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The Day After

For the second time in the last five weeks, with major post season implications on the line, the Vols failed to capitalize as they fell 45-34 to Vanderbilt in a bad loss. We review it with The Day After.

HOT AND NOT

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HOT

Josh Dobbs – Dobbs had a critical fumble on the final play of the third quarter, but if you had said that Dobbs was going to go 31 of 34 for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns, no one would have thought the Vols would have lost. Dobbs' last three games he is 57-72 (79%) for 786 yards, 8 touchdowns, one interception. It's the best he has thrown the ball his entire career.

Josh Malone – The junior who now starts the process of exploring his NFL options capped off a great regular season with a big night. Malone had 121 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. For the year, he has 45 receptions for 852 and 10 touchdowns. He's averaging 18.9 yards a catch.

NOT

Bob Shoop – The Vols have had a sled load of injuries for sure. But the fact is Tennessee's defense by the numbers is arguably the worst in Vol history. After giving up over 400 rushing yards the preview two weeks, Shoop's unit gave up over 400 yards through the air in Nashville and have given up just shy of 2,000 yards the last three games. And they have given up 118 points.

3rd down defense – After giving up 2 of 6 third down tries in the first half, the Commodore offense ripped Tennessee in the second half on third down converting 6 of 8 tries. In the last two quarters, Vanderbilt converted – 3rd-13, 3rd-11, 3rd-6, 3rd-10, 3rd-6, 3rd-1. The six conversions netted 102 yards.

2nd half offense – After putting up 31 points in the first half, an administrator told me at half time that the Vols would need 50 to win. He was right, but the offense only scored three points in 5 second half possessions. The Vols had a punt, a missed field goal, a fumble and a turnover on downs in the second half.

DEFINING MOMENTS

Dobbs fumble – The final play of the third quarter killed all the momentum the Vols had. Dobbs, who was fantastic on the night, fumbled on a run giving Vanderbilt the ball at mid-field. Over the next 15 minutes, the Commodores offense would score twice and ice the game in their three possessions. Vandy gained 139 yards in 16 snaps, including a two-yard loss in victory formation. That's an average of 8.7 yards a snap.

Medley's miss – On the year, Medley had been perfect from inside 40 yards (7-7). With the game at 38-34, Medley hit the right upright on a 37-yard field goal try. Vanderbilt then marched 80 yards in 5 plays to make it a two score game and ensure the win.

Kamara comes up short on 4th and 4 – It seemed doubtful that the Vols could pull off the miracle. They needed 11 points in less than 90 seconds. But on a 4th and 4, Kamara stepped out of bounds short of the sticks turning the ball over on downs and starting the Vanderbilt celebration. What was even more surprising is that knowing you needed to have two scores, Jones didn't kick the field goal to try to make it an 8-point game and set up the onside kick attempt.

Barnett's sack – On the final play of the first half, Derek Barnett tied the great Reggie White with 32 career sacks. Barnett is not about records other than his win-loss record, which is what he called Saturday night embarrassing. However, 32 career sacks is an unbelievable career and it's been a pleasure to watch the junior play the game.

BY THE NUMBERS

3 of 5– That was Tennessee's work inside the redzone Saturday night. The two failed attempts in the fourth quarter were beyond costly and were the offense's first failed trips since the first half of the Florida game.

5,522 – The number of yards given up by Bob Shoop's defense in 2016. Over the last 12 quarters, the defense has given up 1,983 yards.

2 – The number of times Vanderbilt has scored 40 or more against Tennessee since the 1920's. They have both come in the last five years as the Vols fifth year seniors finish with a 2-3 record against the Commodores and Jones now owns a 2-2 mark.

8 – Number of snaps given up by the Vol defense of 20 yards or more. For the season, the Vols have given up 88 plays of 20 yards-plus. Eighteen of those 88 have been for 40 yards or more including 3 Saturday night.

GAMEBALL

I don't know that you really give one when you lose to Vanderbilt and allow them to score the most points in an SEC game since 1971.

But if you were to hand one out it would be to Dobbs. Anytime you go 31 of 34 for 340 yards and two touchdowns you should win the game.

I would also cast a vote for Alvin Kamara who could have certainly mailed it in and not returned after the knee injury. Not only did he return, he has thrived. Kamara since returning has 7 touchdowns including three in Nashville in the first half.

BIGGEST CONCERN/QUESTION MOVING FORWARD

The biggest question moving forward is the evaluation of this program moving forward by Butch Jones. Jones' name may surface for another job and it would be interesting to see how he approaches that if it occurs. However, Jones said Saturday night after his teams embarrassing loss, where Vanderbilt was simply better, that he would immediately begin his evaluation of the program.

It will be interesting to see what that evaluation is and it will be interesting to see what the evaluation is of Jones and would will be doing it given that Dave Hart is an outgoing athletic director and the search for his replacement is heating up.

The reality is that being 5-0 and ranked in the top 10 seems like it was three years ago.

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