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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 /

8. Tennessee’s aggression in the passing game

Jarrett Guarantano hasn’t really done anything poorly for fans to turn on him yet. And given the situation he’s been in dating back to last year, it’s more than fair to give him a pass so far for his record as a starting quarterback.

However, the ETSU Bucs was his chance to start airing it out and be aggressive. He’s supposed to have a big arm. Tyson Helton said he likes to throw it deep. Tennessee football has huge playmakers everywhere at receiver.

Instead of doing that, though, he stayed the game manager he has been. Guarantano completed 8-of-13 passes for 154 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. At some point, he’s going to have to go for big plays. The Vols can’t afford him to just be a game manager this year when they are already limited talent wise.

As a result, check to see this weekend if Helton calls for more big plays down the field against the UTEP Miners. Yes, their run defense is easier to exploit. But the coaches need to find out if Guarantano can truly execute a vertical passing attack.

Keller Chryst had the big play of the game with a 50-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Murphy, but that was a play anybody could have made. So we don’t know what he could do in the deep passing game either. But the coaches need to test it out, and this is a good setting to do that.

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