Despite bowl possibilities, Vols concentrating on Saturday

Even though a trip to the SEC Championship Game no longer on the table for Tennessee, the Vols still have plenty to play for.

Namely, if certain things fall Tennessee's way and Butch Jones' team takes care of business Saturday against Vanderbilt, the Vols could find themselves in great shape to play in the Sugar Bowl for the first time since 1991.

That's an enticing carrot dangling in front of the Vols right now, but senior quarterback Josh Dobbs is focused on making sure Tennessee takes care of business in Nashville.

"We understand the bowl situation and obviously, if we don’t come out ready to play on Saturday then none of that will happen," Dobb said. "We have to be prepared to go on Saturday, focused on this week, winning this week, being 1-0. That’s been our mindset the last three weeks and obviously, we’ve played our best football the last three weeks and that’s again our goal this week — to be 1-0 this week and win the day on Saturday.”

The Sugar Bowl is one of the most prestigious bowls in the country, but safety Micah Abernathy is familiar with the Bowl game because of glorious careers on EA Sports NCAA Football franchise.

“The Sugar Bowl, I just know growing up on video games is a pretty big bowl to go do,"Abernathy said. "That's all I really know about it.”

Tennessee’s offense has had more than its fair share of explosive plays this season.

Some of those chunk plays have been designed home run hitters from the time they are signaled in to quarterback Josh Dobbs. Whether it was the flea flicker against Kentucky, the sland-and-go against Florida or this past week’s out and up from Josh Malone, Tennessee has manufactured a number of those type of plays.

The senior quarterback said he knows when the Vols have a play called that should be a touchdown if executed correctly. But, he makes sure to maintain his focus on execution and not the result.

“You can’t really think like that because you’ve got to let the play play out,” Dobbs said. There are plenty of times when you think you have the play and the defense switches up the look and you get a bad look to the play, I may have to check the ball down and protect the football.

“You kind of are hoping for the best and excited about it, but you still have to smart and understand and you can’t assume anything for sure.”

There are times, though, when the defense changes things last minute and ruin a perfect opportunity. Dobbs laughed and said those are some of the most frustrating moments in a game.

“That’s probably the most unsatisfying feeling ever,” Dobbs said. “It happens. It’s the game of football and the defense is going to give you good looks against good plays. You just have to be smart with the football.”

“That’s probably the most unsatisfying feeling ever,” Dobbs said. “It happens. It’s the game of football and the defense is going to give you good looks against good plays. You just have to be smart with the football.”

Left off of the finalists for the Chuck Bednarik award was junior defensive end Derek Barnett. Even though the Nashville native leads the conferences in sacks and statistically has been better than the other finalists, his nomination never came. That left his teammates in disbelief because they see what he brings.

"I was surprised," Kendrick said. "I think Barnett is the best defensive player in country. He has stats to prove it. I don't get to make the finalists up so there is nothing we can do about it. He's not a selfish guy. He's not going to wallow in self-pity about it."

Barnett never stops. He is constantly pushing in practice and is very aggressive during games.

"I always tell people that I think he has a great motor," Kendrick said. "Even if you stop his initial move, he has a counter off of that one and if you stop that one, he's probably got a counter off that one. He just never stops and he has great athleticism. There is so much that goes into what Barnett is. He plays with a mean streak on the field and he's just a tough kid. He's smart and he does a great job of reading the tackle sets. He's just a great overall player."

The movement has been constant. There have been plenty of injuries and the occasional switch to help chemistry. You have seen tackles flip, guards move to center and even a center go to tackle. It's been like a game of musical chairs that is constantly evolving.

"If I said I got comfortable I'd probably be lying," Kendrick said. "I really haven't gotten comfortable at a spot, but I guess I'm technically comfortable playing at any position. If they need me at right or left or center, I think I can play it all."

The man they are protecting acknowledges the work that goes into keeping him clean. He is also very aware of the changing parts that goes into the chemistry.

"It says a lot that there is a family culture in that room and a next man up mentality," Dobbs said. "If a brother goes down then they have to be ready to come in and there can't be any drop off. They work their butt off and coach Mo holds that room to a high standard. It starts with Dylan and the older guys and they are pushing each other to be ready week in and week out for the younger guys."

Over the last two weeks, the Vol defense has given up just shy of 900 yards rushing. Theres plenty of theories and reasons as to why with part of it obviously being injury. The other issue is tackling. The Vols have not been a great tackling team and Saturday against Missouri Jones said it was one of his teams worst tackling performances, safety Micah Abernathy said tackling is the biggest problem for the defense.

“I would say the common thread right now is we need to make tackles. As a group we are missing tackles including myself. We need to fit up the runs better and tackle.”

Going into the final weekend of the regular season, fixing the season long tackling issue may simply not be something that can be repaired. Abernathy said it's not about changing anything, instead it's about focus.

“I don't think it's necessarily anything we need to change. We just need to focus more on the small details in practice. We don't need to go full contact to learn how to tackle.”

The tackling challenges for the Vol defense don't going away this weekend against a productive Vanderbilt rushing offense led by Ralph Webb who has over 1,000 yards rushing.

“Ralph Webb is one of the best backs in the SEC,” Abernathy said. “They have a good rushing offense. But like I said we just need to fit plays and make tackles and we should be fine.

“We are still a confident group. We have a lot of good players. We work good together and at the end of the day as long as we are winning we are satisfied.”