Ad Disclosure
To avoid ‘blitzfest’ repeat, Tennessee has to get passing game going
By Andrew Olson
Published:
When Oklahoma trailed Tennessee, 17-3, at halftime, it made a major adjustment that changed the game.
“There’s no doubt what happened,” UT offensive coordinator Mike DeBord told reporters this week. “They’d given up 17 points in the first half, and they had blitzed us some, but not very much. In the second half it was a blitzfest. It turned into that.”
In previous games, QB Joshua Dobbs has been able to make up for protection issues with his mobility. When Oklahoma’s pass rushes intensified into blitzes from a variety of angles and positions, he was unable to scramble or run his way out of trouble. Blitzfest wasn’t sackfest – the Sooners only managed three sacks – but it rendered Dobbs ineffective as a passer (13-of-31, 125 yards).
UT experiences a steep drop-off in the level of competition this week, going from Big 12 power Oklahoma to Western Carolina from the Southern Conference in the FCS. Western Carolina gave up 341 rushing yards to The Citadel last week in a 28-10 loss. UT already has a potent ground game, as evidenced by the combined 399 rushing yards against Bowling Green and RB Jalen Hurd’s 109-yard performance against OU. The best use of the tuneup against WCU is to establish the passing attack.
Against Oklahoma, two of Tennessee’s top receivers, Marquez North and Pig Howard, caught only two passes for 17 yards. WR Von Pearson’s only item in the box score is a rush for minus-3 yards. The Volunteers playmakers should be more involved. UT needs early positive yardage to stay out of third-and-long and force opposing defenses to respect the pass.
If Tennessee continues a run-heavy unbalanced approach (109 rushes, 54 passes this season), it can expect to get blitzed on obvious passing downs. The Sooners’ blitzes were especially effective on third down. In those situations, blitzes led to Dobbs throwing to receivers short of the first down or missing the target on deep balls.
Conference play for Tennessee kicks off following the Western Carolina game with a three-week stretch of games against Florida, Arkansas and Georgia. The WCU game this Saturday gives UT a chance to show it can successfully pass on early downs and stay out of third-and-long. If not, Oklahoma’s strategy could give SEC defenses a blueprint to shut down the Volunteers.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
