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Tennessee football blame pie: Who’s most responsible for Vols 1-3 start?

By Caleb Calhoun

GAINESVILLE, FL- SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL- SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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3. Interior offensive line: 20 percent

One of the reasons for Tennessee football’s issues on 3rd and 4th and short is the questionable blocking of the interior offensive line. Trey Smith and Brandon Kennedy trying to return to health is a part of that. Eric Gray having trouble picking up blitzes on pass plays is another major cause for concern on this front.

That’s a big reason this unit has struggled so far. But the unit struggling has played a key role in the Vols stumbling to 1-3. Remember, if they just get a proper block on a 3rd and short run against the Georgia State Panthers with UT up 14-7 and in possession of the ball, they could have gone in for the kill shot on that drive.

The same is true when they got past the 50-yard line three other times against the BYU Cougars and came away with three total points on those times, failing on two 4th and shorts and then only getting a field goal after getting inside the five-yard line. These little things begin to add up. It also has required Jim Chaney to rely more on toss plays to get the running game going.

Finally, there is the issue of protection from the middle. Jarrett Guarantano has good protection overall, but one of the reasons for his hesitancy may be the fact that he is often blindsided on blitzes right up the middle, usually due to a running back missing a block or a guard being out of position. These things have added up, and they have been disastrous for UT’s passing game.

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