Here’s our regular look at the Tennessee Volunteers’ national rankings in all of the various NCAA statistical categories. Offense is still a problem, and does not appear to be improving after the nation’s toughest defenses have rotated off the schedule. The defense has issues as well, but it has also improved dramatically against the pass since last season.
Offense
Tennessee’s offensive stat rankings after Week 10 (click link for full table)
Offensive observations. The offense really started tanking after the UMass game. The especially surprising thing, though, is that it hasn’t gotten any better after the Georgia and Alabama games.
Defense
Tennessee’s defense stat rankings after Week 10 (click link for full table)
Defensive observations. Lost in the noise this year is that defensive backs coach Charlton Warren and his guys have not only fixed one of the biggest problems of the 2016 season — passing yards allowed — they have turned it into an actual elite strength. Nine games in, and nobody’s passing for a lot of yards against the Vols.
Special Teams
Tennessee’s special teams stat rankings after Week 10 (click link for full table)
Special teams observations. Coverage on both punts and kickoffs still needs to be shored up, but special teams is not the problem for Team 121.
Turnovers and Penalties
Tennessee’s turnover and penalty stat rankings after Week 10 (click link for full table)
Turnovers and Penalties observations. These numbers are not terrible, but could be improved. And the timing of the penalties has been an issue for much of the season.