Tennessee football report card: Grading the Vols in their loss to WVU
Defense
Defensive Line: B
This may have been the best unit of the day. Tennessee football was going up against a West Virginia Mountaineers offense that likes to get rid of the ball quickly with Will Grier, yet they still managed to do some things up front. Alexis Johnson forced a fumble and Shy Tuttle picked up a sack. As a result, while the defensive unit as a whole struggled pretty much all game, the Vols’ d-line does deserve a break here.
Linebackers: C-
We said that it would be difficult for the Vols’ linebackers to transition to the 3-4 defense on the inside. But the only player who showed up Saturday was an inside linebacker, and he came back from injury after missing all of last season and the spring. We’re obviously talking about Darrin Kirkland Jr., who kept this unit from getting a failing grade. Everybody else was horrible. Most disheartening was that the outside linebackers struggled, and they are loaded with talent in guys like Jonathan Kongbo, Darrell Taylor and Jordan Allen. The group will have to improve significantly in the future. Part of the reason Grier had a field day is these guys being unable to get pressure.
Defensive Backs: D
I could give these guys an F. But unlike the Tennessee football offensive line, the secondary was actually facing a difficult challenge on the other side while also transitioning to the 3-4. And they got no help from the linebackers who were supposed to bring pressure. But either way, you can’t ignore the 429 yards and five touchdowns that Grier threw. His numbers were flat out flawless, and as was feared, the secondary couldn’t do much about it. They gave up too many third downs in the second half, got burned on a couple of short routes, and then messed up on deep balls. The youth and transition was too much, which is why they get a D.
Overall defensive grade: C-
Yes, I’m actually giving the offense a worse grade than the defense. That’s because Tennessee football’s defense had a bigger challenge in this game. And with little offensive help in the second half, it was naturally going to be harder on them.