Tennessee football report card in 30-17 loss at Auburn

Defensive grades:

Defensive line: C+

If not for Matthew Butler, this unit would get a below average grade. It did not get the pressure up front to cloud Bo Nix’s vision on those quick slants, and even with Tank Bigsby going down early, it allowed the running backs collectively to have 28 carries for 155 yards and a touchdown. Butler’s play alone, though, with six tackles, didn’t just move this to average but nearly above average.

Linebackers: B-

It’s a tale of two units here. Tennessee football’s inside linebackers were horrendous. They were part of allowing the Auburn Tigers’ running game to take off, and they still couldn’t cover passes over the middle.

However, Kivon Bennett’s two sacks and three tackles for a loss along with Deandre Johnson’s one and a half tackles for a loss made for an A+ performance by the outside linebackers. That puts this unit’s grade just barely above average.

Secondary: C

There was the busted coverage by Jaylen McCollough and Trevon Flowers and a couple of third down mistakes by Alontae Taylor. However, if you take out that busted play, Bo Nix only has 166 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. Bryce Thompson came down with that pick as well, so this unit wasn’t all bad.

Overall defensive grade: C+

The Vols’ defense only allowed 23 points, as one touchdown was due to the pick-six. However, if you take away that one busted coverage play, it would have only been 16 points. That was a critical play, but the unit wasn’t horrible.