Stats don't lie: Alabama pass rushers may feast on Tennessee OL
The Tennessee offensive line group has been a bit of an adventure for head coach Butch Jones through the first six games of the season.
Injuries, inconsistency, and a constant shuffling of personnel have directly contributed to the issues up front. It’s a bit surprising — considering the Vols returned four starters from a year ago.
No. 1 Alabama will stroll into Knoxville this upcoming weekend…with a supremely dynamic group of pass rushers. The likes of Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson, and Jonathan Allen have combined for 13.0 sacks.
The trio is ferocious — and all play with incredible effort.
Tennessee have allowed 67 total pressures on 216 pass blocking snaps, 2nd worst in the SEC. And here comes Bama w/ Williams/Allen/Anderson
— Gordon McGuinness (@PFF_Gordon) October 12, 2016
This doesn’t necessarily bode well for Tennessee. The Volunteers have allowed the second-most amount of pressures on passing attempts in the conference.
However, UT does have a wildcard in this scenario: QB Joshua Dobbs. The senior possesses the ability to evade pressure and scramble should the play break down. Against the Crimson Tide, he may need to extend plays with his legs — thus becoming a factor in the run game.
Stats don’t lie, so will Tennessee past rushers on Alabama OL.
Don’t worry, Vols. The Football Gods are on your side this year. I know exactly how this is going to go. All five of your O-linemen will be Orlando Pace in this game. Dobbs will throw for >400 yards. You will not turnover the ball even once, and there will be no dropped passes. You will have at least one helmet-ricochet touchdown, probably more. Bama is a much better team at every position, but will win by 3 or less.
I hope you’re right. Lol.
Every position? Lol Hardly… TN has a better QB and RB core, and Derek Barnett is better than any player on Bama’s defense.
I’m never going to understand why vols think Barnett is better then Allen, and I’ve given up trying.
I’ll listen to arguments on Dobbs. vs. Hurts as long as you can acknowledge that Dobbs is a senior and Hurts is an 18 year old who has played in six games. If Dobbs is better it’s not by much, and I sure wouldn’t trade Hurts for Dobbs.
I don’t even know what to say about RB. Your best back is a kid who would be fourth string if we hadn’t kicked him off our team.
The nfl scouts seem to think so since barnett is the higher rated prospect
He would have been 4th string what? 2/3 years ago? Not a valid point.
I’m not sure who on our roster he’d beat out. He’s probably better for your scheme.
NFL scouts don’t release lists of prospects, FYI.
Im pretty sure the mcshays and kipers of the world talk to nfl scouts and barnett is the higher rated prospect, either way an nfl team is getting a stud
You think actual NFL personnel give Kiper the time of day?
Are you 15? No right or wrong answer.
Pff has Garrett, barnett, lawson, and charles harris all listed as better prospects than allen ill roll with them over a bama fan even though i cant tell who your team is because it says sec by your name
Thanks for the laugh, Memphis! Tough to compare QB’s since one is a freshman and one is a senior, but I’ll give you the edge just off experience alone. Hurts as a Sr will be far better than Dobbs.
And a LOT of those came the first three weeks when Chance Hall was out and Coleman Thomas was playing on two bum ankles. Thankfully Hall is back and Thomas looked much better against Texas A&M filling in at center after getting some time to rest his ankles. It all goes hand-in-hand that they got better and back in there and then Dobbs has two personal best performances throwing and Kamara goes off running the ball.
Yea. This the same story we heard last year and UT’s D-line dominated a better Bama O-line than they have this year. Barnett and company had 5 sacks last year and it could have easily been 7 or 8. Hurts hasn’t seen a pass rush close to what he will see on Saturday.
Wow. That’s a pretty positive description of a game you lost. Are you sure you’re not an auburn fan?
To be fair, we didn’t have a dual threat QB last year that can escape the pocket like Hurts can. We’ll find out Saturday how well he does against your D-line pressure.
I think its pretty fantastic that when teams lose to Bama by less then 3 TD they just consider it a win. ken is pumped about making it two moral victories in a row.
Derek Barnett is not better than Jonathan Allen so Vols fans cut it out.. The Tennessee defense as a unit has not got any better since they’ve been starting those kids as freshman not to mention you all will be missing 3 key players on that defense due to injuries & suspension
If Derek had 2 deep 5 stars playing down the line with him, teams couldn’t game plan him…credit to Bama there. You’ve not been watching if you think our D hasn’t improved…though will qualify that by saying “second half D” this year. 3 of top 4 defenders have been out since FL, and have beaten UF, GA, and should have taken TaM if we could hold onto the football.
Your team has improved on both sides of the ball, that’s for sure. I’m glad this rivalry game will finally be relevant again and not a snoozer.
Yeah, SDS, i dont think so. Stats, are stats. Obama was elected twice vs the stats both times. TN wants the win more than bama this yr. Im giving TN 10 points on bama.
So you know who wants to win more?……..LMAO.