In lieu of our normal “Checking the Film” piece for Tennessee’s 55-10 win over Western Carolina, we decided to compile the ten best plays from the game and put them all in one place while also adding some analysis.
Cam Sutton does Cam Sutton things https://t.co/fE0s92MI0a
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 1: Cam Sutton gives up a completion, but then quickly atones for the error by stripping the ball from the receiver…But a good play is made even better by the fact that Sutton has the presence of mind to hold up the receiver until help can arrive – in the form of Derek Barnett – and recover the fumble. Just an all around heads-up play by one of the best defensive backs in the SEC.
Nice first collegiate catch for Preston Williams https://t.co/N3otNOxguG
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 2: Not a bad first catch for Preston Williams, who flashes his athleticism and body control by making a 360-degree adjustment for the over-the-shoulder snag. Nice throw by Dobbs to put it high in the air and in Williams’ general vicinity to allow the freshman wideout to make a play. More of this moving forward would be a great thing for the Vol offense.
Alex Ellis throws the key block as Jalen Hurd powers his way to the pylon https://t.co/F6ENGfLo26
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 3: You have to like Jalen Hurd matched up one-on-one against almost any linebacker in the country, but especially if that linebacker plays for WCU. Alex Ellis gets a really nice block on the outside (which is a nice play design to have him in the slot as a lead blocker), and the Jalen Hurd uses his speed and vision to beat his man to the pylon.
Welcome back, LaDarrell McNeil. Nice "oskie" block from Dimarya Mixon to get him inside the 10. pic.twitter.com/2rGwv2w0Xk
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 4: What a great moment. Cam Sutton uses his leverage to force the quarterback to throw the ball inside the numbers and right into the arms of LaDarrell McNeil. McNeil then makes some people miss on his way to a 56-yard return that set up another Tennessee touchdown. Welcome back #33.
Hard to stop for any team https://t.co/O7b0db8YIn
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 5: A few good blocks here, but this is mostly Jalen Hurd using his speed to beat the defense to the corner. Dobbs would have likely scored had he kept the ball as well.
Kahlil McKenzie gets his big paw in the there and rips the ball out https://t.co/c0brl7tFOw
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 6: The big fella fights off the block and gets his first career forced fumble while Shy Tuttle gets his first career recovery. I don’t think this will be the last time we see these two players combine for a big play.
You know you want to see it again. At least five broken tackles… pic.twitter.com/TQt7nBqHOI
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 7: We all knew it was just a matter of time before Evan berry took a kickoff to the house, but how great was it that the first one comes with his brother, Eric, in attendance? Also, five broken tackles? That’s big-league stuff, regardless of who the opponent is. Evan Berry looked like part Cordarrelle Patterson and part Leonard Fournette on this return.
This return honestly is not blocked that well overall. Most of the credit goes to Kamara for making guys miss. pic.twitter.com/WiAn4r9PSM
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 8: More broken tackles and more great vision by Alvin Kamara on this return. As Daniel wrote in the initial tweet, the return wasn’t blocked particularly well for Kamara, but he makes six guys miss and finds himself in the end zone. I don’t think Cam Sutton is in danger of losing his job as Tennessee’s punt returner, but it’s nice to see that the Vols have some options.
Great connection from Dormady to Williams for 49 yards, the longest pass of the night https://t.co/JoLqL9MQXq
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 9: This is a play that has been missing from Tennessee’s passing game for a long time. Dormady does a great job of hitching up in the pocket to avoid the rush and then putting one out in front of Preston Williams. The fact that Williams caught this while basically doing the limbo is remarkable, but these are the type of plays that Williams can provide for this offense if given the opportunity. If teams are going to continue to stack the box against the Vols, then the offense will have plenty of opportunities to make plays like this moving forward.
Big league play by Dormady: Escapes the pressure, makes the strong throw even while off balance https://t.co/NeFrKK6rSc
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 21, 2015
Play 10: The protection fails here, but Quinten Dormady proves he’s not a statue by escaping the pressure, rolling out to his right, and delivering an absolute strike to Preston Williams for Williams’ second touchdown of the day.
