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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 48-17 loss to Alabama

By Caleb Calhoun

Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) fumbles the ball in the end zone during the Alabama and Tennessee football game at Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.Tennessee Vs Alabama Football 100296
Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) fumbles the ball in the end zone during the Alabama and Tennessee football game at Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.Tennessee Vs Alabama Football 100296 /
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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. /

4. Kicking game rebounded

Velus Jones Jr. had some issues returning kickoffs, and Eric Gray never had a shot at a punt return. However, Tennessee football looked much better overall when it came to place kicking and punting, and that’s a major issue that was plaguing the Vols the previous few weeks. It just hasn’t proven costly yet in any win or loss.

Starting with Paxton Brooks, he was awful against the Kentucky Wildcats, only having one punt go beyond 40 yards while none pinned UK inside the 20-yard line. Well, in this game, he averaged 45.8 yards per punt on six punts. One did go for a touchback, and none of them pinned the Tide inside the 20-yard line, but he was much better.

Brent Cimaglia, meanwhile, had only made one field goal all year, and it was 27-yarder in the season-opener against the South Carolina Gamecocks. He missed a 46-yarder in that game and then missed a 39-yarder against the Missouri Tigers. There had been no attempted field goals the next two weeks against the Georgia Bulldogs and Kentucky Wildcats.

Well, in this one, Cimaglia at least nailed a 33-yarder, his longest kick of the year. He also still has yet to miss an extra point on the season. With Brooks keeping up his elite place-kicking, as no kickoff outside of an onside kick in the second half spotted Alabama the ball past their own 25-yard line, this unit may finally be coming together. It’s one positive they can take from this game.

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