Once he showed signs of overcoming his fumbling problem, Rajion Neal gained a stranglehold on Tennessee's tailback competition.
Now that he's won the job, Neal faces an even tougher task. How does he upgrade a rushing attack that ranked among the worst in college football last season?
"I definitely want to be a 1,000-yard rusher, but I want to do whatever it takes for us to win - and I know that's going to be us having a productive running game," Neal said.
One year ago, Tennessee's entire team barely reached the 1,000-yard mark.
The Volunteers averaged 2.8 yards per carry and finished a 5-7 season with 1,081 yards rushing, their lowest total since the 1964 team went 4-5-1 while running for 839 yards. Tennessee rushed for 90.1 yards per game last season to rank ahead of only Troy, Oregon State, Memphis and Miami (Ohio) among Football Bowl Subdivision programs.
Those are humbling figures for any school, let alone one that sent All-Pro running backs Jamal Lewis and Arian Foster to the NFL.
"We keep it on our mind," Neal said. "We don't dwell on it, but we definitely keep it as motivation to keep us going."
The suspension of all-SEC wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers makes it particularly imperative for Tennessee to establish some semblance of a balanced offense as it prepares for its Aug. 31 season opener with North Carolina State at the Georgia Dome.
Tennessee's running game should get a boost from an experienced offensive line. Four of Tennessee's projected first-team linemen have combined for 83 career starts. The lone first-team lineman without previous starting experience is sophomore left tackle Antonio Richardson.
But the Vols still need someone to emerge as a featured back. Neal will get the first opportunity.
Neal alternated between running back and wide receiver last year while gaining 269 yards receiving and 134 yards rushing. The junior from Fayetteville, Ga., entered preseason camp in a wide-open competition to replace Tauren Poole, the Vols' leading rusher each of the last two seasons.
Neal quickly emerged as a clear-cut choice.
In Tennessee's first scrimmage, Neal rushed for 134 yards on nine carries, including a 68-yard touchdown. Neal led the Vols with 47 yards rushing on eight carries in their second scrimmage. His steady performances impressed Tennessee coach Derek Dooley.
"It's hard for me to say one day he had a great practice and one day he had a bad one," Dooley said. "I couldn't identify his great practice or his bad one. He's been real consistent, comfortable in that role. He's produced every day. He's progressed in all his areas. I feel good about him."
Neal also believes he has solved the ball security issues that hindered him earlier. He has avoided fumbling in the preseason and credits his improvement to new running backs coach Jay Graham.
Graham, who spent the last three years on South Carolina's coaching staff, ran for 2,609 yards at Tennessee from 1993-96 and is the seventh-leading career rusher in school history. Neal's film sessions with Graham helped him realize where he had gone wrong.
"There were times I was doing too much," Neal said. "You've just got to know what to do and when to do it. When you get away from it, that's when you're running high, you're running loose and you're in places you're not supposed to be. That puts you at risk of putting the ball on the ground."
Neal has avoided those risks in the preseason while continually learning from his new coach.
"Every day, you have to work to get better," Graham said. "He has done that so far."
Neal still must prove he can deliver when it matters.
Although the presence of quarterback Tyler Bray and receiver Justin Hunter assures Tennessee will remain a pass-oriented team even without Rogers, Neal's preseason effectiveness gives the Vols hope that they will run well enough to keep defenses honest. Neal's sense of urgency in winning this job indicates he can perform under pressure.
"The best comes out when you're pushed," Neal said.
In its futile attempts to run the ball last season, Tennessee usually got pushed around.
This year, Neal wants to make sure the Vols push back.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
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Comments » 33
jobrando#216494 writes:
Dang, how long has it been since we had a VOl that could produce?
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
A good rushing attack will certainly help ease the transition of Patterson as the #2 target..GBO!!
Tenn64 writes:
The word dufus comes to mind after reading your post. Sorry, just calling it like I see it!
jarvol writes:
Bring back Johnny!
papavol writes:
dufus is an understatement. Just plain ignorant. Young is like the fastest guy on our team you moron.
HallowedHill writes:
Seems like he's worked his tail off this offseason. I was impressed hearing that he worked out with the O-line. Good luck, Neal!!
GO VOLS!
jobrando#216494 writes:
Johnny could run but his jump pass was his identity. Not a bad coach. Dang, its easy to see why he kept the bottle close by with the folks he had to patronize.
givehim6 writes:
UT will not have the full stock at WR or TE we had last month. So it is very important the running game get tough and stay strong. UT always play good when they ran to set up the pass.
givehim6 writes:
So your saying you want more guys like De'Rick we only get 2 yeas from?
10seVol85_Part_Deux writes:
Dufus, idiot, whatever. I suppose that Dexter McCluster guy should never have played a down at RB either? (Hint: Same size, same 40 time) Was he too slow too?
RoadTrip writes:
Nominated for the dumbest post of the pre-season.
frblalack writes:
Our running game will be just fine. With the gaping holes our linemen will create, it's going to be a fun year for our running backs.
