Facing a Tennessee defense that came into the weekend ranked 114th in the country in run defense success rate figured to be the perfect opportunity for Alabama to get its running game going. That was buoyed by Jam Miller's availability. The senior RB cleared concussion protocol and was able to play.
It didn't much matter. Miller managed just 15 rushing yards on 12 attempts. Alabama ran the ball for 120 yards on 32 carries, a 3.8 yards-per-carry clip. That number looks better than it really was, too, because 65 of those yards came on a combined five carries by Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams. Bernard was the team's leading rusher, producing 49 rushing yards on four attempts. 18 of those yards came on a completely busted trick-play, where an outstanding individual effort by Bernard produced a big play.
Alabama's running backs managed the following against a weak Tennessee front:
22 carries, 47 yards, 2 TDs
Just over two yards per carry. Miller couldn't find running room. Redshirt freshman Kevin Riley couldn't either. On his three carries, he went backwards, finishing with -2 rushing yards.
There was a small bright spot in the second half, however, and that came from redshirt freshman Daniel Hill. Hill is carving out a role as he gets healthy, and he picked up 34 yards on seven carries and scored what proved to be the game-sealing touchdown. When Alabama needed to run the football in the fourth quarter, it was able to thanks to Hill. His role is likely to continue to expand.
"Daniel, I think, had the hot hand in the second half for sure, and it was really great to see him do his thing," Kalen DeBoer told the media after the game. "Felt very confident about him inside and outside. The touchdown, you can see him open up more and more. He’s getting healthier here, and so it was really good to see him out there picking it up for us."
Alabama will remain stubborn with running the football
The ground game certainly has to improve, but don't expect Alabama to completely abandon it anytime soon. DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb learned their lesson the hard way against Florida State in the opener. They put way too much on Ty Simpson and the passing game in Tallahassee, and while Simpson is certainly more equipped to handle that now with seven starts under his belt than he was without a single one, they aren't going to make that mistake again.
"Being committed to the run has helped us be able to still get our opportunities throwing the ball down the field," DeBoer said. "But we need to continue to be better in that area as we go through the season to accomplish the things that we want to accomplish.”
Alabama's issues running the football aren't because of any one thing. The offensive line certainly hasn't opened up the holes consistently, but the backs aren't finding the lanes like they should be, either. They also aren't making first-contact miss often enough, either.
A consistent theme of the writing about the running game at Bama Hammer has focused on the lack of a true difference-maker in the backfield the last few years. That has continued this season. Miller is good, but far from great. Riley fits that mold, too.
Perhaps a fully healthy Hill can be the difference-maker Alabama needs in order to find more consistency on the ground and more balance offensively.