One of the keys to winning a championship is having a productive and reliable running game. The last two national champions were SEC teams that employed diverse rushing attacks, featuring not only running backs, but quarterbacks and other playmakers as ball carriers, too.
Florida used freshmen Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin and senior running back Deshawn Wynn to keep teams off balance and capture the 2006 BCS title. LSU won the 2007 title behind several running backs and some spot running by backup QB Ryan Perriloux.
What SEC team will feature the best running attack in 2008? The answer has to be the Florida Gators.
In 2007, the Florida Gators averaged 200 yards rushing per game. That was good enough for third in the SEC behind Arkansas and LSU. Georgia, who many view as a great running team, was a distant fourth in the SEC, averaging 33 yards less per game on the ground than third-place Florida.
I've taken a close look at all four of these teams. Based on the returning and incoming talent on each team, I've concluded that Florida is poised to dominate the league on the ground.
Arkansas
First in the SEC last season, Arkansas averaged a ridiculous 286 yards per game in 2007, but they lost two running backs to the NFL and their run-happy coach to Ole Miss. Bobby Petrino will not use a run-heavy offense, nor will he have the running back talent to duplicate the Hogs' 2007 rushing success.
Louisiana State
LSU returns a quality backfield from a team that finished second in the SEC in rushing with 214 yards per game. LSU will have a strong rushing attack this season, but their rushing stats will likely drop as defenses load up on the line and dare their inexperienced QBs to throw.
Georgia
Georgia returns a Heisman candidate running back, Knowshon Moreno, and a great, but currently injured, fullback Brannan Sutherland to a team that finished fourth in the SEC with 177 yards per game on the ground. Georgia lost 779 yards and 10 TDs with the departure of its second leading rusher Thomas Brown, but they add talented redshirt freshman Caleb King to the mix in 2008.
Georgia has enough talent in the backfield to be one of the top three rushing teams in the SEC.
Florida
Florida returns its four leading rushers from a 2007 team that averaged 200 yards per game. Tim Tebow led the team in rushing yards (895) and proved to be an unstoppable goal line force with his SEC record 23 rushing touchdowns. Tebow's rushing attempts will likely drop in 2008, but don't expect him to stop running for first downs and touchdowns.
Wide receiver Percy Harvin was second on the team with 764 yards on just 83 carries (9.2 average), and Meyer has promised to keep using him in the backfield in 2008.
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3 months ago
An article about backfield's that doesn't include Auburn isn't a good one. Ben Tate, Brad Lester, and Tristan Davis are as good a stable of backs as anyone in the league.
Tebow does give Florida the best QB in the league, but Stafford and Moreno form the best backfield. Florida has no proven running back yet. Harvin is a receiver and Moody hasn't done anything for Florida yet.
from 3 months ago
I did not include Auburn because they were 5th in the league in rushing in 2007 with only 156 yards per game. That wasn't even top 50 in the nation. Also, Auburn is running a new offense and I have no idea how their running game will look in 2008.
Auburn does return its offensive line, so they should improve their rushing stats. I still don't see them having a better year running than Florida and the point of the article was to show why Florida will lead the SEC in rushing.
I'd pen Auburn in as a better rushing team than Arkansas. They have more talent in the backfield than Arkansas. I included Arkansas instead of Auburn because Arkansas led the league in rushing in 2007 and Auburn was pretty far behind the top 3 teams. I included Georgia only because I anticipated Georgia fans saying "what about Moreno."
Harvin is a receiver, but he is also that Gators second leading rusher and he averages over 9 yards per carry. He ran for more yards than 2 of those Auburn running backs you listed and he averages more than double their yards per carry. He has bulked up to 205 lbs (5'11, 205 is the size of a RB) and Meyer said he will use Harvin more in the backfield.
With the addition of 4 starting quality RBs to a Florida team that already outrushed Auburn by over 40 yards per game, I just don't see Auburn being a better rushing team than Florida.
Hope that better explains my reasoning one excluding Auburn from the discussion.
Stafford and Moreno are not more talented than Harvin and Tebow and the plethora of talent that Florida has. Florida had more rushing yards, more rushing TDs, more passing TDs, and more passing yards than Georgia. Show me some set of facts that says Georgia has a better backfield than Florida. Everything points to Florida.
