Tennessee football: 5 Vols to watch for vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama has one of the top rush defenses in the nation. So it would be weird to name a running back as a key player against them.
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However, if Tennessee football is to have any chance against the Tide, John Kelly is going to have to be a playmaker. One positive for Butch Jones’s team so far has been the emergence of John Kelly as a playmaker. He’s one of the best backs in the SEC, and his great vision complement his speed and hard running.
On top of that, the Vols do have a pretty solid offensive line. So it’s not crazy to think that Kelly can’t do some damage.
And one big reason he could do such damage is his versatility. The Aggies began to threaten Alabama with Trayveon Williams catching balls out of the backfield and getting lots of yards out of them.
Kelly is capable of doing the same.
For the year, Kelly has 113 carries for 552 yards and six touchdowns, and he’s added 24 catches for 250 yards.
Now his average has dropped significantly due to the last three games. But the offense as a whole has tanked. It’s bound to pick back up at some point, right?
So perhaps, by catching Saban off-guard, the Vols make a few big plays with Kelly running the ball up the middle and then catching a few passes. That could be just enough to make them threatening in the game.
In fact, if they want to threaten at all, it’s a necessity. But there are thousands more things they will have to do. And those things require more players.