Second half discipline killed Tennessee Football
In the first half, Tennessee Football had no false starts and no turnovers while Alabama had two. However, they had to start a drive at the four-yard line in the second half off a kickoff due to a quirky rule where one player waived off returners while another ran with it. Then a holding penalty killed another drive. A strip-sack on Joe Milton to put Alabama up 34-20 clinched it.
A tale of two halves for Tennessee Football defensive front seven
Discipline wasn’t the only tale of two halves for the Vols in this game. The defensive front seven just wasn’t the same. After getting three sacks, including a strip-sack, in the first half, Jalen Milroe and Jase McClellan ran all over the Vols in the second half. He hit a deep shot on the first drive, but after that, his running is what sustained drives for Bama.
Joe Milton’s running game opened up his passing
One huge positive for Tennessee Football was that Joe Milton III finally used his legs. He ran it 15 for 59 yards. That opened up the passing attack immediately, and he easily had his most impressive performance all year, completing 28 of 41 for passes 271 yards and two touchdowns. That’s exactly what UT needs to make this passing game go.
Running backs never got going for Tennessee Football.
While Milton ran the ball well, the Vols’ running backs never got anything all game. That’s a huge part of Josh Heupel’s offense. Jaylen Wright had just 11 carries for 22 yards, Jabari Small had eight carries for 24 yards, and Dylan Sampson had four carries for 28 yards. Interior blocking just wasn’t there throughout the game.
Short-field conversions were nonexistent.
Twice in the first half Tennessee Football brought up a 1st and goal and had to settle for a field goal. They also couldn’t convert a 4th and inches. That was in the half in which they built a 20-7 lead. Then, in the second half, they were stopped on another 4th and 1. Then, late and needing a score, they were stopped on fourth down in the red zone.
