Tennessee heads into its matchup with Auburn trying to put the Texas loss behind it, and the formula for a rebound is pretty straightforward. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with former Vols offensive coordinator Alex Golesh now leading the Tigers.
If the Vols are going to leave with a win, they need a cleaner, more complete afternoon than they had against Texas. That starts with the ground game.
When Josh Heupel’s offense is humming, Tennessee is usually winning at the line of scrimmage and turning that into balance everywhere else. That was the case against Georgia Tech in Week Two, when the Vols ran all over the Yellow Jackets and never let them settle in.
It was the opposite against Texas. Tennessee managed just 70 rushing yards on 40 carries, and neither DeSean Bishop nor Daune Morris got to 35 yards.
That can’t be the script against Auburn. The backs need room to work, but the offensive line has to set the tone first.
If that part of the offense wakes up, it also unlocks the passing game, which leans heavily on play action. Tennessee normally uses play action on nearly half of its dropbacks, but that number dropped to just 10% against Texas.
The other big job is keeping Byrum Brown from taking over the game. Auburn’s offense runs through him, and the threat starts on the ground. Brown leads the Tigers with 237 rushing yards and has scored three rushing touchdowns.
Tennessee’s pass rush has been a strength, and it has to stay disruptive. But getting pressure alone won’t be enough if Brown keeps escaping and making plays with his legs. The Vols need to finish those chances with sacks or force him into throwaways instead of letting him turn broken plays into first downs.
There’s also the turnover factor. When Brown is forced to throw under pressure, he can be vulnerable. Through four games, he has six passing touchdowns and five interceptions.
And then there’s the health issue, which has become impossible to ignore. Tennessee has seen a player suffer a season-ending injury in every game so far this season, pushing the total to seven for the year when preseason injuries are included.
The list includes key pieces, too. Wendell Moe Jr., the All-SEC offensive guard, was ruled out for the season after getting hurt early against Texas.
Tight end Ethan Davis was injured in the win at Georgia Tech. Safety Edrees Farooq was hurt in the preseason and won’t return until after the season.
Injuries happen, but Tennessee could use a clean week for once. Avoiding another major loss against Auburn would go a long way.
In Other News...
Alex Golesh Had A Telling Read On How Neyland Shifted This Game
Auburn left Neyland Stadium with a 24-14 loss to Tennessee, but head coach Alex Golesh came away talking as much about the shift in his own offense as the final score. After a slow start and some penalties that hampered the Tigers early, Golesh said the group found better rhythm in the second half, with the run game helping settle things down and the passing attack starting to look more efficient.
For Tennessee, that kind of midgame adjustment is exactly the sort of wrinkle Neyland has a way of amplifying. The Volunteers were able to lean on the atmosphere and the flow of the game as Auburns offense began to click more cleanly, but Goleshs comments suggested his team left with a clearer sense of where the execution improved and where the early mistakes made the difference. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee's Offense Just Sparked A Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Tennessee got the result it needed against Auburn, but the way it got there left plenty to sort through. The Vols pulled out a 24-14 win to move to 4-1, and the offenses first-half unevenness put an immediate spotlight on true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon before the ground game took over and steadied things.
DeSean Bishop was the difference-maker, putting together a career-best outing with 220 rushing yards and three touchdowns to carry Tennessee through a tense finish. Even as the offense searched for consistency, the defense helped close the door, with Dejuan Lane adding an interception and a sack in the second half to keep Auburn from mounting a late push. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Added More Fuel To A Debate Fans Can't Ignore
Tennessee left Auburn with a 24-14 win that nudged the Vols to 4-1 overall and 1-1 in SEC play, and the reward on the national side was just as notable. The coaches moved Tennessee up three spots to No. 14 in the latest poll, placing the Vols sixth among SEC teams and keeping them in the thick of a conference race that still feels wide open in October.
The bigger conversation, though, is happening under center. Josh Heupel addressed the quarterback change during the game but stopped short of naming a starter for next week, leaving Tennessee to head into Arkansas with the position still unsettled. For a team that has already shown it can win while sorting through that question, the next week now feels like another test of both timing and trust. [Read more 🡒]