All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football stock report following Week 15 of 2020

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Henry To'o To'o (11) celebrates after a defensive stop 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 linebacker Henry To'o To'o (11) celebrates after a defensive stop during the first half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney talks to Tennessee quarterback Harrison Bailey (15) before the game against Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.Gw55414
Tennessee offensive coordinator Jim Chaney talks to Tennessee quarterback Harrison Bailey (15) before the game against Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.Gw55414 /

Stock down

Pass protection

Despite the Vanderbilt Commodores only having one starting defensive lineman, Tennessee football’s pass protection still struggled. This has been an issue for the Vols all year Their interior blocking has largely played well except when there have been surprise injuries. The tackles, tight ends and running backs, however, still don’t block well.

In this game, UT was driving with the score tied at 7. On 2nd and 6 from the eight-yard line, Harrison Bailey was strip-sacked. Vandy killed that drive and took a 10-7 lead early, providing a scare. The pass should have been ruled incomplete, but only this team’s horrible pass blocking could even allow Vandy to make a play like that. They allowed three sacks on the day.

In-game coaching

Part of the issues with the pass protection were only exposed because Jim Chaney gave them a chance to be. Why would he expose them at that moment? Sure, Jeremy Pruitt gets credit for a fake punt and a trick play against Vandy, but the fake punt didn’t even end in a score.

Meanwhile, Chaney inexplicably decided to pass in bad situations with young quarterbacks. He got bailed out with how bad Vandy is. Derrick Ansley started Tamarion McDonald over Jaylen McCollough. Pruitt pulled Bailey before he had even thrown an incomplete pass.

Home/Vols Football