Gators RB Dameon Pierce deserves more carries going forward

Why is the sophomore running back being underutilized when Florida can't get anything else going in the run game?

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

If it isn't clear yet, the Florida Gators have some serious issues in their running game. 

The majority of the issues stem from Florida's offensive line, but it's going to require a group effort to improve this aspect of the Gators offense. Lamical Perine is certainly the most well-rounded back on the roster, but he hasn't taken advantage of all of his opportunities to expand Florida's rushing production.

Last year, Florida averaged 213 yards per game and ran the ball on 59.21% of offensive snaps. They ran a strong mix of zone and power concepts behind the efforts of Perine and Jordan Scarlett, who were just about even in carries at 134 and 131, respectively. Given the lack of run game success, Florida is now running the ball on 47.32% of snaps - which is not ideal in Dan Mullen's "smashmouth-spread" offense.

Perine was factored into plenty of zone plays last season, given his special lateral agility and burst to make cuts and find open space. Scarlett, on the other hand, was the team's bruiser - the lead back in power concepts where he focused on playing north-and-south football with a violent rushing style.

That type of balance kept defenses on their toes. It was a perfectly balanced rushing attack, with Florida being able to switch rushing concepts seamlessly. That ability alleviated stress on Feleipe Franks and the Gators passing attack, which led to Franks' most productive season to date.

Florida needs to replicate those efforts by giving sophomore running back Dameon Pierce the ball more.

Pierce, like Scarlett, is a battering ram with solid juice to pair with his power. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry as a freshman, taking 69 carries for 424 yards and two scores.

Through three games this season, Pierce has only taken 10 of the running back group's 58 total carries. And half of those came in Florida's home-opening game against FCS school UT-Martin.

It's early in the season, and perhaps Pierce will see an uptick going forward, but considering Pierce is the closest thing to Scarlett currently on Florida's roster from a skill-set perspective, it's odd that Perine has more than triple the number of carries that Pierce has toted.

On his 10 carries, Pierce is averaging the same amount of yards per attempt as Perine. It's nothing special at 3.5 yards per carry, but according to Pro Football Focus, Pierce is averaging 0.73 yards after contact per carry more than Perine, given his bruising style of running. He can take hits from just about any defender, and finish the run by falling forward - and perhaps dragging a defender or two with him.

PFF also has Pierce down for avoiding a tackle once every five carries on average, compared to Perine's 6.8. Given the offensive line's struggles to finish blocks so far in the run game, every running back is tasked with making something happen after contact and creating yards on their own.

Dameon Pierce has shown that he's capable of doing that. Given that, Pierce should be averaging more than 3.3 carries per game compared to Perine's 11.3. 

Now, this isn't a knock on Perine. There's only so much he can offer without elite power to break through all the contact the offensive line is allowing him to take in the backfield. And when it comes to the passing game, Perine has been an asset - both in protection and as a receiver, recording 12 catches for 63 yards and a score. His career-high in receptions per season is 13, and he's likely to break that in Week 4.

However, Perine can become more effective in the run game if Florida would provide some balance in their attack. They can do just that by giving Pierce more opportunities to run the ball. His power-rushing style will wear defenses down, which can open up plenty of opportunities for Perine to find the open field - and everyone knows what Perine is able to do in space.

Given their run-blocking issues, Florida won't be able to fully mend their running game until the offensive line develops better technique - especially in their zone concepts. But power concepts between the tackles are more physical and vertical, which fits the strengths of several linemen including guards Brett Heggie and Chris Bleich. 

Dameon Pierce is the best fit for power concepts at running back on the Gators roster. Give him more carries, and the role that Jordan Scarlett served last year - a role that opened up zone running opportunities and helped alleviate passing game stress - can be reborn in Florida's offense.