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Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 52-24 loss at Alabama

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) calls for the snap during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) calls for the snap during a football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021.Kns Tennessee Alabama Football Bp /
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Oct 23, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Tiyon Evans (8) carries the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Tiyon Evans (8) carries the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Running game was nonexistent for Vols.

Anybody who has followed Josh Heupel’s offense this year knows that, despite its spread formations, it’s set up by the run game. Tennessee football’s offense has been at its best when the Vols are running the ball well, teams are selling out to stop the run and then they can hit big plays over the top for touchdowns.

Well, the running game was nowhere to be found in this one. Injuries on the interior of the offensive line and to Tiyon Evans cost the Vols last week against Ole Miss, as they could never fully get their offense off the ground against a bad defense.

This week, Evans was back, and Cooper Mays returned at center. However, Cade Mays wasn’t able to get back on the field, and Evans, Mays and Hendon Hooker weren’t 100 percent. That limited the rushing attack. UT only had 64 yards on 26 carries. Evans only had 30 yards on seven carries, Hooker had 26 yards on 12 carries, and Jabari Small had eight yards on seven carries.

Simply put, this portion of the Vols’ offense was awful. As a result, they couldn’t get anything else going on a consistent basis. A lot of this has to do with Alabama’s defense, but Rocky Top needs to be able to move the ball on the ground for its offense to work out.

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