All for Tennessee
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 11
Next
Tennessee linebacker Deandre Johnson (13) celebrates a sack he made 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 linebacker Deandre Johnson (13) celebrates a sack he made 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 /

5. Vols’ ability to get pressure on Mac Jones

When Tennessee football beat the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first game of the year, the Vols sacked Collin Hill four times. Against the Kentucky Wildcats, despite getting blown out 34-7, they had two sacks in the first quarter, and that made for a scoreless tie heading into the second. See the trend? UT is at its best when it can get pressure.

Deandre Johnson leads the way with three and a half of the school’s eight sacks on the year. He also has a forced fumble. Him being knocked out of the Georgia Bulldogs game due to targeting was a huge reason the Vols couldn’t get pressure on Stetson Bennett after that. If he’s in the game, though, UT has a great chance to wreak havoc with Kivon Bennett on the other side.

Now, if the Vols do get pressure, the question becomes which Mac Jones shows up? On the first play of the game against Georgia, Jones threw an interception while he was hit. However, he finished the day completing 12-of-16 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns under pressure. That’s an insane stat, and it could neutralize whatever UT does.

On the other hand, the Vols like to draw up lots of other different blitz packages. Can UT do enough of that to get in Jones’ face? This is one matchup that gives Rocky Top a chance, and it will be crucial for them if they are going to have any chance to win. Lack of pressure on Bennett, who is horrible under duress, is part of what allowed UGA to pull away from UT in the second half.

Home/Vols Football