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Tennessee Volunteers Offensive Grade Report vs. Arkansas


Tennessee Volunteers Offensive Grade Report vs. Arkansas

Tennessee was defeated by the Arkansas Razorbacks 19-14 on Saturday night. Tennessee's offensive play wasn't great and was easily their worst performance of the season so far.

Following the contest, Tennessee on SI prepared an evaluation report on the offense.

This wasn't a great performance for Nico Iamaleava, as it was the first time this season that he played a game without a touchdown pass. He had a turnover-free game but missed a few key passes that either went over the ball or went too deep. He missed Squirrel White on a touchdown pass deep down the field due to a clear overthrow. Iamaleava had some good passes and didn't play poorly, he just didn't do enough to live up to the hype he had all season. Iamaleava cannot be completely discredited as he has suffered a number of injuries to his wide receiver group, including three of his favorite targets Bru McCoy, Squirrel White and leading receiver Dont'e Thornton Jr.

The running backs are the only reason Tennessee was even in this game. Dylan Sampson averaged 6.3 yards per carry on the day with 53 yards rushing. He finished the game with 138 yards and two touchdowns, which would offset any points Tennessee scored. DeSean Bishop didn't have many runs as he only had three during the game, but he did make up 19 yards. He also averaged over 6 yards per carry. This would easily be the best group on the field in Tennessee's offensive possessions.

This group wasn't the best, but that's not entirely their fault. With Bru McCoy, Squirrel White and Dont'e Thornton relegated, the Vols needed someone to step up. They never let anyone step in in big situations. Luckily McCoy and Thornton returned to the game which was huge but it was obvious they were limited. Things didn't work out for Chris Brazzell the way Vols fans hoped, and it's a matter of time before it happens. The roster is starting to shape into clear starters White, McCoy and Thornton when healthy. This group had trouble opening up, and when it did, it didn't last long. Even before the three injuries, separation was an issue throughout the game. This is one of the main reasons they earn a C+

Once again this group would feel non-existent. Miles Kitselman would have two catches for 24 yards on the day and neither Holden Staes nor Ethan Davis would be targeted. That's a warning sign given the tight group's early success. This group also didn't block particularly well at times and was a bit sloppy. This can be looked at in many different ways and could well mean a higher ranking. However, compared to the past and how they were abused, we can't help but rate them a C-.

This Tennessee offensive line was undisciplined at the wrong times and resulted in a lot of mistakes for a variety of different reasons. This group didn't protect Iamaleava particularly well, as the offensive line would give up four sacks on the day. That's a season high for anyone who didn't know. This offensive line was also fully healthy and still didn't look great, which makes this all seem even more worrisome.

Tennessee will look to bounce back when it takes on long-time rival Florida.

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