A New Look, An Old Identity: Vols Beat Auburn The Neyland Way
Tennessee leaned on its defense and a record-setting performance from DeJuan Lane to defeat Auburn, 24-17, in a throwback afternoon honoring General Robert Neyland. DeSean Bishop powered the offense with three touchdowns, while Tevis Metcalf sealed the win with a late interception.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The afternoon kickoff to honor the legacy of Robert Reese Neyland was a true throwback to a time when defense stood tall. General Neyland was an actual Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. He unquestionably has a footprint as one of the most defense-minded head coaches of all time. On Saturday, the Tennessee Volunteers paid tribute to him in more ways than just a uniform and branding.
In the win over the Auburn Tigers, the Vols’ defense came to the rescue, led by a career-high performance from Penn State transfer Dejuan Lane. The Junior from Maryland had 9 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 1 INT. But the DB said something in his post-game comments that was a true throwback to the Neyland Legacy.
“We don’t need any points from the offense to win the game.”
Dejuan Lane
Tennessee DB
General Neyland was known for using his experience with trench warfare in World War I to craft an extraordinarily rigid, disciplined, and unyielding defensive style of play.
He famously believed that
“there are more ways to score on defense than on offense.”
General Neyland
Tennessee Football Coach
Sound familiar? Behind strong plays from Ty Redmond and Nate Robinson, along with first-time starter Tevis Metcalf, Jim Knowles crafted a very Neyland-like response to Auburn’s offensive scheme.
Neyland had an extreme defensive focus that led to staggering historical achievements. According to the record books, out of 216 career games as head coach, Neyland’s defense recorded an incredible 112 shutouts.
The Vols have yet to shut out an offense entirely this season; however, vs. Auburn, they for sure sent throwback vibes to the legacy of the General. Josh Heupel opened his post-game press conference with a Maxim of the General. He quoted the third Maxim.
“There is only one fitting way to start this press conference. If at first the game — or the breaks — go against you, don’t let up… put on more steam.”
Josh heupel
Tennessee Head Coach
Tennessee allowed only 25 yards in the 1st quarter, just 8 through the air. The Vols did not concede a 1st down. But that wasn’t the entire story of the game. There was more.
Earlier in the week, I shared that a “new look” was released through the year-long efforts of Evan Ford, who is employed by Tennessee Athletics to create.
It was a new look indeed. The uniforms and helmet were new. The logo on midfield was new. By the second half, the offense had a new look as well. The game began with a rookie quarterback who couldn’t find his footing and ended with a Tennessee native eager to step up.
Coming off a loss at Texas, where the Longhorns sacked him ten times, true freshman Faizon Brandon started for No. 17 Tennessee and played somewhat banged up against Auburn. He was not listed on any official injury reports during the week. However, Heupel said Faizon Brandon wasn’t feeling fully healthy. After the game he put it more plainly:
“Faizon, ultimately, didn’t play his best football.”
Josh Heupel
Tennessee Head Coach
Faizon wasn’t available to the media at any time in Week 5 for sourced insight.
The QB seemed to hesitate to pull the trigger in the 1st quarter. His day ended at 3-of-8 passing for zero yards and an interception, plus four carries for minus-9 yards. The interception was the damaging one. It came on first down from the Tennessee 11 and set up an Auburn touchdown four plays later. Byrum Brown, the quarterback who followed Auburn coach Alex Golesh from South Florida, scored it on a 7-yard run. Golesh got a score from his QB.
The Vols went to a new look. With about five minutes left in the half, Heupel pulled Brandon for sophomore George MacIntyre. MacIntyre went 5-for-5 for 38 yards as the Vols trailed 7-3 at the break.
The first half was grim for both sides. Auburn managed just 86 yards and three first downs, with Brown throwing for 56 yards. Tennessee’s only points came on a 38-yard field goal by Cooper Ranvier. The Auburn Tigers had come to Neyland with a disruptive defense.
The second half belonged to DeSean Bishop. He scored on a 25-yard run with 8:49 left in the third quarter, then ripped off a 44-yard touchdown on Tennessee’s very next offensive snap.
Auburn crept back. Brown hit Arlis Boardingham for a 16-yard touchdown with 10:57 left to make it 17-14. Then came the play that decided the game. With roughly 6½ minutes left, Auburn faced fourth-and-1 at its own 24. The Tigers tossed the ball to Jeremiah Cobb, and Nathan Robinson buried him in the backfield. The call mirrored one that had gained Auburn 21 yards in a win over Vanderbilt a week earlier. Golesh stood by it afterward. Asked about running his 235-pound quarterback up the middle, he said
“That thought never crossed my mind.”
alex Golesh
Auburn Head Coach
Bishop added a 5-yard touchdown with 3:30 left. Tevis Metcalf then intercepted Brown at the Tennessee 1-yard line to end Auburn’s last try. Tevis was making his first career start in the absence of Qua Moss, who was sidelined with concussion protocol on the SEC availability report.
Tevis Metcalf spoke about his opportunity after the game.
Bishop finished with 34 carries for 220 yards and all three Tennessee touchdowns.
Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) heads to Arkansas in week 6. Auburn fell to 3-2, 1-2 and will face a storied rivalry with Georgia.
Will this new look for the Vols’ offense remain for week 6? Interesting to note that with all the QB1 debate that is sure to come from this game,two things are on my radar:
- George MacIntyre had the body style needed for the win over Auburn. Good job to the development program in the building for helping to prepare him to come off the bench ready for league play.
- The Vols’ future is clearly deep with in-state talent out of Baylor HS. GMAC is familiar with that cycle of talent from his high school days at Brentwood Academy.
Is this the break needed for the offense to progress and develop for the future, as well as for immediate SEC competition?
After all, the second maxim says:
“Play for and make the breaks, and when one comes your way, SCORE.”
General nEYLAND
Tennessee Football Coach
