Here’s our weekly color-coded look at how the Vols’ national rankings are trending in each of the official NCAA stat categories. The word of warning continues this week: With the pandemic causing conferences and teams to start their respective seasons at different times, what used to rank 130 or so teams is currently ranking only 75.
Offense
If the table above doesn’t display well, try using this link.
Currently doing well: Passes had intercepted, 4th down conversion percentage, tackles for loss allowed, red zone offense, completion percentage
Took a hit this week: Rushing offense fell all the way from No. 24 to No. 66, sacks allowed fell from No. 31 to No. 60, and passing yards per completion went from No. 26 to No. 48
Currently needs improvement: 3rd down conversion percentage, rushing offense, total offense, sacks allowed, first downs offense, passing offense
Defense
If the table above doesn’t display well, try using this link.
Currently doing well: Defensive TDs, first downs defense, 4th down conversion percentage defense
Took a hit this week: First downs offense went from No. 10 to No. 26, scoring defense went from No. 17 to No. 37. Total defense and rushing defense also fell this week.
Improved this week: 4th down conversion percentage defense
Currently needs improvement: With only about 75 teams ranked, No. 50 and below would qualify as the basement in this exercise, and even after playing Georgia, the Vols are not there in any given defensive category, which is good.
Special Teams
If the table above doesn’t display well, try using this link.
Currently doing well: Punt returns, punt return defense, net punting, kickoff returns
Took a hit this week: Kickoff return defense
Improved this week: Net punting and punt return defense
Currently needs improvement: Kickoff return defense
Turnovers and Penalties
If the table above doesn’t display well, try using this link.
Currently doing well: Turnovers lost, which, after losing three to Georgia tells you how much of an aberration that was so far in this early season. Also, fumbles recovered.
Took a hit this week: Everything in the penalty department. The Vols were all green heading into this game and ended up committing 10 penalties for 84 yards.
Improved this week: Fumbles recovered. Hurray for small sample sizes.
Appears to need improvement: Nothing is terrible here, but the Vols certainly lost their edge in both penalties and turnovers this week against the Bulldogs.