Tennessee vs Missouri Report Card: Grading the Vols Against the Tigers
Nov 21, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Tennessee Volunteers kicker Aaron Medley (25) kicks a field goal against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Special Teams Grades
Kicking: B
Aaron Medley probably deserves more credit for making four field goals, one beyond 40 yards, and not missing an extra point. However, that missed 31-yarder knocks him out of a chance to get an A, and none of his kickoffs went for touchbacks. He still did what was needed to win, but you can’t forgive those missed below-40 field goals.
Punting: A-
Trevor Daniel can’t get an A+ or a regular A because he had two punts go for touchbacks and one returned for 22 yards. That would be enough to usually knock you down to a B. However, every punt of Daniel’s shorter than 50 yards pinned Missouri inside the 10-yard line. His touchback punts went beyond 60 and 50 yards.
And that 22-yard return came off of a 51-yard punt. The only reason his average was not above 50 is because he had two short punts to pin the Tigers inside the 10. Daniel, once again, helped the Vols dominate field position all night.
Returning: B+
Cameron Sutton did not have too many chances to return any punts, but the fear of him forced Missouri to punt it short and out of bounds a lot. That is a major credit to him and still makes him a factor as a returner.
Meanwhile, in the two kickoffs that Evan Berry returned, one went for 20 yards, and the other went for 41 yards. Again, both of those things allowed the Vols to consistently have great field position.
However, it can’t be an A because there was no big punt return, and Sutton had about three chances to get one that he did not convert.
Overall Special Teams Grade: B+
The Vols won this game on special teams for the most part with four field goals by Medley, great punting by Trevor Daniel, and the threat of a return game that helped them own field position. However, the unit had a chance to capitalize even more than it did. So it’s a B+ performance.
Next: Coaching Grade