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Tennessee football: Five things to improve during bye week

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee players review plays on the sideline 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 100369
Tennessee players review plays on the sideline 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 100369 /
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Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright (72) and Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren (87) defend against Alabama defensive lineman Braylen Ingraham (52) and Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.102420 Ut Bama Gameaction
Tennessee offensive lineman Darnell Wright (72) and Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren (87) defend against Alabama defensive lineman Braylen Ingraham (52) and Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.102420 Ut Bama Gameaction /

3. Pass protection

Part of this ties back to the penalties issue, as one of the killers for Tennessee football against the Kentucky Wildcats was that chop-block. In general, though, while the interior blocking of Trey Smith and Brandon Kennedy has lived up to expectations for the Vols, the exterior blocking has been atrocious, and that has led to pass protection being a major issue this year.

Wanya Morris and Darnell Wright have not taken that second step as sophomores. Both of them have made critical mistakes. Against the Kentucky Wildcats, Morris and Princeton Fant were in on that chop-block. Morris then missed another block to kill another drive in the second half. Wright missed a block on the opening drive to allow a sack that knocked UT out of field goal range.

Issues on that front alone could have been a 17-point swing. Against the Georgia Bulldogs, meanwhile, missed blocks caused all three second-half turnovers, and they allowed five sacks on the day. This unit was also heavily involved in all the penalty issues Rocky Top had in Athens, and it seriously brought into question whether or not it deserved all the preseason hype it got.

Things haven’t gotten better since. Simply put, this has been a critical issue for the Vols, and it’s something Jeremy Pruitt needs to work on. Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney specializes in offensive linemen, so this should be on him and offensive line coach Will Friend. Tight ends coach Joe Osovet needs to get involved improving his unit on this front as well.

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