Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee: Game Grades, Analysis for Hokies and Volunteers
Through one quarter of action, it looked like No. 17 Tennessee was in line for another disappointing performance. Virginia Tech had carved up the Volunteers defense on its way to scoring the game's first 14 points, and Butch Jones' squad looked lost.
But then the Hokies started turning the ball over, and Joshua Dobbs and the Tennessee offense took complete control, going on a 45-3 run before a garbage-time Hokies touchdown made it a more respectable 45-24 Volunteers win.
But to the 156,990 people in attendance at Bristol Motor Speedway and the thousands watching at home, most saw the Volunteers hit their stride and live up to the preseason hype.
The Hokies, just two weeks into the Justin Fuente era, looked years behind the Volunteers once they settled in.
Here's how both teams graded out after their exciting prime-time showdown.
Virginia Tech: Offense
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Virginia Tech's offense got off to an incredibly fast start and put together touchdown drives of 62 and 77 yards in the first quarter to fuel its 14-0 lead. The Hokies had the Volunteers defense on its heels with a solid combination of run and pass plays, and Travon McMillian took advantage early with a beautiful 69-yard touchdown run.
But after piling up 204 yards of total offense in the first quarter, things fell apart for the Hokies.
The lanes closed for McMillian in the running game, and the windows shut for Jerod Evans in the passing game. The Hokies managed just 196 yards in the final three quarters, most of which came late in the fourth quarter, when the game was already well in hand.
Virginia Tech's momentum was completely derailed by its own doing, as well, as its offense lost an incredible five fumbles to the Tennessee defense.
Grade: D
Tennessee: Offense
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Tennessee's offense looked stuck in the mud during the first quarter, and the offensive line looked as overwhelmed as it did the week prior against Appalachian State. Virginia Tech bull-rushed the Volunteers offensive front, and Tennessee netted just 28 total yards through 15 minutes of action.
But a Virginia Tech turnover inside its own 20 gave the Volunteers the offense spark they needed. Joshua Dobbs connected with Jauan Jennings on a five-yard touchdown fade on the next play, sparking a 24-0 run for the Volunteers offense in the second quarter.
Despite the 45 points the Volunteers put up, they still only managed 330 yards of total offense because the Hokies kept turning the ball over and setting up prime scoring situations for them. Joshua Dobbs took full advantage, accounting for 197 total yards and five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing), but it was still a clunky performance from a unit with so many weapons.
Grade: B-
Virginia Tech: Defense
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Virginia Tech's defense looked like a bigger and more athletic version of the Appalachian State defense that thwarted Tennessee's offense on the opening Thursday night of the season. The Volunteers went three-and-out on their first two drives and punted on their first three, and it looked like the Hokies defense was primed for a dominant performance.
Things fell apart in the second quarter, though. Joshua Dobbs threw touchdown passes of five and 38 yards to receivers who simply outjumped the Hokies secondary. That helped fuel a 31-0 Tennessee run that completely sapped all the Hokies' momentum.
The Hokies essentially won the battle up front, but the defense couldn't overcome all the bad spots the offense put it in. Five turnovers, most of which put Tennessee in prime scoring position, effectively ruined any chance Virginia Tech's defense had at keeping this one close.
Grade: C+
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Tennessee: Defense
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Virginia Tech carved up Tennessee's defense in the first quarter to the tune of 204 total yards and two long touchdown drives, and it looked like the Volunteers were in for a long night.
But on the first play of the second quarter, a botched exchange in the backfield led to a recovered fumble for the Volunteers, which completely shifted the momentum of the game. The Hokies managed just 30 yards of offense in a shutout second quarter while being outscored by 24.
The Volunteers did surrender 400 total yards, but they forced an incredible five turnovers (all fumbles), and outside of a 69-yard touchdown run from Travon McMillian, they did a great job of limiting the big plays from the Hokies offense.
Grade: B
Virginia Tech: Coaching
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The Hokies started the game off with a nice 13-play drive that took them inside Tennessee's 40, but on 4th-and-1 at the 30-yard line, Justin Fuente opted to kick a 47-yard field goal instead of attacking a defense that was on its heels. That field goal was pulled badly by kicker Joey Slye.
While the offense rebounded nicely with back-to-back touchdown drives, that decision seemed to set a tone for Fuente and the Hokies. They were a considerable underdog with the favorite on the ropes, and they let that opportunity slip through their fingers.
Coincidentally, that's also a fitting phrase for a team that lost an incredible five fumbles. And this was one week removed from a season-opening game in which the Hokies coughed it up four times to a vastly inferior Liberty defense.
After two such performances, the fumbles are no longer a coincidence, but a real, ongoing problem. Now, the coaching staff needs to address the Hokies' ball-security issues before conference play starts.
Grade: D+
Tennessee: Coaching
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Butch Jones and Co. were on the verge of being outcoached for the second consecutive game after Justin Fuente and the Hokies came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter.
The Volunteers were getting pushed around up front on both sides of the ball—especially on offense. The offensive line was supposed to be a strength, but through five quarters of action, the unit had been dominated.
That changed when Jones made some crucial calls along the line.
"Richmond and Kendrick are the tackles, with Wiesman at center and Jack Jones at right guard. Coleman Thomas out of the game.
— Ryan Callahan (@RyanCallahan247) September 10, 2016"
The Volunteers reverted back to their initial lineup, but the temporary mix-up clearly caused a spark. After the move was made, Tennessee's offense started living up to the expectations most experts had coming into the 2016 season.
Grade: B+
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