In his first speaking engagement since becoming head coach, Tommy Tuberville said he would like to be "a little" more balanced on offense in order to help keep the quarterbacks healthy.

Note the words "a little."

More balanced at Texas Tech doesn't mean the Red Raiders' offense will suddenly become a 50-50 split. More like Texas Tech will still look like Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders do have the personnel, though, to add a few extra carries per game. And they certainly could afford to. Last year, Texas Tech was 115th in the country in rushing offense, averaging 84 yards per game. They were No. 2 in the country in passing offense, at 386.77 yards per game. The Red Raiders averaged 24.5 carries per game compared to 51.5 pass attempts per game. You can expect a slight shift in those numbers, but not a dramatic change.

It will help that Baron Batch returns, and he has the potential to be a 1,000-yard back this year. He was a preseason Doak Walker candidate last year, and finished with 884 yards and 14 touchdowns. Texas Tech had a young line last year, and all but two linemen return in 2010.

Regardless of who earns the starting job at quarterback -- Taylor Potts or Steven Sheffield -- he should get more help from the running game in 2010.

Even if it is just "a little."