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The Day After

Pruitts defense got after the Bulldogs.
Pruitts defense got after the Bulldogs.

Celebrations in the stands, the locker room and around town highlighted Saturday’s first SEC win. We review the Vols 20-10 win over Mississippi State with The Day After.

HOT AND NOT

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HOT

Darrell Taylor — The Vols have been looking for a breakout game from Taylor and they got it as the senior had 5 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. Taylor had just one sack coming into the game.

The offensive line — Mississippi State had just one sack and 4 TFL’s in the run game. Tennessee had just 5 yards lost rushing on 43 carries on Saturday. Tennessee played with 3 different combinations on the offensive line and they were at their best on Saturday particularly in the fourth quarter when the offense had to have a drive. Clinging to a three point lead with 8:19 left in the fourth quarter the Vols went 91 yards in nine plays for a touchdown that sealed the win.

Nigel Warrior — The senior has played his best two games the last two weeks. Against Georgia, Warrior had 10 tackles and two pass break ups. Against Mississippi State, Warrior had 4 tackles, an interception with two pass deflections.

The coaching staff — The defensive plan to defend Kylin Hill was terrific. Tennessee’s defensive line showed real growth in having their best game and offensively, Jim Chaney managed the game well once Brian Maurer went out. Chaney played for a field goal in the third quarter and dialed up a nice pass play for Guarantano to manage on the Vols final scoring drive. After being too aggressive to end the half against Georgia, Tennessee managed it for points this week. Kudos to this staff for coaching this team for who they are and the situation they were in instead of just playing their system. Pruitt even managed the week well backing off contact after a physical game last week against Georgia.


NOT

Defending the qb run — Garrett Shrader lost 21 yards in sacks, but gained 83 yards and averaged 4.8 yards a carry. Tennessee has struggled with quarterback runs this season.

Red zone offense — Tennessee was 2 of 4 in the redzone with a touchdown, a field goal and two interceptions. On the year now Tennessee is 15 of 20 in the redzone with 9 touchdowns, 6 field goals, 2 turnovers on downs, and 3 interceptions.

DEFINING MOMENTS

Guarantano to Byrd for 39 and a TD — Tennessee put the game away on Tyler Byrd’s third catch. Guarantano hit Byrd in stride and the senior got blocks from freshmen Ramel Keyton and Jerrod Means to spring him into the endzone.

Guarantano to Tim Jordan for 9 yards on 3rd and 6 — The check down pass to Jordan may have been Guarantano’s best play of the day. The quarterback felt the pressure, knew where his outlet was and Jordan got north and south for the critical first down.

Vols' first defensive possession — A week ago against Georgia, Tennessee had two tackles for loss for the game. Against Florida the Vols had 3. Saturday on the first defensive possession, Tennessee had two tackles for loss on Mississippi State’s first three snaps.

Trevon Flowers INT— After Brian Maurer threw his second INT in the redzone costing Tennessee points with 2:20 to go in the half, Trevon Flowers picked off Tommy Stevens returning it to the State 37 yard line. Tennessee ran three times setting up Brent Cimaglia’s 49 yard field gaol extending the lead to 10-3 and 3 huge points.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

6.14 — Tennessee’s yards per carry average on their final scoring drive of the game. The Vols ran it six straight times for 44 yards moving from their 9 to Mississippi State’s 47 yard line.

10 — Total number of TFL’s (including 7 sacks) by the Vol defense. Tennessee had 8 sacks coming into the game and had 7 on Saturday. Tennessee’s defensive front lived in Mississippi State’s backfield.

13 — Total number of rushing yards by Kylin Hill on 11 carries. Hill entered the game averaging 5.5 yards a carry and 119 yards a game on the ground. Tennessee never allowed Hill to get in a rhythm. His longest run of the game went for four yards. That was big time.

67% — Jarrett Guarantano’s completion percentage on Saturday. A week ago against Georgia, Guarantano went just 1 for 5 for 14 yards. Give the redshirt junior for being ready to play and doing enough of what the coaching staff asked him to do.

GAMEBALL

There were plenty of heroes on Saturday. Jarrett Guarantano coming off the bench to go 6 of 7 for 106 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Byrd with a career day. Nigel Warrior had a really good afternoon of work. But when your defensive front (and I’m including Darrell Taylor) has 6 sacks, and 8.5 total tackles for loss they get my gameball. Tennessee’s maligned defensive front was terrific in containing tailback Kylin Hill. The Vols entered the day with 8 total sacks on the year and the front had 6 of the Vols 7 sacks on Saturday. Just an impressive showing for a defense that couldn’t get to Kyle Trask or Jake Fromm to start SEC play.

BIGGEST CONCERN/QUESTION MOVING FORWARD

Can this team get healthy and stay healthy? For all the good Jarrett Guarantano did on Saturday, Tennessee didn’t trust him very much. Can Maurer get healthy? Where does Tennessee go on the offensive line next? Is Jerome Carvin a real factor at right guard? Is it Locklear’s spot in his return? Where does Jamir Johnson factor in as he gets healthy? Could Jamir Johnson play left guard and they flip Trey Smith?

Defensively how do they manage inside linebacker? Does Crouch move there full time? Obviously he will start with Bituli next week as Henry To’oTo’o watches the first half.

And the obvious question, not for next week necessarily but moving forward is can the defensive front continue to play in the offense's backfield?

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