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Tennessee football: 4 improvements Vols need to make for SEC play

By Billy Williford

CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 01: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the West Virginia Mountaineers 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: Jarrett Guarantano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the West Virginia Mountaineers 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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CHARLOTTE, NC – September 01: David Sills V #13 of the West Virginia Mountaineers catches a touchdown pass over Trevon Flowers #25 of the Tennessee Volunteers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2018, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

No.2 – Minimizing big plays defensively

Let me start off by giving credit where credit is due. Tennessee didn’t give up big plays against ETSU and UTEP. But, it was ETSU and UTEP. Sure, that is a positive way to look at things, but the SEC isn’t filled with ETSU’s and UTEP’s.

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    • Heck, it isn’t even filled with West Virginia’s. The Mountaineers wouldn’t stand a chance playing an SEC schedule, yet they put it on the Vols.

    What hurt Tennessee against West Virginia? Big plays. The Mountaineers had scoring plays of 59 yards, 33 yards, and 28 yards. That just can’t happen if you want to win.

    Big plays are going to happen, that’s just the name of the game. However, you can’t give up three scoring playing over 28 yards a piece and expect to win the game.

    As we mentioned in the last slide the quarterbacks in the SEC this season are dynamic. Tua Tagovailoa has turned Alabama into a quick-striking offense that could score on any given play.

    The Tide has had seven touchdowns on the season over 20 yards or longer. Their longest was a 79-yard touchdown pass against Ole Miss.

    Saturday against the Gators will tell us a lot about the Vols defense. Have that improved since West Virginia? Or do they look better because they played two awful teams?

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