- Gotta give the receivers a chance — After missing two deep balls in the opener, Joe Milton missed 6 deep throws in the first quarter including a wide open Tillman on a well designed play that should have been a walk in touchdown. Tennessee should have realistically been up 21-0 in the first quarter.
Regardless of who is playing quarterback you can’t miss that many open deep balls. Someone throwing the ball has to give them a chance.
2. Welcome Byron Young — Don’t get me started on the NCAA and why Young hasn’t been able to play the first two games, but Young will be on the field Saturday against Tennessee Tech. And he will be a welcomed sight. No one is saying he’s going to be dominant but Tennessee needs more pass rush along the defensive front. Tennessee’s defensive front had a couple of chances against Pitt, but couldn’t finish. There was none bigger than the 3rd and 10 on Pitt's final drive of the first half. You simply gotta get off the field there.
3. Gotta clean it up — Just sloppy and bad. Tennessee’s quarterbacks have 3 lost fumbles on the year. The offense has been called for 6 holding penalties in 2 games. Tennessee had 3 unsportsmanlike penalties Saturday. Gotta have more poise than to take off your helmet to celebrate and senior Cade Mays’ pile dive was just dumb. Tennessee isn’t good enough to overcome those kind of mistakes. The offensive line has to clean it up as well. They have 5 holding penalties in two games and another 2 false starts, an illegal snap and two personal fouls. That’s not good.
4. Found some weapons — Really like Hendon Hooker’s legs. I know Milton had the long run, but Hooker’s legs were much more effective. Tennessee either has to call him more or Hooker has to call his own number. It looks like pulling the ball on the zone read could have been a big play a couple times including 4th and inches. He’s got a little Josh Dobbs in that when he decides to run he becomes a runner. He has a little wiggle to him and he showed some nice moves. Moves people were probably not completely sure about in fall camp as he was in a non-contact jersey. Given his play as well as Milton you gotta roll with Hooker next week right?
Hooker wasn’t the only weapon discovered. Jimmy Calloway helped this offense Saturday and should help them moving forward if he stays healthy.
And the tight end stuff was really nice as well with Warren and Fant combining for over 100 yards receiving. Like Warren as a weapon.
There’s no question Tennessee missed Tiyon Evans. They have to get him and Jabari Small healthy. The coaches must find another tailback. This coaching staff needs to be able to trust more than three tailbacks.
5. Concern remains — One of the questions going in was whether or not Tennessee could run the ball and against a formidable defensive front. The answer outside of the quarterback was 'no' on Saturday. The tailbacks had just 33 yards on 19 carries. The Vols will see better defensive fronts in late September into October. There’s a lot that needs to be cleaned up up front in the run game. Getting Cooper Mays back will help but this offensive line must improve in the run game and obviously in pass protection. Can’t give up 5 sacks in a game.
6. I hate the shot gun in short yardage situations — If Hooker or the qb isn’t going to keep it on a zone read then get under center and sneak it with your big quarterbacks. I have never understood the idea of turning 3rd or 4th and inches into 4th and 4 by lining up in the gun. Heupel and Alex Golesh are much smarter at football than me, but I have never understood being in the gun in short yardage if it’s going to be a between the tackles play. Now, let me say this, the officiating on 3rd down was some of the worse I have seen. The side judge who’s supposed to mark the spot was 5 yards behind the play on the sideline not looking where the play ended. Just woefully out of position to spot the ball and the guy who spotted the ball was on the other side of the field. Just bad.
7. This defense will continue to grow — I’m not stunned by the play of the defensive line. I knew they would play better under Rodney Garner. They aren’t great but they are getting production out of them for sure. I am surprised that Trevon Flowers has been this quiet to date after the pre-season he had.
I am stunned by the growth and development of Theo Jackson. He’s playing at a super high level. Great play recognition out of him the last two weeks particularly to start the game. I like Tim Banks’ style. They are playing aggressively especially on run downs. In two games Banks’ defense has 21 TFL’s.
Playing as many snaps as they are they are going to have to continue to develop depth which is why they will continue to rotate at linebacker and play a bunch of bodies up front.
Tennessee tried to rotate some in the secondary but in limited work Kenneth George and Slaughter appeared to have some struggles. Where are Turnage and Hadden?
Bottom line is despite giving up 41 points the defense had some really positive moments. In the three sudden change situations, the defense rose to the occasion giving up just a field goal and a drive that went for -2 yards and resulted in a punt on a possession that started inside the Vols' 40 yard line.
The defense is ahead of where I thought they would be at this point. Their key is staying healthy and developing some depth.
8. They have some RLD’s on special teams — Mike Ekeler’s unit was really good on Saturday. They obviously had the blocked punt. Chase McGrath has given no one cause for worry.
Paxton Brooks has been solid as you expect. The coverage teams were great on Saturday and Velus Jones shouldn’t ever fair catch a kickoff unless both feet are in the checkerboard part of the endzone. Jones has big play potential every return he makes and that field position only makes play calling easier.
Jones’ return work makes me wonder if he could field punt returns.
9. I wish I knew what was up in the second quarter — I realize that Pickett just got comfortable and got hot, but the second quarter is killing this team. In two games, the Vols have been outscored 33-10 in the second quarter. I don’t know why the defense is having second quarter issues. Throw around their struggles with an offense that’s had it’s struggles in the second quarter and you have a disaster which it was in the loss to Pitt.
10. Next week is important — Tennessee Tech isn’t very good. The Vols are heavy favorites and it should be an easy afternoon. But that doesn’t mean it’s not an important afternoon. Tennessee is gong to have to play more players than they are playing. They need depth to aid with injuries and to help keep guys fresh for four quarters. That’s what makes Saturday important. Tennessee needs to play a lot of guys on the roster to build some needed depth. The Vols need to expand their roster next week to try and get guys ready, guys like Len’Neath Whitehead, and Dee Beckwith.
Saturday in the second half you played with one tailback, a true freshman no less. See what those transfer corners can do. Play a rotation at linebacker and not just the four you are playing. Let’s see a guy like William Mohan. Let’s see the Crawford kid at offensive tackle.
Josh Heupel and his staff cannot waste the opportunity to develop some depth and to rest some guys some as well this week. Looking at what’s ahead for this team schedule wise, Saturday is an important day.
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