Tennessee and Alabama football resume its historic rivalry on the Third Saturday in October at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. With each team once beaten on the season, it’s a critical matchup for each team’s College Football Playoff hopes.
Each week, Rocky Top Insider will take you behind the scenes with a question and answer with a media member who covers Tennessee’s opponent.
*Some answers have been slightly altered for clarity
What were your expectations for Alabama entering this season and how have they played in comparison?
“I think you knew there would be some type of difference. You knew there could be some slight let down with no Nick Saban but at the same time, I think the expectations were that Alabama would make the playoffs. As long as Kalen DeBoer did that, most fans would be relatively happy and content. Of course you’re going to have the extreme fans that are Natty or bust, but most people viewed making the playoffs as a good year. No need to panic or any of that.
I think that was a fair expectation because even though they lost a lot of guys, a lot changed, they still had good players coming back. And with the playoffs expanding to 12 teams the thought was that it was very realistic and a reasonable expectation for them to make the playoffs.
There’s been some really good so far and also some surprises like losing to Vanderbilt and playing South Carolina close. I don’t know if we can say with 100% certainty that this is a playoff team yet. I think we just don’t know. But the last 10 quarters of football, you’re becoming less-and-less certain of that being the case. I think it’s tricky to gauge because there’s so much parity in college football right now. We’ll see when Alabama starts playing some better teams again like Tennessee, like LSU. We’ll get a sense if they can keep playing at that high level that they did in the first half against Georgia. Because at that point, you’re like this is great. This is working. No worry in the world with Nick Saban gone. A couple of weeks later, now you’re wondering if that was a fluke. It’s a wait and see kind of approach. Much less certainty than I think we figured people would have about Alabama at this point in the season.”
What has made Alabama’s offense so good?
“They’ve played to Jalen Milroe’s strengths a lot. They’ve used him as a runner but moreso than just that. Because, yeah he’s super athletic and he’s probably the best athlete on the field most of the time. He’s evolved as a passer. Now last game, he had a few interceptions and it was not his best game. But he’s definitely taken steps as a passer and is seeing the field in his progressions and is just looking confident and poised. Again, it sounds funny saying that with his last game probably being his worst yet as a passer. But if you look at the body of work as a whole, he’s improved. That’s a big piece.
You also add a guy that’s dynamic and a game changer in Ryan Williams. They haven’t really had that at receiver the last year to two. He’s been great. They have Germie Bernard who’s super dynamic as well. Not in the same way that Ryan is but he’s a really good piece and has made big catches. He came from Washington with DeBoer. He was just buried on that really good receiver depth chart at Washington with Rome Odunze. Those are some key pieces.
The offensive line, getting Kadyn Proctor in his second season has been huge at left tackle. Combine that with scheme for Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and you get a pretty good product overall.”
What was the buzz like around Ryan Williams in the preseason? Where does he stack up amongst the Alabama receivers that you’ve covered?
“I got here after Devonta Smith so I didn’t get to see him. But Jameson Williams (2021), was my first season on the beat. He was electric. Very different players but both electric in their own right. The offseason hype was super high. You were kind of like, okay this kid sounds really good. Yeah, he’s got all these accolades. He’s getting all this praise from people I was talking to. I just figured it would die down eventually because he’s a freshman and he’s not even supposed to be a freshman in college yet. People were excited but people can overhype things in the offseason. The hype just never died down and we’re seeing why. He’s really good. Even when you just see him and talk to him, he doesn’t sound like a 17-year old. He’s very mature. Just knows what he wants to go do. He’s got a lot of confidence and you’ve seen it translate to his game. That’s what’s been amazing. He still has things to learn and work on but he’s just got such freaky athleticism and body control. Throughout the recruiting process, he’d be asking Alabama for different tips for improvement or ‘how did Devonta Smith train?’ He wanted to know those type of things because he was just so focused on getting better. Even though you knew he was going to be good eventually, I don’t know if we expected him to be this good this quickly.”
What’s gone wrong for Alabama’s defense the last weeks?
“It hasn’t been quite the same. Alabama’s had some issues with different concepts and runs. Hasn’t been as clean. There’s been some missed tackles. There have been a few coverage busts. Third downs have been the biggest trouble, getting off the field. Alabama has had a lot of trouble the last two games getting off the field. Vanderbilt was 12-of-18 on third downs and then South Carolina was seven-of-15. The third down defense has been a problem after being really good to start the year. Alabama was actually one of the best in the country and then the last two games it’s struggled— especially against Vanderbilt. Third down defense is something they’re really trying to work on. Some of it is just intensity and fundamentals. There’s a lot of different issues in different moments and they’re trying to right the ship right now.”
What is a key or a couple keys for Alabama to win on Saturday?
“One is stopping Dylan Sampson. Making sure they slow him down just because they’ve had struggles at times against the run. Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack called him an elite player. He’s someone you have to stop, to put it simply. I think you have to focus on stopping him and force Nico into some mistakes. Getting after Nico with the pass rush is key. Alabama’s pass rush has been improved at times recently for Alabama but they need to continue to improve.
On the other side of the ball, offensively, Alabama has to protect Milroe. Have to make sure he’s making good decisions and not rolling into the pass rush. I think it’s getting the ball out of his hands quick and finding matchups you like and winning those. I think it’s also running the ball more. They have run some but not a ton. They’re not using Jam Miller and Justice Haynes a ton of late. Those two can help them a lot. Especially with Tennessee losing a run defender like they did in Keenan Pili. Try to take advantage of what you can in terms of what Tennessee has as a run defense. It’s going to be interesting because it’s strength on strength between Alabama’s offense and Tenenssee’s defense. It’s going to take some real good play calling from Nick Sheridan and Jalen Milroe is going to have to clean up some of those mistakes.”
Score Prediction?
“After Alabama played South Carolina, in my head I was thinking Tennessee is going to win this game. Then I watched the Tennessee-Florida game and thought maybe it’s a toss up. I still lean Tennessee just because it’s at Neyland Stadium. Such a tough place to play. I’m leaning Tennessee.”
Tennessee 33, Alabama 28
