As we prep for the 2020 season, here’s a quick look at how the Vols’ national rankings have trended in each of the official NCAA stat categories for the past seven years.
Offense
If the table above doesn’t display well, try using this link.
Did well last year: Passing Yards per Completion, sacks allowed, 3rd down conversion percentage
Did not do well last year: 4th down conversion percentage, completion percentage, interceptions, total offense, scoring offense . . .
With the exception of the top four categories, this whole thing leans into the basement. We’re expecting to see some major improvement overall on the offense this fall, but we’ll obviously have to wait and see.
Defense
If the table above doesn’t display well, try using this link.
Did well last year: Getting interceptions, passing yards allowed, total defense, passing efficiency defense, scoring defense, getting sacks
Did not do well last year: Getting tackles for loss
Conversely, with the exception of tackles for loss (which you would think would trend right along with sacks but did not in this case), the entire defense is trending toward the penthouse. We haven’t seen that much green since 2014. A belated high-five to John Jancek.
Special Teams
If the table above doesn’t display well, try using this link.
Did well last year: Punt returns, kickoff return defense
Needs attention: There really wasn’t anything the Vols were really bad at on special teams last year, but they could improve in the punt game.
Turnovers and Penalties
If the table above doesn’t display well, try using this link.
Currently doing well: Um . . .
Did not do well last year: Fumbles Recovered
There’s a lot of room for improvement in both penalties and turnovers this year. The team was not very good at either keeping possession or taking it from the other team last fall, and there are a lot of hidden yards in the penalty department, as long as fixing that doesn’t come at the cost of necessary aggression.