Running game key for Vols vs. Gators

ShareThis

It was early in the second half last week, as Tennessee's offense began to get juiced by its running game against UAB, that senior running back Arian Foster stormed to the sideline."I just had a good run, but I was upset when I got to the sideline," Foster said earlier this week as the Vols (1-1) continued to prepare for Saturday's game in Knoxville against No. 4 Florida (2-0). "I was telling the coaches, 'Let's run the ball, let's do this, put this on my shoulders.' The coaches listened to me and you've got to love them for that."Foster finished with 100 yards on just 12 carries last week. But the Gators aren't the Blazers.Foster and the rest of the Vols shouldn't have to beg for the ball this weekend. But they also understand that rushing yards will be harder to come by than usual.In Tennessee's current three-game losing streak to the Gators, the Vols have averaged 30.6 rushing yards. And that was when the Vols had the threat of a passing game with now-graduated QB Erik Ainge.Since new Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton has been adequate at best, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Florida's defense stack the box to stop the run and force Crompton to throw."It starts at stopping the run," Florida coach Urban Meyer said of the Vols' offense. "Everything falls into Tennessee's hands if we don't stop the run."Foster's performance last week against UAB spearheaded a day when he and three other Tennessee tailbacks combined for 264 yards."It was good to see Arian get back on track (after a key fumble in the season-opening loss at UCLA)," Vols' coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Montario (Hardesty) also gave us a lift and Lennon Creer (93 yards, two TDs) gave us a nice change of pace with his speed."Understandably, for the Vols to pull off the upset of the Gators, they will need that trio of tailbacks to gobble up yardage, move the chains and control the clock. The more Tennessee keeps Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and his array of offensive weapons off the field, the better it is for the Vols.But Foster, who has been banging into the Gators' front wall for the last three years, knows that isn't easy."Charlie Strong (Florida's defensive coordinator) comes up with some great schemes against our offense," Foster said. "But also in past years when (Florida) games have gotten away from us early, we went away from the run early."Florida defensive line coach Dan McCarney hopes his D-line dominates the Vols so early that Crompton will start throwing. McCarney believes that Foster is one of the best backs he's ever seen, because "he's really physical, tough, confident and has good hands," McCarney said.Foster is third in the SEC in rushing at 98 yards per game (196 yards in two games). But he ranks second in the league at 7.8 yards per carry, and that's what worries the Gators.Meyer said he'll alternate using three- and four-man defensive fronts. If the Vols play a two-back set with a tight end, Meyer plans a four-man line. If the Vols go one back with one or no tight ends, the Gators will use a three-man line.Foster doesn't care how Florida lines up. He's feeling frisky and ready to go."I feel good," Foster said. "I came back this year a step quicker and stronger than last season. Even after our loss to UCLA, it's a long season and anything can happen. Last year (when the Vols came back to advance to the SEC championship game) is testament to that."(Ron Higgins writes for The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn.)