Even just comparing Harvin/Tebow and Stafford/Moreno, it is clear that Florida has the advantage. Tebow/Harvin had 32 more TDs and over 1500 more yards than the Stafford/Moreno combo. Tebow alone had more total yards and 22 more touchdowns than Moreno and Stafford combined.
Please explain how Stafford and Moreno are the best backfield.
3 months ago
The Gators also has three fifth year seniors and two Pounceys opening up running lanes.
from 3 months ago
Exactly. UF's o-line allowed the Gator ballcarriers to average 5.3 yards per carry. This year the O-line will be bigger, faster, and more experienced.
Comparing other O-lines:
Auburn averaged 3.8 yards per carry and returns all of its starters on the O-line.
Georgia averaged 4.5 yards per carry, but only returns only 1 starter on the O-line.
LSU averaged 4.9 yards per carry and returns 4 starters on the O-line.
Arkansas averaged very impressive 6.0 yards per carry and has 4 returning linemen, but loses too much RB talent to even come close to that number in 2008.
3 months ago
Justin, I have to agree with you on all points. Auburn never lacks proven ability in their running backs, and UGA has a better backfield in full than UF. In terms of depth I'd say the two schools are even. Auburn's timing with a new offense and quarterback could be fortuitous, as there should be less disruption than asking a starter to learn a new offense on the go.
None of these teams lack talent, and this could very well be the most competitive season in SEC history. A peek at the polls seems to back that up, as there are 4 teams in the top 15 of most.
from 3 months ago
Please explain how UGA gas a better backfield "in full" than UF. Florida had 300 more rushing yards, averaged over 1 yard more per carry, and had 7 more rushing TDs than Georgia.
Florida returns its top 4 rushers and adds 4 rushers (one of whom, Moody, is proven at a big time division 1 level school) to a team that was ALREADY A BETTER RUNNING TEAM than Georgia.
On the other hand, Georgia lost its second leading rusher (Thomas Brown - 780 yards and 10 TDs) and brings in Caleb King to replace him. Also Georgia's starting FB is injured.
Under what criteria does Georgia have a better backfield. Provide me with some facts or something.
3 months ago
I'm not going to get in a p***ing contest with you about people who have yet to carry the ball for either team, so that eliminates a lot. And actual yardage is no more a barometer of success than points per game. If it was you UF wouldn't have lost a game last year. It's more about who you scored the points against. UF came up short in that area last year. And the fact remains that UGA has a fullback and UF doesn't which, in itself, shows that "in full" UGA is better
I'm also not saying UF won't win the NC this year or that their backfield is lame. I'm only saying that piling up yardage against overmatched teams is only going to win a statistical battle. When you guys beat a top 25 team again I'll probably reconsider.
from 3 months ago
The FB doesn't matter at all. First, Southerland is injured to start the season and will likely not be back until the 4th or 5th game.
Second, Florida doesn't run a lot formations with a fullback. If they do, they will use TE Aaron Hernandez (6'3", 260 lbs) or freshman FB TJ Pridemore (6'2", 240 lbs). Hernandez is a monster and great blocker and Pridemore played LB in high school and has been jacking people up on his blocks in practice.
Still, Florida's lack fo a true FB doesn't matter for a team that rarely uses a fullback.
Florida didn't just pile up yardage against overmatched teams. Harvin ran for 97 yards on 10 carries against Georgia. Tebow was injured and was very limited in his running. Florida ran for a lot of yards against some good defenses. Florida ran for 255 yards against Tennessee and 233 yards against South Carolina, two teams that Georgia lost to.
from 3 months ago
By the FB doesn't matter at all, I mean the FB doesn't matter for UF. Of course, Southerland matters to Georgia. His blocking is big reason for their success.
3 months ago
Typo- it should read "If it was UF", not as printed.
3 months ago
Like I said, we can go back and forth with statistics. The two teams will play in early November and the only thing that will be settled is who won in 2008. We could still argue who had a better backfield, receivers, etc. In fact, we could debate this ad infinitum and get nowhere. Let's just see who wins the game.
And again, I'm certainly not putting UF, or any SEC team, down. I know all too well to respect our conference kin. It's not a reach to say that any of 4 teams from the SEC could win the NC this year. Even Tennessee is not even out of the realm of possibility. We'll just have to see if the teams live up to our perceptions.
from 3 months ago
Thats why they play the games. I just hope that everyone on both teams is healthy. It would be a shame to have one or both teams come into the game with less than their full arsenal. Right now it is pretty even as far as injuries. Georgia lost Sturdivant for the whole season and Southerland for part of it. Florida lost its starting SS (Monroe) and its starting TE (Ingram) for the season. Lets hope both teams stay healthy for the WLOCP.
