4 things Vols must do to avoid another blowout loss to Georgia
It’s no secret that the Tennessee Volunteers have struggled in recent meetings with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Since winning the “Dobbs-nail Boot” game in 2016, the Vols lost the past 3 games against Georgia by combined 96 points. Mathematics tells us that’s an average defeat margin of 32. It’s tough to look at any numbers from those games and make the leap that UT was in the same stratosphere as UGA.
But times might be changing.
Since the Vols’ loss to Georgia last season, Tennessee has won 9 of its past 10 games, including a current winning streak of 8. They appear to be a more confident team and one that won’t lie down when adversity hits.
The folks in the big shiny buildings in Vegas established Georgia as a 14-point favorite, so it looks like they expect another large win for Georgia.
Here are 4 things the Vols must do to avoid another blowout loss to Georgia.
1. Slow down the game
Tennessee’s strength is its offensive line, absolutely, 100%, no doubt about it. There are 5-star guys all over the place. Wanya Morris and Trey Smith on the left side. Ex-Dawg Cade Mays and Darnell Wright on the right side. Brandon Kennedy, who I’m pretty sure played under Johnny Majors, has been solid at center. If that group can stay healthy, it’ll be one of the best in the nation when the season ends. Actually, I’d say that they are already.
In watching the Missouri game, you saw that Eric Gray and Ty Chandler had massive holes to run through. It brought back fond memories of Tennessee’s glory days of the 1990s and 2000s, when UT frequently ran over opponents.
If Tennessee can control the line of scrimmage against a very good Georgia defensive line, it will be able to control the clock and limit Bulldogs possessions. That can keep the game closer than most expect.
This is absolutely a best-on-best situation. Tennessee ranks 2nd in the SEC in rushing at 182.5 yards per game. Georgia leads the SEC in rushing defense, allowing just 58.0 yards per game. Last year, it seemingly took forever for somebody to score a rushing TD against the Dawgs. They haven’t allowed any this season, either.
2. Keep winning the turnover battle
In Tennessee’s first 2 games, they collected 3 turnovers while playing turnover-free football on offense. Every other SEC team has committed at least 1 turnover.
Jarrett Guarantano might not be the most accurate passer in the SEC, but he takes care of the football. He hasn’t been picked off in 54 attempts this season. Eric Gray and Ty Chandler have a combined 60 carries without a fumble.
Securing the rock is crucial to winning games, especially when playing a defense as talented as the Bulldogs’, who already share the SEC lead with 4 interceptions.
3. Pressure Stetson Bennett IV
Bennett’s performance has been, well, remarkable given his background and Georgia’s preseason plan. This was supposed to be Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman’s team or Southern Cal transfer JT Daniels’ team. But Newman opted out and Daniels apparently isn’t healthy enough to go yet.
Then again, why rush Daniels onto the field when Bennett, a former walk-on, has played so well? He has thrown for 451 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in the first 2 games, with no interceptions. Bennett rescued a lethargic Georgia offense in the opener and played the whole way against Auburn and was only sacked once.
Senior linebacker Deandre Johnson has had a terrific start to the season for Tennessee, with 3.5 sacks in the opening 2 games. If he and his cohorts can make life difficult for Bennett, the Vols have a chance to keep things close, if not pull the upset.
4. Cimaglia kicks like 2019 Cimaglia
The Vols scored 35 points against Missouri on Saturday, but Georgia’s defense poses a much more significant threat.
The Vols haven’t topped 14 points against Georgia in the past 3 tries. Georgia led the nation in scoring defense last season and many believe this year’s defense is better than last year’s outfit. So far, it’s hard to argue. The Dawgs have allowed just 1 touchdown and 16 total points in 2 games.
Points might be at a premium again Saturday. With that in mind, the Vols need kicker Brent Cimaglia to be Brent Cimaglia.
Through his first 2 games, Cimaglia has made 1 field goal and missed 2. It’s early, but for a guy that made 85% of his field-goal attempts a year ago, it is concerning to see him missing kicks he normally makes.
