Tennessee’s 29-26 double overtime loss to BYU left the Big Orange Nation with yet again another sinking feeling. We review the loss which sends the Vols to 0-2 for the first time since 1988 with The Day After.

HOT

Jauan Jennings — The self appointed leader of the Vols said his team would be emotionally ready and they were. He also backed up his words with his play. Jennings had 4 catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Through two games, Jennings has been the Vols best recriver.

Brent Cimaglia — The junior placekicker has been fantastic through two games. Cimaglia is 6 for 6 on the season and has made his last 4 field goals of 40 yards or more.

The Big Orange Nation — Give the fanbase credit. Despite last weekend’s shocking loss they turned out in force Saturday night in Neyland Stadium. They showed up. They were loud forcing a couple of BYU penalties. They continue to show up despite the heartbreaks.

NOT

Jarrett Guarantano —The redshirt junior quarterback threw another costly interception on an unforced error. Guarantano appears to struggle to see the entire field as head coach Jeremy Pruitt noted in his post game press conference.

“We have two guys running open right before the half for touchdowns that we don’t hit. We turn the ball over,” Pruitt said.

Alontae Taylor — The sophomore struggled to close out the game. Taylor let Micah Simon get behind him on the 60 yard throw that set up the game tying field goal and got beat on a slant for a score in overtime.

Short yardage — Tennessee was in 4th and 1 twice and failed to pick it up both times. Tennessee simply got beat up front on both plays and failed to move the chains.

Wilson to Micah Simon for 60 yards —On 3rd and 6 with less than 20 seconds to play and no timeouts, Tennessee allowed Micah Simon to get behind the secondary for a 64 yard pitch and catch setting up the game tying field goal.

Guarantano interception — Up 10 points to start the second half, Jarrett Guarantano gave away the Vols momentum on the 3rd play of the half when he threw into a triple team and had the ball intercepted.

Failed 4th and 1 with 4:15 left —Leading 16-13 with 4: 15 to do, Jeremy Pruitt elected to not try a 47 yard field goal. Pruitt chose to try and convert 4th and 1 but the end around to Josh Palmeer failed to gain a yard giving BYU life.

BYU’s game winning touchdown — The reverse to open their second overtime possession was a terrific call. Two snaps later BYU appeared to be stopped on 2nd and 3 but the Cougars shoved Ty’Son Williams into the the end zone sending Tennessee to 0-3 for the first time since 1988.

50% — Tennessee’s touchdown percentage in the redzone. Jim Chaney’s offense in two games has made 8 trips inside the 20 and they only have 4 touchdowns to show for it.

20% — The Vols 4th down conversion percentage through two games. Tennessee is 1 for 5 on fourth down tries. Against BYU, the offense failed to convert two 4th and 1’s including a critical one in the fourth quarter.

1 — That’s the number of turnovers forced by Tennessee through two games. Pruitt has talked about needing some old fashion licks to not the ball free and has talked about being a ball hawking defense. Through two games the Vols don’t have an interception

-46 — That’s the scoring difference for the Vols in the second half of the last four games played. Including Missouri and Vanderbilt last year, the Vols have been outscored 82-26 in the last 8 quarters of the second half.

The temptation was to give it to the fans for showing up. Austin Pope played his best game blocking in the run game. Brent Cimaglia is kicking great. But I’m going again with Jauan Jennings. If there’s a play needed or a play made in the passing game, Jennings is the one making it. In two games, Jennings has 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. A year ago, Jennings had just 438 yards and 3 touchdowns in 12 games.

Where do you start? First of all give this team credit for getting off the deck after week one. Tennessee was emotionless against Georgia State, but their effort wasn’t in question Saturday night. But execution and IQ were a huge problem.

So moving forward, does this team continue to lay it on the line and what can they clean up execution wise. I don’t want to suggest that 242 yards on the ground is some kind of bad day, but this team isn’t going to be able to run wide against SEC linebackers which means there will be some run game struggles. And the beckons the question what will Chaney do at the quarterback position. Jarrett Guarantano has to play better. Can Chaney get that out of him? Would this staff contemplate playing JT Shroutt or Brian Maurer? I don’t know the answer to what they do at that position, but this offense must get better play out of the quarterback spot.

Defensively can they build off their first 59:30 of the game. They had 4 sacks and 6 total TFL’s. Can they force some turnover? How much will the linebacker play improve once Daniel Bituli returns?