Dobbs vs Saban is Strength vs Strength
Tennessee hasn't beaten Alabama in the nine years Nick Saban has been the head coach. This could be the best team the Vols have had during the drought. Also, Josh Dobbs is arguably the best Vols QB over the last decade. We'd have to ask Erik Ainge. So with that, could could Tennessee break two […]
Tennessee hasn't beaten Alabama in the nine years Nick Saban has been the head coach. This could be the best team the Vols have had during the drought.
Also, Josh Dobbs is arguably the best Vols QB over the last decade. We'd have to ask Erik Ainge. So with that, could could Tennessee break two streaks by beating Florida and Alabama in the same year? Dobbs has been the catalyst for the offensive turnaround the last two seasons. He's accounted for 20 touchdowns in the first six games. But, Cole Cubelic of the SEC Network pointed out, it's the legs of Dobbs that have been the difference in winning or losing.
Let's break this stat down and see what it really means. I confirmed with Cubelic that these numbers cover every game Dobbs has appeared in over his four year Tennessee career. Not just the games the senior has started.
Dobbs has appeared in 30 games total with 28 starts at quarterback, thus far, at Tennessee. Both of his non-starting appearances, ironically, came against the Crimson Tide (2013, 2014). The Vols are 19-11 in these 30 games with Dobbs running the offense. This means in 19 wins, Dobbs averages 63-yards rushing and 1.2 touchdowns per win. In the eleven losses, Dobbs averages 41-yards rushing and .18 touchdowns per loss.
The touchdowns are the difference. Continuing with the ironic theme, the Vols have never lost a game with Dobbs as the starting QB by more than one score. Tennessee's loss 29-21 to Missouri back in 2014 is the largest deficit.
So, what does this stat mean in the game against No. 1 Alabama? Cubelic also pointed out just how good Nick Saban's defense has been against running quarterbacks.
That's a hellacious stat. Something to remember, in college football quarterback sacks take yardage away from the QB's rushing yards. That is wear most of this stat comes from, including, Kentucky's Stephen Johnson having seven carries for negative-26 yards, and Arkansas QB Austin Allen having 12 carries for minus-10 yards last week.
Chad Kelly is the only QB to have some success running the football against Alabama this season. The senior at Ole Miss tallied up 43-yards on 14 carries back in week three. Johnson is really the only other 'dual-threat' QB the Tide has faced.
Dobbs is by far the best running QB Alabama has seen yet. He had success running the ball against Bama as a sophomore when he relieved Nathan Peteman early in the game. Dobbs then ran 19 times for 75 yards in a 34-20 loss. Last season, the going was tough for #11 as it took 16 carries to get only 19 yards, including a long run of 17-yards. He has yet to score a rushing TD vs the Tide.
Josh Dobbs needs to create plays for his arms and legs for the Tennessee Vols to beat Alabama on Saturday, that's for sure. A Dobbs rushing touchdown has been part of the winning formula for the Vols, but Nick Saban's defense putting a strangle hold on opposing QBs has made that difficult. It truly is a 'strength vs strength' battle.
