London Vol
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GAME 12 – VANDERBILT 30 NOVEMBER 2024
In England we often describe a game as “a game of two half’s”, well what better way to describe what we witnessed last night, in the first 4 minutes 22 seconds (0-14), and then the next 55 minutes 38 seconds (36-9). After 15 years of managing to implode during the season, often when you least expected it (in fact the most Tennessee achieved was the ability to grab defeat from the jaws of victory), so after that dreadful start yesterday it felt that we had seen this film before. But the 2024 Vols are not the ones under Dooley, Jones and Pruitt, this team whilst being flawed, has differences, for instance it has backbone and resilience.
When we analyse the season in minutiae over the next few months you will start to see how many times that when the chips were down this team came through and that was no better highlighted than during those remaining 55 minutes 38 seconds. In fact, the run was even better as it was a 36-3 run with only a late “playing soft” touchdown conceded. This capped a second 10 win regular season in the last three years, its time to give Coach Heupel some serious credit for what he has done. Tennessee are now in uncharted waters for this is the first time this century we have made the Play Offs (OK I know they are expanded but it is still a big achievement) and who knows, there may be goodies to come.
Here are this week’s grades
QUARTERBACKS A-
Nico Iamaleava had his best game by far although it did feel in recent weeks that he was “heating up”. It is easy to look at the stats through the eyes of the score but what makes this performance even better was that this was playing from behind with so much at stake. There were two things I thought we learnt about Nico from this game a) He definitely is better throwing slants over the middle (3 TDs) as they are quite often on a “frozen rope”, than he is with those long bombs down the sidelines, b) he had an abundance of time to go through his reads thanks to great blocking for the Offensive Line and when he has this he showed the ability to punish you big time. Nico also had his best rushing day since last year’s Bowl game against Iowa, although he needs to learn to slide when he can if he wishes to have a prolonged career in College Football and the NFL. He doesn’t get a A+ due to the badly overthrown INT early on, but boy did he bounce back after that.
RUNNING BACKS A-
One always felt before the game that Tennessee might need to ride Dylan Sampson and as almost every week he did not disappoint, this time with a massive 178 yards on over 7 yards per pop. Like Christian Moore and Dalton Knecht, Sampson is posting historical stats on Knoxville and will be discussed for many years when records are being approached. Just like the Quarterback grade, it lost a mark for the early fumble. It was good to see DeSean Bishop back and with 61 yards, especially as Peyton Lewis got banged up, he is a good foil for Sampson.
WIDE RECEIVERS B+
Dont`e Thornton was again the star of this unit and his 86-yard TD was a huge TD at an important stage of the game. sadly not for the first time in Knoxville he failed to complete the game due to an injury. In the absence of Bru McCoy, Chris Brazzell II stepped up with 5 catches for 53 yards, now he hasn’t had the big season we hoped for on his arrival but maybe the light is coming on and he still has multiple years of eligibility left I believe. Mike Matthews is continuing to threaten a big breakout game with another 3 catches for 30 yards and a TD, we have a stud here just waiting to explode on the scene.
TIGHT ENDS A
Miles Kitselman is just about the best surprise story of the season (Will Brooks might argue this). He just seems to get better every week, and it is a shame he cannot come back next season. Kitselman seems to find space underneath so he can be an outlet on short routes including another endzone visit, he has really good hands and is probably our best blocking TE so what more do you want from a TE?
OFFENSIVE LINE A
I was very impressed with O`Line last night, as mentioned Iamaleava had loads of time to size up the field. Combined with the fact that the Running Backs ran for 281 yards, it showed the “big boys” were winning the line of scrimmage. I know Lance Heard has had a tricky start at Tennessee and he still is good for a false start every game, but I think he is getting better, and he does have the ability and athleticism to pull and to get to the second level. We will need him next season with all the lineman out of eligibility. I am sure I won’t ever want to upset John Campbell as this man is one angry dude (can you use this word in America?) especially when you light a fire underneath him, I know you need to be disciplined and he also gives away a weekly penalty as well, but I wouldn’t like to line up opposite him.
DEFENSIVE LINE B+
Not for the first time this season, the D`Line started slowly, then made adjustments finally strangling the opposition and last night was no different. Due to the depth which allows great rotation, many players had “splash” moments, but I would like to highlight Tyre West`s Safety and I think Joshua Josephs was probably the star of the show in this department. If he comes back next season he will be the next DE after Derek Barnett, Darrell Taylor, Byron Young and James Pearce who is going to light up the NFL.
LINEBACKERS B
It was important that the Linebackers had a big game because Vanderbilt's strength is in the running game especially the Quarterback, so Arion Carter having 7 tackles ½ TFL and 1 Break-Up was key to stopping Vanderbilt pulling away after that fast start. Kalib Perry again seemed to be his main partner
DEFENSIVE BACKS A
The last few weeks Ricky Gibson was the star but this time it was Jermod McCoy. He has a massive INT in the endzone and this was another pivotal moment stopping the game getting completely out of hand. His highlights did not stop there with several big stops and blanket coverage. Boo Carter had a big open field tackle and Christian Harrison and Jalen McMurray have been big contributors recently. I can’t believe how this unit has gone from “Zero to Hero” in 2024 and nearly everybody is back next season.
BIG MOMENT
17-7 down and Tennessee have a 50 yard field goal opportunity, If Max Gilbert misses then Vanderbilt would have had great field position and more importantly stopped Tennessee’s momentum. 50 yards is about Gilberts limit and the ball bounces over only after having hit the crossbar, memories of Chase McGrath and Alabama in 2022 anybody. This was massive especially with the knowledge that a loss would have blown the Play Off opportunity.
