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Tennessee football report card in 35-12 win vs. Missouri

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) makes a catch over Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw, Jr. (2) 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 wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) makes a catch over Missouri defensive back Ennis Rakestraw, Jr. (2) 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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Tennessee placekicker Brent Cimaglia (42) kicks for an extra point in the fourth quarter of a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.
Tennessee placekicker Brent Cimaglia (42) kicks for an extra point in the fourth quarter of a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020. /

Special teams grades

Place kicking: D

The most important part of special teams and place kicking is field goals, and kickers need to be automatic within 40. Brent Cimaglia shanked a 39-yarder, which prevented Tennessee football from putting this game out of reach. Him hitting every extra point and the Missouri Tigers never starting on the 25 after a Paxton Brooks kickoff help, but the miss had by far a bigger impact.

Punting: A

In addition to being elite on kickoffs, Paxton Brooks was perfect punting the ball as well. He only did it twice, but one pinned the Missouri Tigers inside the 20-yard line. The other flipped the field as he sent it soaring 52 yards. Simply put, he accomplished what he wanted to accomplish whenever he was punting the ball, and when that happens, you have to give him an A.

Return game: N/A

Given the way the Vols were moving the ball offensively in this game, there was no reason to take a risk with a big return. However, we have to point out that we can’t give this part of special teams a grade because there were no kickoff or punt returns.

Top five Vols performers in 35-12 win vs. Missouri. light. Related Story

Overall grade: C-

Place kicking is the most important part of special teams, and a performance there can only be offset by a big return, either one allowed or one gained. That didn’t happen here. Punting will never offset it, and there wasn’t enough punting in this game anyway. As a result, we have to give this grade a C-, and it could have been worse, all because of that Cimaglia miss.

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