All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football at Missouri: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 28, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general fish eye view of the field before the game between the Missouri Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; A general fish eye view of the field before the game between the Missouri Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 10
Next
Tennessee quarterbacks Hendon Hooker (5) and Joe Milton III (7) during morning football practice on campus on Friday, August 20, 2021.Kns Ut Football Practice Bp
Tennessee quarterbacks Hendon Hooker (5) and Joe Milton III (7) during morning football practice on campus on Friday, August 20, 2021.Kns Ut Football Practice Bp /

1. Health of Vols Quarterbacks

This is the key to Tennessee football having its full rushing attack. Either Hendon Hooker or Joe Milton III needs to be fully healthy so the Vols can have the dynamic quarterback who keeps everybody else on their heels.

Milton hasn’t been 100 percent ever since his injury against Pitt. Hooker got hurt last week on a botched flea flicker at Florida, and when Milton came in, his lack of mobility hurt him. Behind those two is Harrison Bailey, who is a pure drop-back passer. That takes away the element of the Vols’ offense that could exploit Mizzou.

Anyway, either Milton or Hooker needs to be fully healthy to be able to run the offense. If neither is healthy enough to add their mobility threat to the offense, then the Vols are in serious trouble. Just one of them being healthy would be a huge deal.

Next. Five Vols to watch for at Missouri. dark

Josh Heupel should start Hooker going forward if all things are equal, but against Mizzou, Tennessee football just needs one of them to be able to be a threat on the ground. Milton should be much better after three weeks, and there’s still the chance that Hooker can go, but without either of them at 100 percent, you can forget about the Vols’ chances of an upset Saturday.

Home/Vols Football