Tennessee football vs. Chattanooga: 10 keys for Vols and Mocs

2. Will the Vols secondary come away with any interceptions?

This has been a major issue through two weeks. Tennessee football has forced one turnover in two games, and their secondary has no interceptions. Even with Bryce Thompson suspended, that never should have been the case, as they have too many weapons all over the field from Nigel Warrior to Alontae Taylor to allow that to happen.

Now, Thompson may be back on Saturday. Can UT finally come away with an interception or two? Currently, their turnover margin is minus-three, as they have committed four and only forced one. Yes, they need to force more fumbles, but interceptions are what they need to come down with. Zach Wilson threw two pick-sixes against the Utah Utes and threw no picks last week.

If the Vols are going to win, they need to try to take advantage of a mistake-prone Nick Tiano playing quarterback for the Chattanooga Mocs. Tiano, to be fair, is considered a dark-horse NFL prospect as an FCS quarterback, but there’s no way the Vols should not be able to pick him off a few times, as he already has two on the season.

Going a third straight game without an interception, given the hype behind the secondary and the fact that Jeremy Pruitt and Derrick Ansley are known as defensive back gurus, would be disastrous. That’s especially true given the turnovers the Vols have been prone to commit. So they need to make sure that doesn’t happen, and it’s time the secondary made some plays.