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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 42-17 win at Vanderbilt

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee running back Eric Gray (3) is stopped by Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji (26) during the first quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.Gw55651
Tennessee running back Eric Gray (3) is stopped by Vanderbilt linebacker Anfernee Orji (26) during the first quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.Gw55651 /
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Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Bryce Thompson (0) returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Bryce Thompson (0) returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Outside of a pick-six, the pass defense struggled.

When you combine Jim Chaney’s horrible play-calling and the Vols’ inconsistent pass protection with a horrible pass defense, you get the worst team in maybe SEC history leading you early in the first half. That’s what happened to Tennessee football against the Vanderbilt Commodores in this game early on.

Ken Seals put together a beautiful drive through the air on Vandy’s second possession that led to a touchdown to tie it up with the Vols. After the strip-sack we mentioned on the previous slide, he then led another drive to give the Commodores the lead.

UT didn’t take the lead back until Bryce Thompson had a one-handed pick-six. That interception will mask the issues the Vols had defending the pass, and there’s no way around it. They struggled, as they have been doing all year.

Seals did complete 22-of-39 passes for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns. That interception was really his only blemish. Given how bad he looked two weeks ago against the Missouri Tigers and how much pressure he was under, his even mild success was a major indictment against the Vols’ secondary. What was a problem all year remained a problem in this game, just not as much.

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