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Tennessee football vs. Alabama: 10 keys for Vols and Crimson Tide

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide shake hands after the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 20: Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide shake hands after the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Eric Gray (3) during the second half of a game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.
Tennessee quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) hands the ball off to Tennessee running back Eric Gray (3) during the second half of a game between Tennessee and Kentucky at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020. /

6. Can Alabama slow down the Vols’ rushing attack?

For all of its faults offensively, Tennessee football does have a solid run game. The biggest flaw over the past two weeks has been Jim Chaney’s inexcusable decision to not rely on it more, as the two-headed monster of Ty Chandler and Eric Gray have proven themselves to be able to be a threat, even if teams are forcing mistakes from Jarrett Guarantano left and right.

Last week, against the Kentucky Wildcats, Gray had 24 carries for 128 yards. He also had three receptions for 20 yards. Chandler had 12 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown while adding a four-yard reception. Add in Jabari Small’s two carries for 12 yards, and the Vol backs rushed for 191 yards on the day while going for over 200 yards total.

A big reason for this solid rushing attack is an elite interior line. For all the issues on the outside, Trey Smith remains the best blocker in the SEC. He’s had no issues. Brandon Kennedy has done what he is supposed to do at center. Cade Mays moved back inside against Kentucky after Jerome Carvin got hurt, and he was much better.

Given what we know about UT’s rushing attack, can Alabama stop it? The Tide are in the bottom half of the SEC in yards allowed per carry with four, and the Ole Miss Rebels did have two 100-yard rushers against them. If Gray and Chandler can somehow do that for Rocky Top, this might be a game. That’s a tall order, though.

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