What's the rush? Vols need it : govolsxtra.com

In plain black and white, the number jumps off the page like a neon sign.

A big red one.

In a series decided more often than not by the team that wins the ground game, Tennessee finished in the red with minus-11 yards rushing in a 21-20 loss to Florida last year in Knoxville.

Senior offensive tackle Eric Young doesn't remember the number. And he's glad.

"I don't know (the exact number)," Young said Monday morning, "and I don't want to know, either."

One thing Young and his teammates do know is that number has to change for the better in order for No. 22 Tennessee to leave Gainesville with a victory in its 3:30 p.m. SEC opener Saturday against the fifth-ranked Gators (TV: WVLT).

UT coach Phillip Fulmer does too, and he hasn't shied away from reminding his players just how close they came to winning despite the Vols' worst rushing performance in his 16-year tenure.

"It does come up," Fulmer said. "It's a very important statistic in winning a football game. Even with that, somehow or another, we were ahead 17-7 in the (third) quarter.

"You bring that up as well - that we need to finish a game. (Quarterback) Erik (Ainge) played very well and our defense for the most part held up, and we gave up a couple plays that ended up being the difference in the ballgame."

Plenty is different for both teams from a year ago.

The Gators (2-0) lost three of four starters on a defensive line that Young said was man for man the best he's played in his career.

All three linebackers are gone, as well, and Florida returns just two defensive starters from a year ago.

Since last year's game, Tennessee (1-1) saw LaMarcus Coker emerge as a serious big-play threat in the running game.

Starting tailback Arian Foster is healthy going into Saturday's game after carrying just twice last year because of an ankle injury.

Last week, he broke the 100-yard mark for the first time since he had 223 yards against Vanderbilt in 2005.

"It's like night and day," Young said of Foster. "He really looks good. I'm enjoying it. We got to keep doing what we're doing and get this boy his carries because he's doing his thing out there."

The Vols have been tested early as well.

Against No. 8 Cal, Tennessee ran the ball just 27 times. Foster and Montario Hardesty had 22 of those carries and averaged a respectable 5.3 yards per carry.

Last week against Southern Miss, the Vols opened up the run game in the second half and finished with 193 yards on the ground against the preseason pick to win Conference USA.

"Their front, I thought I was playing an SEC team as far as strength-wise and speed-wise," Young said. "I think that's definitely going to help us."

Paving the way against USM was an offensive line that appeared more athletic and better conditioned than a year ago.

"I saw one play (Saturday) where Eric Young knocked one dude off and then went up and got the safety and knocked him down on his back," Foster said. "When you see that stuff, it's real motivating."

Just as motivating is last year's rushing total.

When told the Vols had minus-11 yards, Foster got quiet before making his reply.

"We're going to have change that this year," he said, "then ain't we?"

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

What's the rush? Vols need it

Young aware that offensive line must dominate for UT at Florida