Defensive Line
Nathanael: C+
I actually thought the Vols’ defense line did a pretty good job when Florida tried to pass the ball. Alexis Johnson and Kyle Phillips both picked up sacks, and Shy Tuttle made a few plays as well, picking up a QB hurry. But the line didn’t do a great job stopping the run, as the Gators gained just over 200 rushing yards and averaged just under six yards per carry. A lot of the damage the Gators did on the ground happened on the perimeter, but the defensive line still needed to do better.
Ben: C
The defensive line played better, but not good enough. Feleipe Franks finished 9-of-18 for 172 yards and three touchdowns in part because he had all day to throw. Franks only completed 50 percent of his passes, but on some of those attempts, he had quite a bit of time to find a receiver and just had poor throws. Alexis Johnson and Shy Tuttle had nice games, but they didn’t receive much help from their comrades. Kyle Phillips added a sack, but it wasn’t enough as Florida’s running game was also able to rush for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
