Tennessee Volunteers vs. Western Carolina Catamounts Complete Game Preview
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — After a bitter, emotional home defeat at the hands of Oklahoma, Tennessee will get to rest some banged-up starters and get a little more physically and mentally well against Western Carolina.
The Football Championship Subdivision's Catamounts out of the Southern Conference likely won't pose much of a threat.
While you can never take any opponent lightly (just ask Auburn after its narrow overtime win over Jacksonville State), coach Mark Speir's team isn't on the same level as the Volunteers.
Tennessee needs to work on some things that will help it win much more important games in the coming weeks, as this is the final break before UT goes on a bit of a murderer's row that includes games at Florida, at home against Arkansas and Georgia and at Alabama.
The Vols are going to win and win big against their Smoky Mountain neighbors from Cullowhee, North Carolina, and it's a vital time to get some young guys key reps.
Let's take a look at everything you need to know.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 19
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Place: Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tennessee
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Vol Network, Catamount Sports Network, Sirius 136/XM 190
Spread: No line (Off) on OddsShark.com
Tennessee Keys to Victory
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Head North
Tennessee is going to win this game, so this slide is going to be treated with the intents on focusing on things the Vols need to do in order to play better than they did against Oklahoma.
The Sooners were able to stuff the box against UT because the Vols simply couldn't get anything going downfield. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs struggled mightily, finishing with 137 total yards, which was his lowest output since taking over as the starter against Alabama last year.
When asked about the passing game versus OU on Saturday night, coach Butch Jones sidestepped the question a bit.
"Again, I'll know a little bit more when I see the video," he said. "I don't want to speak too soon and go back, so I'd rather watch the video a bit. Again, you can't give up sacks. You can't give up negative yardage plays. We have to have the ability to defeat man coverage, so I'll know a little bit more when I watch the video."
Part of the reason is Dobbs' inability to get Marquez North and Pig Howard involved. Both have just one catch so far this year. That's inexplicable, and it has to change.
The Vols need to work on stretching the field—actually work on it—because they'll need it.
Sustain Drives
All this talk about "playing fast" is fine. It works when you're playing a lesser opponent or sometimes when you hit a big play.
The reality of the situation, though, is when you get in a game against a powerhouse defense like Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia or Alabama, it isn't always going to work.
UT can overpower and overmatch WCU. The Vols should be able to score several two-minute touchdowns, and that's the way they want to play, so it's fine.
But they also should focus on simulating drives and game situations that will arise against tougher opponents. As great a game as offensive coordinator Mike DeBord called the first six quarters of the season, he struggled in the second half against Oklahoma. He needs to find several things that work.
Long Looks at the Youngsters
With the focus on the future for this one week at least, Tennessee needs to head into this game with the thoughts of playing a lot of the young guys multiple quarters.
Prized defensive tackles Kahlil McKenzie and Shy Tuttle have just one tackle apiece. Though Tuttle made a key play against Oklahoma, McKenzie has been extremely quiet for all the noise surrounding the 5-star prospect coming out of high school.
Also, there have been times when middle linebacker Colton Jumper played like a walk-on. He has shown flashes of being a good player, but his two defensive holding penalties extended an OU touchdown drive and were major mistakes.
Meanwhile, Darrin Kirkland Jr. looks like a future star. Get him some reps and let him call the defense out there and get more comfortable in the middle. Justin Martin should play most of the game in the secondary.
As much as nobody wants to hear it, Quinten Dormady needs a long look, too. Nobody's giving up on Dobbs, but he was ineffective against Oklahoma, and when that happens and you need to stretch the field, sometimes you have to go a different direction temporarily.
Also, the way Dobbs plays the game lends itself to a potential injury down the road. Dobbs is the guy, and he has definitely earned it. But Dormady needs some vital throwing reps against live bullets.
Western Carolina Keys to Victory
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Remember Bama?
The Catamounts put a little scare in top-ranked Alabama a season ago for about 30 minutes in a game where they wound up getting walloped 48-14.
If they could somehow replicate that for an entire game, they could pull a huge upset. Of course, it most likely won't happen, but they need to try.
Quarterback Troy Mitchell utilized his big pass-catchers, such as Karnorris Benson, and WCU was extremely physical—actually too physical, injuring several Crimson Tide players. The Vols definitely can't afford to get banged and bruised heading into the rough slate of games.
It's highly doubtful that the Catamounts can duplicate the feat. The Citadel handled them after WCU disposed Mars Hill on Sept. 5. But they'll have to play near-perfect to hang in versus UT.
Load the Box
Tennessee is going to try to run the football, because that's the identity offensive coordinator Mike DeBord wants to have.
There's nothing wrong with that, even if it didn't work against Oklahoma. The reason it didn't is because the Vols were so predictable, always running on first and second down and barely using speedster Alvin Kamara, who ran just four times for four yards.
It looked like Kamara may have been a bit banged-up or cramping and never got in the flow of the offense, but nobody confirmed that after the game.
Regardless, Dobbs hasn't proven he can beat anybody with his arm. The Vols should try to pass the ball downfield more to work on it, and that's actually what WCU should want them to do. If UT runs it, it'll likely run it down their throats at will.
Tennessee Players to Watch
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Darrin Kirkland Jr.
It's been said before, and it needs to keep being said: The freshman middle linebacker from Indianapolis is a defensive star of the future and should be one here in the present.
