small was hurt against Tennessee Tech, and Evans had just 41 yards on 15 carries.
With all of them back, Tennessee football could have a surprise attack in the run game that Florida won’t be ready for. This isn’t to say that the Gators aren’t prepared for them to run it. The Vols average over 218 yards a game on the ground as it is.
What it might do, though, is catch Florida off-guard when it comes to their preparation. If the focus is on whether or not the quarterback, Hooker or Milton, throws it or runs it and not on quick vertical plays from the running backs, the Vols could easily shock them early on.
Don’t be surprised if the passing game picks up with this trio as well, as Evans and Small give Josh Heupel more options in pass protection, and Mays in should lead to no more bad snaps and better blocking all around. All of a sudden, the Vols could have the more balanced offense Saturday.
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To be fair, it’s still likely Florida wins running away. They are more talented and have a team better-adjusted to the offense its coach runs. However, this is an area where Tennessee football could make it interesting, and Florida’s lack of preparation for it is what could do the trick.