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Tennessee football vs. UTEP: 10 keys for Vols against Miners

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers brings his team onto the field prior to a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 08: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers brings his team onto the field prior to a game against the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers at Neyland Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennesee won the game 59-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images
Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images /

9. Can the Vols running backs break off long runs in open space?

One thing about the UTEP Miners is clear: They are terrible at stopping the run. That did not change for this team as they changed head coaches, and it has showed throughout the first two games of the season.

Sure, this team gave up only 107 yards to the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. But a week later against the UNLV Rebels, they gave up over 400 yards and nearly seven and a half a carry. That follows a season last year in which they gave up five and a half yards a carry and nearly 235 yards a game. Simply put, this rush defense is bad.

By contrast, the Vols have had a solid running game to this point. Now, against the ETSU Bucs, they definitely could have had better averages. But they’ve been able to close the deal with their power backs in Jeremy Banks and Madre London, and Tim Jordan has been the breakout star as the versatile back in Tyson Helton’s system.

Ty Chandler is the speedy guy at back, but he’s hurt, so the coaches will likely sit him out again. That means Jordan is the guy who needs to make big plays for Tennessee football in open space. There’s no reason to believe he can’t do it. He’s been putting up solid numbers despite the Vols’ interior blocking collapsing on him the first two weeks.

But even while Jordan does that, London and Banks should be able to break off some big gains as well. Simply put, this is the perfect scenario for these guys to all have explosive plays, and that’s the best way for them to put the Miners away early.

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