Should the Vols have drives stall within a 50-yard field goal attempt, Cimaglia needs to hammer those home efforts to give Tennessee a chance.
Hey Mark. I have not commented on SDS in a long while. But I logged in just to say your line on Brandon Kennedy had me truly laughing out loud. Great stuff man. That is funny. “who I’m pretty sure played under Johnny Majors.” Classic man.
The funny thing is he would be eligible for a 7th year next year due to to the COVID situation. Crazy!
I would say thats a pretty fair assessment of what we need to do. Thats also a pretty tall order. The O line should be a huge plus. If we can mount a running game we have a shot. G has to continue to improve. Need to find a way to get Hiatt isolated with the ball to use that speed. Keep throwing long too. Need Thompson back too. Theo played well but Bryce is our best CB and need him on Pickens. I loved Chaneys play calling vs Mizzou. Need another strong game plan. Go Vols!
Plain and simple, Guarantano has to play better than he has thus far for this team to have a shot against UGA on Saturday.
If pedestrian, ho hum, Guarantano shows up, Georgia will cover that ridiculous 14 point line: if the Guarantano that we all know is capable of stepping up and doesn’t make bonehead, try-to-win-the-game on one play, mistakes, we’ll be in this game all day.
Closer than everyone thinks, but UGA takes it…
34-30
If you think you’re scoring 30 points on THIS defense and you root for any other team in the SEC other than Alabama, you are truly, utterly, and ridiculously delusional.
Bout to get EXPOSED!
LOL. Your disappearing act starting at around 5:00pm on Saturday has been scheduled with Siri.
exposed???? do you even WATCH college football???
I’ll see you right here Saturday night.
Win or lose.
See, these colors don’t run.
That nasty orange runs like the toilet in your mobile home.
Nothing nasty about our colors. Your username says it all.
where are you VOLMAN?!?!?! what was “bout to be exposed”??? oh yeah, that awesome, dominant Oline the vols have hahahahahaha…..UGA literally GAVE u guys a td and even gave u a stop at the end of the half and STILL whipped that ass by 23…..OUCH!!
Lmao like LSU?
Great point. This Tennessee offense is on the same level as 2019 LSU. Tons of team, including last year, were putting up big numbers of that UGA D. Easy peasy for Tennessee to do it. 34 should be no big deal
TFK_Fanboy he said everyone besides Alabama but LSU scored 37 last year. Last time I checked LSU was not Alabama
Well the Vols guys predicted a 34-30 win. Then he said y’all (UT) won’t score 30 and only Alabama would. Talking about this season. Then you brought up last season. Using your logic then every single SEC team can score 30+ on UGA if we’re counting every season. But the obviously implied context was THIS defense which is playing THIS year. Last time I checked this defense wasn’t playing last year.
The Vols offense ranks No.2 in rushing offense and No.10 in passing offense SEC. GA ranks No.1 SEC against the pass and No.1 against the run. Not to mention Scoring defense.
Ga ranks No.3 rushing offense, while UT ranks No. 8 rushing defense.
I think GA will be able to establish a good run game and that will allow Bennett to use play-action, utilize the rest of the offense and stay balanced between the run and pass.
GA DC Dan Lanning will likely stack the box against the run and dare Jarrett Guarantano to beat his secondary in mostly one on one coverage.
Just like it usually does, this game comes down to which team can establish a consistent run game. If Tennessee runs for 150 they have a chance.
Georgia is much better equipped to establish the run and especially to stop the run. That will decide the game.
ON PAPER UGA should win. 2020 is not an on paper year. And UGA lost to a South Carolina team last year who they were better than ON PAPER. This Tennessee team is better than that South Carolina team. Also UGA loses a game they shouldn’t every year and I dont see a team on their schedule that shouldn’t beat them but still can besides Tennessee. Even with this, UGA 31-23
DieselNova…I see a hard fought close game. If raining, turn overs will play a part and both teams will ground and pound. Vols improving…but UGA will prevail.
DieselNova…oh, btw. On paper, the Vols are better than GA State. Vols seem to lose several games each year that they shouldn’t…on paper.
