Tennessee is 8-0 and heading to Athens, Georgia with the jap division hanging within the stability between the Vols and the ‘Dawgs in a #1 vs. #2 match-up. Georgia dealt with Florida on Saturday whereas Tennessee merely manhandled Kentucky in each part of the sport successful 44-6. As the main target shifts to the largest recreation ever between Tennessee and Georgia, we assessment the Kentucky win with 10 issues I feel I discovered. 

Line of defense penetration 

How good was Tennessee on Chris Rodriguez? He had 15 rushed for 64 yards, and in line with PFF, he had 64 yards after contact. I don’t know that I purchase that stat fully however Tennessee’s protection hit him early and sometimes within the run recreation. 

Rodriguez on the second possession of the sport had 40 yards on 5 carries. He had 24 yards on his different 10 carries. 

So how did Rodriguez not get going out facet of that one drive? It begins with defensive position penetration. 

I knew it leaving the stadium on Saturday evening and the rewatch confirmed it to me once more. Da’jon Terry had a giant evening. He wore the Kentucky guards out. And Omari Thomas did good issues. Tennessee’s capability to whip the inside of Kentucky’s offensive line meant that Rodriguez needed to run laterally as an alternative of down hill, giving linebackers and safeties an opportunity to satisfy him on the line of scrimmage the place he didn’t have a head of steam. 

Terry received his first match up of the evening on Kentucky’s first offensive snap and he performed downhill all evening.

A bit of reward for the second staff or first rotation of defensive lineman. They struggled of their first collection on the sector as Kentucky ran the ball successfully towards Kurott Garland, Bryson Eason, Roman Harrison and Tyler Baron. However after that first drive and getting a really feel for issues they joined the get together to close the Kentucky run recreation down. 

 Doneiko Slaughter

I like gamers who ship loads of candor after they go to with the media. Slaughter did simply that. That candor may provide some perception into why Slaughter hadn’t performed nook all season until Saturday evening towards Kentucky. 

“I nonetheless like being within the field extra. I wish to hit. It’ll develop on me the extra I play,” Slaughter mentioned.

Slaughter ought to embrace the function and Tennessee ought to play him at nook Saturday in Athens. Slaughter made two performs towards the Wildcats in contrast to a corner has made this yr excessive pointing the ball on an interception then creating the Juwan Mitchell interception which his large hit within the purple zone.

I’m certain there was a bust or two a protracted the best way, however Slaughter was spectacular in his play.

In accordance with PFF stats, Slaughter was focused 3 occasions and didn’t quit a completion on these three targets. 

The endurance of Heupel, Golesh and Hooker

You wish to rip it each play proper? I imply it appears like Jalin Hyatt is at all times vast open. Truthfully he’s not. 

I’m actually impressed with the offensive play calling. After Kentucky gave up the primary landing to Hyatt (don’t know what defensive plan mentioned cowl him with a linebacker), the Wildcats mentioned we’re going to play zone and drop 8 into protection because the Vols led 7-6. 

Tennessee’s reply, run the soccer. The Vols counted a light-weight field of six guys. They motioned the tight finish into the field and ran the soccer. Tennessee ran it 13 of 15 snaps in a 75 yard practically 5 minute landing drive to take a 13-6 lead. 

We at all times speak about development of gamers, however how about development of Alex Golesh and the play calling. They didn’t pressure something. They did the identical factor within the second half towards Alabama when the Tide went to a dime package deal. 

Credit score the expansion of the offensive line as effectively. Towards Pittsburgh, Golesh admitted he didn’t assume they may run the ball, they usually couldn’t – operating for 91 yards on 35 carries (2.6). In SEC video games because the Pitt recreation, Tennessee is averaging 4.99 yards a carry. 

Superb development and it has been an enormous cause the offense has continued to evolve.

Good administration of Cedric Tillman

Tillman has wished to play. He has accomplished all he may to get again earlier than Saturday evening. In his return towards the ‘Cats, Tillman performed 48 snaps and didn’t play within the second half. Truthfully that’s greater than I anticipated. 

Nevertheless it wasn’t simply the snap rely that was good with Tillman – it’s the very fact they received him going early. Tennessee compelled the ball to Tillman twice on the opening drive to get him settled in and remove any anxiousness. Tillman was focused 4 occasions and completed with 4 catches for 22 yards and the Las Vegas native will likely be even higher in Athens from a well being stand level.

Ball hawking within the center

Will Levis had a tough evening. He was late with the ball early within the recreation. Strain affected him all through the sport, however Tennessee’s secondary did a extremely good job of ball hawking. They clearly had the three interceptions, however additionally they had three cross break up’s – together with one by Trevon Flowers on a decent finish, in addition to Jaylen McCollough on a decent finish. 

Everyone knows the center of the soccer subject has been a difficulty for Tim Banks’ protection, however Tennessee was actually good between the hash marks. For those who take out the receiver screens, Levis was 3 of 10 for 18 yards, two interceptions and two PBU’s over the center. 

Credit score the defensive entrance as effectively for making use of strain. Tennessee’s secondary lastly fed off that, particularly on third and lengthy, and tighten up their protection. The Vols had little respect for Kentucky going excessive and the corners have been aggressive, lastly. The outcome was Kentucky going 0-10 on third and seven+

Paxton Brooks and kick protection

It’s not been Brooks’ greatest yr and it’s not been the perfect yr for punt operation, however they have been dynamite yesterday. Brooks pinned Kentucky contained in the five-yard line twice with two terrific punts with nice dangle time. Jimmy Vacation is proudly owning the function of punt protection and Tennessee executed it to perfection. 

