Coaching
Daniel: Tennessee wasn’t intimated. The Vols started five true freshman position players and a kicker and battled OU for most of 60 minutes on the road in a hostile environment. Sure, there are going to be questions about some of the play calls. In hindsight, the Vols should’ve run on the pass that led to the pick-6, but it was a pretty simple route that might’ve worked if not for the deflection. I won’t kill them for that call. I thought they should’ve abandoned the lateral passing and running game. It simply didn’t work against a speedy OU defense. And though the offensive line was going to lose the battle overall regardless, perhaps the staff should’ve done more to protect Worley. But the mentality and prep was pretty good – especially considering the Vols played without Wolf and Pearson. Mike Bajakian called a great screen pass when UT was backed up early that set up Tennessee’s only touchdown, so don’t throw out all the good with the bad. Grade: C+
Houston: This team has a different mentality and that was clear to see last night. Their struggles were mostly due to running into a much more talented team in a hostile environment than any coaching decisions. I thought it took the offense a little too long realize that certain things weren’t working before they went away from them. The score doesn’t show it but this team had multiple opportunities to turn this into a real game, but talent and experience won out in favor of the Sooners…not coaching. Grade: B-
Reed: Though there where some questionable calls, the Vols didn’t waltz into Norman and get out coached. Defensively, Tennessee game planed very well and slowed an explosive Sooner offense. On offense, they were handcuffed by injuries and the line’s inability to block anyone, but still moved the ball and had a very real chance to put up around 24 points and take the game to the wire with a little better execution. Grade: B-
