Tennessee football: 10 things for Vols to work on during bye week

6. Inside linebackers staying in position

Without Daniel Bituli in the season-opener, Tennessee football struggled severely. A true freshman in Henry To’oTo’o was calling the plays while guys like Jeremy Banks, Shanon Reid and Will Ignont had to help out. This was the biggest reason they got torched by the Georgia State Panthers on the ground.

Shawn Elliott was able to maximize the talents of Dan Ellington, his dual-threat quarterback, to consistently catch UT out of position. It was disastrous all game, as the inside linebackers looked lost all day. That will happen with a young unit that does not have its one veteran who just happens to be the signal-caller for the whole defense.

The disaster was understandable, and the unit improved dramatically the next week. To’oTo’o took a major leap forward. However, it still managed to take a horrible angle on the one touchdown the BYU Cougars had in regulation that day.

Bituli returned the next week, and there have been relatively few issues since. But with Reid entering the transfer portal and Ignont leaving the team, the Vols are now down two inside linebackers. Quavaris Crouch beginning to develop helps that, as should J.J. Peterson.

Still, this unit has got to make sure it continues improving if the Vols are going to turn things around. They are looking much more consistent, but lapses like what they showed early on could prove disastrous. In Jeremy Pruitt’s 3-4 scheme, the inside linebackers have to be the most consistent and versatile players. Pruitt and Derrick Ansley need to work with them on that.