Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims met with the local media on Tuesday morning ahead of the Vols’ SEC opener at Oklahoma on Saturday night.
Sims discussed Dylan Sampson’s fast start to the season, areas they can still improve and much more. Here’s everything Sims said.
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On being able to have his daughters with him at the Vol Walk
“It was really good because that’s a memory that they’ll always remember. It’s one of those situations where being in that environment, them walking down and being excited— they got their shades on— it was really awesome.”
On if Dylan Sampson has done anything to surprise him
“No sir. Just because of the way he prepares. His preparation and the way he goes and attacks practice— everything is right on par with what I thought he would be able to do for us.”
On what he’s seen from freshman Peyton Lewis returning from injury
“You got a chance to see him get comfortable in the game. I think he started off feeling his way through early on. The more carries he got the more comfortable he became. You got the chance to see him run with some violence and pad level. You got the chance to see him hit it full speed and show off his top end speed as well.”
On Dylan Sampson finding the end zone so often, if there’s a knack for it
“I think that’s the hunger part of it and you want to get in the end zone and punch it in. Then also, the feel of it. For a running back, when they get in that zone when they’re running the football whether that’s the zone scheme or whatever that’s the zone scheme or whatever scheme they’re running and they start to feel it— it’s kind of like they can run blind. They can just feel where the holes are going to open up at. I think he just has an innate ability to find the end zone once he gets to that point in the game.”
On if anything has surprised him about DeSean Bishop
“The number one deal with him is nothing surprises me with him as well because he does a really good job from a preparation standpoint. The way he goes and attacks. He constantly has a notepad with him. From the time he walks into the room to the time he leaves, he’s constantly taking notes throughout whatever meetings he’s in. Then at practice, he just goes out and does a phenomenal job of being able to attack that. The confidence factor, we’ve always had confidence but seeing the confidence in him in terms of growing every day— you can see it by the way he answers questions. The confidence that he has has grown tremendously.”
On the success with 12 personnel against NC State
“I think it just gives you an opportunity. It’s something we’ve been working on that gives you the opportunity to be multiple in what you’re able to do. I think it just opens up a lot of other things for people to have to prepare for. It’s been really really good from that standpoint.”
On what he likes, doesn’t like about short yardage run game
“I think the number one thing is we’ve done a good job of executing from that standpoint. In terms of being able to go convert when we get those opportunities. With everything for us as running backs, we have to do a better job with pad level. We get caught running too high at times and sometimes looking to hit the big one instead of going to convert and running behind our pads.”
On what most impresses him about Oklahoma’s defense
“I think what jumps out to you is the physicality that they play with at all three levels. From the Dline to the linebackers to the secondary. I think that’s what stands out to you. They play aggressive. You see the personality of the head coach come out in terms of that defense. They want to be physical. They want to be aggressive. Schematically, they’re going to be very very sound. They’re going to fit the run very very well. They do a good job of making sure they’re covering things in the back end as well. Fundamentally, holistically, they’re a really good defense.”
On if the preparation is a trickle down effect from the veterans in the room
“I do. I think, first of all, when you look at Sampson and the way he goes about attacking it. He’s the leader of that room. You see everybody kind of follow his lead. Even from a young guy like Peyton Lewis coming in. They may sit beside each other in the meeting room and when Peyton has a question he turns and asks Samp the question. And vice versa, when Samp sees something on tape he’s giving him pointers on that. The preparation, we’re doing a really good job all through the week of making sure we’re over prepared so we can anticipate what’s going to happen in the game.”
On if they thought Dylan Sampson would need a tune up after being hampered by an injury this preseason
“The number one deal is even when it’s time that he had limited reps, he did a really good job of preparing himself on the sideline in terms of taking mental reps. I think with him it’s muscle memory. Once he gets in there, he gets one carry and it all comes back to him and he gets in that rhythm and flow. Nothing surprises me from that standpoint. I think he’s done a really good job of maximizing every single opportunity that he’s been given.”
On what Dylan Sampson has that other running backs across the country do not
“For me, being in the room with him every day and having a chance to coach him. I can just speak to what he brings to the table for us. I think, number one, you see the leadership characteristics about him. Number two, you see how smart he is. He is very very football smart and football savvy. He can pick up on a play one time and you don’t have to sit up here and repeat the same thing to him. He’ll come off the field and be like ‘coach this is what happened.’ I always tell them, ‘tell me the truth when you come off the field’ so that now we can sit up here and make the right corrections. I think that, number one, is really good. Then I just think overall his instincts and ability to play fast on every single thing he’s able to do. Also, sitting here talking about pass protection, his ability to go in there and be violent in pass protection with his hands. I think that makes him, in my opinion, really really complete.”
On the chemistry between the running backs, offensive line and tight ends
“I think it’s really good. When you sit there and look at a lot of the runs that we’ve had, especially explosive ones, everybody is on the same page. I think it’s like poetry in motion a little bit with the running backs and tight ends and the offensive line all together which you’ve seen multiple occasions this year. It’s been really really good and I think they feed off one another too. When they’re sitting there having big blocks the running backs get amped up about that and vice-versa. The tight ends when they’re leading up front for us in certain situations. When we have big plays and get over to the sidelines after that drive, a lot of the times I can’t find the backs early on because they’re over there congratulating the tight ends and offensive line. That portion has been really really good.”
