What Went (W)Right: Vanderbilt

Written By Tucker Harlin

Credit: University of Tennessee Athletics

By Tucker Harlin

A series once dominated with the phrase “five of the last eight”on one side has shifted to six of the last six on the other. Tennessee (10-2, 6-2) locked in a spot for the College Football Playoff with a 36-23 victory at Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5) Saturday afternoon.

The Vols needed about a quarter and a half to wake themselves up for an 11 a.m. CT kick on West End, but they dominated the middle eight and onward.

This is my assessment of a turbulent but important victory in Tennessee football history.

OFFENSE

The start for Tennessee’s offense was a dreadful one.

Dylan Sampson finished the year with lost fumbles in the first quarter of four SEC games. Nico Iamaleava under threw Dont’e Thornton for a pick directly following what should have been a moment shifting interception for the Vols. Miles Kitselman couldn’t clear the pile for a first down late in the first quarter, resulting in a turnover on downs.

But the three made up for their early woes.

Sampson eclipsed the century mark in rush yards for the tenth time this season, a critical component in Tennessee’s effort to close out the Commodores on the ground. He now holds the program record for most rush yards in a season.

Nico finished with 257 pass yards and four touchdowns through the air, one of which was to the aforementioned Kitselman. He also supplemented the run game with 42 yards, many of which were on pocket collapses in third and long situations.

Nico also showed a side we’ve never seen: the trash talker. For a quarterback who isn’t naturally vocal, I love this.

Especially when the dude on the other side said he’d win the game all by himself if he had to.

I thought it was refreshing to see DeSean Bishop return to form. Peyton Lewis is Jekyll and Hyde from run to run, and his injury allowed Bishop’s consistency back into the fold.

My biggest takeaway for the receivers is for them to get healthy. In particular, I think Tennessee could’ve won by more than two scores had Dont’e Thornton not left with an injury.

Bru McCoy injuring himself in warmups was an unwanted obstacle, and Squirrel White doesn’t get hurt if a Vandy defender doesn’t take a cheap shot to his back.

But nonetheless, the injury pileup allowed Tennessee to showcase it’s depth at receiver. Chris Brazzell stepped up with five catches for 54 yards while Mike Matthews caught his first SEC touchdown.

Despite the early punches, the offensive line played well.

Lance Heard and Javontez Spraggins picked up pre-snap penalties in the first half, but the officials soon learned the movement from Vandy’s defensive front was causing them to react. Dayne Davis did a little dance when the refs came to this realization.

The Vols were only taken down behind the line twice all game, neither of which were sacks.

DEFENSE

Tennessee’s defense was its soundest unit Saturday.

When the offense turns the ball over twice on your side of the 50, points will be surrendered eventually. Understanding how to defend an option-heavy offense takes a possession or two, something Vandy took advantage of the first time its offense took the field.

But the Commodores’ greatest strength turned into a liability over the course of the game. Diego Pavia played at less than 100% much of the season, but it became obvious the injuries were hindering his mobility.

Pavia was the beneficiary of roughing the passer calls as he regularly jumped when throwing. He finished the day 8/17 for 104 yards with a garbage touchdown.

Among the disruptors up front were Omarr Norman-Lott, Jaxson Moi, Josh Josephs, Bryson Eason, and Tyre West. These guys were responsible for a trio of sacks and a critical safety in the third quarter.

Teams that run the option aren’t going to challenge the secondary the way a conventional offense might. The method of attack against an opposing secondary is to lull it to sleep in order to catch it off guard when it decides to throw.

Outside of one early completion to Eli Stowers and the late touchdown pass to Richie Hoskins, the Vols stayed awake in their pass coverage.

Throwing the ball in the direction of Jermod McCoy is a fireable offense for opposing coordinators.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The play of Tennessee’s special teams was both great and terrible Saturday.

The easiest way to trigger Battered Vol Syndrome is to allow for Vanderbilt to run back an opening kickoff for a touchdown when a College Football Playoff berth is on the line. If it wasn’t for a holding penalty, Tennessee could’ve had a second disaster with defending Junior Sherrill returns.

That was the terrible part of the great and terrible special teams play.

If Jackson Ross doesn’t get a fortuitous bounce on a punt inside the 5-yard line, maybe we’re singing a different tune about the outcome of this game?

In other words, the kicking game broke and made the day for the Vols.

OVERALL

At the end of the day, 10-2 and a likely appearance in the College Football Playoff was my expectation for 2024. With those boxes checked, the only remaining question is where the Vols will play in three weekends’ time.

With just over 24 hours until the release of the next College Football Playoff rankings, keep your eyes on the committee’s treatment of Ohio State, teams on the outside looking in, and conference championship participants in the SEC, Big 10, and ACC.

I know that’s almost everyone in the race right now, but all of these games have a direct impact on where the Vols will open the playoffs.

Tucker Harlin
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