Alabama's offense keeps being held back by a running game that just can't consistently get it going. Against a Tennessee run defense that was ripe for the picking, the Crimson Tide's running backs combined for 47 rushing yards on 22 attempts.
For the season, Alabama is now 127th - out of 136 FBS teams - in rushing success rate, per Game on Paper.
Alabama's top two running backs - Jam Miller and Kevin Riley - were totally ineffective against Tennessee. They combined for 15 carries for 13 yards.
Alabama did get a spark down the stretch for an emerging third running back. Redshirt freshman Daniel Hill, whom the staff raved about during the offseason, seems to be coming into his own. He picked up 34 yards on seven rush attempts for a respectable 4.9 yards per carry. He keyed Alabama's ground game in the fourth quarter, and on a critical drive to end any hopes of a Tennessee comeback. Hill punched in the game-sealing touchdown with under six minutes to play.
It was the second week in a row the coaching staff trusted Hill down the stretch. When Miller was knocked out of the game against Missouri with a concussion, it was Hill who was getting the ball in the fourth quarter as Alabama looked to put the game away.
Hill's role could be expanding going forward, according to what Ryan Grubb said on Monday.
"We're a production-based business," Grubb told reporters on Monday. "Daniel certainly did that at the end of the game. I thought he brought a spark to the run game, some broken tackles, good vision and patience in the screen game. Daniel's a talented kid. We've kinda been waiting for him to get healthy and shout out some of the things he did this spring for us. It was exciting to see him step up in that spot."
A healthy Daniel Hill could be the spark Alabama needs in the run game
Hill is a physical, downhill runner. He was one of the standouts during spring practice and looked like he was going to have a major role on this team. He got three carries against Florida State and three more against UL Monroe, and then didn't take a handoff again until last week against Missouri. He's combined for 13 carries the last couple of weeks, and his role looks to be expanding moving forward.
He's not a guy who is fun to tackle, especially when defenses are tired in the fourth quarter. Hill is listed at 244 pounds. You'd better bring it when you try to tackle him, or you'll get embarrassed. He was dragging Tennessee defenders in the fourth quarter. Along with the 34 rushing yards, Hill added 16 yards on a screen pass.
The coaching staff raved about Hill's ability as a receiver, too. That's an underrated part of his game, as we saw a week ago with what proved to be the game-winning touchdown against Missouri.
Alabama needs a spark in the backfield. A healthy Hill might be the guy who can give it to them. It certainly seems he's going to get the opportunity.