Tennessee Football: Grading the Vols Game vs MTSU

There's no better remedy for a losing streak than a homecoming game against a vastly inferior opponent. 

On Saturday night in Neyland Stadium, the Tennessee Vols took on the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders in what figured to be a chance for the Vols to get back in the win column for the first time since Oct. 1. 

By the end of the first half, the Vols led 24-0, which proved to be more than enough against the Blue Raiders. 

Here is the Vols report card from the homecoming game. 

Quarterback

Grade: A-

It's clear to see why the Vols coaching staff was all over Rock Hill, SC phenom Justin Worley. The true freshman throw such a crisp pass and is already making next-level throws on a regular basis. 

Worley only connected on one deep throw, a touchdown pass to Da'Rick Rogers on playaction, but he finished 23-of-32 for 291 yards. 

Running Back

Grade: C+

The running game was, again, ugly. Tauren Poole ended up with just 13 yards on 11 attempts. The senior did have two touchdown runs, both of which featured some nice moves by Poole to get into the endzone. 

True freshman Jaron Toney led all rushers with 52 yards, and Marlin Lane lined up in the Wildcat a handful of times, averaging four yards per carry on 37 yards in nine attempts. 

Rajion Neal made the corner a couple of times, but his longest run was called back due to holding. 

Wide Receiver

Grade: A

Tennessee's wide receivers get a solid A for another stellar performance. Da'Rick Rogers continues to be the go-to guy. He finished with 137 yards receiving and a touchdown. That stat could have been much greater had Worley connected on a couple of deep throw opportunities in which Rogers had his man beat. 

Tight end Mychal Rivera was his usual dependable self, making three catches for 32 yards, and Tauren Poole had a nice run following a big block on a screen pass. DeAnthony Arnett stepped up late and hauled in three catches for 47 yards. 

Offensive Line

Grade: C

The line performed well enough against a vastly inferior opponent. There were some issues, however. Dallas Thomas was fooled on the edge, allowing an MTSU sack, and he was later flagged for a drive-killing facemask penalty on a first down completion to Rogers. 

The line did not perform well enough in the run game against an MTSU defense that was allowing five yards per rush attempt and 218 rushing yards per game coming in. 

Defensive Line

Grade: A

Although the unit didn't have a ton of guys on the stat sheet, Tennessee's defensive line pushed MTSU around most of the night. The Vols gave up less than 100 yards on the ground and just 133 through the air. 

The pressure up front, although not amazing, was enough for Tennessee to force its will upon the Blue Raiders. 

Sophomore end Jacques Smith finally showed up with a couple of tackles and a forced fumble. The other end, Corey Miller, had a tackle and broke up a pass play that stopped an MTSU drive. Malik Jackson hurried the quarterback a couple of times.

Linebacker

Grade: A

Tennessee's linebackers continue to prove that they have the best unit on this defense. Freshman AJ Johnson was, again, near the top in tackles. Senior Austin Johnson led the team in tackles, and his second interception of the year set up the Vols first score of the night. 

Curt Maggitt had two tackles and quarterback hurry. 

Secondary

Grade: A+

It's about time. Tennessee's secondary did not give up the dreaded big play for the first time this season. Corner Eric Gordon was all over the place in the first half, racking up two tackles for loss and an interception.

Safety Prentiss Waggner and corner Izauea Lanier broke up a few of passes, and Brian Randolph continues to prove his big-hit-ability. 

Special Teams

Grade: B+

After Michael Palardy suffered an injury in practice on Thursday and backup Chip Rhome pulled a muscle in pregame, the Vols were without a kicker. That is, until Derek Dooley decided to call on a kid named Derrick Brodus. 

Brodus happened to be relaxing on a couch at his fraternity house about an hour prior to gametime when the call came. Brodus received a police escort to the stadium. The walk-on kicker and former All-State soccer player at Alcoa High School nailed all three extra-point opportunities and even made his only field goal attempt of the night. 

Returner Devrin Young fumbled a punt, but later had a 39-yard kickoff return to midfield. 

Coaching

Grade: A

Let's be honest, it wasn't going to take much to beat this MTSU squad. But Tennessee looked well-prepared all night. 

Freshman quarterback Worley has rapidly matured in just a couple of weeks as the starting quarterback. He's making incredible throws, and the coaching staff did not put him in any awkward positions like they did against South Carolina a week prior on Saturday.

The struggle with the running game is still just incredibly baffling, but Dooley has shown the ability and desire to shake the depth chart up to help find the necessary spark the Vols have lacked. 

Overall

Grade: A-

Saturday was a near-perfect performance for the Vols. Based on the level of competition it played, Tennessee needed this shot in the arm before heading to Arkansas next week.

The defense pitched a shutout and came up with big plays all evening long. 

Continued issues with the running game were a slight negative, but Tennessee did end up with more than 100 yards on the ground. 

The passing game looked great with Worley under center. Had he connected on a couple of deep passes, the Vols would have completely blown away the Blue Raiders. 

Tennessee's secondary had their best outing of the season and did not give up a big play.