Coaching grades
Offensive play-calling: A+
Can anybody point to a time Jim Chaney didn’t call the right play? He kept it on the ground with 51 runs on the day, and it worked. Tennessee football’s offense was incredible efficient. Chaney was at his best because of his intelligent use of the offensive line. Knowing what he has, he called six quarterback sneaks, including back-to-back ones on the goal-line. This side was perfect.
Defensive play-calling: B
Derrick Ansley had some issues controlling the quick passing attack once again. The Missouri Tigers were moving the ball, and they were a couple of drops from making this a shootout. However, Ansley’s defense did play bend but don’t break, and when he got Mizzou into obvious passing situations, he was his usual self. Those elite calls were enough to warrant above average.
Overall grade: A
The play-calling by itself would warrant an A- when you average it all out. However, Jeremy Pruitt’s decision to go for it on four fourth downs and convert all of them shows he has the Vols ready to stand up to any challenge. Pruitt made perfect use of the clock and his in-game strategy, and that decision-making combined with the play-calling gives this a boost.
Another thing that gives this a boost is how motivated Tennessee football was to play this game. The Vols had trouble dealing with success in previous years, but Pruitt had them focused and ready to go at noon. Because of that, they were able to get a blowout win and move to 2-0, and Pruitt’s staff gets an A overall for how it handled the day.