Nov 7, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (11) runs the ball against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports. Tennessee won 27 to 24.
1A. Tennessee: Protection
This is such an obvious one in any football game, but it rings true more than ever in this one. The Vols have a young offensive line decimated by injuries, forcing them to start two freshmen in Jack Jones and Chance Hall.
Those two, Kyler Kerbyson, Coleman Thomas, and hopefully Jashon Robertson if he is ready to return will be counted on heavily to make sure that Missouri’s elite pass rush does not get to Joshua Dobbs.
With the way the Tigers feed off of good defense and ugly football, any kind of pressure on Dobbs is going to be devastating in this game.
Remember that last year the Tigers pass rush torched the Vols’ young and inexperienced offensive line. The line is deeper and more experienced this year, but not by much given the injuries.
Betsided
With Dobbs hobbled a bit and trying to avoid running, it is even more crucial for Tennessee to keep him protected at all costs. He has had issues holding onto the football and not turning the ball over under pressure, and doing that in this game could cost them dearly.
This is a game that is going to come down to the trenches, but not just the physical part. Speed in the trenches is the name of this game, as the Vols have to match Missouri’s quickness on the line.
That puts most of the pressure for protection on Kerbyson and Hall, the two tackles, to shut down Missouri’s elite defensive ends. And that brings us to our first Missouri key.
Next: Missouri Key #1: Get Pressure on Dobbs