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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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Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) is brought down by Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden (13) 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
Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) is brought down by Tennessee defensive back Kamal Hadden (13) 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 /

2. Third down defense was atrocious.

Okay, so Tennessee football was facing Alabama. Stats like these are naturally going to be an issue. However, the Vols were uniquely bad on this front Saturday night, more than anybody should have expected them to be, and it proved to be costly in so many ways.

While UT was only 2-of-12 on third downs, Alabama was an insane 15-of-20. Many of those were 3rd and long plays that kept drives alive in which they eventually scored touchdowns. Just a couple of stops by Rocky Top on them could have made the game closer late.

On Alabama’s first touchdown drive, they converted a 3rd and 7 and two 3rd and 5 plays. With the game close in the fourth quarter, two key third down plays put it away. One was a touchdown run by Bryce Young, and the other was a 65-yard pass from Young to Jameson Williams on 3rd and 15 that set up a touchdown.

In both cases, the Tide converted those third downs while the game was within one score. If the Vols could have gotten off the field at all in this game, they could have made it close late. Their failure to do so is what turned it into a blowout, one in which they couldn’t even cover the 25-point spread.

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