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7 takeaways from Tennessee's dominant upset over Kentucky

Behind a dominant defensive effort and some timely explosive plays, Tennessee smacked the nation’s 11th-ranked team to move one step closer to bowl eligibility.

While Kentucky proved to still be Kentucky — at least inside Neyland Stadium — Saturday was much more about the Vols.

They had a great game plan and they executed. They played with swagger and confidence, and even when everything didn’t always go right, they stayed the course.

The Vols jumped on the ‘Cats 24-0, with quarterback Jarrett Guarantano joking afterwards, “We’re definitely not used to (big leads). We need to do it some more."

Tennessee is now 5-5 on the season with two very winnable games left. The Vols looked like a tired team last week, but they awoke with fury today. Now can they close their season out with a bang?

“I think this was far and away the most complete game our guys have played," Jeremy Pruitt said.

“We’re going to enjoy this win and tomorrow we’ll get up and get back to work.”

Here are 7 key takeaways from Tennessee’s 24-7 win in Neyland Stadium.

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1. D-FENCE

Tennessee totally suffocated Benny Snell and Kentucky’s attack Saturday. After allowing 200+ yards in 9 of their last 10 conference games, the Vols held the ‘Cats to just 77 yards on the ground. They promised to build a wall after the South Carolina game, and they did just that.

Daniel Bituli said he lives for slobber-knocker football games like that, and why wouldn’t he? Running downhill, the thumper at middle linebacker led the team with eight stops and 2.5 TFLs. But it was hardly just UT's middle linebacker who played well Saturday. Shy Tuttle, Alexis Johnson and Kyle Phillips helped clog up the paint, too. Of Tennessee’s 67 tackles, 43 were made by the front-seven — a direct contrast to the South Carolina game.

Snell touched the ball 26 times but averaged just 4.01 yards per play. When you think about how less impressive backs ripped through this defense two weeks ago in Columbia, what the Vols did against Snell spearheaded the upset.

2. DARRELL BARNETT?

With Tennessee bottling up Kentucky’s run-heavy offense, Taylor was finally able to go wild off the edge again.

He looked a lot like the guy he’s been billed to replace for two years.

Coming into the game, the junior had three sacks all season — all vs. UGA — but he more than doubled that total Saturday with four quarterback sacks, a couple more hurries and a crucial forced fumble, delivering some truly punishing blows on Wilson.

Tennessee’s defense looked like a bunch of orange bees on Saturday, swarming to the football on every play. As a unit they were super disruptive, finishing with five sacks, three takeaways, seven pass breakups and nine TFLs.

3. WHAT THE HELTON?

Tennessee’s offensive coordinator is much-maligned, but Helton called his best game of the season by my eyes. Now, he wasn’t perfect (see: the WildCat call on the first drive, Jeremy Pruitt giving him multiple chewings on the sideline) but he schemed up a great plan to exploit Kentucky’s aggressive defense.

First down throws. Ditching the I-formation stuff. Misdirection runs. Middle of the field pass attempts.

The Vols took four shots down the field on their opening four possessions. Three of the four resulted in big plays — with the one a bit underthrown. Jarrett Guarantano finished with more 20+ yard passing plays (5) than UK had allowed all season. More impressively, Tennessee ran the ball effectively Saturday. Ty Chandler had 89 yards, while Tim Jordan chipped in 69. They set up that Jordan Murphy jet reverse all game, turning it into a 59-yard run.

Tennessee has shown flashes offensively against Auburn and South Carolina, but what the Vols did Saturday (upon first look) seems more sustainable the next two games. They out-schemed Kentucky throughout the game, including on a great call down by the goal line. With Dominick Wood-Anderson in the slot, Guarantano faked a toss and threw a perfect pop-pass for a wide open touchdown in the second half.

The Vols knew they had the score from the moment they lined up, too.

“I was pretty excited listening to the defense call out what they thought was coming. I was pretty excited when I called for the snap,” Guarantano said

“They had no clue.” Wood-Anderson chimed in laughing.

“They just knew the sweep was coming.” Guarantano chuckled.

4. ALL HAIL MARQUEZ

While the defense was lights out Saturday, the game-changing play came from junior wideout Marquez Callaway.

With six seconds remaining in the half, Jarrett Guarantano climbed the pocket and hurled a 39-yard pass toward the end zone. Callaway then Moss’d a couple Kentucky players getting an assist from Jauan Jennings who was boxing out, too.

“It was a huge momentum swing,” Pruitt said.

“I’m sure when the drive started, they wasn’t counting on it and we wasn’t either.”

With a 10-point lead and less than a minute in the half, Pruitt noted that Tennessee wasn’t even trying to be aggressive. He wanted to run out the clock, so when Guarantano threw an incompletion on first down (a nearly picked bubble screen), Tennessee’s head coach had a conniption on the sideline, giving a long earful to Helton.

But after a couple first downs, Tennessee got in gear to setup the huge play to Callaway — his first receiving touchdown all season.

5. WELCOME BACK TY CHANDLER

The sophomore had the best game of his career against Kentucky in 2017 — and while he didn’t quite match his 100-yard, two-touchdown effort Saturday — his mere presence changed the dynamics of Tennessee’s attack.

It’s simple, Chandler is Tennessee’s best offensive player.

The offense goes as he does. He’s a threat as both a runner and receiver. Last week, the Vols rushed for 20 yards with Chandler mostly unavailable. On Saturday, the Nashville native nearly outgained Kentucky by himself (66 to 68) in the first half.

6. DITTO FOR MICAH ABERNATHY

In the same vein, the return of Tennessee’s senior safety was crucial for a defense needing stability in the secondary. The Vols didn’t have any assignment busts on Saturday, and much of that credit goes to No. 22.

Abernathy was also an important cog in the run game. He was physical (7 tackles) and didn’t show any ill-effects with his foot. Abernathy’s return couldn’t have come at a better time with Drew Lock and Missouri on deck.

7. UNSUNG HEROS

Tennessee doesn’t upset Kentucky on Saturday if role players like Murphy (97 all-purpose yards), Theo Jackson (2 PBUs), Emmit Gooden (3 tackles, 1 TFL), Marquill Osborne (2 INTs) and Kivon Bennett (big tackle on third down) don’t step up and make plays.

The Vols could use a few more unsung heroes the next two weeks.

“Those guys earned the right to play and the opportunity presented itself and they took advantage of it.” Pruitt said

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