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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 62-24 win at Missouri

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Tiyon Evans (8) celebrates with quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) after scoring at touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Tiyon Evans (8) celebrates with quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) after scoring at touchdown against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) makes an interception during an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Missouri on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 2 , 2021.Utmizzou 1002 0807
Tennessee linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) makes an interception during an NCAA football game between Tennessee and Missouri on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 2 , 2021.Utmizzou 1002 0807 /

2. Defense was swarming and opportunistic.

Elements of Tennessee football’s defense had been encouraging through four games, including the push by the interior line. However, the Vols could never put it all together, and outside of a huge game against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, an awful FCS program, they couldn’t buy a turnover on the season.

That all changed in this game. Jeremy Banks helped break the game open in the first quarter. The Vols were already up 21-3, but a Banks interception was returned to the Mizzou one-yard line. Tiyon Evans punched it in after that to make the score 28-3, and there was no way the Tigers were going to come back from that.

Jaylen McCollough then intercepted a pass in the third quarter to help further break the game open. Beyond the two interceptions, though, the defense also was able to get a rush all day, and that was a huge deal.

Mizzou relies on an elite passing attack, so hurries and turnovers are the way to stop them. In addition to the picks, they came away with eight tackles for a loss and four quarterback hurries. They only had one sack, but Connor Bazelak’s quick release in Eli Drinkwitz’s system makes that understandable. In general, the defense was amazing.

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