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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 /

5. Tennessee’s terrible offensive line vs. UTEP’s terrible run defense

We stay in the trenches but on the other side of the ball for this next key. Tennessee football has faced two teams that should have been extremely easy to run on during the past two weeks. We’re obviously talking about the ETSU Bucs and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

But while Jeremy Banks and Madre London have run hard in short-yardage plays, and while Tim Jordan has shown himself to be a very shifty player, the unit as a whole has struggled. And that’s due to the poor play of the offensive line.

To be fair, the line got better as both games went on. And they probably took a step back in the first half against ETSU because, as they were starting to gel in the previous week, they then had to replace center Brandon Kennedy. So the changes could have been an issue.

However, the Vols still have issues there and need to address them. But again, something’s got to give. After all, on the other side, UTEP has a terrible rush defense. They just gave up over 400 yards and nearly seven and a half yards a carry to the UNLV Rebels. Last year, they gave up five and a half yards a carry and 235 yards a game for the season!

So if the Vols are going to finally find themselves in the trenches, this is the week to do it. Not doing so could foreshadow very bad things once the SEC season starts. At that point, it would be useless to think about the Florida Gators anyway.

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