Webb aims to be better blocker
Ralph Webb might break Vanderbilt’s career rushing record by season’s end, but blocking tops the running back’s priority list.
Despite entering his junior year only 1,084 yards from Zac Stacy’s rushing mark, Webb said he had been tasked with becoming a more complete back and especially a better pass blocker to help quarterback Kyle Shurmur develop the passing game.
“For him, the work’s not done,” coach Derek Mason said. “Ralph knows he has to work on dimensions of his game.”
Webb has rushed for 2,059 yards in two seasons, ranking eighth on the Commodores’ career list and trailing Stacy’s record of 3,143 yards. That mark is certainly within reach, because Webb ran for 1,152 as a sophomore last season, but Mason said the record wasn’t a concern of his.
“It may be on (Webb’s) personal radar,” Mason said. “It’s not really on mine. We want to see Ralph receive the accolades that he deserves, but we want to win games.”
Webb has handled his workload well. His 489 career carries are the most by any current SEC player. And only LSU’s Leonard Fournette (2,987 yards) and Georgia’s Nick Chubb (2,294), both top Heisman Trophy candidates, rank ahead of Webb in career rushing yards among active SEC players.
“Ice is magic,” Webb said of his durability. “You’ve just got to stay in the ice tub.”
Webb rushed for a Vanderbilt freshman-record 907 yards in 2014 and for 1,152 yards on a career-high 277 carries last season.
Mason said he wanted that improvement to show up in Webb’s blocking.
“Where other guys fall into a sophomore slump, he excelled,” Mason said. “I expect him to do the same in 2016.”