In Josh Heupel’s first year as Mizzou’s offensive coordinator last year, the Tigers ran a high-octane hurry-up offense.

However, just because the offense is built on airing the ball out down the field and running lots of quick plays, the running game is really important, too.

In fact, true freshman RB Damarea Crockett proved that last year, rushing for more than 1,000 yards in his limited action. Now, heading into the 2017 season, the Tigers return the same backfield and same offensive line as last year.

In order to capitalize on that consistency, OL Kevin Pendleton told STLToday.com that the Tigers are working hard to make sure that running the ball is a major part of the 2017 offense:

“This coaching staff came in (last year) and said, ‘We’re going to be a spread team, but our main goal is to pound the ball,’” Pendleton said. “That’s been day one since the staff has gotten here. That’s the goal. We feel like we get closer and closer to that every day, to be that power-style team, that downhill running team with the ability to spread the ball around.”

Heupel said it will be important for Mizzou’s running game to get off to a good start, as the Tigers face off against Auburn and South Carolina in the first four weeks of the season:

“They have a better understanding of what we’re doing,” Heupel said. “As coaches we have a great understanding of who we are, what we’re going to see and what our needs are to have success running the football.

“I think we’ll be ready to get off to a much better start than we did a year ago.”

The Tigers kick off the 2017 season on Saturday, Sept. 2, with a game against Missouri State. If all goes according to plan, they’ll have plenty of time in that game to get the running game going ahead of the Week 2 showdown against the Gamecocks.