Eric Gray, RB – So.

On what he would say Georgia did to give the running game a hard time on Saturday…

“It’s a big testament to Georgia, they have a great front seven. They did a great job and had a great scheme and for the most part they just outplayed us in the second half.”

On if it has seemed like the past two weeks have been wild, considering they were successful against Missouri, but struggled against Georgia running the ball…

“That’s how it goes sometimes. You have to keep going and keep working. Today in practice we have to work on our run game and keep it going and I believe we will get back on track.”

On if it frustrated the offense that he wasn’t able run effectively against Georgia…

“To be efficient we have to run the ball efficiently in any game, and when you don’t run the ball efficiently, it can sort of mess it up, but I believe it was a good test and learning curve for us.”

On his thoughts in regard to the offensive line…

“I still believe our offensive line is one of the best offensive lines in the country no matter what. So, I believe we definitely should have some success running the ball.”

On the relationship needed between the offensive line and running backs to have a successful run game…

“It starts with practice, and it starts with going hard and making sure we are on the same page in practice, and make sure we’re all going hard so we can see the holes the line creates. We are not going against the ones a lot. We are going against the scout team, so we just got to make sure we are doing everything right and doing everything hard.”

On if he sees his role in the passing game evolving after the game Saturday…

“I definitely think in today’s game, getting your running back out and catching passes in space is the life of a running back nowadays, and for me to do that and for me to show that I can do that is just helping me improve my game.”

On how the feels the offensive line has reacted to the game on Saturday…

“It was a learning curve for everyone. Everybody has to look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘what do I need to do to get better?’ The guys have done that and today we are going to go out and practice and make sure we do all the right things so we make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

On if he would like to play on the field the same time as Ty Chandler more and if it could make them more difficult to defend…

“I think with us back there it definitely gives the defense a different look on who is getting the ball and who you have to cover, but I’ll leave all those schemes and all those plays to coach Chaney. He is the mastermind up there.”

On if he thinks he and Ty Chandler are now weapons as pass catchers in the backfield…

“I definitely think we are both weapons in the outside game. Like I said in today’s game you have to be able to catch it out of the backfield to be successful.”

On what he thought about the young guys that scrimmaged on Sunday that haven’t go to play a lot…

“Those guys actually went out there and played really hard. I was really proud of them being able to get out there and play. The running backs did a great job just going out there and playing. It kind of felt like high school again to those guys, just going out there and playing and showing what they can do.”

On what he thinks about Dee Beckwith and what he can bring to the team…

“I think Dee had a great scrimmage as well. He’s a big guy. He’s a big tough runner that is going to be hard to bring down and he brings that toughness and hard running to our team.”

On how he changes his approach to a game when they a play a team like Kentucky who also likes to establish the run game which may limit offensive possessions…

“It comes down to making plays. When you got the ball you have to make plays and you can’t leave any empty possessions and leave it out there on the field and make plays when It is needed.”

On what he thinks he and Ty Chandler need to better at as far as running the ball…

“We just have to be on the same page. There were some runs where we could’ve busted it for more than we did, but we got to stay on our track, stay true to our linemen and our assignment, and I think we will get better at it.”

On if his confidence was affected any after struggling to run against Georgia…

“I like to say I am a confident guy, and not being able to run the ball isn’t going to affect it like that, but you just got to know that you got to keep going, got to keep striving that things will get better.”

On what he sees out of Kentucky’s run defense…

“I believe they have a good run defense. I have watched them and they got a big front four on the defensive line, and I believe our offensive line will put them to the test this week.”

-UT Athletics

Matthew Butler, DL – Sr.

On what defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh has meant to his game…

“Coach Brumbaugh, like I said before, he’s very meticulous. He’s very high attention to detail, just like I am. Early in my career it was almost to a fault, focusing too much on the details and not just going out and playing ball. Coach Brumbaugh has really come at me, as far from a coaching perspective – and come at all of us – as far as a coaching perspective with that good balance of going out and playing ball. It’s a violent sport, especially for a defensive lineman to where you’re making contact with another opposing player every snap, and then also having a high intensity to details so that you can be the best athlete that you can be.”

On how he feels like he’s improved from his freshman year to now…

“Exponentially. You know, I came in as a freshman probably about 20 pounds lighter than I am now. Little bit of a different role, different defense, but now I have more of an understanding of the game. I’m able to kind of use all these moves I have in my head and actually know when and how to execute them rather than just going out and doing them haphazardly. I’ve become more of a student of the game, a cerebral player, knowing what’s in front of me rather than just lining up and playing. But it’s a good balance because I can still line up and play. Maybe I don’t really understand what’s in front of me if the opposing offense is doing something outside of their normal personnel or whatever the case may be, so it’s a good balance and that’s due to coaching, that’s due to a lot of work that I’ve done on myself, that’s due to watching a lot of football. Like I said, I’ve grown exponentially.”

On facing a run heavy attack like Kentucky as opposed to a balanced or pass heavy offense…

“It’s actually a little bit more different than you think just because although they have a good running back who has racked up a lot of yards in his career, they also have a quarterback, just like last year, who can run the ball – who’s fast, athletic, can run the ball, pass the ball a little bit as well. I would say in some ways we take the same approach as we did last year, as a defensive line being able to plug those interior gaps, get off blocks, to set edges and have contain, and just be ready to run for sure because if you can bounce it outside the sideline is our friend (to help) make those tackles just like we did a good bit last year and like we want to do every game because it’s the SEC. It’s a run first league.”

On the impact of getting Shawn Shamburger back and having Bryce Thompson healthy…

“Those are two guys who have been in our program for awhile and who are also very talented guys, so when you have that level of talent and you have that level of experience and then you can also add a level of leadership because they have that talent and experience and outspokenness, it’s a great thing. It really galvanizes our defense in a lot of ways. We’re the guys in front of them but we can all kind of work together with all of our pieces. If we get tired, we have great subs. If they get tired, they have great subs. We have all our pieces, and nobody has to play a million snaps or play out of position. It’s really a good feeling going into the week.”

On how facing a running quarterback affects a defense…

“It might affect a little bit of personnel. You might have a couple of checks here and there, but having a run-oriented quarterback, or maybe having a run-oriented offense, is kind of one and the same as far as your approach going into the week. Playing in the SEC, where even if you do have more of a balanced attack like we had in weeks passed or even more of a slightly pass heavy attack like we had in weeks passed, you’re still going against good running backs with big offensive lines who are willing and able to go downhill. So, the approach doesn’t change too much, but a few personnel’s, a few checks and still put yourself in a good position to win the ball game.”

On walking the line of focusing on the details but also going out and playing without thinking too much…

“I mean, with everything comes balance and that balance isn’t always going to be a straight line. Maybe you don’t follow that perfect balance every day, but you learn to adjust, you learn to kind of adhere to whatever circumstances have been placed upon you. I’m not going to act like I have life figured out all the way, but you just find that balance of the details and living. You find that balance of the details and balling. You ain’t got to walk it straight, you know? It might be a narrow path, it might be wider in some places, but you kind of just find that balance day-by-day rather than just this one balance that you walk down the whole time. I hope that makes sense.”

On if he likes the challenge of facing a run-oriented offense…

“I like football. Last year, we were able to get a few sacks versus a run heavy team in Kentucky, so that’s awesome. We also stopped the run well enough to win the game. This year we want to compound on that. Stop the run even better even though they have some different personnel and different guys. But ultimately, no matter whether they pass the ball 48 times a game or run the ball 60 times a game, we’re just trying to go out there and play some good football and win the ball game.”

-UT Athletics