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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols 34-7 loss to Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

Kentucky defensive back Kelvin Joseph (1) intercepts a pass intended for Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) ** Tennessee running back Len'Neth Whitehead (4) during a SEC conference football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats held at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, October 17, 2020.Kns Ut Football Kentucky Bp
Kentucky defensive back Kelvin Joseph (1) intercepts a pass intended for Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) ** Tennessee running back Len'Neth Whitehead (4) during a SEC conference football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats held at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, October 17, 2020.Kns Ut Football Kentucky Bp /
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Kentucky wide receiver Allen Dailey Jr. (89) is tackled by Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) and Tennessee defensive back Shawn Shamburger (12) during a game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.101720 Tenn Ky Gameaction
Kentucky wide receiver Allen Dailey Jr. (89) is tackled by Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) and Tennessee defensive back Shawn Shamburger (12) during a game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.101720 Tenn Ky Gameaction /

2. Defense disappeared in the second half

When Tennessee football trailed 17-7 at halftime, there still wasn’t much worry. If you took out the turnovers, the defense was playing well. It hadn’t allowed a point yet. As a result, even after the Vols punted on their first offensive drive of the second half, consensus was that the defense would get them the ball back in good position.

That didn’t happen. Kentucky had two third down conversions on an 11-play, 76-yard drive, largely due to quick-slants that have been plaguing them all year. We would call that out specifically about the defense, and it was worse without Alontae Taylor, but the rush defense began to struggle as well. UT would stack the box, and Kentucky would still gain five yards a play.

After getting another stop, the Kentucky offense then drove inside the 10-yard line and settled for a field goal. They then got the ball back a third time and had a seven-play 54-yard touchdown drive for another score to take a 34-7 lead. It was complete domination in every way and one of the most concerning performances by the team all season.

Kentucky did not punt in the second half, and the only drive they did not score on was the drive in which they ran out the clock in the end. Now, the quick slants got it going, but everything turned disastrous in the end, and it’s what allowed the Wildcats to put this game out of reach. The offense made the early mistakes, and then the defense couldn’t keep them in it.

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