Rapid Reaction: Vols Fall To Sooners; How Close is UT?

The Vols gave a valiant effort against Oklahoma on Saturday night, but Tennessee ultimately just didn’t have the experience to pull off the upset.

The Sooners (3-0) jumped out to an early 13-0 lead, but Tennessee (2-1) fought back and scored on a touchdown pass from Justin Worley to Josh Smith to get within six.

But unfortunately for the Vols, they’d never get any closer.

Oklahoma’s front seven was just too much for Tennessee’s young and inexperienced offensive line to overcome, as they fell 34-10.

Vol fans should be proud of their team though. Tennessee is extremely young, but they played well in flashes. They showed what they’re capable of and they will get there. It’s just going to be a bit longer.

Here are some observations and thoughts from UT’s tough loss to the Sooners.

• Tennessee’s defensive line was able to get good pressure on Trevor Knight the entire game. Jordan Williams and Derek Barnett played exceptionally well. The Vols’ run defense also looked surprisingly decent.
• Justin Worley threw two interceptions, but one of them could’ve been prevented if Jason Croom had put up more of a fight for the ball in the back of the end zone.
• Overall, Worley played very well, considering he was under constant pressure all evening. The senior quarterback isn’t the most accurate guy you’ll ever see, but he’s smart with the ball and has pretty good field vision.
• The offensive line……well they were tested against Oklahoma. And they didn’t exactly pass the test. They got better as the game went along, but they didn’t do Worley any favors. Right tackle Coleman Thomas looked his age against Oklahoma’s experienced defensive linemen. Tight ends Daniel Helm and Alex Ellis could’ve also done a better job in pass protection/run blocking.
• Todd Kelly needs to play over LaDarrell McNeil.
• Tennessee couldn’t find any room to run in the first three quarters, but they finally started to put it together late in the game. Jalen Hurd broke off a 44-yard run and finished with 100 yards rushing. Hurd is going to be a stud for the Vols, he just needs the offensive line to open some running lanes for him. Marlin Lane added 42 yards on 10 carries.
• The Vols definitely missed wide receiver Von Pearson on Saturday night. Marquez North and Josh Smith were the Vols’ leading receivers and at times looked like Worley’s only options on the field. Pig Howard had a key drop on third down early in the game and Jason Croom, despite his size, played a bit “soft”. Hopefully Tennessee gets Pearson back soon from a high ankle sprain.
• The Vols may have been blown out, but they were really only three or four plays from being in this game. Worley’s fumble, a Oklahoma fumble that was missed and two interceptions were what did the Vols in. Veteran teams tend to get those breaks and I think eventually they will go Tennessee’s way. The Vols really aren’t that far off.
• Tennessee really missed tight end Ethan Wolf on Saturday. The Vols received no production from the tight end position. They can’t compete with a team like Oklahoma without production from that position.

Final Thought

The Vols obviously aren’t on the same level as Oklahoma, but Tennessee competed hard. They carried the fight for 60 minutes and never gave up. There are some bright spots for Tennessee. The Vols’ defense stood up well against one of the top teams in the nation. Also, when Worley has time, the Vols can make things happen. If the offensive line can progress, this is definitely a team capable of winning six games and making a bowl game.