Memphis Football: Offense looks to lead Tigers to AAC title in 2019
By Zach Bigalke
Offense is one of college football’s best
Last year’s Memphis squad matched up favorably against the best offenses in the country. Only three other FBS units gained more yards per game than the 523 averaged by the Tigers. Mike Norvell’s offense ranked seventh nationally in points per game as they piled on more than six touchdowns most outings.
Brady White is back for his redshirt junior season, ready to once again lead the Memphis passing attack. The former Arizona State recruit threw for nearly 3,300 yards last season, tossing 26 touchdowns and slinging only nine picks over the course of the year. Another year in Norvell’s system could yield even bigger numbers.
Getting back every weapon in the receiving corps will certainly help. What is much more concerning is an offensive line that needs to replace three starters with a combined 127 starts between them. One of the least experienced lines in the AAC will need to get on the same page quickly.
Focusing on the backfield
Of course, the one concern even bigger than a retooled offensive line is the loss of two great backs to pick through those holes. Darrell Henderson is obviously the biggest loss after nearly reaching 2,000 rushing yards last season, but Tony Pollard is another big loss from one of the deepest backfields in the country last season.
The one piece of the three-headed monster in the 2018 backfield that remains in Memphis is Patrick Taylor Jr. Last year, Taylor ran for more than 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns while splitting carries with Henderson and Pollard. This year, Norvell and new offensive coordinator Kevin Johns will likely lean a little heavier on Taylor than in seasons past.
Behind Taylor, redshirt freshman Kenny Gainwell also looks to have an impact in his first season on the field for the Tigers. If he can reliably split some of the carries, it could reduce the wear and tear on Taylor and allow the team to remain among the nation’s best at grinding out yards on the ground.