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Tennessee football at LSU: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 13, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; A general overall view of the LSU Tigers logo at midfield at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 13, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; A general overall view of the LSU Tigers logo at midfield at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee punter Paxton Brooks (37) punts during the second quarter of the Music City Bowl, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.Cfb Music City Bowl Purdue Vs Tennessee
Tennessee punter Paxton Brooks (37) punts during the second quarter of the Music City Bowl, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.Cfb Music City Bowl Purdue Vs Tennessee /

3. Who has more special teams miscues?

Everybody knows about what’s plagued LSU, and Tennessee football fans know about what’s plagued the Vols. Outside of place kicking, UT has had an inexcusable miscue in special teams in every way that you could have one. It’s resulted in two near-choke jobs as well.

The Vols had a blocked punt and muffed a punt at Pitt. That allowed them to send the game into overtime. Then, against Florida, they allowed an onside kick to be recovered late, almost allowing a 38-21 comeback. Those are all awful mistakes, and without them, they would have won both games pretty comfortably.

On the other side, LSU made a series of errors in their season-opening loss. Malik Nabers fumbled two punts, Damian Ramos had a 30-yard field goal blocked, and Ramos later had an extra point blocked to tie the game at the end of regulation. If you’re thinking that was all just one fluke game, Ramos missed a 38-yard field goal against the New Mexico Lobos.

Take away the blatant mistakes, and both teams are very solid on special teams. Brian Kelly has always had his first couple seasons at a new job be plagued by such mistakes. The team that makes them in this one loses. It violates Gen. Robert Neyland’s first and sixth game maxims.

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