Everything you said is valid, also, Georgia State wouldn’t beat us this year
Dont see the Chickens beating UGA this year
Tennessee loses lots of games every year that they are supposed to lose.
LMAO
Was Tennessee supposed to lose to Georgia State.
:)
Was Georgia supposed to lose to South Carolina last year? Or LSU in 2018? Or Alabama in 2017? No, no, and no. But they still did
Georgia will be able to man-up against the pedestrian Vawl receivers leaving more men in the box to completely stymie the Tennessee run game which isn’t as good as its ranking would have you believe. To whit: There will be no “massive holes” for anyone in fugly orange to run through on Saturday.
Also, Georgia is ranked 3rd in the conference rushing, but Tennessee is getting gashed by the run. Not a great dynamic there.
Tennessee’s defense also isn’t ready to cover 5 out in the field, and with a QB who can find the open receiver this offense schemes open in space while his line gives him time, it’s not looking good for the Vawls.
41-10, Georgia. The game will be over by midway through the second quarter. As the last three Georgia-Tennessee games have been.
Nothing sucks like a big orange! Go Dawgs!
Youre beyond delusional my man
And see, I have recent history to point to saying this is far more likely to happen than your hillbilly brother up there who thinks your team is going to score 30 points on the best defense in the country.
The only Vawl fan who won’t be shocked when we beat the crap out of y’all will be Mrs. Mays.
Yalls offense is garbage. Your defense is gonna be tuckered out by the fourth. I think we can put up at least 28
LOL. Can’t want to not see you next week as you disappear from embarrassment.
Dude nothing is pedestrian about these WRs because they have performed pretty much exactly the same as UGAs yes even your precious 5 star George Pickens
Blah blah blah..like Charlie Brown’s teacher voice
Its definitely doable. Their offense is bad plain and simple and we will definitely be the best defense they’ve seen. Besides bama were probably the best they’ll see all year honestly
Bad? Rather bold statement with the DB’s you have, and our No. 2 WR just put up 150 yards, and we’re 4 deep in RB’s, with a good OLine of our own. UGA -13.5. Look up the win % for road dogs with that spread, 15%. I like our chances.
so the mighty vols are now better than Flarduh AND Allbarn? k
On defense? Duh. UFs defense sucks. Auburn’s is pedestrian at best
you lost what little credibility you thought you had with those 2 ridiculous staements
This is Corch Irvin Meyers, New USC Trojans Corch (2020) level delusion. Y’all should hang out and chat.
5. Not show up for the game and take the forfeit.
.
.
That’s UT’s only guarentee for not getting trucked by the Dawgs.
Ok. Maybe Tennessee has it more together than either All-Barn or the porkrinds. I will be disappointed if the Big Orange gets frog-stomped.
well, even after giving away free points to your vols, your boys did in fact get frog stomped hahahaha
Dawgs look really good this year. But we all know anything can happen on Saturdays. I’m not saying my Vols win for sure. But, you never know. Hahaha GO VOLS!!!!!!
Granted, UGA offense hasn’t been lighting up the scoreboard, but don’t underestimate them. They practice against top level talent. I hesitate to say the score will be closer than 14, but would not be surprised if it is. Calling for rain at game time. I live in Albuquerque, what is this thing called rain?
I see this game shaping up a lot like the 2004 contest. Georgia ranked #3, uber-hyped after a big win the previous week, a double digit favorite over a Tennessee team ranked somewhere in the teens. Barring a collapse by one of these teams, it’s not going to be a high scoring affair.
If I’m Pruitt, I want to limit Georgia’s running and put the entire game on Steson Bennetitch Cumberbatch IV, Esq.’s shoulders and create some opportunities for my defense to get a turnover or two. All the love for the mailman is touching. Except for injuries, opt-outs, transfers, and such, he’d never see the field. Who would he displace as a starter within the SEC? He’s a backup QB who has a great team around him and led his team to a nice win over a league opponent. In other words, he’s Marcus Outzen. Or Joe Tereshinski III. Regardless of the outcome of the game, somebody is going to expose that kid this year.
ouch, that backup just beat your vols lol