ESPN analyst points out troubling trend at Neyland Stadium for Tennessee Vols
The Tennessee Vols seem to be a completely different team when they play in Neyland Stadium as opposed to when they play on the road. Tennessee hasn't lost at home in two years (their last loss in Knoxville was against Georgia in 2021). This season, the Vols are 6-0 when they play in Neyland Stadium. […]
The Tennessee Vols seem to be a completely different team when they play in Neyland Stadium as opposed to when they play on the road.
Tennessee hasn't lost at home in two years (their last loss in Knoxville was against Georgia in 2021).
This season, the Vols are 6-0 when they play in Neyland Stadium. And that's despite the fact that they're penalized at an alarmingly high rated on their home field.
Former Alabama quarterback turned ESPN analyst Greg McElroy pointed out the troubling trend this week while previewing Tennessee's matchup against Georgia.
"Tennessee actually really struggles at home with penalties," said McElroy. "I don't know why. They're 130th in penalties in home games this year. They average nine penalties per home game and about 80 yards (in penalty yardage). If they're playing behind the sticks at home against this Georgia defense, who can pin their ears back and come after the quarterback, it could be a long day for Joe Milton and company."
Tennessee, in both road and home games, is near the bottom of college football in penalties per game, with only UMass, New Mexico, and Colorado committing more penalties per game than the Volunteers.
And based on the trend that McElroy pointed out, this isn't an issue that just creeps up on the road (in fact, it seems to be a little worse at home since the Vols are averaging 8.5 penalties per game this season).
Penalties have been one of the biggest issues for Tennessee under Josh Heupel.
"Some of it is personal accountability," said Heupel earlier this week when asked about penalties. "Some of it, you look at some of the penalties on the offensive side of the football, the playing penalties. It comes down to fundamentals and technique and body position. You do those things right, and you have an opportunity to not have some of those things happen. You have to be smart at the end of a play as well."
Tennessee can't shoot themselves in the foot against Georgia if they're going to stand any chance of ending the Bulldogs' winning streak that dates back to 2021. They'll have to play a clean game, but unfortunately for UT, that's not something the Volunteers have done very often during the Heupel era.
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