Tennessee football: 2018 National Championship reflective of Vols’ future, not just SEC
By Colby Howell
Alabama and Georgia in the national championship is huge for the SEC. But Tennessee football also gets a boost. Here’s how it helps the Volunteers.
The No. 3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs toppled the No. 2 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in double overtime. The the No. 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide beat the top-ranked Clemson Tigers by three scores. But while Alabama and Georgia are the ones creating an all-SEC national championship, Tennessee football is the one sitting pretty.
It’s no doubt that the SEC produces some of the most elite talent in the game of football. While the bowl record isn’t looking pretty for the conference in 2017, both eastern and western sides of the division will square off for the national title (GA vs. Bama).
And in case you’re wondering what this means for Tennessee football, let me break it down for you. New Vols’ head coach (current Bama DC) Jeremy Pruitt held the No. 1 team in the country to a mere 188 yards of total offense. Clemson couldn’t manage any ground game, scrapping up only 64 yards.
Alabama had some pretty sloppy moments on offense, including the Jalen Hurts fumble to start the second half, a misread on the option. However, Jeremy Pruitt was still able to hold Clemson in to a field goal off that turnover, minimizing their capitalization. Clemson didn’t score a single touchdown.
That’s pretty impressive, “aight”? Pruitt’s defense also forced two interceptions, one of them resulting in a pick-six. Vols fans around the nation couldn’t help but be giddy watching the overall dominance of the Tide’s defense.
Todd Blackledge of ESPN after the game said, “Alabama’s defense is back.” “They made the field feel slanted. It felt like Clemson was playing uphill the entire football game.” Clay Travis and Bruce Feldman praising Pruitt on twitter only added more hype to the Orange and White fanbase.
REWINDING TO GEORGIA/OKLAHOMA
The defense at times was quite difficult to watch. Most people knew it was going to be a close game, but I don’t think anyone expected the numbers to be that high. Both teams totaled around 530 yards of total offense (UGA: 531, OU: 527).
It was either an amazing display of offensive ability or a weak execution of defensive strategy. My guess is offensive ability. This is an SEC team that averages 260 rushing yards a game versus a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. It was bound to be a shootout, and it was. However, something that should’ve made Vols fans erupt in excitement was one of the biggest plays of the game:
Lorenzo Carter, blocked field goal.
Lorenzo Carter is a guy that Georgia doubles up as a defensive end and a linebacker. Fans surely remembered one of the first shifts that Pruitt made to his defense. He moved Tennessee football defensive end Jonathan Kongbo to Mike Linebacker.
I’m sure Kevin Sherrer (current LB Coach at GA) had some say in that, seeing as how he’ll be Vols’ defense coordinator in 2018. To put it in perspective, the Vols have two coaches on staff that will have played a part on at least one of the teams in the 2017 BCS National Championship.
There’s nothing more exciting or promising in football to witness. A new head coach taking his current team to a title. Once this season is all said and done, Pruitt will bring his aggressive coaching style to Rocky Top.
Kevin Sherrer will bring his knowledge and experience from an SEC powerhouse to Knoxville. The rest of the staff will fill out in time. This is a staff Pruitt has had in mind ever since he wanted to become a head coach. Fans should sit back, relax and trust the process.