There’s a lot at stake for both of these teams that call the Volunteer State their home. Vanderbilt opened as a 1.5 point favorite early in the week and need this win to secure a bowl birth. The Vols not only need this win to keep their bowl hopes alive but to avoid the embarrassment of losing to their in-state “little brother.”
Eight games into the season Tennessee’s ground game has not improved from 2010, in fact, they have gotten worse and currently dwell in the SEC cellar with a net rushing average of just 82.6 yards-per-game. To put it all in perspective, Tennessee’s longest run from scrimmage for the year was a 30-yard scamper by punter Matt Darr on a fake punt.
The 2011 Tennessee Vols rank among the worst in the SEC in pass defense. Here is a detailed breakdown of the secondary woes plaguing the Vols this season.
Tennessee Head Coach Derek Dooley made quite a fashion statement at the beginning of the season by showcasing, what has now become a trademark of sorts, his bright orange slacks. Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, while Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC) extended their lead to 37-6 over Tennessee (3-4, 0-4 SEC) in the fourth quarter, Dooley made a statement, but this time it wasn’t with his slacks.
Five games into the season, Tennessee’s struggles have been well documented as both the running and kicking games have been problematic to say the least, but that’s not where the Vol’s pain ends. Here’s a look at some of the numbers that show just how far Derek Dooley’s Vols (3-2, 0-2 SEC) must climb to regain SEC relevance on Rocky Top.
Most reasonable observers, including Barbara Dooley, agree that second-year Tennessee Head Coach Derek Dooley is not on the “hot seat” but if there is a seat for frustration it might be getting a little crowded, as Dooley may have to share that seat with a few hundred thousand members of the Volnation.
The loss of a phenomenal athlete like Hunter would clearly have a negative impact on any team, but as one-dimensional as the Vols have become in relying on the passing game, his loss for Tennessee was devastating. For a team that swings for the fences and counts on the homerun, the loss of Hunter is akin to losing your clean-up hitter.
This Saturday, the Tennessee Volunteers (2-0, 0-0 SEC) kick off their SEC schedule when they travel to Gainesville to take on Will Muschamp’s Florida Gators (2-0, 0-0 SEC). The past two decades have not been kind to Tennessee in this heated rivalry, but the Vols are heading into The Swamp in an attempt to change the course of history.
Bray joins Peyton Manning in becoming just the second quarterback in UT history to throw for 400 yards in a single game. It was also Bray’s eighth consecutive game with at least two touchdown passes, besting Manning’s previous record of seven. The 83 percent completion rate also surpasses Manning’s 77.5 mark set in 1997 for a Tennessee quarterback with at least 30 completions in a game.
Both Tennessee and Cincinnati got off to a hot start last week with season-opening, lop-sided wins over FCS opponents. The Vols beat up a rebuilding Montana team, 42-16 and Cincinnati destroyed Austin Peay, 72-10. Both teams have plenty to prove Saturday.
