The funny thing is I remember before the season even started seeing an interview with one of the players (might have been Jack or Tyrone) saying that the gaffer had already been drilling into them that the running stats in the Premier League were higher than the Championship and that the players would all have to adapt to running more.
So in this instance this is one area that you seemingly can't blame Dean Smith. (and I'm not a Smith fan)
If the manager highlighted this before the season even began and started to drill it into the players minds, yet the players get out there and stroll around then thats on them.