IIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTT’SSSSSSSSS……. not Monday.
Sorry folks. I was one of the many, many people impacted by the Hargray internet outage yesterday. Was without internet for basically all waking hours. So I couldn’t dump my freshly-brewed Tennessee Vols-related thoughts out of my head into your glasses yesterday.
I will proceed to do that right now…
1) I had a feeling that, if these Vols were indeed different, they’d find a way to win this game in convincing fashion. I picked that in our staff picks piece, but you always have that wonder if your team’s effort and execution will match your hopes and expectations.
Boy…..did they.
The score in the third quarter might have been only 22-3, but it felt like Tennessee had them up by significantly more than that.
2) And, as expected, it started with a defensive line that rotated guys in and beat the heck out of the Sooners’ backfield all game long. The Sooners rushed for 1.1 yards per carry as a team. OU quarterbacks were pressured on 22 of 45 dropbacks, which, in case you’re wondering, is a very high mark.
3) As a result, Jackson Arnold was so bad that he ended up getting benched during the third quarter. He was 7/16 for 54 yards with an interception where Jermod McCoy dropped into coverage beneath the receiver and cherry picked an easy interception. No clue how Arnold didn’t see him. Overall, Tennessee absolutely wrecked the former five-star recruit.
Freshman Michael Hawkins, Jr. came in and eventually led OU to two touchdowns drives when the game was almost completely beyond doubt at that point. Hawkins was named the starter for OU against Auburn this weekend. As such, it looks like Tim Banks’ defense delivered the coup de grace for Arnold’s time as a starter – at least for the time being.
4) How refreshing was it to see a receiver running deep down the field….AND THE QUARTERBACK WEARING A TENNESSEE JERSEY DELIVER AN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT FOOTBALL TO HIM???
That’s something Vol fans enjoyed in 2022, missed almost completely in 2023, and now will apparently get to see again in 2024. Yay for fun chunks plays!
5) Speaking of that, the Vols’ big outside targets really came through on Saturday. Bru McCoy had two huge plays to set up scores, and Donte Thornton took a deep slant, and turned it into a 66-yard touchdown. The Vols have some dudes on the outside with experience, including Chris Brazzell II, so I’m not entirely sure when the young and talented guys are going to start working in more. Still, it’s a tremendous problem to have. What a group.
6) I really hope Lance Heard uses the two weeks between games to get healthy. Same for John Campbell. Heard was announced as being out on Friday, and his absence was pretty notable with Dayne Davis starting there before moving to the other side. It was kind of a mess without them on the field. With them out there, this offense is on another level. Rest up, guys.
7) Next up is Arkansas after the bye. The Hogs could be 4-1 heading into October 5 if they can find a way to get past Texas A&M on Saturday at Jerry World. That could mean another College Gameday Saturday, given the absence of a slam dunk game on the slate that day.
Don’t sleep on the Hogs. They’re a late-game meltdown against Okie State away from being undefeated right now. I think the Vols CAN win there since they did at OU, but it’s one that they’d better not take lightly one slight bit if they expect to win.
Go Vols!