The Tulane Green Wave running backs could carry a struggling offense through the start of conference play.
The Tulane Green Wave have a lot of things to clean up as they head into conference play, but one thing that can’t be denied is the emergence of a strong running back room that validates a lot of impressions from spring and fall camp.
There are certainly questions about where to put NIL funds, but without specifics, the depth of that room has paid off in two victories now.
The Green Wave actually only had four first downs by run compared to nine by pass in the win over the South Alabama Jaguars. But they had 212 total yards, three rushing touchdowns, and an average of 7.3 yards per rush.
And running back Jaylin Lucas actually had 214 rush yards, but the net average was brought down by some losses in the backfield. He had one rushing touchdown and Johnnie Daniels racked up the other two. The victory was a four-point margin of 28-24 – they don’t win without those rush yards or touchdowns.
The Green Wave only beat the Southern Miss Golden Eagles by three points, winning 27-24 largely thanks to the Golden Eagles kicker missing one field goal attempt and getting a second one blocked.
But Tulane certainly doesn’t win the game without Maurice Turner. He had a career night and also hit the 200-yard mark, netting 200 yards on 12 carries for two touchdowns. The Green Wave needed every one of those yards last Saturday, a lot of them coming from his 74-yard long touchdown run.
He averaged an astonishing 16.7 yards per carry. Lucas was even better averaging 19.5 yards per carry on his 11 attempts against the Jaguars.
Tulane was less efficient on the run against Power Four teams; that’s somewhat to be expected with the size differential on the road.
But as they start conference play, they should have a better time faring against the trenches of fellow G6 peers. They will start with a tall task in the Army Black Knights, who boast the fourth best run defense in the American allowing an average of 138 rush yards per contest.
The Black Knights have also only allowed two rushing touchdowns on the year.
The Green Wave are a mere 11th in rush offense, though they’re averaging 160 yards on the ground per game.
That should all expect to change soon. In the limited practice Tulane had during their bye week, Jamauri McClure was back practicing in a non-contact jersey and should be expected to make his season debut at Army this season.
That changes the whole ball game for the Green Wave.
