Alabama’s struggles in the run game against Tennessee come with a silver lining that could be huge down the road
Alabama’s run game struggles may help them in the end.
Ty Simpson is undoubtedly the straw that stirs the drink on offense for the Alabama Crimson Tide. But like any well-balanced offense and frankly football team, you have to be multiple. One-dimensional football doesn’t win championships.
And ever since Jam Miller came back from injury, the Alabama offense went from bad in Week 1, to looking good, to having the potential to be great. Since he returned against South Carolina, Alabama’s rushing offense has come alive, but especially in the two games prior to playing the Tennessee Volunteers, where Miller was averaging 127 yards from scrimmage and 5.25 yards per carry.
But on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, it was tough sledding for Miller, as he totaled just 15 yards on 12 carries after being cleared to play following his concussion against Missouri. However, it was two other playmakers that should have Alabama feeling good about what lies ahead.
Germie Bernard, Daniel Hill show how deep Alabama can be at RB during win vs. Tennessee
“Daniel [Hill] had the hot hand and [it] was really great to see him do his thing,” said Coach DeBoer after the game via Alabama’s YouTube channel. “Felt very confident about him, inside and outside. You know, the touchdown, you can see him open up more and more. He’s getting healthier here, so it’s really good to see him out there, picking it up for us, and getting more room for improvement.”
“I think being committed to it, being committed to the run, has helped us be able to still get our opportunities to throw the ball down the field, but we need to continue to be better in that area as we go through the season to accomplish the things we want to accomplish.”
Daniel Hill had the highest amount of rushing yards in his career on Saturday, and the sophomore also had the highest yards per carry of his career at 4.9. Unlike the one cut, get in open space, player that Jam is, Hill is a battering ram that will impose his will at 6-1 and over 240 pounds.
And then you have Germie Bernard, who for all intenisve purposes is like Deebo Samuel during his time with the San Francisco 49ers. He lines up in the backfield, in the slot, out wide, and you just get the ball in his hands and let him go to work.
So to see Alabama unveil a few more wrinkles, not bang its head against the wall with Miller as it wasn’t working, and show that they have a diverse by-committee approach in the backfield, all feels like a major win to me.
Alabama Crimson Tide News
Alabama should come away with more than one win after capping off the best month of Kalen DeBoer’s tenure in win over Tennessee
Alabama now has the best resume in the country after beating Tennessee.
