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Tennessee football report card: Grading the Vols in their win over Chattanooga

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 14: Jarrett Guarantoano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up before facing the Chattanooga Mockingbirds at Neyland Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 14: Jarrett Guarantoano #2 of the Tennessee Volunteers warms up before facing the Chattanooga Mockingbirds at Neyland Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images
Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images /

Offense

Quarterbacks: C+

Jarrett Guarantano completed seven of eight passes for 142 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. But his one incomplete pass was his first pass, and it should have been intercepted. He had a touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman that was late would have been intercepted against an SEC school. And most of his throws were easy. Nonetheless, he did a solid job on the day.

The backups are actually who brought this down to a C+. Brian Maurer did have a touchdown run but couldn’t complete a pass. J.T. Shrout was three-for-nine with 23 yards. He could have been much better, as he consistently made the right decisions but made poor throws with them Simply put, Guarantano proved why he was the starter.

Running Backs: C+

Ty Chandler had a touchdown run, but he only averaged four and a half yards a carry. Eric Gray only averaged four yards a carry. To be fair, Tim Jordan averaged six and a half yards a carry, and the running backs as a whole had over 180 yards and five yards a carry. But Tennessee football was playing the Chattanooga Mocs. The unit should have been much better. That it wasn’t is disturbing

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: A

When we mention the way receivers bailed out Guarantano at times, that means that the receivers played really well. And they did. Marquez Callaway had 59 yards and a touchdown. Tillman caught that touchdown pass while taking a hit in the end zone. Jauan Jennings had another touchdown catch. And the tight ends continued to help with run blocking on the outside. There were no issues here.

Offensive Line: C

Again, it’s the interior line. Tennessee football should have a better rushing average than just five yards a carry against an FCS school. Although the protection for Guarantano was great, Chattanooga is a school that doesn’t generate a pass rush anyway. The Vols struggled, though, when it came to run-blocking, and that still needs to improve.

Overall Offensive Grade: C+

Anybody on Rocky Top will welcome 45 points. And it was good for Jeremy Pruitt and the program to be able to put the backups in and get them some experience. But issues still remain, and Jim Chaney still has lots of work to do.

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