It seemed like a complete performance as Tennessee’s football team thrashed the Ball State Cardinals 59-10 in their opener. Lost in the fun, though, was an issue that was a question throughout the offseason and still appears to be unresolved: the return game.
The Vols had an illegal block on one kickoff return by Jimmy Holiday, which spotted them the ball on their own six-yard line. He had a 16-yard return on another kickoff. There were no punt returns in the game. Although a small sample size, this raises questions about UT’s return game in the post Velus Jones Jr. era.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” special teams coach Mike Ekeler said of the unit’s performance Wednesday night on Vol Calls. We’ve got a great opportunity this week to make some huge strides, which you should between Game 1 and Game 2.”
Saturday’s matchup at the Pittsburgh Panthers may depend on a big special teams play from Tennessee football. Last year, the Vols scored their first touchdown off a blocked punt. Sure, that’s not the same as a regular return, but it shows they need such an advantage in the matchup.
To be fair to the return game, Ekeler noted that the Vols received lots of punts near midfield, so they really only put their punt return game out once. Still, he doesn’t have a clear replacement for Jones in that role the way Holiday has taken over on kickoff returns.
“You’ve got Tre (Flowers) and you’ve got Dee Williams and Jimmy Holiday,” he said of the unit. “You’ve got Squirrel White. You’ve got a lot of different guys.”
Although the return game is a question, it’s not like the opener didn’t provide a lot of positives from special teams. Chase McGrath hit his only field goal, a 34-yarder, and he remains perfect on extra points ever since joining the Vols. Paxton Brooks averaged 46.5 yards a punt on two punts.
Kickoff and punt coverage was solid too. Ball State never had a punt return, and they averaged under 20 yards a kickoff return. Ekeler noted five true freshmen were on the field covering different special teams units at times. He said the experience in the room is helping to bring him along.
“We’ve got a great room,” he said. “We’ve got a good influx of young guys in there, too.”
Special teams coverage can also help young players develop into starting roles on defense. Tamarion McDonald had an interception on the first play of the game against Ball State in his first start at STAR. In his postgame press conference, Josh Heupel touted McDonald’s experience on special teams to prepare him for that role.
Ekeler, meanwhile, brought up Christian Charles and Doneiko Slaughter as well. Charles blocked the punt last year against Pitt, and now he’s in the rotation at cornerback. Slaughter, meanwhile, is seeing a good bit of action at nickel himself.
“All those guys got in the game early, got their feet wet and went out there and made plays, so the game slowed down for them, and they got in on defense,” he said. “It was like, ‘No big deal. We’ve been on it all day.’ You get 30 plays a game on special teams, and you’re out there running around with your hair on fire making full-speed decisions and wrecking shop. So, shoot, it translates over to offense and defense.”