It was particular groups that received the Vols the landing on the finish of the primary half. Brooks’ punt landed on the two. Vols pressure a punt. Kaleb Perry [maybe] will get his fingertips on it. Vols have nice subject place and Jalin Hyatt scores from 31 yards out. Only a terrific win of subject place and hidden yards. 

On kickoffs, Tennessee well kicked away from Barion Brown and once more Brooks with the dangle time on the kickoff arrange the protection staff which was actually good of their protection lanes. Jourdan Thomas is a very nice particular groups participant. 

He was actually good on kickoff protection and is a younger man who’s gaining precious expertise however embracing his particular groups function very similar to Tamarion McDonald did as a youthful participant, which helped him be capable to win the star place job.

Admittedly, I don’t perceive all of the in’s and out’s of faculty soccer. Nevertheless it superb to me that groups can’t discover a solution to dealing with the stack receiver formation that Tennessee usually performs with. 

It was a stack formation on Jalin Hyatt’s first landing the place the protection got here down on the within route sort of bracketing Cedric Tillman and it left Hyatt vast open with a linebacker chasing him. Tennessee scored on the second possession a yr in the past with Velus Jones on the identical route. 

On Hyatt’s second landing, it’s once more Heupel’s favourite play. The swap route. Kentucky’s assist goes inside to assist on the Tillman submit route and Hyatt will get turned unfastened by the linebacker and it’s a stroll in landing. 

Tennessee’s video games with formations, pre-snap shifts and getting two receivers taking part in off one another is fairly unimaginable as a result of if the protection takes Hyatt than Tillman has the center of the sector to work for a rating with the nook trailing. 

It’s some basketball on grass it’s like a slip display screen on a decide and roll. This offense places a lot stress on individuals to defend the sector sideline to sideline in addition to vertically is de facto robust.

One other coach did it once more, and for 2 straight years Mark Stoops has accomplished it 

Tennessee is making groups pay for chasing factors on the finish of the half. 

A yr in the past in a 21-21 recreation, Kentucky threw it three-straight occasions, together with going for it on 4th and 4 at Tennessee’s 39. The play failed and in 16 seconds, Tennessee went 35 yards to seize the lead on a 43 yard subject objective. 

Saturday evening, Kentucky made a primary down coming off their very own objective line and threw it incomplete, then out of bounds on a reception, then Tennessee took a trip after a third down cease forcing a punt. It finally ends up with Hyatt’s 31-yard landing reception a 27-6 lead and ball recreation. 

LSU’s Brian Kelly went for it on 4th down at midfield panicking for factors. Tennessee received a cease and a subject objective. 

Florida’s Billy Napier referred to as trip to get the ball again, Tennessee transformed on third down and went the size of the sector for factors on the half. As an alternative of Florida main 14-10 heading to the locker room, Tennessee led 17-10. 

Pittsburgh with 21 seconds to go within the half from their very own 37, tries to throw the ball. Tyler Baron with a sack fumble, knocking Kedon Slovis out of the sport, Vols get a subject objective and as an alternative of being up 21-17 on the half, Vols led 24-17.

Typically simply attending to the half isn’t a nasty factor, however head coaches appear to made totally different choices taking part in towards this offense. 

The expansion/enchancment of this staff is spectacular 

Let’s begin with from final yr to this yr. Tennessee wasn’t good within the second quarter as they have been outscored 143-109. This yr, the Vols have outscored their opponent 141-41. 

After ending +3 within the turnover margin final season, the Vols presently stand +8. The Vols are are 12-percentage factors higher on getting third down stops. 

Final yr, Tennessee struggled in brief yardage. This yr, the Vols are a lot better because the offensive line is healthier and schematically the incorporation of the tight formations. The emergence of Princeton Fant has helped. Good design and creativity. 

Individually, you may go up and down this roster and speak about all the advance guys have made. 

All of us anticipated Hendon Hooker to be higher in yr two of the system as historical past mentioned he can be. I’m undecided I anticipated him to be on this a lot management of the sport. 

The truth is, the protection has grown as a lot if no more than the offense in yr two. 

Backside line is that this can be a very well coached soccer staff who deserves to be No. 1 within the playoff rankings this week, and who heads to Athens with their No. 1 objective in sight which is an jap division championship. The a recreation towards the Bulldogs is as large for the SEC since LSU and Alabama performed as the highest two groups within the nation in 2011. 

 I used to be mistaken 

I mentioned both within the week that I didn’t assume the gang can be as intense within the recreation as most have been assuming a giant Vol win, however I used to be mistaken. It wasn’t as intense as Alabama however it was arguably louder than the Florida recreation. 

It was an incredible setting. 

And kudos to recreation administration personnel, who assist with that setting. Everybody is aware of I’m a hold the “T” closed longer man, however that’s not going to occur. 

However the twist on the opening of the “T” on evening video games with the lighting is de facto superior. 

That was one other nice showcase for Josh Heupel for recruiting each in the home and for any recruits watching on TV, as a result of it was a scene.