Bad loss, Jones' program evaluation key for the future
There are bad losses and then there are bad losses. Saturday night's loss to Vanderbilt was beyond bad.
The numbers are staggering too staggering to even imagine. Numbers like most points surrendered to Vanderbilt since 1923. Numbers like Vanderbilt converting 6 of 8 third downs in the second half.
The most staggering from Saturday night's 45-34 loss to Vanderbilt was that Josh Dobbs was a career best 31 of 34 for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns and the Vols lost by 11 points.
On a night where the Vols punted only twice, it was again a defense, albeit make shift one in the interior, that minimized the accomplishments of Team 120 and has everyone wondering the direction of that unit moving forward.
“It is unacceptable,” Nashville native Derek Barnett said. “It is a tough loss. Right now we just have to come together on Sunday and get ready for our bowl game. It's unacceptable and I'm embarrassed.”
Embarrassing in an understatement for the Vol defense. A defense that gave up 351 points in 12 games. A defense that surrendered 5,522 yards, including 1,983 yards the last 12 quarters. Sitting at 5-0, the Vols lost four of their last seven games. In five of those games, they gave up 590 yards or more.
“It's embarrassing. We have to do something to fix it,” redshirt junior Kendall Vickers offered.
Head coach Butch Jones called the loss extremely disappointing and said post game that the lack of defense his program has shown is unacceptable.
“I don’t ever want to use injuries as an excuse because football is a game of that and it’s next man in,” Jones said. “But, when you’re down three defensive tackles, you're down your best linebacker, or your best two linebackers in our conference. But, again, it’s an opportunity for other individuals. To give up 600 yards and 40-something plus points, that’s unacceptable at Tennessee. That’s not going to be tolerated.”
That leaves many obvious questions for Butch Jones moving forward. Questions about the direction of things for his program, particularly on defense.
“I’ll start it when we get home tonight and see what we need to do to get better,” Jones said. “I love our players and they are giving everything that they have. Again, I’ll address it like I have, but I have some time now, coupled with recruiting, but I’ll constantly evaluate it.”
That evaluation process for his entire program will be most critical for Jones. Ten months ago, Jones' program had as much momentum as anyone in the country. Jones went all in with two staff changes. Heading into December following a year of expectations lost and past success minimized, Jones must make critical decisions about his program – staff decisions, recruiting decisions, training and development decisions.
Decisions that won't be easy. Decisions Jones has never had to make before.
Decisions that dictate the future as a season of great hope and promise swings into a winter of discontent and questions.
Something unthinkable five weeks ago when at 5-2 we all laughed when Jones calling the final five games of the regular season a tougher grind than the first seven games
Unfortunately, Jones' comments came true as the Vols finished 3-2 eliminating themselves from the SEC Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl and leaving everyone to wonder what's next?