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Tennessee enters its first bowl game appearance since 2010. The Vols will face Iowa in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl on Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. Tennessee looks to capture its first postseason victory since the 2008 Outback Bowl. Here’s a look inside the numbers.
GOOD
3-1: The Vols are 3-1 since naming Joshua Dobbs their starting quarterback. The sophomore has thrown for 1,077 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions on 96-of-156 passing, while rushing for 393 yards and six scores on 91 attempts. Dobbs provided Tennessee’s offense with a spark during his Week 9 debut and is the perfect fit for a scheme that features many read-option plays.
21: Curt Maggitt (11) and Derek Barnett (10) have combined for 21 total sacks. The duo also has 34.5 tackles for loss and is averaging 1.7 per game. Maggitt and Barnett must bring pressure facing Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock, who’s thrown for 2,404 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions on 211-of-337 passing.
7: Cameron Sutton and Justin Coleman combined for seven interceptions, with Coleman’s four tying for third in the SEC. Sutton, who’s has started in each game since enrolling at UT in 2013, fared well in coverage against some of the SEC’s premier receivers. The sophomore will face Iowa’s leading receiver, Tevaun Smith, who has 559 yards and three touchdowns on 41 receptions.
BAD
42: Offensive line was, without a doubt, Tennessee’s worst position group in 2014. The Vols ranked No. 118 in sacks allowed (42) and No. 124 in tackles for loss (97). Iowa enters Friday’s game ranked No. 61 in team sacks (26) and No. 78 in tackles for loss (67).
68: The Hawkeyes continue their history of talent in the trenches with one of the nation’s best offensive tackles, Brandon Scherff. Scherff won the 2014 Outland Trophy, presented to the nation’s top interior lineman. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound senior is projected to be a first round pick in the 2015 NFL draft and has drawn comparisons to former Iowa stars Marshal Yanda, Bryan Bulaga and Riley Reiff. He will matchup against Barnett, who needs to have another breakout game for the Vols to capture a victory.
No. 8: Iowa ranks No. 8 overall in passing defense. The Hawkeyes have allowed just 2,109 passing yards and are averaging 175.8 yards per game. Dobbs will face a secondary that has forced 12 interceptions and returned two picks for touchdowns.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
