Third Quarter
15:00: Maybe the best overall play of the second half on offense. Ethan Wolf can’t quite get the edge sealed for Hurd, but Hurd uses his athleticism to get around Eric Striker and then good down-field blocking from Von Pearson and Josh Smith help him get to the next level for a big gain.
Rare loss of contain for Striker here, Hurd gets the corner for one of just a few strong offensive plays in… https://t.co/gPQN7rjhp7
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 14, 2015
14:40: Great block by Ethan Wolf to spring Josh Smith for a nice gain on a quick screen play.
14:15: There might’ve been some confusion on the play call on this big loss for Hurd. He seems to be looking to get it outside, but Jashon Robertson it pulling, probably looking to kick the man out who is waiting for Hurd, but instead of setting up that block there, he floats to the outside and gets pulled down for a loss that would ultimately play a big role in this drive stalling out despite getting to the OU 24.
13:45: This one hurts. Great route by Alex Ellis to get behind the defense, Dobbs pump fakes, moves out of the pocket and hits him in the hands for what should’ve been a touchdown and a 24-3 lead. Ellis simply drops it. Different game if he makes that catch.
13:31: Medley, kicking from the hash, simply drives it straight here and it’s no good. This drive comes back to haunt UT later – clearly the Vols’ best chance to add to the lead in the second half before the OU comeback.
12:45: Nice job by Derek Barnett to get all the way around Orlando Brown and to Mayfield, who is trying to escape to his right. You can’t help but notice the strength of Mayfield, though, who has Barnett and McKenzie on his back and still momentarily slips free before Barnett gets his foot again and trips him up for his first sack of the year. Credit the secondary for giving Barnett to get there – partially a coverage sack.
10:48: Rare Marquez North sighting. That’s why he needs to be targeted more: gets open short of the stick and powers forward to get the first down on third and six. (followed by a false start by Josh Malone…Vols shot themselves in the foot way too much this half)
– There’s pressure almost every play early in the third quarter from Oklahoma. Dobbs and the deep passing attack aren’t able to make OU pay though.
9:14: Sliding Derek Barnett inside to defensive tackle caused some issues for OU’s offensive line. But as much pressure as he and the Vols’ defensive line was able to get at times in the second half, Mayfield was equally as good at eluding it.
Sliding Barnett inside was a wrinkle OU's OL struggled with, but Mayfield usually found an escape https://t.co/G60pbtFbAP
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 14, 2015
– Just no rhythm during the drive that ends at 7:13 of the third. OU’s defense has the Vols off guard, the receivers aren’t getting separation against man coverage and OU did a good job reading the screen passes
6:17: More great pressure from Tennessee’s defensive front on Mayfield here. He, yet again, avoids it for awhile, but can’t find enough room to get the first and OU punts from deep again.
4:44: Nice throw to Smith here for the first time and some questionable stuff going on after the whistle. It’s hard to tell, but it looks like the OU defenders who tackles Smith might be trying to stomp him, and at the very least, another defender comes in and kicks the ball away from the spot. That’s a delay of game call the refs missed. You can’t do that to any team – especially a tempo one.
Some questionable stuff going on after the whistle here. At the very least, you can't kick the ball away li… https://t.co/kBW4n3w42L
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 14, 2015
4:00: Yet again, Vols get a first down and then shoot themselves in foot. Von Pearson takes the jet sweep handoff, slips and his knee hits the ground for a three-yard loss.
3:34: Vols don’t see the delayed corner blitz here, OU gets to Dobbs and knocks the ball out before he’s down and picks it up for a would-be scoop and score. The Vols are saved by the ruling that Dobbs’ forward progress was stopped, which worked against them in Nashville last week. Close call and not sure if it was the right one. Dodged a bullet there.
#Vols saved by the forward progress call that hurt them vs. BG last week. Very close. https://t.co/EPXdKZ7eC1
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 14, 2015
:40: Simple miscommunication for Mayfield and his receiver here. He thinks the slot is going out, he cuts in and nice grab by Todd Kelly Jr. for his second INT.
Looks like Mayfield thought the slot WR was running an out. Good awareness by TK to grab his second pick. https://t.co/Sm9St09mVx
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 14, 2015
:34: Great effort by Hurd to dive into a group of Sooners standing around to recover his own fumble, but yet another negative play that kills momentum immediately following the interception.
Nice recovery from Hurd, but way too many negative, momentum-killing plays like this for UT (this was right… https://t.co/LNo6OLt3Z4
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 14, 2015
