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Tennessee football report card in 34-27 OT win at Pitt

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 10, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) falls into the end zone to score a touchdown past Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Bangally Kamara (11) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) falls into the end zone to score a touchdown past Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Bangally Kamara (11) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 10, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive linemen Byron Young (6) and Tyler Baron (9) celebrate a defensive stop against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Tennessee won 34-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive linemen Byron Young (6) and Tyler Baron (9) celebrate a defensive stop against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Tennessee won 34-27 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Defensive grades

Defensive line: A

Omari Thomas made some mistakes in the run game. That’s the only reason this unit didn’t get an A+. Tennessee football had four sacks, 16 hurries and nine tackles for a loss. This was all generated by their play up front. Tyler Baron and Byron Young each had a sack and two tackles for a loss. Thomas and Kurott Garland had pass deflections. Roman Harrison had a tackle for a loss.

Linebackers: C+

Again, bad angles and mistakes in the run game hurt this unit. Jeremy Banks got lost in coverage on a 57-yard Pitt touchdown pass in the first half. The linebackers and the line took a bad angle on a 76-yard touchdown run. However, they were solid otherwise. Aaron Beasley had 14 tackles, seven solo, along with a tackle for a loss, pass deflection and three hurries. Banks had two hurries.

Secondary: A-

Most of Pitt’s success in the intermediate passing game was about the issues the linebackers had in coverage. Only the touchdown Warren Burrell allowed late can be pinned on the secondary. Trevon Flowers had an interception and a sack, Wesley Walker had a sack, Tamarion McDonald had a tackle for a loss, Kamal Hadden had a pass breakup. This unit was surprisingly good.

Overall defensive grade: A-

Outside of the first quarter and that final touchdown, could you ask for much more from Tennessee football’s defense given how much was working against them? You obviously couldn’t, so this unit is in the A-range despite giving up over 400 yards.

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