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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from 35-12 win vs. Missouri

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) leaps over players to convert a 4th down during a SEC conference football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Missouri Tigers held at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, October 3, 2020.Kns Ut Football Missouri Bp
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) leaps over players to convert a 4th down during a SEC conference football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Missouri Tigers held at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, October 3, 2020.Kns Ut Football Missouri Bp /
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4. Defense was bend but don’t break.

While the secondary allowed the Missouri Tigers to move the ball a lot on Tennessee football once Connor Bazelak entered the game, the Vols’ defense still managed to keep them from delivering the knockout punch. Mizzou only scored one touchdown the whole game, and they needed a brilliant fourth down toss play-call from Eliah Drinkwitz to make that happen.

Overall, though, the Tigers drove into UT territory five times. Taking that into account, they should have had more than just 12 points. However, Jeremy Pruitt and Derrick Ansley made sure their guys consistently held their own once Drinkwitz’s offense was threatening, and that’s why it didn’t matter that Mizzou had nearly 350 yards of total offense with Bazelak in there.

Now, to be fair, UT had help. One of those field goal drives, as we mentioned, was due to a third-down drop. However, Deandre Johnson came away with a key sack on the other field goal drive. Then, in fourth quarter, Mizzou had driven past the UT 30 after scoring a touchdown the drive before. Theo Jackson, however, effectively clinched the game with an interception there.

When Missouri got the ball back down 35-12 and needing to make something interesting, they drove into UT territory again, but they had a turnover on downs. This is different from how the Vols usually play defense, and they still have some issues covering the passing game, but against a guy like Drinkwitz, they have to be happy with this.

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