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Five Things We Learned About the Tennessee Vols in their Victory Over the Georgia Bulldogs

By Caleb Calhoun

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The Tennessee Volunteers football team erased a 24-3 deficit to beat the Georgia Bulldogs 38-31. Here are five things we learned about the Vols.

It finally happened! The Tennessee Vols won a close game.

And it took a different game plan this time.

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Instead of getting an early two-score lead on their opponent, the Vols decided to spot Georgia a three-score deficit.

And that was all they needed.

Two fourth down conversions on their first touchdown and a fumble on a kickoff right after that got the Vols back in the game, and they won a shootout 38-31.

Brian Randolph stopped a pass in the end zone to secure the victory at the wire. Here are the five things we learned about the Vols from this victory.

1. Joshua Dobbs is Emerging as a Leader

This should have been well-documented despite his struggles against the Arkansas Razorbacks. But in this game, Dobbs threw for over 300 yards and ran for over 100 yards.

But that’s not the story of this one. The story was on the sideline.

If you took a look at Dobbs, he was rallying his offensive line and his receivers even after they made mistakes, and he took a lead role that a quarterback is supposed to take.

The result was an amazing performance against a veteran secondary. And unlike South Carolina last year, Georgia has a great defense. So credit where credit is due. Dobbs rallied the troops.

2. Tennessee Has Found Itself on the Offensive Line

All year, the offensive line was a problem on the right side, and in this game, thanks to injuries, Mack Crowder had to start at center while Coleman Thomas moved over.

But after more injuries, the Vols found their rotation in what was a blessing in disguise.

Despite an injury to Jashon Robertson, the Vols best lineman, a switch to two freshmen saved the unit. Chance Hall and Jack Jones became the starters on the right side of the offensive line after injuries, and the improvement was drastic. Tennessee went from three points through the first 25 minutes to 38 points.

The line picked up blitzes well, and Dobbs was able to use his versatility. The future of the line is bright with these two guys on the right side, and as long as Jashon Robertson stays healthy, with Coleman Thomas stepping back in at center, the future is set for three years.

But they need to find a way to replace Kyler Kerbyson.

3. Nickel is Still a Major Issue on Defense

We have to focus on one negative, and here it is the nickel position. Malik Foreman got beat far too often in this game, giving up one touchdown bomb in the second half that should have been two.

The Vols have given up more big plays than anybody all year, and that falls directly on the nickel position.

Rashaan Gaulden’s season-ending injury is really hurting the Vols right now, as is the fact that Justin Martin somehow can’t seem to find more minutes for a plethora of reasons.

Tennessee has to shore this up because with a pass rush and an emerging set of linebackers along with elite cornerbacks and safeties, no development here could become a major thorn.

4. Tennessee Has Found its Receiver Rotation

Yes, Butch Jones and Mike DeBord like to go very deep at wide receiver. But they need to adopt a little bit of what Lane Kiffin and even David Cutcliffe like to do: utilize your playmakers.

This week, Josh Malone stepped up and dominated for the Vols finally with five receptions for 60 yards. Meanwhile, Ethan Wolf had three receptions for 56 yards at tight end. And as the assured full-time starter at slot receiver, Josh Smith had two receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown.

These are the guys that Tennessee needs to fully rely on, and when he gets healthy, Marquez North can be the other out receiver. This is the three-receiver and tight end set that Jones will want to run.

Preston Williams, Von Pearson, Jauan Jennings, and Alex Ellis is the backup rotation.

5. Butch Jones and Tennessee Learned How to Avoid Panic in Close Games

This should have been already established after South Carolina the past two years, but it meant even more after this week.

Instead of blowing three 13-plus point leads, which they have in all three losses, the Vols came back from a 21-point deficit in this one to win. And unlike the Gamecocks games, which were against bad defenses and required a lucky play in one and desperation in another, Jones showed he could coach while Tennessee could avoid panic in back and forth games.

In this one, Jones did not quit, and for the first time all year, the Vols scored after giving up points in the fourth quarter. That is a big step for this young team and something they can take going into the bye week. That’s the biggest step this program has taken.

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