Tennessee didn’t look impressive Saturday in a 14-3 win in Charlotte as the Vols managed only 20 rushing yards in the game. While that performance wasn’t pleasing to the eye, it got the job done for the Volunteers, who are now 4-5 on the season and need only two wins in the final three games to reach a bowl game.

Following the game, Jeremy Pruitt faced many questions surrounding the performance of his team’s offense and the rushing game in particular.

Pruitt also had some interesting thoughts on the controversial targeting call that led to starting cornerback Alontae Taylor’s ejection.

Opening comments:

“It’s good to get a win, at the end of the day, that’s what we are trying to do. I thought defensively, we limited some explosive plays, we made them earn it. Offensively, we struggled to move the ball, I think you have to get Charlotte a lot of credit for that. That’s like what I talked about earlier in the week, they give a lot of different looks, do a good job. We didn’t make any explosive plays and we struggled to be consistent and run the football. That’s not a very good recipe for success. We did find a way to create an explosive play on special teams, that was probably the difference in the game, probably.”

Why the offense struggled so much?

“I would say Charlotte, you know? Those guys done a really good job against us creating different looks. If they aren’t lined up the same way every time, that forces you as an offensive player to make decisions. You will be successful running or blocking, you have to decide who you are going to block. If there’s any indecisiveness there,  then you are probably in trouble. We didn’t do a good job blocking.”

Did you think you would struggle so much to run the ball?

“Well, you know, we’ve struggled to run the ball all year. I’m not sure why this game would be much different… Eventually, it comes down to this guy has to block this guy and you have to move him and gain some yards.”

Did you hold back or limit what you wanted to show in this game?

“No. That’s not how we coach, that’s not how we prepare.”

On why the team reshuffled the offensive line in the game:

“Well, when you look up at the scoreboard and you got two yards rushing, at some point in time, you might as well make some changes.”

On the questionable targeting call that went against Alontae Taylor:

“I realize our officials have a tough job, I realize that. I’ve not seen the play. I have no idea whether the play was targeting or not. I don’t know what targeting is. I watched two games before I came over here and they threw targeting fouls. Once they replayed them, they weren’t targeting fouls. I would have said both of them were. So, I obviously don’t know.

“I don’t think anyone does, to tell you the truth. I think we need to come to a common ground as coaches, officials and everyone involved because we all want the same thing, we want to protect our game, we want to protect our players, that’s what we want to do. That’s what the rule is there for. I just want to coach it the right way and I hate that guys have to suffer by maybe poor technique.”

Next weekend, Tennessee hosts Kentucky looking to take a step closer to bowl eligibility.