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Tennessee football: Vols stock report following week 1 of 2018

By Caleb Calhoun

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 01: The defense of the Tennessee Volunteers watch as David Sills V #13 of the West Virginia Mountaineers drops a pass in the endzone during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 01: The defense of the Tennessee Volunteers watch as David Sills V #13 of the West Virginia Mountaineers drops a pass in the endzone during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images /

Stock down

Edge rushers

This is the most inexplicable bad stock of the day. Tennessee football was supposed to have the edge rushers be a major strength. Jonathan Kongbo and Darrell Taylor, a five-star and four-start defensive end respectively, were supposed to thrive with their move to outside linebacker. Meanwhile, Kyle Phillips as the true end was supposed to live up to his five-star billing up front.

Add in guys like four-star junior college transfer Jordan Allen, and the goal was to wreak havoc on Will Grier all game. However, Grier was barely touched. This may be the biggest concern going forward. How could they play so poorly? It’s just not explainable, and that’s why this stock is so bad right now.

Offensive line

The interior line was the worst part. Brandon Kennedy was once a four-star and the sole player who is experienced playing in a pro-style, coming from Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide. He is also experienced playing center there. But he was horrible on Saturday, allowing far too many mistakes as the starter.

The rest of the guys struggled to, and the Vols could get no running game or pass protection on. This was the story of the game when it came to the offense. The players just could not get anything going because the blocking was so bad.

Tyson Helton’s play-calling

The game-plan was understandable. Run the ball, control the clock, and give your defense a rest against a very dominant West Virginia Mountaineers offense. However, when it became clear the offensive line couldn’t block, Tyson Helton should have adjusted.

Tennessee football has too many elite playmakers at receiver, and the Vols’ vertical passing game was working. They didn’t use it enough, which is why we didn’t list the receivers and tight ends as units with high stocks. You have to put that on Helton. The bad call that changed the game was his run play on 3rd and 4 in the first half with UT down 10-0 and having the ball on the WVU 40.

Tennessee fans

Sorry Tennessee football fans, but West Virginia flat-out owned you guys in Charlotte. Knoxville is three hours closer to that city than Morgantown, but the stadium was much louder for the Mountaineers. The storm delay only increased the disparity.

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