Long-time Virginia Tech running backs coach Billy Hite is fond of saying that you never have too many tailbacks.
If Kurt Roper feels differently, there’s a good reason.
Roper, the running backs coach at Tennessee, has three SEC-quality veteran tailbacks and a freshman who could take snaps at several places now. What he doesn’t have are enough snaps to accommodate them all.
That leads to situations like last week, when backup Montario Hardesty was none too pleased with never seeing the field in a 41-17 loss at Alabama.
You couldn’t blame Hardesty, who had rushed for 146 yards on 30 carries in the previous two games—wins over Georgia and Mississippi State. And to an extent, Roper couldn’t blame him.
“I’m OK with him being unhappy [about not playing],” Roper said. “He should have played.”
It became more of an issue when Hardesty missed a rare Sunday practice and at first, didn’t appear to tell anyone. But he had left a text message with Roper before the 7:30 p.m. workout started and Roper didn’t check his messages until after practice.
Count on Hardesty getting at least one play from scrimmage Saturday night against South Carolina. The Gamecocks allow more than 177 yards per game on the ground and the Volunteers have been running the ball well for a month.
But Roper isn’t changing his rotation to appease Hardesty. Arian Foster, who is quietly having a terrific season, will start, with LaMarcus Coker first off the bench. Then it will be Hardesty, with maybe a dose of freshman Lennon Creer.
“Arian, Coker and Hardesty could all start and play a whole game if they were healthy and fresh,” Roper said. “Lennon’s behind those guys, but I’m very pleased with what he’s done. We have good football players in that room.”
Unless an injury or two strikes, you could almost say there are too many. Certainly more there than in any of the defensive rooms.
The Weekly Guessing Game
Time for another week of SEC picks, always a risky proposition in any year but especially this crazy season.
We were 4-2 last week, missing on Alabama’s dumptrucking of the Vols and Vanderbilt’s stunning domination of South Carolina. It would have been 3-3 were it not for Les Miles’ brassy play call in the last seconds that enabled LSU to survive Auburn.
Mississippi State at Kentucky
If the Wildcats have a letdown after consecutive games against South Carolina, LSU and Florida, it’s understandable. But even though the Bulldogs were good enough to win at Auburn, they’re lacking in offensive firepower even if Kentucky is a little flat. Hard as it is to believe, the start of Billy Gillespie’s basketball era at UK might fly as under the radar as hoops ever flies in Lexington. Andre Woodson’s Heisman chances look better with Matt Ryan’s predictable fadeout in the Blacksburg rain. Kentucky 34, Mississippi State 20.
Florida International at Arkansas
The less said about this one, the better. Just suffice it to say Darren McFadden and Felix Jones should have a field day—for however long they stay on the field—against perhaps the worst team in Division I-A. Arkansas 49, Florida International 7.
Miami (Ohio) at Vanderbilt
Impartiality aside, you had to feel good for Vandy coach Bobby Johnson, a nice guy who is two wins away from taking the Commodores to their first bowl game in 25 years. Not only did Vandy beat South Carolina, it controlled the game wire-to-wire. While there will be somewhat of a letdown this week, the Commodores should still have enough to beat their Mid-American Conference foe and get to five wins. Vanderbilt 24, Miami (Ohio) 7.
Florida vs. Georgia
On paper, the Bulldogs don’t look like a good bet against the explosive Gators. But Florida has a lot of injuries, including QB Tim Tebow, who will play despite a sore shoulder. What’s more, Georgia has had a week off to recharge. An open date before a big game worked pretty well for Tennessee and Florida earlier this month. Why can’t it work as well for a solid coach like Mark Richt? Besides, why not one more crazy upset in the craziest division in college football? Georgia 23, Florida 21.
Mississippi at Auburn
Even the Tigers’ pedestrian offense should rack up some big numbers against this sorry Rebels defense. Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron is probably in the last month of his three years in Oxford. Think they’d like David Cutcliffe back there about now? Auburn 38, Mississippi 17.
South Carolina at Tennessee
Think ESPN would like to have a mulligan on its choice for the prime-time game after the tank jobs these teams pulled a week ago? The loser is pretty much out of the East race and if that loser is Tennessee, you think the fire under Phillip Fulmer’s chair will be hotter than Memphis in August? However, the trends point to a Vols win. They’ve played much better at home and the Gamecocks have issues on offense. Tennessee 27, South Carolina 20.