Linebackers
Nathanael: D+
Tennessee’s pass rushing improved a bit from the outside linebackers, but this time the inside linebackers struggled more than they have the previous couple weeks. Will Ignont made some nice tackles, but Daniel Bituli and Darrin Kirkland Jr. were more absent than they should’ve been. Darrell Taylor and Jonathan Kongbo didn’t make a lot of tackles, but they did make it into the backfield more often than they had been previously. Still, they weren’t back there enough. And the Quart’e Sapp drama held back another talented player from this group. That hurts the grade too, even though he wasn’t ever on the field.
Ben: D+
Tennessee’s linebackers are the strength of the defense and they may have been the weakest unit on Saturday. Will Ignont had a nice game, totaling five tackles, but Jonathan Kongbo and Darrell Taylor didn’t have a huge impact on the game off the edge. The pair combined for four tackles and failed to generate pressure on a consistent basis against a struggling Florida offensive line. Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Daniel Bituli got off to nice starts this season, but combined for just six tackles against Florida.
And then there’s the Quart’e Sapp situation. Jeremy Pruitt stated after the game that he asked the junior linebacker to leave the field after Sapp refused to go into the game when asked. Sapp came out Sunday morning and said that it was a miscommunication following an altercation on the sideline with a player. Regardless, it’s a bad look. There were rumblings following the West Virginia game that Sapp was thinking about transferring, so I find it hard to believe Pruitt would lie about the situation on the sideline. Especially considering Pruitt’s reputation of being a no-nonsense coach who tells everyone within the program how it is.
