1. Florida Gators
Key play:
Nigel Warrior out of position on opening-drive pass play
So here we go. The first four plays have been enough for Tennessee football to be 3-0 and then lose to the Florida Gators by a score of no more than 31-17. However, just one more different play against UF would have been enough to probably make a huge difference and give UT enough momentum to keep playing.
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The first was Nigel Warrior’s misplayed coverage on the opening drive. Derrick Ansley’s defense did a good job on Florida early on. Dan Mullen’s offense with Kyle Trask couldn’t pick up the blitz. But a missed coverage by Warrior allowed Florida to get spotted the ball past midfield.
If Warrior is not out of position on that opening drive, the Vols likely get a stop. They were just looking that good defensively early on. That means, with the other plays, they would be up at least 14-0 late in the first half.
If it had happened, the Vols would have had enough to stop Florida from getting on a roll in the second half and cashing in on a tired defense when you combine it with the other plays. As a result, this busted coverage was a big deal.
Other plays:
K’Rojhn Calbert penalty on first offensive drive
UT was moving the ball at will on the opening drive, and on this play, Jarrett Guarantano hit Austin Pope for a five-yard route on 1st and 10 past the 50. Down 7-0, the Vols were marching in for a game-tying score. But a late hit on K’Rojhn Calbert killed this drive. If it hadn’t happened, the Vols would have tied it up, so this penalty had the same impact as the Nigel Warrior blown coverage.
Riley Locklear false start to open fourth quarter
Down 24-3, Jarrett Guarantano came back in and moved the Vols past midfield. UT was in position to make this a game, but a Riley Locklear false start killed this drive. If the previous two slides had gone a different way, it would have been a 24-17 game at this point. The Locklear false start, then, would have been an even bigger killer.
Eric Gray fumble on first play of fourth quarter
This game after the Locklear false start. Eric Gray fumbled on the very next play. Again, if you look at the other slides, the Vols would have been down 24-17 at the time and in field goal range on 1st down in the fourth quarter. Gray fumbled on that drive to set up another Florida touchdown, putting them in complete control.
Any of these mistakes turning out a different way would have resulted in Tennessee football being in the game in the fourth quarter when you look at the other two slides. At that point, the Vols would have had the mental advantage against the Florida Gators. As a result, pick one and combine it with the previous four, and UT would have been 4-0 at this point.