What assistant coach De'Rail Sims said about Tennessee running backs on Tuesday

What Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims said about his position group during his press conference on Tuesday:

How Tennessee’s run game can get back on track

“Yeah, I think (opposing teams have) done a really good job. We played some really good defenses, defensive lines and linebacker play. The biggest deal is we just got to get back to doing what we do in terms of being fundamentally sound, technique, running backs being in sync with the offensive line as we kind of continue to go along. We got to do a really good job taking the dirty yards and just taking what’s there. I think a lot of times, especially in the last game, you kind of saw us as running backs start to press a little bit more in terms of trying to make plays happen on the field in the run game. We just got to take what the defense is giving us.”

How fine the line is for Tennessee running backs between trying to take yards that are there but also trying to make splash plays

“We talk about it before we take the field every game. A lot of games that comes to you. Don’t feel like you got to be Superman on every play. There’s going to be a two-yard gain, there’s going to be a three-yard gain and then the big one will happen. Very similar to what happened in the Arkansas game. Like, Bishop will have a five-yard gain, and then next thing you know you start hitting for 20 and 30 yards. So you allow the game to come to you. So it’s just being patient as a running back, not allowing your feet to be faster than what your eyes are, in terms of seeing those holes in the run game. So that’s the thing that we’ve been preaching a lot these past two weeks.”

How he feels the rotation has gone this season for Tennessee’s three runnings backs  

“I feel like, man, it’s always that balance in terms of trying to find the best way to get it done. They’ve done a good job in terms of getting in there, in terms of being patient. But at the same time, I understand how it is in terms of, man, as a back, you want to get in there, you want to be able to get in your feel and flow of the game a little bit earlier. But overall, it’s been good in terms of being able to get those guys in and kind of give a defense different looks too, because you got guys that have three different skill sets coming at them. So it’s kind of hard for the defense to prepare for which back is coming at them right now.”

How much of they can see from Tennessee’s freshmen running backs in practice and with limited game reps

“You can tell especially in the practice settings just from their mindset, the way they’re going to attack and the way they work. The good part about it is that we’re doing crossover work with the defense. So you get a chance to see them when they’re going against the one defense to two defense in terms of their maturation process, how they come about in terms of growth. That piece has been good. Like their mindset, they’ve done a good job of staying ready because they understand you never know when my number’s going to be called, especially playing the position that we do to where you’re going to get some nicks, you’re going to get some bruises. So you got to be ready to go. But from a mindset standpoint, both of those two young guys have been really, really good in terms of Justin (Baker) and Daune (Morris). And then physicality, body-wise, like you see them growing. And that’s the biggest deal that you’ve seen from them this whole entire season is the growth process in that.”

If planning rotations is more matchup based or based on who had a good week of practice

“The biggest deal is you look at number one, the schematic situations in terms of stuff that we got in during that week, because you got different skill sets. You may have one guy that’s better in terms of running this particular play. And then you also look at the same situation in terms of the production, the matchup situation that you may get. Who’s had the best week of practice. The production from the previous game in terms of how it’s going. And then you get in the game and then I always say this, how’s the offense moving when you’re in the game? Is it staying consistent in terms of moving the ball down the field or does it go up another level when you’re in the game? And then that’s the way you kind of determine this guy’s hot. The offense is moving at a different level when he’s in the game, and those are the guys that we kind of ride with at that particular point in time.”

Figuring out who is hot early in the game, Tennessee running the ball better in the second half this season

“I think you look at it holistically. I think you can look at us wearing a defense out and then we get in third and fourth quarter, defense is tired while we got fresh legs, especially in the backfield. And then at the same time, like you said, it is guys getting in that rhythm, getting in that groove and then kind of rolling from that standpoint. But I think, like, holistically when you look at it, one, the defense is tired in third and fourth quarter. So we got fresh legs and then two, guys are starting to see it a little bit better in that second half. You kind of get adjusted because for us, offensively, you got to get adjusted to what the defense is throwing at you, especially in the first half because we all do get some different looks and different fronts and things. So, as we get into the second half, it becomes a little bit better for us.”

Where DeSean Bishop has grown the most this season

“Man, I think he’s just continued to get comfortable. He’ll tell you that too, in terms of getting in this groove. Looking at him, how he’s grown and matured throughout this season has been really good for him. His eyes are really good in terms of having that vision, in terms of being able to see those run lanes. The physicality piece has always been there for him. I think pleasant surprise, to be honest with you, is seeing him when he gets in the open field. Like the run that he had versus Alabama, where he did a really good job of setting up his blocks. Like, everybody looks at Bish as being the guy that’s between the tackles that’s going to be your dirty yards guy. You guys can move the chains, which he does a good job of. But when you really look at him in terms of once he gets on that third level, he’s winning on free hats, and he’s doing a really good job of getting those yards after contact and having explosive runs. And I think that kind of carried over from last year. Like, he had some explosive runs last year, and then this year’s kind of carried along for him. So I think that’s the biggest maturation process for him this year.”