Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks gave Alabama an unreal gift in the second half of the Crimson Tide’s 37-20 win over the Vols

The Tennessee Vols made plenty of mistakes in their 37-20 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Tennessee Vols
Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks gave Alabama an unreal gift in the second half of the Crimson Tide's 37-20 win over the Vols

There’s a long list of reasons why the Tennessee Vols lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night.

Near the top of that list is an unreal gift that Vols defensive coordinator Tim banks gave the Crimson Tide in the second half of Tennessee’s 37-20 loss to Alabama.

Vols defensive coordinator Tim Banks made one of the worst third down calls you’ll ever see in college football

With the Vols trailing 23-13 with just over four minutes remaining in the third quarter, Tennessee’s defense forced a third-and-2 against Alabama.

A defensive stop in that situation would’ve given the Vols a chance to cut Alabama’s lead to three points before the start of the fourth quarter.

Instead, Banks made a defensive play call that basically conceded the third down conversion to Alabama.

Bama needed just two yards for the first down, and yet Banks dropped most of his defense into coverage.

Here’s a good look at the play.

I’m not sure you can make it any easier on the quarterback. The Vols “showed” pressure, but it clearly didn’t confuse Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson.

Look, I’m not an X’s and O’s savant — Banks has been coaching football for a long time and I’m not trying to be disrespectful to the guy. But what is that defensive call? Is Tennessee that scared of giving up a deep play?

I just don’t get it. That play call gave the Vols absolutely no chance to stop Alabama on a critical third down.

Coaches can often be on the wrong end of the blame game when players don’t execute on the field. But there was nothing the players could do in this situation. Banks made a bad play call in a big situation. And it’s one of the primary reasons why the Vols couldn’t make it a four quarter game against the Tide.

Related Articles