Here’s our weekly color-coded look at how the Vols’ national rankings are trending in each of the official NCAA stat categories.
Offense
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Currently doing well: Nope
Took a hit this week: 4th down conversion percentage, tackles for loss allowed
Currently needs improvement: Pretty much everything, but let’s start here: 3rd down conversion percentage, total offense, scoring offense, passing offense, passing yards per completion, rushing offense . . . you get the idea
Improved this week: Nope
Defense
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Currently doing well: Defensive TDs, 4th down conversion percentage defense
Took a hit this week: Total defense, which is to be expected after playing a historically good offense, and passing yards allowed. Also, pretty much everything else got worse as well, which again, is to be expected.
Improved this week: Nope
Currently needs improvement: As with the offense, it’s a long list, but should start with 3rd down conversion percentage defense (and a host of other stuff)
Special Teams
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Currently doing well: Punt returns, punt return defense, kickoff returns
Took a hit this week: Punt return defense went from No. 2 to No. 18; net punting fell again, this time from No. 24 to No. 31.
Improved this week: Nope
Currently needs improvement: Kickoff return defense, again
Turnovers and Penalties
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Currently doing well: Fumbles recovered
Took a hit this week: Major downward trends this week in these categories are fewest penalties, fewest penalties per game, and fumbles lost.
Improved this week: Nope
Appears to need improvement: Turnovers