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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 defensive back Bryce Thompson (0) and Tennessee defensive back Trevon Flowers (1) tackle Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III (8) during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.102420 Ut Bama Gameaction
Tennessee defensive back Bryce Thompson (0) and Tennessee defensive back Trevon Flowers (1) tackle Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III (8) during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020.102420 Ut Bama Gameaction /

1. Defending slot receivers

If there’s one issue that’s plagued Tennessee football from the start of the season, it’s this one. It’s also one of the most baffling issues to simply given the fact that it continued after certain key players returned to the lineup.

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The way to beat UT is to sneak speedy receivers over the middle and let them make huge plays. Shi Smith of the South Carolina Gamecocks had 140 yards and a touchdown doing that. Once Connor Bazelak came in for the Missouri Tigers, they moved the ball through the air. Two dropped passes and an interception took 15 points off the board for Mizzou in that game.

Then came the losses. Against the Georgia Bulldogs, UT allowed Kearis Jackson to pick up 91 yards and a touchdown, which he caught on a 3rd and long play thanks to a busted coverage. They then allowed the Kentucky Wildcats, who have no passing game, to move the ball through the air in the second half, completing 13 of 16 passes for a touchdown.

Finally, against the Alabama Crimson Tide, Jaylen Waddle going out didn’t change anything. Mac Jones completed his first 10 passes, John Metchie III had over 150 yards, and Slade Bolden, who took the No. 3 spot after Waddle went out, had 94 yards.

Simply put, the Vols have been disastrous at covering speedy receivers over the middle. Early on Shawn Shamburger missing two games and Bryce Thompson playing safety and only on third downs hurt. However, when Shamburger came back, Jaylen McCollough and the inside linebackers struggling in coverage became an issue.

Next. Vols top five performers entering bye. dark

Pruitt revealed this week that Thompson has been playing with a torn pectoral muscle, and that could be an issue, but either way, this unit has been disastrous. Tennessee football is really missing Nigel Warrior right now, and the Vols have to work on improving this aspect of the game.

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