Jeremy Pruitt explains why Jeremy Banks was back with running backs at Tuesday’s practice
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A week after practicing with Tennessee’s linebackers, true freshman Jeremy Banks was back at his natural position with the running backs during Tuesday’s session.
Volunteers coach Jeremy Pruitt broke down Banks’ shuffling during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. Pruitt also reviewed his team’s performance in its 27-24 loss at South Carolina last Saturday before the Volunteers (3-5) host non-conference foe Charlotte (4-4) this weekend.
Below is everything Pruitt said Wednesday.
On Jeremy Banks moving back to running back:
- We have a couple guys banged up and we need to make sure we have enough running backs to finish out the year.
Which running backs are hurt?
- All of them.
On facing Alabama, what’s the best way to defend them?
- I’m not sure I’m the best person to ask that. We didn’t slow them down one bit. You don’t want to do what we did. They stretch you out and force you to play one-on-one, and their backs can make you pay on the inside.
On Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa’s impact:
- I don’t think I can answer that. I’m not there.
On his team’s effort vs South Carolina:
- We played really hard. The score was 14-3 and we give them good field position on an unforced error. We went up 21-9 and they go right down the field on us. We get a field goal and they march down the field on us. We have to make them earn it.
On the offensive line play at South Carolina, any reason the same five stayed in all game?
- I don’t think we had anyone get hurt. Maybe we had a plan to play other guys. We did some good things, maybe six to 10 plays we’d like back, but that’s normal. I think that was our best game overall.
Why was that your best game?
- I think our run game was more efficient, had a few breakdowns in protection. Play-calling kept them off balanced. We missed some shots down the field. We were good on third down. The thing that hurts us was the penalties.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
