Three Reasons Why: Bama blew out the Vols
This may have been the ugliest loss in Butch Jones's tenure as Tennessee head coach. The Vols lost 49-10 and were no match for the top ranked Crimson Tide. It was an absolute beat down. The stats are so lopsided it makes the game look like the 90's Dallas Cowboys against some high school team from […]
This may have been the ugliest loss in Butch Jones's tenure as Tennessee head coach. The Vols lost 49-10 and were no match for the top ranked Crimson Tide.
It was an absolute beat down.
The stats are so lopsided it makes the game look like the 90's Dallas Cowboys against some high school team from your nearest podunk town. Alabama racked up 593 total yards, while Tennessee gained only 163. The Crimson Tide ran for 438 yards, compared to the Vols 32 yards.
Anyway, here are three reasons why the Vols were blown out by the Tide.
Jalen Hurts is still running…
Alabama's freshman quarterback is one heckuva talent. He finished the game with three rushing scores over 132 yards on only 12 carries. He ran wild on this Tennessee defense. His speed was unmatched by his counterparts. Hurts made it look so easy.
The Vols cut the Tide lead to 14-7 in the second quarter, but Hurts quieted the Neyland Stadium crowd two minutes later with a 45-yards TD run. Hurts went untouched on the play, and this set the tone for how the rest of the game would go. Lane Kiffin, basically, threw the passing game plan in the trash and stuck to the run. It worked.
Bama's offensive line was able to create a lot of running space for all of its ball carriers. I guess that's obvious when you run for 438 yards.
Non-Offensive Touchdowns
Everyone said Tennessee couldn't give Alabama the opportunity to score a defensive touchdown. The Vols had seven turnovers the previous week against Texas A&M. Limited turnovers was must, because the Tide came with nine non-offensive TDs this year. Make that eleven.
In the first quarter Ronnie Harrison intercepted a Josh Dobbs pass as he attempted to find Jalen Hurd on a screen. It was a 58-yard waltz to the end zone as Bama took a 14-point lead. Hurd was held by a Bama defender (which is legal behind the line of scrimmage) and the ball sailed high.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, in a 35-10 game, it got worse. Eddie Jackson returned a Tennessee punt 79-yards for a touchdown. The game was already over, but this made it all the way over. It's the first special teams TD the Vols have allowed this season.
Tennessee's injuries aren't slowing down
I don't want to hear anyone say Tennessee's injuries are excuses. I don't want to hear anyone say every football team deals with injuries. Not every football team deals the with level of injuries the Vols are going through.
This injury bug, injury jinx, whatever you want to call it, is not stopping. Added to the current grocery list of injuries were offensive tackles Brett Kendrick and Chance Hall, defensive tackles Khalil McKenzie and Kendall Vickers and safety Micah Abernathy.
Tennessee's offensive line had two freshman tackles, two sophomore guards and a back-up center. The offense was unable to hold any type of blocks for the passing or running game. I believe, the OL instability caused Dobbs to lose trust and forced him to make rushed, incorrect reads. Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara had no room to run inside or outside. Dobbs was completely ineffective.
As for the defense, there was no speed at linebacker that could keep up with Hurts or any of Alabama's running backs, for that matter. Elliot Berry made a few nice plays, but he is a fourth string linebacker forced into duty. When Mckenzie went out, it left the Vols with two of their original four man defensive tackle rotation in Tuttle and Vickers. DEs Derek Barnett and Kyle Phillps saw snaps inside at tackle. Then Vickers went out and a walk-on named Joey Cave had to play.
The best part is… The game is over and the Vols have a bye week to, attempt, to get healthy.
