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Alabama's potent rushing attack doesn't seem to have missed a beat despite losing 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram to the NFL.
Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy are the main reasons why.
The running back tandem looks to build on an impressive start to the season and help the second-ranked Crimson Tide open 3-0 for an eighth consecutive year when they host North Texas on Saturday night.
Ingram set a single-season school record with 1,658 rushing yards two years ago before rushing for 13 touchdowns during an injury-plagued 2010, but he decided to forego his senior year and that left a big hole in Alabama's backfield.
Any doubts about the Tide's ground game are starting to be put to rest with Richardson and Lacy combining for 291 rushing yards through two games.
After scoring a career-high three TDs during a 48-7 rout of Kent State on Sept. 3, Richardson found the end zone twice and ran for 111 yards in last Saturday's 27-11 road win over then-No. 23 Penn State.
With defenses focusing in on Richardson, the junior running back has only averaged 3.8 yards per carry - down from his 5.4 career mark. Lacy, though, ranks third in the SEC with 7.5 yards per carry and is even the team's second-leading receiver with 82 yards.
Jalston Fowler also has factored into the mix for Alabama (2-0), having rushed for 69 yards and a TD on just four carries in the opener.
"I knew it was going to be like this," said Richardson, who rushed for 1,451 yards in his first two seasons. "Everybody was going to key on me, just because they think I'm the running back, or man of the show, which I like. I'm glad they do, because Eddie Lacy gets his carries and he does just as good as me. He does better than me.
"I'm not the one they have to worry about because of those two monsters (Lacy and Fowler) I've got behind me. And that offensive line, they're doing pretty good, too."
Richardson and Lacy have made things easier on quarterbacks A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims, who continue to fight for the No. 1 job.
McCarron, though, seems to be leading the way after making his second consecutive start last Saturday, completing 19 of 31 passes for 163 yards and a score. Sims didn't attempt a pass.
"That's not my concern. That's why coach makes the calls. Coach tells me to go out and I'm going to play," McCarron said. "Not just myself, the whole offense did a great job of not allowing turnovers and the defense got us turnovers. That's the way we have to play. If we keep playing like that, it's going to be a special team."
Despite McCarron's solid effort, coach Nick Saban hasn't declared a permanent starter.
"We still have a competition at the position," Saban said. "We really do feel like we have two very good players and we want both guys to continue to develop. But I thought A.J. did a nice job (Saturday)."
The return of senior receiver Darius Hanks will surely help whoever is under center against the Mean Green (0-2). Hanks, who caught 32 passes for 456 yards last season, was forced to sit out the first two games due to NCAA participation rules.
"I don't think his transition back will be a problem," Saban said. "The guy has been playing around here for two or three years and has a lot of experience."
Alabama could be in for a big day against a North Texas defense which surrendered 690 yards during last Saturday's 48-23 loss to Houston.
Sophomore Brelan Chancellor was the lone bright spot for the Mean Green, breaking two school records with 286 yards on nine kickoff returns and 332 all-purpose yards. He leads the NCAA with 483 total return yards this season.
Derek Thompson completed 21 of 33 passes for 172 yards with a TD and an interception while the running game compiled 118 yards. North Texas could have trouble improving upon those numbers against the Tide, who are surrendering 170.5 total yards per game - fifth-fewest in the FBS.
Alabama leads the all-time series 3-0, including a 53-7 victory Sept. 19, 2009.