Please post your comments and opinion please.
GO VOLS
In England we often describe a game as “a game of two half’s”, well what better way to describe what we witnessed last night, in the first 4 minutes 22 seconds (0-14), and then the next 55 minutes 38 seconds (36-9). After 15 years of managing to implode during the season, often when you least expected it (in fact the most Tennessee achieved was the ability to grab defeat from the jaws of victory), so after that dreadful start yesterday it felt that we had seen this film before. But the 2024 Vols are not the ones under Dooley, Jones and Pruitt, this team whilst being flawed, has differences, for instance it has backbone and resilience.
When we analyse the season in minutiae over the next few months you will start to see how many times that when the chips were down this team came through and that was no better highlighted than during those remaining 55 minutes 38 seconds. In fact, the run was even better as it was a 36-3 run with only a late “playing soft” touchdown conceded. This capped a second 10 win regular season in the last three years, its time to give Coach Heupel some serious credit for what he has done. Tennessee are now in uncharted waters for this is the first time this century we have made the Play Offs (OK I know they are expanded but it is still a big achievement) and who knows, there may be goodies to come.
Here are this week’s grades
QUARTERBACKS A-
Nico Iamaleava had his best game by far although it did feel in recent weeks that he was “heating up”. It is easy to look at the stats through the eyes of the score but what makes this performance even better was that this was playing from behind with so much at stake. There were two things I thought we learnt about Nico from this game a) He definitely is better throwing slants over the middle (3 TDs) as they are quite often on a “frozen rope”, than he is with those long bombs down the sidelines, b) he had an abundance of time to go through his reads thanks to great blocking for the Offensive Line and when he has this he showed the ability to punish you big time. Nico also had his best rushing day since last year’s Bowl game against Iowa, although he needs to learn to slide when he can if he wishes to have a prolonged career in College Football and the NFL. He doesn’t get a A+ due to the badly overthrown INT early on, but boy did he bounce back after that.
RUNNING BACKS A-
One always felt before the game that Tennessee might need to ride Dylan Sampson and as almost every week he did not disappoint, this time with a massive 178 yards on over 7 yards per pop. Like Christian Moore and Dalton Knecht, Sampson is posting historical stats on Knoxville and will be discussed for many years when records are being approached. Just like the Quarterback grade, it lost a mark for the early fumble. It was good to see DeSean Bishop back and with 61 yards, especially as Peyton Lewis got banged up, he is a good foil for Sampson.
WIDE RECEIVERS B+
Dont`e Thornton was again the star of this unit and his 86-yard TD was a huge TD at an important stage of the game. sadly not for the first time in Knoxville he failed to complete the game due to an injury. In the absence of Bru McCoy, Chris Brazzell II stepped up with 5 catches for 53 yards, now he hasn’t had the big season we hoped for on his arrival but maybe the light is coming on and he still has multiple years of eligibility left I believe. Mike Matthews is continuing to threaten a big breakout game with another 3 catches for 30 yards and a TD, we have a stud here just waiting to explode on the scene.
TIGHT ENDS A
Miles Kitselman is just about the best surprise story of the season (Will Brooks might argue this). He just seems to get better every week, and it is a shame he cannot come back next season. Kitselman seems to find space underneath so he can be an outlet on short routes including another endzone visit, he has really good hands and is probably our best blocking TE so what more do you want from a TE?
OFFENSIVE LINE A
I was very impressed with O`Line last night, as mentioned Iamaleava had loads of time to size up the field. Combined with the fact that the Running Backs ran for 281 yards, it showed the “big boys” were winning the line of scrimmage. I know Lance Heard has had a tricky start at Tennessee and he still is good for a false start every game, but I think he is getting better, and he does have the ability and athleticism to pull and to get to the second level. We will need him next season with all the lineman out of eligibility. I am sure I won’t ever want to upset John Campbell as this man is one angry dude (can you use this word in America?) especially when you light a fire underneath him, I know you need to be disciplined and he also gives away a weekly penalty as well, but I wouldn’t like to line up opposite him.
DEFENSIVE LINE B+
Not for the first time this season, the D`Line started slowly, then made adjustments finally strangling the opposition and last night was no different. Due to the depth which allows great rotation, many players had “splash” moments, but I would like to highlight Tyre West`s Safety and I think Joshua Josephs was probably the star of the show in this department. If he comes back next season he will be the next DE after Derek Barnett, Darrell Taylor, Byron Young and James Pearce who is going to light up the NFL.
LINEBACKERS B
It was important that the Linebackers had a big game because Vanderbilt's strength is in the running game especially the Quarterback, so Arion Carter having 7 tackles ½ TFL and 1 Break-Up was key to stopping Vanderbilt pulling away after that fast start. Kalib Perry again seemed to be his main partner
DEFENSIVE BACKS A
The last few weeks Ricky Gibson was the star but this time it was Jermod McCoy. He has a massive INT in the endzone and this was another pivotal moment stopping the game getting completely out of hand. His highlights did not stop there with several big stops and blanket coverage. Boo Carter had a big open field tackle and Christian Harrison and Jalen McMurray have been big contributors recently. I can’t believe how this unit has gone from “Zero to Hero” in 2024 and nearly everybody is back next season.
BIG MOMENT
17-7 down and Tennessee have a 50 yard field goal opportunity, If Max Gilbert misses then Vanderbilt would have had great field position and more importantly stopped Tennessee’s momentum. 50 yards is about Gilberts limit and the ball bounces over only after having hit the crossbar, memories of Chase McGrath and Alabama in 2022 anybody. This was massive especially with the knowledge that a loss would have blown the Play Off opportunity.
Please post your comments and opinion please.
GO VOLS
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