Reading the Option (Again)
Defensively, Tennessee did a better job controlling the line of scrimmage. I didn’t see any of that this time last week against Georgia Tech. Granted, this was an FCS opponent as well, however.
But Tennessee did a good job reading the option, which it needs to do regardless of the opponent.
The first of many 3rd down stops by the #Vols defense. Jumper reads the quarterback, funnels the play inside for the stop. #RTIFilmStudy pic.twitter.com/FoPPkhlBLu
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 11, 2017
Colton Jumper gets sucked into the play action fake initially, but he does enough to funnel the play back to Daniel Bituli and Jonathan Kongbo. No, it isn’t a good throw from Isaac Harker. But I’m not sure it would have mattered. Jumper was in position to make the stop, and at the very least he would have been able to push the running back to the inside.
But both players chose the correct assignment, which shows good fundamentals. Kongbo took the quarterback and Jumper covered the running back. It seems like UT has the basic fundamentals — coverage assignments, etc. — down. It all comes down to execution and tackling for this team.
Vickers fights to the inside to plug the middle, and Taylor follows the play perfectly. Another easy third down stop. #RTIFilmStudy pic.twitter.com/dotaGhvv8W
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 11, 2017
The Sycamores were 0-for-11 on third downs. Kendal Vickers was a big reason why.
#RTIFilmStudy UT's D-Line lines up behind the 1st down marker & it works. Vickers fights his way to the backfield, Jumper finishes the play. pic.twitter.com/k7W7jdT5xs
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) September 11, 2017
Tennessee lines up a yard off the ball, but Vickers still fights his way into the backfield. It will be interesting to see how this strategy works against SEC competition, but it worked fine in this game for the Vols’ defensive line.
