Vol defense 'decimated' by injuries in win over Ohio
Tennessee might have beaten Ohio, but the Vols aren't leaving Neyland Stadium feeling good.
Tennessee — for all of its defects on the offensive side of the ball — has played pretty good defense this season. Now, the Vols could be without up to three of their top defensive players with the toughest stretch of the schedule upon them.
For a team with hopes as high as the Vols, it's a crushing blow a week before starting conference play against rival Florida.
“We're decimated right now with injuries,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said following a 28-19 win over the Bobcats. “We're going to have to rely on some more individuals to step up.”
The Vols were already without middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., who injured his ankle in the win over Virginia Tech. The standout sophomore was on crutches on the sideline with his right foot in a boot Saturday. It didn't take long for Kirkland to have some unwelcomed company.
Senior, all-SEC cornerback Cameron Sutton went down on the first defensive series with a right leg injury and never returned. He was helped off the field and later to the locker room by trainers. Jones said Sutton would be out for an “extended” period of time but would know more about the extent of his injury this week.
“Very, very unfortunate,” Jones said. “Football is a humbling game, but as a football family we'll be there for him.”
Tennessee (3-0) was dealt another blow when its other star linebacker, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, went to the ground in pain midway through the second quarter. Reeves-Maybin injured his shoulder on punt coverage and didn't come back to the game.
The Vols lost a second linebacker in Quart'e Sapp, who injured a knee and left the field on crutches in the first half.
“Hopefully anticipate him (Reeves-Maybin) back this week,” Jones said. “But when you look out there on defense, that was the definition of next man up.”
For all the injuries, Tennessee's defense was stingy enough to keep Ohio at bay and come away with a ninth-straight win. The Vols defensive front controlled the line of scrimmage for the most part and held the Bobcats to 88 rushing yards.
Ohio quarterback Greg Windham threw for 230 yards against Tennessee's depleted secondary — freshman Baylen Buchanan replaced Sutton at corner and the Vols were without both Justin Martin (injury) and Malik Foreman (suspension) — with Sebastian Smith on the receiving end of 156 of those yards.
“Definitely tough to see Cam go down,” Rashaan Gaulden said. “He's one of our soul leaders in the defensive backfield and on the defense. But, seeing Baylen grow up before my eyes is very encouraging. He made some plays out there.
“Baylen went out there and he really didn't have those deer-in-the-headlight-eyes. I looked at him, gave him the eye check and he looked like he was ready to go.”
More important than the yards given up was Tennessee's play deep in its own territory. The Vols didn't let Ohio turn its trips in the red zone into touchdowns. In four trips to the red zone, Ohio settled for field goals on three of them.
“Our red zone efficiency is what won us the football game,” Jones said. “That obviously is our goal and that's the plan.
“That was the difference in winning and losing today.”
Tennessee was able to survive Ohio without some of its star players, but moving forward, into SEC play, the Vols know some of their younger players are going to have to continue to perform in order for Tennessee's season to stay on track.