Tennessee football: Five takeaways from Vols’ 63-6 win vs. Akron
1. Defense was bend but don’t break again.
There are concerns with Tennessee football’s pass defense. The Vols allowed D.J. Irons to complete 32 of 44 passes for 241 yards, and multiple times he moved the ball into UT territory. However, every time Akron threatened, the Vols seemed to have an answer, building off of last week’s bend but don’t break philosophy on defense.
Akron drove to the Tennessee 22-yard line and missed a field goal in the first half. On the next drive, they drove into the Tennessee five, but then the Vols forced a fumble, and LaTrell Bumphus recovered it in the end zone. Yes, they were up 28-0 at the time, but you can’t underestimate the importance of doing that in the first half.
In the second half, Akron drove inside the Tennessee 20 again. Irons threw what should have been an interception to Kamal Hadden in the end zone. Hadden bobbled the catch and went out of bounds, so the refs ruled it incomplete. However, on replay, it looked like he got one foot in with control, so he should have gotten a pick.
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Still, the Vols held Akron to a field goal on that drive. Given the nature of the team, bend but don’t break defense is a great identity for Tim Banks’ unit. They straight up didn’t break given their situations at Pitt until the end, but what they did in this one is to be commended.