Florida's run game improved because they followed the 2018 approach

While 3.9 yards per carry isn't ideal, it's a good bit better than the 3.28 average that Florida's three main running backs had tallied entering Week 4.

Throughout the Gators 34-3 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers yesterday, they attempted to pound the rock to balance out their offensive attack. It wasn't perfect, but it was improved.

Lamical Perine, Dameon Pierce, and Malik Davis combined to rush for 121 yards on 31 attempts, with Perine and Pierce both scoring touchdowns. It was the most productive game that three combined for this season, from a yardage perspective.

But how did Florida improve their run game? By returning to their roots under head coach Dan Mullen - balancing the rushing strategy.

Entering the game, Perine was the clear-cut bell-cow running back for the Gators, with 34 carries compared to Pierce's 10 and Davis' six. Yet, Perine and Pierce were similarly productive, as both were averaging 3.5 yards per carry through three weeks.

That approach changed yesterday, as Perine rushed only three more times than Pierce with 14 attempts to Pierce's 11. The two combined for 101 yards and 4.04 yards per carry, keeping Tennessee's defense on their toes given their varying rushing styles.

Perine is an elusive back who can make something out of nothing, with a great combination of elusiveness and burst in space. Pierce, on the other hand, is a battering ram of a runner, bruising defenders as they come and typically requiring at least two tacklers to bring him down. According to Pro Football Focus, Pierce created 29 of his 39 rushing yards after contact and forced two missed tackles, and Perine forced one while posting 37 yards after contact.

When Florida balances their run game with a zone-heavy back in Perine paired with a power runner in Pierce, they become more effective. That much was clear in 2018, when Perine and Jordan Scarlett split carries. The team averaged 213 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry all year, mainly behind the efforts from Perine's 134 carries and Scarlett's 131. Scarlett, much like Pierce, ran power effectively and was a bruiser between the tackles.

We've been avid supporters of the idea of Pierce receiving more carries here at GatorMaven. Perhaps Mullen read our latest piece suggesting just that, because he adjusted the Gators rushing attack accordingly. And while Florida still needs improvement in their run blocking, the new - well, both new and old - approach worked.