INTRO
It shouldn’t have been as hard as it was but Tennessee went on the road and beat a ranked opponent in a game that may prove to be a signature win for Josh Heupel’s program and certainly could be the impetus for a marked improvement in Year 2. The Vols had enough self-inflicted gaffes to lose two games but somehow made just enough plays to escape with a victory
VOLS PLAY BACKWARDS FROM WHAT HEUPELBALL USUALLY IS
-The defense rather than their offensive counterparts carried the day.
-An offense that led the nation in 1st Quarter scoring and often bogged down in the 2nd in 2021 didn’t score until the 1:02 mark of the first then rung up 17 points in the second.
-Pitt ran 83 offensive plays to Tennessee’s 77
-The Vols managed only 2.6 yards per rushing attempt yet were successful on several 3rd & 4th and short running plays
-Tennessee had more sacks (4-3) and tackles for loss (9-5) than a Pitt defense that lived in team’s backfield just a season ago.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
-Hendon Hooker (27-42; 325 yds; 2 TDs) was not as accurate as he needs to be or almost certainly will be as the season progresses. He was high and long early and a little wild in the strike zone afterwards. He once again avoided any disastrous plays and threw two TDs without an interception including the eventual game winner in OT.
-Cedric Tillman (9 rec; 162 yds; 1 TD) also is having some early-season hiccups with a dropped TD pass and failing to haul in a 3rd-down attempt over the middle that would have provided a critical 1st down at a time the Vols needed to stretch the lead. The defender had his left hand grasped initially on the first and he was slightly over led by Hooker on the second but those are balls that Cedric hauled in last year.
-Jalin Hyatt (11-73) is about to fulfill the promise so many felt he was destined for. He looks to be a high-volume receiver out of the slot.
-Bru McCoy (4-58-1) is a stud and will make the most out of whatever slice of the WR pie he is served.
-Jaylen Wright averaged 5.2 ypc and was the Vols most effective RB on Saturday but won’t keep getting the ball if he fumbles every week.
-Jabari Small vultured a couple of TDs and seems to be the Vols short yardage runner of choice -likely due to Wright’s ball security issues- but he just doesn’t look like a high-carry SEC back.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
-The Vol ‘D” saved their bacon on an unusual off day for the offense. Their physical play led to Pitt starting QB Kedon Slovis watching the second half from the sidelines and surrendered only 10 points in the second half and overtime combined.
-As mentioned in the intro Tennessee had more sacks (4-3) and TFLs (9-5) than a veteran Pitt defense that was known for both
-Even when they were unable to drag down Pitt ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage Tennessee’s constant penetration was a problem for the Panthers all game long.
-Aaron Beasley is a very underrated player. He’s always around the ball as his 14 tackles; 1 TFL; 3 QBH and 1 PBU attest to.
-Trevon Flowers was the recipient of the
‘Make Beano use a Stream of Profanity” Award for his fumble- ridiculously attempting to high point catch a punt- but he made the two biggest defensive plays of the game. His 1st Quarter interception stopped the Vols early bleeding and his 12-yard sack of Pitt QB Nick Patti in OT was the coup de grace
-Roman Harrison made the most of his playing time with 5 tack; 1 tfl and 2 QBH
-The Vols interior D-line did a nice job contributing to the Panthers measly 3.5 ypc rushing the ball.
SPECIAL TEAMS
-It was a forgettable day -and really regrettable for the John Majors Classic- for the Vols Special teams. A blocked punt and the aforementioned Flowers fumble on a Pitt punt made the victory much more difficult than it should have been. Chase McGrath kept the unit from getting a straight F going 2-2 on FG attempts of 37 and 51 yards.
BONUS POINT
-I thought Heupel managed the end of the first half masterfully which led to a late McGrath FG that ultimately allowed the Vols to make it to OT. Instead of going at break neck speed and forcing the issue with an unfavorable down and distance he played to punt and give Pitt an opportunity to make a late mistake which they did gifting the Vols 3-points.
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