Saturday night, September 7, 2024, wasn’t Christmas morning, but it reminded me of many holidays that turned out MUCH BETTER than I expected! I thought the Vols vs Wolfpack contest would be somewhat tight with the Vols pulling away in the second half for a nice win. Well, I got the Vols pulling away in the second half forecast right; the somewhat tight contest part ended after the first quarter.
The Wolfpack contained Tennessee until a second quarter 85-yard interception returned for a touchdown by the Vols’ Will Brooks turned a 10-3 scuffle into a 17-3 shock to NC State. By the end of the first half, the score was 20-3 Volunteers, and the clouds were forming for even heavier scoring torrents by the Vols.
The third quarter saw Tennessee add 17 more points while State scored its only touchdown of the game via an 87-yard interception return of a Nico Iamaleava pass. Tennessee added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter to complete the final score of 51-10.
For the game, the Vols racked up 460 yards of total offense compared to the Wolfpack’s 143 yards. Tennessee ran for 249 yards and passed for 211 yards. NC State ran for 104 yards and passed for 39 yards. Time of possession reflected a closer competition than the score, with the Vols holding the ball for 31:28 and Pack controlling the ball for 28:32. Since both teams scored defensive touchdowns, the 51-10 score was an indicator of the efficiency of Tennessee’s offense, which averaged 6.9 yards per play. Had the Vols limited their penalties (7 for 70 yards) and improved their turnover margin (UT +1) they could have been even more dominant.
My surprises from Charlotte were pleasant. The biggest surprise was UT’s extensive use of two tight ends in their offensive formation. I have gotten accustomed to watching the Vols spread out with at least three wide receivers on the field, run up-tempo possessions, and quickly attack their opponents. Lining up with two tight ends and running straight ahead is familiar to Tennessee football, but not to Coach Heupel’s Tennessee teams. Adding this potential style of attack to the Vols offense can only complicate life for the defensive coordinators of future opponents. Which UT offense will you invest your time in preparing for? Will you focus more on stopping the run or stopping the pass?
Another delightful surprise was the strength of the Tennessee defense, particularly its defensive front. I expect the Vols to effectively rush the passer against most opponents, but wondered how well they could consistently stop the run. Saturday night’s performance suggests the Vols’ strength in defending the run will be a future asset as even tougher opponents arrive on the schedule.
A final pleasant surprise was the team depth displayed in Charlotte. While the starters got the majority of reps, Tennessee played Lots of players on both sides of the football. Not only did several guys play, but they also all played at a level of competition that held North Carolina State to three points on offense and a total of 143 yards, while putting up 44 points of offense for Tennessee (I’m crediting both teams defenses with 7 points). It is nice to give backup players a chance to gain game experience when the score allows. It is even better when those players show they will compete at a high level and execute their assignments regardless of the score. Team depth will be a valuable asset as the season wears on.
Tennessee’s placekicker, Max Gilbert, looked good in the game. The snapper and holder also did a fine job. The Vols special teams played well. Special teams play will be important as the competition intensifies.
Nico Iamaleava threw his first two collegiate interceptions against the Wolfpack. As noted earlier, one interception was returned for a touchdown. That ball was deflected by a strong pass rush. Those plays will provide the coaches with teachable moments and remind Nico there are always opportunities to improve even though he seems to be very focused on improving. His 31-yard touchdown run will remind opposing coaches of their need to contain both his running and his passing.
Tennessee’s next opponent, the Kent State Golden Flashes from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), is off to a slow start this season with an 0-2 record. They lost their last game to Pittsburgh by a 55-24 score. On the season, Kent State has given up 78 points while scoring 41 in their two losses. It appears the Vol offense will have ample opportunity to continue their torrid scoring pace against the Golden Flashes. An injury-free Vol victory would be a welcomed result next Saturday night in Knoxville.
After its first two games, Tennessee has totaled 120 points while amassing 953 yards of offense. The defense has yielded two field goals in two games while two opponents have scored a total of 13 points. By any standard, UT has enjoyed an impressive beginning to its season.
Others have noticed UT’s fast start. This week the Vols jumped to a #7 ranking in the AP poll. At number 7, UT is the sixth highest ranked SEC team in the AP poll! Let’s hope the Vols are more interested in continuing to improve than resting on their laurels. With five conference teams more highly ranked than the Vols and 10 regular season games left in 2024, there is much work left to be done while IT’S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!