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Tennessee football needs a new kicker and more overreactions in Kentucky

Tennessee football needs a new kicker and more overreactions in Kentucky
Posted on | Posted on angela

Tennessee football heads into November with its College Football Playoff hopes fully intact.

The No. 7 Vols (7-1, 4-1 SEC) overcame another slow start to defeat Kentucky (3-6, 1-6) with a 28-18 victory at Neyland Stadium on Saturday.

Here are three overreactions after UT's third straight win:

Will Brooks is more than a feel-good story – he's just good

Forget the feel-good “Will Brooks is a walk in the park” story. Brooks is just a good time.

The senior safety had another game-winning interception on Saturday, reading a play from Gavin Wimsatt in the third quarter and returning it 66 yards to set up a touchdown. He had the game-winning interception against Alabama. He had a pick-six for a touchdown against NC State.

Brooks is reliable and solid in the secondary because he is always in the right place. His teammates rave about him because of his talent. The Vols will miss him next season, and it's not because he's a happy story. That's because he's a great football player and an integral part of Tennessee's defensive success.

It's time to bench Max Gilbert at kicker

Max Gilbert kicked two field goals in the first half. Neither went through the uprights, hitting a 43-yarder to the left in the first quarter and a 40-yarder to the right in the second quarter. He ripped a 34-yarder in the third quarter.

The redshirt freshman has now made 1 of 6 field goals in the last two games. He made 11-for-12 field goals in the first five games, but faltered against Alabama and Kentucky.

Sophomore Josh Turbyville is the backup kicker. He has yet to attempt a field goal this season, but is 2-2 on extra points.

Tennessee football has no elite wide receivers

Tennessee's offense has had all sorts of problems, especially in the first half of the last four games.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava played his best game this season against the Wildcats. His wide receivers did not match his level of play.

ADAMS: Maybe Tennessee football doesn't have to look like a playoff team to be one

The lack of elite wide receivers is a major problem. The unit leaves too many plays unfinished. The most notable Saturday was Chris Brazzell Jr. failing to score a touchdown in the first quarter when he dove for a ball in the end zone that he seemingly could have caught without breaking stride. Chas Nimrod had a terrible decline in the fourth quarter, which is a recurring theme.

Tennessee hasn't had a true, consistent threat from deep since Jalin Hyatt in 2022. No one on this team has shown a defense that has to respect a player as a downfield target game after game. It holds back the offense.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @By Mike Wilson. If you like Mike's coverage, consider a digital subscription to access everything.

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