All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football vs. Vanderbilt: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2018; Knoxville, TN, USA; Checkerboard end zone at Neyland Stadium before a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 10
Next
Oct 10, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo (10) celebrates with Vanderbilt Commodores defensive lineman Daevion Davis (9) and Vanderbilt Commodores safety Max Worship (14) after a sack during the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo (10) celebrates with Vanderbilt Commodores defensive lineman Daevion Davis (9) and Vanderbilt Commodores safety Max Worship (14) after a sack during the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Vanderbilt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Vandy’s inability to get sacks vs. Vols issues protecting QB

Big plays by Vanderbilt’s defense will be a huge factor in this game. If they’re going to beat Tennessee football they have to find ways to slow down that offense, and if the Vols aren’t careful, there are ways that the Commodores can do that.

Those ways both involve breaking a trend one way, though, and those trends could easily break in the Vols’ direction. The first is the ability to rush the passer. UT is one of the worst teams in the nation at protecting the quarterback, as they have allowed 42 sacks this season, or 3.82 a game, which is No. 126 in the nation.

This is one way for Vanderbilt to snuff out big plays. The problem, though, is they don’t rush the quarterback well. For the year, they only have nine sacks, or 0.82 sacks per game, which is tied for worst in the nation. So you’ve got the worst team in the SEC at protecting the quarterback against the worst team at sacking the quarterback.

Once again, a trend will break. If it breaks in Vandy’s direction, this could get interesting, but if it breaks in the Vols’ direction, a blowout could come fast. As a result, this is a huge factor in the game and a path for Vanderbilt to get some stops.

Home/Vols Football