Alabama football needs its run game to improve. The Crimson Tide only managed 75 yards on the ground in its Saturday loss to Tennessee, a game where a rushing attack to help sustain drives was sorely needed.

On Monday, UA offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan was asked whether the run game problems were self-inflicted, or because of something Tennessee did.

“I want to give credit to our opponent, but I thought there were some execution issues by all parties,” Sheridan said. “Whether it was decision making in read plays, whether it was simple fundamentals or techniques. I thought there were some effective runs in the game. Our guys did a nice job and we were hatted up correctly and the runners did a nice job of running hard and physical, but it wasn’t consistent enough, and certainly, that starts with me.”

The Volunteers did an excellent job limiting Jalen Milroe’s effectiveness in the run game. The keepers that the quarterback has excelled in at times this season were stifled, and Milroe was held to 11 yards on the ground.

Alabama’s running backs inability to perform consistently has been a season-long issue. Jam Miller led the Tide with 42 yards on 12 attempts Saturday, while Justice Haynes chipped in with 22 on eight carries, plus one of UA’s touchdowns.

If it is going to pull its season back together, the run game has to improve. Sheridan wasn’t giving up on its ability to do so.

“There are lots of those things where we have to make sure we tighten that up and do better because I do think this is a group that can run the ball effectively,” Sheridan said. “We’ve got to make sure we improve in that area and give them enough shots at it to show what they are capable of.

“We’re looking at that first as a staff and then certainly identifying the things we need to improve on because that’s an area where I think, when we can do a lot better than what we’ve done. And I know we have the players to do it, I know we have the scheme to do it, I know we have the staff to do it. And so that certainly will be a point of emphasis for us this week.”

Alabama returns to action Saturday to face Missouri at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2:45 p.m. CT and will be aired on ABC.