"True freshman, again, no baseline," Jones said on Kirkland after the season opener. "Every snap is a new learning experience for him, and what it showed is he has the ability to be a very, very good football player. Very explosive, can run. Now it’s just the mental part of the game and getting lined up and communicating, which every true freshman goes through."
When he got in the game against the Sooners, he did good things. While it's tough to fault starter Colton Jumper too much when he played a steady game, making two mental errors, like the holding on consecutive third downs, simply can't happen.
The Vols need fast, electrifying defenders on the second level to go along with star Jalen Reeves-Maybin. Kirkland needs to be the guy.
Kyle Phillips/Kahlil McKenzie
Phillips was the first UT freshman to lose his black stripe in the preseason, which happens when you're recognized by your peers as being a full-fledged member of the team and ready to make a difference on the field.
Yet, we haven't seen him on it too much.
McKenzie was one of the stars of the recruiting class, a bull of a defensive tackle who was highly rated and a UT legacy.
Get those guys on the field.
McKenzie may have a conditioning issue, and Phillips may have been dinged up a bit, but if you're a coach, you can't be scared to put them out there and let them learn. Oklahoma may not have been the time to do that; Western Carolina is.
Preston Williams
Everybody wants to see Marquez North and Pig Howard be more involved. They are your stars and the bell cows of the receiving corps.
But while Jauan Jennings has shown up for a few catches in the early season, UT has been working in star receiver Preston Williams slowly. The 6'4", 209-pound pass-catcher should be able to be a weapon downfield for the Vols—if Dobbs can actually get it to him.
Get him confident by designing some plays for him and putting him in position to make plays. With his talent, he'll be able to help the Vols down the road.
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Western Carolina Players to Watch
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Karnorris Benson/Spearman Robinson
The Vols have already faced the best two corps of receivers they will all season in Bowling Green and Oklahoma's, and while WCU doesn't have one of those calibers, it isn't a shabby stable.
Though neither has broken out just yet, Benson and Spearman Robinson are the stars.
Robinson is a 6'4", 215-pound redshirt junior who hauled in 11 touchdowns and accumulated more than 500 receiving yards a season ago. He's the red-zone threat, but he's also big enough to cause mismatches with smaller defensive backs.
He has six catches for 131 yards this year.
Benson is more of an every-down receiver, and he also only has six catches for 81 yards this year. Both of those guys are capable of breaking out.
Troy Mitchell
The senior from Houston has struggled this season, completing just 57.8 percent of his passes while throwing three interceptions to just one touchdown.
As a dual-threat signal-caller, Mitchell hasn't been much of a running threat, either. He has just 88 rushing yards. But don't let the numbers fool you.
Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield was able to roll the pocket, elude defenders and make plays with his feet before making plays with his arm. Mitchell has that ability, so the Vols need to get him down. He can do some damage.
What They're Saying
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After Tennessee's heartbreaking loss to Oklahoma, Sooners linebacker Eric Striker was jawing at the fans after running his mouth all week.
According to Striker, UT coach Butch Jones took exception to it.
"Zack got the pick, and I ran over there talking to our fans and saying, 'Yeah, yeah,' to all their fans, and [Jones] grabbed me and said, 'Eric, you're a helluva player, but have some damn class,'" he told ESPN.com's Chris Low.
Tennessee junior outside linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin played one of the best games in school history at his position against the Sooners.
He was literally all over the field, chasing runners down, jetting from one sideline to the other and jarring ball-carriers in the hole. The Clarksville, Tennessee, native wound up with 21 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, one pass breakup and one sack.
Still, it wasn't enough, and just as Jones said, UT must snap and clear after that loss. It may be tougher than most.
"It definitely is (an emotional letdown)," Reeves-Maybin said after the game. "When we're in here, we're trying to get that win every time, for the fans, for us, for the coaches, just for the whole Vol Nation. When we had them on the ropes and let them off, it's not a good feeling.
"Nobody's tapping out. We've got a job to do."
Back in June, WCU coach Mark Speir was on the GVX Audio podcast in Knoxville talking about the showdown with the Vols. He said his players were excited about the opportunity to play in Neyland Stadium.
“Leading up to a Tennessee game, it’s all about preparation," Speir said, according to GoVolsXtra.com. "This is a Super Bowl atmosphere for us. They want to come out and play.”
Prediction
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Neyland Stadium won't be as full, rowdy and rocking as it was when Oklahoma came to town this past weekend, but the outcome will be one the Vols faithful enjoys much more.
The Catamounts have some nice players for the FCS level, but they've got deep-rooted issues on defense. The Citadel Bulldogs rushed for 340 yards this past weekend in a convincing 28-10 victory.
UT has much better players, much more depth and a group of guys that should be angry after gift-wrapping a comeback win for Oklahoma. Even if there's a bit of a letdown as Tennessee rests some banged-up players to get them ready for a grueling stretch, it won't matter.
The Vols could probably trot their second-teamers out there and win handily. It's just the nature of a game like this.
Western Carolina is going to come to Neyland, take its paycheck and get what's handed to it. If the Vols do what they want to, they'll work on some things, hone some skills and get some younger players important reps.
The outcome will be lopsided, regardless.
Prediction: Vols 58, Western Carolina 10
All stats gathered from UTSports.com or CatamountSports.com unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information gathered from 247Sports unless otherwise noted. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted.
Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.
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