nicksjuzunk
Coming home soon.
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Date: Saturday, September 15
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
Venue: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville TN
Network: SEC Network
The Vols rolled over ETSU last week in a much needed confidence and chemistry builder. UTEP offers more of the same... though nearly triple the chances to win than ETSU (.6 to 1.6%), it amounts to a fart in the wind. The last time UTEP won a football game was November 26th, 2016... the day that Josh Dobbs was 31-34 for 340 yards passing, and Alvin Kamara was in the backfield as Tennessee amassed 31 first half points... and we lost to Vanderbilt. World class.
So, UTEP is generally not good at all. The offense is more run oriented, with a mobile QB in Kai Locksley. It will be good to get some experience with a mobile QB as we prepare for the rest of the season.
Keys to Victory:
1. Key on the Rush: Tennessee is giving up 4.34 yards per carry on the season. Now, UTEP is not filled with All-Americans, but they have averaged 5.0 yards per carry on the year. This is good practice for the Vols as they look ahead to SEC play. Key Point: Limit UTEP to under 4.0 YPC
2. Less Offensive, Offensive Line: Get better fellas. Key Point: OL progress.
3. Develop the Running Game: Tennessee is averaging a yawn inspiring 3.9 yards per carry. Not awful, but when 50% of your games was against ETSU, it's kind of awful, in an awful way. Ty Chandler should get back in the mix this week, so it will be interesting to see how they divide carries. Expect Tim Jordan's carries to be snatched up like Reese's from a Halloween candy haul if he does not hit the hole. He's been effective, but Pruitt is not going to reward that. He got 25% less carries against ETSU as he began to do that. Best case scenario, Jordan begins to develop the disicipline to hit the hole, and not look for the first excuse to bounce it outside, because he's a great player, but SEC team will crush him trying to turn every play into a sweep. Key Point: Run for over 220
4. Tune up, not Tune out: This is the final tune up game before Tennessee plays Florida. They need to use this as an opportunity to really get things right, and not just laugh and coast to an easy victory. Things are about to get a whole lot un-fun, so enjoy this one, but don't get sloppy and take advantage of this opportunity to improve. Key Point: Play the full game.
Prediction: This looks a lot like the ETSU game. Like I said for the players, fans should enjoy this one, because it's about to be a ride from here on out.
TN 45
UTEP 13
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
Venue: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville TN
Network: SEC Network
The Vols rolled over ETSU last week in a much needed confidence and chemistry builder. UTEP offers more of the same... though nearly triple the chances to win than ETSU (.6 to 1.6%), it amounts to a fart in the wind. The last time UTEP won a football game was November 26th, 2016... the day that Josh Dobbs was 31-34 for 340 yards passing, and Alvin Kamara was in the backfield as Tennessee amassed 31 first half points... and we lost to Vanderbilt. World class.
So, UTEP is generally not good at all. The offense is more run oriented, with a mobile QB in Kai Locksley. It will be good to get some experience with a mobile QB as we prepare for the rest of the season.
Keys to Victory:
1. Key on the Rush: Tennessee is giving up 4.34 yards per carry on the season. Now, UTEP is not filled with All-Americans, but they have averaged 5.0 yards per carry on the year. This is good practice for the Vols as they look ahead to SEC play. Key Point: Limit UTEP to under 4.0 YPC
2. Less Offensive, Offensive Line: Get better fellas. Key Point: OL progress.
3. Develop the Running Game: Tennessee is averaging a yawn inspiring 3.9 yards per carry. Not awful, but when 50% of your games was against ETSU, it's kind of awful, in an awful way. Ty Chandler should get back in the mix this week, so it will be interesting to see how they divide carries. Expect Tim Jordan's carries to be snatched up like Reese's from a Halloween candy haul if he does not hit the hole. He's been effective, but Pruitt is not going to reward that. He got 25% less carries against ETSU as he began to do that. Best case scenario, Jordan begins to develop the disicipline to hit the hole, and not look for the first excuse to bounce it outside, because he's a great player, but SEC team will crush him trying to turn every play into a sweep. Key Point: Run for over 220
4. Tune up, not Tune out: This is the final tune up game before Tennessee plays Florida. They need to use this as an opportunity to really get things right, and not just laugh and coast to an easy victory. Things are about to get a whole lot un-fun, so enjoy this one, but don't get sloppy and take advantage of this opportunity to improve. Key Point: Play the full game.
Prediction: This looks a lot like the ETSU game. Like I said for the players, fans should enjoy this one, because it's about to be a ride from here on out.
TN 45
UTEP 13
