For those interested in analytics, ESPN's historical FPI numbers provide some encouraging insight for the season. ESPN posts a "game score" for each game that reflects the team's control over the game. 100 is best. The 14 we had against Vandy last year is the nadir. For comparison purposes, the data goes back to 2005 and in 2007, when Tennessee won the SEC East the score was 68.28 on average. In 2015, when Jones went 9-4, his average score was 75. (He declined to 68.61 in 2016 and 44.8 last year). The score is adjusted for opponent, strength of schedule, etc.
For the 2018 Vols, the overall average game score was 58.22, so better than last year but still insufficient to win consistently. However, over the last four games, the average has been 75.25, with the Auburn at 93 and the Kentucky game at 89. (The other two were 65 and 54). So some improvement. Moreover, in the Dooley/Jones years, the team equaled or exceeded 89 six times, so two in one year is a good sign. Finally, this team seems to be trending up, whereas last year descended as the year went on.
Numbers are numbers and so take it as one data point among many. But some encouraging news.
For the 2018 Vols, the overall average game score was 58.22, so better than last year but still insufficient to win consistently. However, over the last four games, the average has been 75.25, with the Auburn at 93 and the Kentucky game at 89. (The other two were 65 and 54). So some improvement. Moreover, in the Dooley/Jones years, the team equaled or exceeded 89 six times, so two in one year is a good sign. Finally, this team seems to be trending up, whereas last year descended as the year went on.
Numbers are numbers and so take it as one data point among many. But some encouraging news.
