I think this poster makes some excellent points
"Lets Take A Look At Tennessee
Game preview for this week:
After both teams played MAC opponents, their weaknesses were exploited. Oklahomas offensive line will struggle, hindering Samaje Perine and Joe Mixons rushing yards. With Tennessee, they are going to pride themselves in their power-run game and run-stuffing ability this year. Against Bowling Green though, they showed what is going to happen when they play a pass-heavy offense.
On offense, Tennessee flat out-athleted Bowling Green in the run game. The more you watch Jalen Hurd, the more you see his star-potential. Hurd is 6'4" and 240 pounds, and still gets his pad level down. This allows him to fall forward at the point of contact. A lot like Oklahoma, Tennessee now has a two-headed monster with Alvin Kamara getting to play following his transfer from the JUCO ranks. Kamara is a small, physical runner that isn't afraid to stick his nose in at the line of scrimmage. The most intriguing matchup for me is the Volunteers read-option against Oklahoma's linebackers. Tennessee runs a read-option style system, forcing outside linebackers and inside linebackers to be disciplined. A single false-step could allow Tennessee's offensive lineman to lock on to the second-level defenders, and then it's off to the races for Hurd, Kamara, or quarterback, Joshua Dobbs. I expect Mike Stoops to force Tennessee to beat the Sooners through the air. We will figure out how improved the secondary is for the Sooners, because they will more than likely be put on an island to make plays and keep everything in front of them. In my opinion, Joshua Dobbs isn't talented enough yet to consistently make throws over the middle of the field into the intermediate and deep levels of a defense. Wide receivers Marquez North, Pig Howard, and Josh Malone are talented enough to make plays in space, if given the opportunity. This is why I think the edge goes to the Sooners in this aspect of the game. Oklahoma will fill the box, and Dobbs just isn't through his development enough to make quick decisions and slice and dice the defense.
On defense, Tennessee has a difficult choice to make. Will they play a base defense and just play seven men in the box, or will they play straight nickel defense and only play six in the box and trust their defensive lineman? Tennessee's front seven, highlighted by defensive end Derek Barnett and LB Curt Maggit, will be a force to be reckon with in the SEC this year. Tennessee should be able to keep five or six in the box if Oklahoma's offensive line struggles carry into week two. Their depth is endless in the front seven, but the secondary? Not so much. NFL prospect, Cameron Sutton, is no slouch. The problem is that the rest of his group is inexperienced, which gives Oklahoma the edge with Baker Mayfield being able to make quick decisions and hypothetically using the short passing game as the rushing game. Does Tennessee have enough speed to stop Lincoln Riley's bubble screens, short hitches, and running back swings? If so, Tennessee will utterly dominate Oklahoma. Is Oklahoma's offense more talented than Tennessee's defense? No, I do not believe so. Does Oklahoma pose a bad matchup for the Volunteers? Yes.
This game will be determined by who gets worn down the fastest. The Sooners are going to try and tire down the Volunteers defense, as the Volunteers will try to physically wear the Sooners down. Whoever gives first, will lose this game. Unfortunately for the Volunteers, their strengths on offense match with Oklahoma's on defense, as their weaknesses on defense match with Oklahoma's strengths on offense. The thing going in the Volunteers favor is that their home crowd will keep them in the game no matter how much momentum slides either way. This will allow them to stay comfortable. For this reason, this game will be an all-out war.
Key Matchups:
OT Brett Kendrick vs. OLB Eric Striker/Devante Bond
Vols Read Option vs. Sooners LB's
Vols Safeties vs. Oklahoma's Short Passing Game
DE Derek Barnett vs. LT Orlando Brown."
Lets Take A Look At Tennessee
