It’s Monday. Yes…..it is.
No, I don’t have it in me for some catchy intro. You know why. Let’s get into it…
1) The thing that stuck out to me the most about the Vols’ 31-17 loss to Georgia was the complete disappearance of Tennessee’s supposedly dominant defense.
James Pearce, Jr. and the rest of the Vols’ front was AWOL for almost all of the game. I remember Pearce stunting and getting a tackle for loss. Omarr Norman-Lott had one stuff I remember. Same for Bryson Eason. At least that’s from what I recall.
The rest of the time, the group was absolutely stonewalled time and again when the Vols rushed four, which was often. No pressure, all freaking day for Carson Beck. And when he had time, he was able to throw with excellent timing and precision to a group of very average Georgia pass catchers, with the exception of Oscar Delp, who’s a stud.
Unbelievably frustrating to watch that domino effect, and it started up front. Have to wonder if the Vols’ terrific front had been masking some issues in the secondary outside of Jermod McCoy, who also didn’t have the greatest of games on Saturday.
A terrible time from a terrible performance from the team’s worst group.
2) Tennessee’s passing game continues to flummox me.
I thought this was supposed to be one of the best and deepest WR rooms that Tennessee has had. It’s been anything but that this year.
Squirrel White, to his credit, had a solid game and made some nice catches. But I question the separation the rest of the group failed to achieve. It just didn’t seem like guys were open down the field. Dont’e Thornton had, I believe, one target that he dropped. He was absolutely a key for this team on Saturday night, and he wasn’t a factor in the least.
I don’t know why this passing game to its wide receivers has failed so badly since September, but it’s cost the team in both losses this year. No doubt about it.
Nico’s not blameless here either. I just think this WR group isn’t doing enough to help him out right now.
3) Now, the path of getting to the CFP could be a bit of a bumpy one.
I know the odds of getting in are slightly better than not per the oddsmakers, but it’s still a numbers game to me with the slew of candidates. The committee also clearly wasn’t a big fan of the Vols play of late on the offensive side of the ball, and now the defense just got worked. I fully expect UT to be on the outside looking in on Tuesday night.
4) That being said, since there are a ton of teams in play, there are a lot of possibilities as far as upsets that could tilt the scales in the Vols’ favor – if UT wins out.
It’s kind of gross, but cheering heavily for Florida on Saturday against Ole Miss is the thing to do. The Gators played very well last Saturday in dispatching with LSU, so there’s a legit chance they could spring the upset against the Rebels. If Ole Miss wins, then they’re all but locked to reach 10-2 and likely make the field with only toothless Mississippi State left on the slate.
I have the most hope in that occurring and in Indiana getting their doors blown off by Ohio State in the horseshoe. And yes, a lopsided result would need to happen. I could see the committee giving the Hoosiers the nod if they were to lose a close game.
Also, Notre Dame falling to USC (I think they’ll handle Army on Saturday) is something that’s in the cards. USC would have plenty of motivation to try to derail they chief rival’s season, and they have the roster talent to do it.
Lastly, Texas falling to Texas A&M next weekend could shape things in the Vols’ favor against the Longhorns. Texas has absolutely no wins on their resume worth a darn, and at 10-2, they’d match up unfavorably with the Vols. Texas A&M still has that albatross of a 44-20 loss to South Carolina hanging around their necks, which could keep them out if they upset Texas to reach 10-2 but lose convincingly in the SEC title game.
Oh, and Alabama winning the SEC, while mega-gross, could help raise the Vols’ resume if it comes down to best wins on selection day.
Quite the tangled web, but one that hopefully will see Tennessee in the playoff when all is said and done.
Go Vols!