The Tennessee Volunteers kicked off the 2015 campaign on Saturday with a 59-30 victory over Bowling Green.
Like every game, there were some positive and negative takeaways from the win in Nashville.
On Monday, coach Butch Jones gave the media his views on the win over the Falcons, and a look ahead to Oklahoma.
Defensive Concerns
There is no doubt that Tennessee was favored going into Saturday’s game. Although the Falcons hung around for the majority of the game, the Vols finished them off with a 29-point victory.
“Good start, obviously needed to be 1-0, we’re 1-0,” said Jones, “However, watching the video we need to take great strides in moving forward.”
One popular area of concern was the Tennessee secondary. Bowling Green racked up over 400 passing yards through the air, and left many questioning the secondary after game one. Jones recognized there were some issues, but all of the blame does not fall on the defensive backs.
“Everyone wants to point towards the secondary,” said Jones, “That’s not how pass defense works. It’s all 11 individuals, and it starts up front.”
Jones believed that the defense as a whole did not play well, but they can correct that this week.
Oklahoma
This has been one of the most anticipated games of the summer. It is one that has the potential to push Tennessee to the next level, and bring a ton of confidence to Team 119. To some, it is one of the most important games for the outcome of this season; to Jones it is as well, but for a different reason.
“It’s the most important game because it’s the next game, that’s it.”
Tennessee faces Oklahoma for the fourth time in program history, and this will be the first meeting in Neyland Stadium. Jones referred to the Sooners them times as a top five program in his eyes, and it will take a lot for the Vols to win.
“They’re very very skilled, they’re physical, they’re tough, and they are a complete football team,” said Jones, “It’s going to take anything and everything that we have to be able to compete with them on Saturday.”
The Sooners are currently ranked nineteenth in the country. The game will mark the first time since 2012 that a ranked Tennessee team will face a ranked opponent.
There will be more details on the match up against Oklahoma later in the week.