Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 24-13 loss to Arkansas Razorbacks

3. Horrendous play-calling hindered run game

In the first half, Jim Chaney actually had a great game plan. The Arkansas Razorbacks were only winning in games where they had a defensive touchdown, so he kept it conservative and relied on ball control en route to a 13-0 lead. Eric Gray had 89 yards that half along with a touchdown run. Everything seemed to be going great.

However, as the quarterback changes happened in the second half, Chaney’s predictability got worse. Yes, he needed to run the ball. But when Brian Maurer came in and the zone read became a thing thanks to his mobility, he kept it on the ground the whole time. There was not one designed running play in which Maurer kept the ball.

Harrison Bailey came in, and Chaney called a running play every time on his first drive until 4th and 4, when Tennessee football desperately needed a completion. This made for a tale of two halves int he run game. UT had 30 carries for 135 yards in the first half with Gray leading the way. They only had 20 carries for 50 yards, however, in the second half.

Ty Chandler only had one carry, and that came in the first half, which was another red flag. But the real story was the fact that the run game never got in rhythm in the second half because while Arkansas made a few adjustments, Chaney never did. That’s a major indictment against him and everybody involved with the offense.