3 months ago
Great article, though i found one flaw. Where you Said Chris Rainey is faster, we actually don't know that for sure, although he very well might be. According to friends who actually witnessed the street race between the two when Demps arrived in G-ville-Demps one the first 40, on the second Rainey stopped half-way and complained about his groin(WHICH IS WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED!!!!!!!)Then on the third, Rainey won.So its 1-1, both wanted to race again for the tie-breaker on the track, but Meyer wisely put a quick stop to that. I'm a gator fan so its great either way.In their fastest 40s Rainey recorded a 4.24 and Demps has ran a 4.28 and is getting stronger and faster, and he is younger of course, although Demps has ran a faster 100m between the two. Go Gators
3 months ago
Great article, though i found one flaw. Where you Said Chris Rainey is faster, we actually don't know that for sure, although he very well might be. According to friends who actually witnessed the street race between the two when Demps arrived in G-ville-Demps one the first 40, on the second Rainey stopped half-way and complained about his groin(WHICH IS WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED!!!!!!!)Then on the third, Rainey won.So its 1-1, both wanted to race again for the tie-breaker on the track, but Meyer wisely put a quick stop to that. I'm a gator fan so its great either way.In their fastest 40s Rainey recorded a 4.24 and Demps has ran a 4.28 and is getting stronger and faster, and he is younger of course, although Demps has ran a faster 100m between the two. Go Gators
3 months ago
More Gator lovers who have no clue what they are talking about. Knowshon and Matt are better than Harvin and Tebow, because when Tebow gets hurt, you make excuses like you did last year when my Dawgs destroyed the Gators. "Oh, if his shoulder had been 100%, we would have won". BULL! We have capable guys that can step up if someone gets hurt, and WE DON'T MAKE EXCUSES! You Gator people are classless just like your football team, and your coach. Meyer is a crybaby, and he and his players are a bunch of sore losers. The Dawgs are stacked and I will take them MAN FOR MAN over the Gators HANDS DOWN!
from 3 months ago
No clue what I am talking about? I based my prediction on careful analysis of each team's 2007 rushing statistics and their returning starters.
from 3 months ago
Neal, you're a tard. Not sure if Florida would have won with Tebow healthy or now, but you're ignorant to think it didn't effect the outcome of the game. With Tebow hurt, he became one-dimensional and our offense was very predictable. The coaches wouldn't let him scramble, so he had to take sacks. The predictability of our offense with a one-dimensional Tebow and no reliable running back set UGA up perfectly to bring the pressure. That changed the entire game. If not for that shoulder injury, no clue how we may have done. Personally, even as a Gator, we still likely would have lost the game. With a very inexperienced secondary AND defensive line, we were in trouble, just like we were all year.
As for Georgia not making excuses, "BULL!". I've heard plenty of excuses out of Georgia for the last 20 years. If you want to discuss classless, how about your thuggish storming the endzone? Nearly every broadcaster and journalist in the NATION has hammered Richt for such a classless act. Glass houses, stones and all that....
As for crybabies and sore losers, that's just ignorant, biased rival trash talk. I'd go as far to say that Dawg winners are more classless than Gator losers. You win less than a handful of games in 20 years and suddenly you think that 1 win a row has "turned the tide"....against a team in it's rebuilding year.
Instead of just running your mouth, come back with some sort of factual basis for your argument.
3 months ago
The problem with UF and UGA playing in November is that invariably there are going to be injuries at that point in the season. Unfortunately it has hampered the QB's the last 2 years. I personally believe that losing your starting left tackle (right tackle in Tebow's case) is more significant because it strains the the very basis of the offense, but the profile is so much lower that casual fans don't even pay attention. You obviously know that, too, Nick.
I live in Orlando, so I'm well aware of the knee injuries that UF has been hit with. Actually, it's eerie how many players are lost for the season with the same injury (five the last time I looked). Southerland says he should be ready for Arizona State, but my guess is he won't play until absolutely necessary, possibly the Tennessee game. UGA just lost a linebacker for the season, and the depth there is precarious (only 7 LB's on scholarship). Thankfully the Dawgs play a nickel package 80% of the time, so that eases the concern somewhat.
