3rd Quarter
13:56 – Joshua Dobbs and Von Pearson connect for a nice 3rd down conversion to open the second half here. The offensive line forms a nice pocket for Dobbs, who has ample time to read the defense, step up, and deliver a perfect pass to Pearson at midfield. The pass drops in over the trailing corner – but in front of the closing safeties – and hits Pearson right in the numbers. By hitting Pearson in stride, Dobbs allows the wideout to gain an extra 20 yards after the catch. Tennessee didn’t throw it down the field a lot against BGSU (they didn’t have to), but they looked very good when they did…This leads me to believe that they may be saving some route combinations and plays specifically for next week’s tilt against the Sooners.
Nice pocket. Nice route. Nice throw. And a nice block by Wolf to spring Pearson after the catch https://t.co/VRhuki6nLa
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 6, 2015
12:59 – The Vols’ run game sputters a bit after the long completion to Pearson, so they take a shot at the end zone on 3rd-and-6 to Preston Williams. Williams has position on his man, and nearly comes down with the catch, but the Bowling Green defender is able to knock it away at the last second. This is a catch that the coaches are expecting Preston Williams to make with regularity, so expect them to continue taking shots his way.
No doubt that Preston Williams would like to have this one back. https://t.co/nYzLGFvj22
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 6, 2015
12:47 – This is where Bowling Green’s offense becomes incredibly hard to defend – especially if you are being forced to play a young secondary and their position coach is suspended. Bowling Green sends Ronnie Moore – arguably their best receiver – in motion, forcing a switch in the secondary. Malik Foreman passes Moore off to Brian Randolph, who is forced to sprint up from his safety position to cover Moore. Bowling Greens snaps before Randolph can get in position, and immediately fires a quick pass to Moore. Moore slips past Randolph and jets down the sideline for a big play. This play would set up a touchdown run a few plays later.
BGSU uses motion/shifts to put pressure on Tennessee's secondary and hits Ronnie Moore for a big play. https://t.co/RNd3ACo4bL
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 6, 2015
11:30 – Evan Berry proves that he’s still got “it” when it comes to kickoff returns with a nice 70-yard return. This one may have gone the distance if not for the kicker bringing Berry down by his facemask.
11:23 – Easy play here for Joshua Dobbs and Ethan Wolf on a well-designed route out of the backfield. Tennessee fakes the jet sweep to Alvin Kamara to freeze the linebackers and then sneak wolf up the seam unguarded. The Offensive line gives Dobbs plenty of time in the pocket, and Dobbs drops a perfect dime over the linebacker’s head to Wolf for the score.
*The commentator said that he thought Dobbs was throwing to Josh Smith on the post route, but Butch Jones said that Wolf was the designated target on his television show.*
Dobbs to Wolf. Making it look easy on a one-play drive. Vols lead 42-27. https://t.co/XPxZtTDMd5
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 5, 2015
10:46 – Tennessee runs this exact same play with regularity, and it’s easy to see why. The fake block freezes Micah Abernathy and Johnson finds his man wide open down the sideline.
Fake the WR screen and go over the top…Tennessee has run a very similar play under Butch Jones. It works. https://t.co/YmzfNJmZYA
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 6, 2015
10:10 – Great plays back-to-back by Brian Randolph help Tennessee hold BGSU off the board on this drive. He defends the tight end well on a pass to the end zone and then blocks the field goal attempt. That’s what you like to see from your senior safety.
WEATHER DELAY – Because weather delays can have highlights too.
Tackle of the week
— OutKick Bets (@OutKickBets) September 6, 2015
8:19 – Not a great start after the weather delay by Tennessee’s defense, but BGSU’s offense deserves a lot of credit for this drive. They ran zone-read and threw in some run/pass options for Matt Johnson. Just a very well-designed drive that took advantage of Tennessee’s weather delay adjustments on defense. Tennessee was able to force the field goal, however, and Bowling Green has put points on the board for the last time at the 4:31 mark of the third quarter.
3:30 – As good as the running game was against BGSU, there’s still some room to improve. If Kendrick can get this block on the pull, there’s a chance that Dobbs is still running.
Still some room for improvement in the run game. If Wiesman gets that block, Dobbs may be gone. https://t.co/gz8w4JjxKc
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 6, 2015
1:59 – Josh Dobbs. Sack Eraser.
Too long for a Vine. Too amazing not to include. pic.twitter.com/uw4vlTUL9n
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 6, 2015
– Another missed field goal by Aaron Medley followed that scramble play by Dobbs. Very surprising start to the season for Medley.
:34 – When are teams going to learn that this is a terrible idea?
Stop throwing at Cam Sutton. https://t.co/6nJa3wSZSu
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 6, 2015
:14 – House call by Alvin Kamara to close the third quarter. Butch Jones said on his coach’s show that this play was “drawn up on the sidelines” after Mike DeBord and some of the players noticed a weakness in Bowling Green’s defense. Very impressive.
Alvin Kamara: also good. pic.twitter.com/NeL1tGfvAS
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 6, 2015
