Tennessee running back Tauren Poole (28) runs the ball during an NCAA college football game against Tennessee-Martin at Neyland Stadium on Sept. 4, 2010, in Knoxville, Tenn.KNOXVILLE — Derek Dooley referred to Tauren Poole simply as “the runner” at his weekly news conference Monday, but what Tennessee’s football coach said next about his senior tailback was more important.
“He had probably his best game running that he’s had since he’s been here,” Dooley said of Poole’s 101-yard showing in the Volunteers’ 45-23 home win Saturday against Cincinnati. “I think he really was less concerned about making the right cut and more concerned about running and getting your pads down and hitting it.
“There were about four or five times where a week ago he would have put the brakes on looking for a move, and he just put his pads down and got another 4 or 5 yards. That adds up over a course of the game.”
Poole needed 24 carries to total 98 yards against Montana in the season opener, and UT’s ground game took a step forward against Cincinnati after struggling against the FCS Grizzlies.
UT has averaged just 56 rushing yards during a six-game losing streak against Florida, which has averaged 158 yards on the ground in that stretch. But the Vols haven’t had a passing attack in that stretch quite like they have now with quarterback Tyler Bray and receivers Justin Hunter and Da’Rick Rogers running on all cylinders.