As you said, if both teams can stay fairly healthy it will make for another great game in Jax. In fact, I hope both are undefeated going in so that the "Game of the Decade" will be the nickname for this year's presentation of the "Outdoor Cocktail Party".
3 months ago
No, Bob, the thuggish behavior would be a UF lineman (#98-MacMillan) blindsiding the UGA quarterback after he had taken a knee. Or was your head turned at the time? If the same thing happened in a normal setting we would call it a felony. The Dawgs celebration in the end zone didn't hurt anyone, or even attempt to. If you want to call it classless fine, but UF wins for thuggery.
from 3 months ago
Anthony - the reason that UGA's celebration did not turn ugly was actually due to Florida's composure and class under the circumstances.
Florida did not lose its cool and start fighting with the Georgia players despite the fact that dozens of Bulldogs were rushing onto the field. Florida could have easily (and reasonably) viewed the onslaught of the Georgia bench as an aggressive maneuver and responded with violence. The only reason that Georgia did not lose dozens of players to suspension was because Florida handled the situation in such a calm and collected manner.
Imagine if Florida players started shoving Georgia players. Florida would have been greatly outnumbered on the field and Georgia would have surely retaliated. Who is going to get the penalty or suspension in that sitation? I'd argue that Georgia would get the short end of that stick because Florida's players were RIGHTFULLY on the field of play, while Georgia's players were WRONGFULLY on the field.
The bottom line is that it could have become very ugly and it could have resulted in mulitple suspensions for both teams (but mostly to Georgia because they were the instigators by clearing the bench and because they had more players out their as possible subjects of suspension). Florida's non-reaction to the situation prevented such a disaster.
3 months ago
Nick
I, like you, think that the UF players (correctly) saw the rush of players as what it was-a celebration. It would be completely different had then been some shoving, but that might have been the case if there were only 11 players each on the field. And I'm not condoning the act; it was penalized-twice-as well it should have been. There is, however, a difference between being a boor and being a thug. And what the UF DL did was much more the latter than anything the UGA players did.
3 months ago
I think I read that Neal said that Georgia is stacked and much better than Tebow/Harvin and the Gators. I'm really trying to figure out how well they would do in the SEC if Stafford was banged up and if Moreno and Southerland were out with injuries. I would say, they would have to rely solely on their defense, but would maybe lose to just about any SEC team. So, exactly, how are they stacked? Their entire #1 ranking is based off of their defense and Moreno's hype along with an improved Stafford. If any bit of that goes down, the dawgs go down. It is that simple.
I think the Dawg and Tiger fans missed the point of this article. In fact, this article is completely correct. Nobody should be offended by it. It doesn't discredit any team. The SEC builds teams around running games. We all know what Moreno and King are capable of for Georgia (Stafford will be running for his life more than running for first downs). Auburn always seems to have good running backs, but their offense will be more spread and pass-happy this season which they have stated over and over. Arkansas does have an unknown talented back, but this article is right in that the offense will be different.
Florida rushed for more yards than Georgia and I believe they will rush for the most yards in the conference with their rushing attack by commitee. Moody will take Moore's job in a hurry to become the main RB. And as far as having no fullback, Pridemore can lay people out, Tate Casey was an excellent blocker for us in the past, but was injured all of last season. Hernandez will come in motion to help block as well as a fullback/tight end.Let's also not forget that Meyer said Moore will be used as a fullback because he can block (he has blocked on kickoffs for Brandon James for 2 seasons, and we all know how good those returns have been), and he can also become a threat to catch the ball from the backfield. Hernandez and Casey are also dynamic pass catchers. Southerland is a tremendous blocker for Georgia, but he doesn't offer much else. That also makes the Gators backfield better. When you have a QB like Tebow and all of the backs behind him that can take it to the house through the tackles or outside of the tackles with a backup QB (Cam Newton) who is even bigger and faster than Tebow who can come in to take a pounding, that makes for a dangerous backfield. Rainey, Demps, and Harvin will come in and slash everyone (Harvin bulked up can break some serious tackles. He benches over 400.) So no disrespect to any other talents on any other team, but Florida will have the best rushing attack. Moreno will most likely be the best back in the SEC and maybe even the nation, but look for Florida to be more productive as Moreno will be overused and banged up by midway through the season. Florida will just be cruising along.
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