And yes, Neal and Young have legitimate SEC caliber speed.
All Vols - Vol for Life - Bleeding Orange!!!
LibertyVolance writes:
I'm with you. I would bet he would grind out another 3 or 4 years with us, just to show he's still tough and ready for us to play some slobber-knocking football. And the kicking game.
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
You were to kind!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
It's hard not to have doubts that our OLine can make such a dramatic turn around in run blocking from last year where they struggled producing even against weak teams..Over the years nothing is more thrilling to see than a back like Henry or Stephens breaking a 40 yard run on a simple trap play..You don't have to be a Lattimore to be a 1000 yard rusher but you do have to have a hole to run thru and a good lead block from a smart FB to hold up the MLB doesn't hurt either..Which is also something that's been missing for quite sometime..We could sure use a guy like Roland Poles in the backfield..Poles was the greatest of all vol FB's along with Greg Amsler..Those were the glory days
dillpic writes:
I have your opinion and Jay Graham's opinion....I wonder who I trust more in regards to football knowledge....hmmmmmmmm...
hateNCloveTN writes:
GO VOLS. go vols
OrangePride writes:
It's hard to envision a worse running attack than we saw last year. Backs that seemingly just rarely saw the field and where the daylight was, a line that rarely opened lanes, and what I felt were VERY unimaginative sets of play calls. With a new line coach and JG coaching the backs, I see much greater possibilities. Neal could be the guy, but based on previous performances, the entire run game and everyone involved will have to prove it on the field. Here's hoping. GO VOLS!!
OrangePride writes:
Amen, brother!
Bark_at_the_Moon writes:
Correct on the size. Incorrect on the speed. Man can run a 4.5 40 in SOCKS. That's plenty fast enough to play running back in the SEC. As far as size, no he will never be an everyday back, but I remember an OLE MISS running back that gave our Vols a fit all day when old man Kiffin was coaching the defense.
Bark_at_the_Moon writes:
For those of you that question how much difference a year can make, take a look at the 1988 and 1989 Vols. The 1988 Vols were getting knocked down (See Charles McRae at DE). The 1989 Vols were pancake blocking toward an SEC Championship (See Charles McRae at OT and Antone Davis at OT). With that said, I have no idea how much the OL has improved, but I do know what hard work can do toward meeting success.
Bark_at_the_Moon writes:
What are you talking about? Hunter has more talent than Rogers. Want proof? Hunter led the SEC in receiving yards last year before he got hurt. Patterson is the reason why Dooley said enough was enough with Rogers. Patterson is that good!
Bark_at_the_Moon writes:
That one was so dumb that I'll vote for it for the season - season unseen.
Ironcity writes:
Maybe you should do some research, Young has the 3rd fastest 40 on the team ahead of Hunter and Patterson. Young is quick and fast. He produced as a freshman when he should have been redshirted. I take it as a good sign that Young has beaten out Lane because I thought Lane would be our guy. Yes recruiting can always be better but when your team is down you have to take some chances and in the case of Young it looks to me that the coaches made a great decision. If you got issues with them their are plenty of other players who have not or will not produce on this or any teams roster.
Bark_at_the_Moon writes:
"Here’s a better one: Devrin Young ran a sub 4.5 40 in socks. I saw it. I don’t care what size you are, because that is hard to beat.
Now before you go complaining about how the SEC will make mince meat of a kid that size, let me show you some SEC players of comparable size and speed, that did/have done pretty well for themselves in the best conference in college football.
Trindon Holliday (5’5’’ 161 lbs) LSU: Led the SEC, and ranked second nationally, in punt return average (18.1) his senior season at LSU. Finished second in Career all-purpose yards in school history and four total return TD.
Jeff Demps (5’8’’ 183 lbs) Florida: Rushed for 759 and seven TD last year, 367 and two TD so far this year. Also has 260 return yards on eight returns.
Dexter McCluster (5’8’’ 165 lbs) Ole Miss: His senior season he rushed for 1,169 yards and eight scores, and added 520 receiving yards and three receiving TD to the tally. He did all of this before getting drafted in the second round by KC.
Note the similar the size of Young and McCluster."
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
You're an idiot! Young is the second fastest player on the team. Rajion Neal said so himself on the radio the other day. He flat out beat Lane for the 2nd RB Position. So what's that say about the highly touted Lane?
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
He's got the 2nd fastest 40 time on the team according to Rajion Neal. Rajion said so himself on the radio. And he's unbelievably strong.
OrangeShmee writes:
You're an
idiot
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
lighten up on canigetanRT. I think he gets the picture. I kinda like to picture Young as a young MJD. He's doing pretty well in the NFL. Will he ever sign a new contract?
PUL4VOLS writes:
Neal HAS TO upgrade the Vols' rushing attack and I expect he will do it. If he has holes, he will get through them. GO VOLS!
UTistheOLEMISSoftheEAST writes:
Nice to see someone gets it.
Weatherman writes:
Jay Graham, what a great investment! GBO!!
VolFanInTheBoro (Inactive) writes:
You don't get it
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