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The Day After

Offensive ineptitude continues for the Vols, as they fell 15-9 to South Carolina. We review Tennessee’s third straight SEC loss with The Day After.

HOT AND NOT

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HOT

The first quarter – The Vols ran 19 plays for 133 yards and scored six points. John Kelly averaged 6 yards a quarter and Jarrett Guarantano averaged 11 yards a completion. Defensively, Bob Shoop's unit held South Carolina to 26 yards on 12 offensive snaps. Tennessee dominated time of possession 10:05 to 4:55.

Brent Cimaglia – Tennessee learned late Thursday that Aaron Medley couldn't kick due to illness. Brent Cimaglia was pressed into duty. Cimaglia responded going 3 for 3 on field goals and in his first action handling kickoff duties, Cimaglia had three touchbacks in four kickoff attempts.

NOT

Tennessee's offense – All of it is bad. Larry Scott's play calling lacks imagination and rhythm. Tennessee offensive front is inconsistent in the run game, and while Jarrett Guarantano held the ball too long at times, the pass protection isn't good enough when you give up 7 sacks. The Vols are bad in the redzone and the receivers cannot get any separation in press coverage. Tennessee's 9 points the last two games is its lowest two-game point total since 1981.

Butch Jones – After getting the Vols to 5-0 a season ago on October 1st, Tennessee is 2-7 in SEC play. And his fan approval rating is at an all-time low.

The second half – Since scoring 17 fourth quarter points at the Swamp, the Vols have been outscored 36-3 the last three weeks. In the last three games, the Vol offense in the second half has gained 211 total yards.

DEFINING MOMENTS

1st and goal the South Carolina 3 (Vols second possession) – With 1st-and-goal at the 3 yard line, Tennessee ran for no gain on first down, and -2 on second down. It set the tone for the Vols red zone struggles.

3rd and 1 at the Vol 45 on the Vols second 3rd quarter possession – Facing 3rd and 1, Tennessee went under center and had Guarantano turn his back to the line of scrimmage on a pivot for a rollout and the redshirt freshman was sacked. All Carolina did after the punt was go 95 yards in 12 plays to tie the score and take control of the line of scrimmage.

2nd and 12 at the South Carolina 3 – With a 9-3 lead, Tennessee had the Gamecocks backed up, but couldn't get off the field. Jake Bentley threw a 9 yard completion then ran for a first down on 3rd and 1 to get them out of a hole and in rhythm.

3rd and goal at the South Carolina 2 – With a second left on the clock, Tennessee had one final chance to win the game. And on the Vols third chance from the 2, Guarantano's pass to Brandon Johnson fell incomplete sending the Vols to 0-3 in the SEC.

BY THE NUMBERS

-17 – Number of yards the Vols gained in 8 snaps inside the South Carolina 10 yard line.

5 – Number of yards the Vols had in their first four offensive drives of the second half after gaining 133 yards in the first quarter.

194 – Number of rushing yards given up by the Vols. In the last six SEC games going back to last year, Tennessee is giving up an average of 285 yards a game on the ground.

32 – Number of possessions Tennessee has gone without a touchdown. Tennessee's 9 points the last two games, is the lowest two game point total since 1981.

GAMEBALL

Volquest is giving the gameball to the best player on Tennessee's defense and that's Rashaan Gaulden. The Vols nickelback led the team with 10 tackles and had a tackle for loss. According to the PFF College Football Twitter account, in pass coverage Gaulden gave up two receptions for just four yards on the five passes he defended.

Gaulden is Bob Shoop's best player overall. He's the most effective player off the edge and it's hard to believe that they take him off the field when they go to a 4-3 defensive look.

BIGGEST CONCERN MOVING FORWARD

There are plenty of questions surrounding the team still. But the biggest is simple. Can this offense score?

Now, next week in Alabama, the answer is probably not. However, moving forward Tennessee does have a chance to beat their remaining opponents but they have no chance to win at Kentucky and moving forward if they can't find a way to score points.

As everyone learned on Saturday, Tennessee's offensive woes are not strictly due to quarterback play. The Vol offense is simply not winning consistently at quarterback, the offensive line and wide receiver.

If November is going to matter for this team, then this offense has to somehow find a way to score.

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