excellent article which mirrors what many pundits are saying.
But in their most painful losses, one of two common themes have doomed the Vols: a late, long drive allowed by the defense and/or the offense becoming completely ineffective. Butch Jones has already sought to address the former by hiring Bob Shoop to run the defense.
I believe the more telling case studies are the 2014 Florida game and the 2015 Oklahoma game.As we mentioned in the aftermath of the double overtime loss to the Sooners last fall, in that game Tennessee had four second half drives that featured a 1st-and-10 at the UT 44 or closer. Those series ended with a missed field goal and three punts after the Vols failed to gain more than a single yard on any of those dozen snaps. And four of those plays went backwards for a total of -33 yards. Against Florida in 2014 the Vols had seven third quarter snaps in the Gator red zone and not a single one of them gained a yard, resulting in an end zone interception and two field goals settled for in what became a 10-9 loss. The insertion of backup Gator quarterback Treon Harris got the headlines, but the sole touchdown drive he led covered only 30 yards after a Justin Worley sack/fumble. The greater cause was Tennessee’s offense simply ceasing to function. Those two games featured two different quarterbacks and two different coordinators.
If the Vols jump Virginia Tech or especially Florida 17-0, won’t we be fascinated to see if and how they keep their foot on the gas?
Something to keep an eye on: in Tennessee’s blowouts over FBS teams under Butch Jones, look how many include defensive or special teams play as a significant factor in the scoring:
http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2016/8/26/12653686/butch-jones-team-120-finish-what-they-started
But in their most painful losses, one of two common themes have doomed the Vols: a late, long drive allowed by the defense and/or the offense becoming completely ineffective. Butch Jones has already sought to address the former by hiring Bob Shoop to run the defense.
I believe the more telling case studies are the 2014 Florida game and the 2015 Oklahoma game.As we mentioned in the aftermath of the double overtime loss to the Sooners last fall, in that game Tennessee had four second half drives that featured a 1st-and-10 at the UT 44 or closer. Those series ended with a missed field goal and three punts after the Vols failed to gain more than a single yard on any of those dozen snaps. And four of those plays went backwards for a total of -33 yards. Against Florida in 2014 the Vols had seven third quarter snaps in the Gator red zone and not a single one of them gained a yard, resulting in an end zone interception and two field goals settled for in what became a 10-9 loss. The insertion of backup Gator quarterback Treon Harris got the headlines, but the sole touchdown drive he led covered only 30 yards after a Justin Worley sack/fumble. The greater cause was Tennessee’s offense simply ceasing to function. Those two games featured two different quarterbacks and two different coordinators.
If the Vols jump Virginia Tech or especially Florida 17-0, won’t we be fascinated to see if and how they keep their foot on the gas?
Something to keep an eye on: in Tennessee’s blowouts over FBS teams under Butch Jones, look how many include defensive or special teams play as a significant factor in the scoring:
- 2013 52-20 vs Western Kentucky: two pick sixes (five turnovers in six plays)
- 2014 38-7 vs Utah State: TD drives of 11 and 12 yards after a fumbled kickoff and an A.J. Johnson interception
- 2014 50-16 vs Kentucky: pick six, 19 yard drive after a Justin Coleman interception
- 2015 52-21 at Kentucky: Kick return TD, punt return TD, 4 yard drive after Darrin Kirkland interception
- 2015 53-28 vs Vanderbilt: Punt return TD, Safety
http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2016/8/26/12653686/butch-jones-team-120-finish-what-they-started
