Vols: Better Start Thinking Arkansas

By Randy Sharber | Sep 27, 2015

The Vols had better start thinking Arkansas right now.

There isn’t enough mouthwash or moonshine on Rocky Top to wash the taste out of the mouth’s of yesterday’s loss to Florida. It is burned into the hearts and minds of all Vol fans, former players, current players, and of course, the coaching staff.

That was yesterday. Turn the page.

Coach Butch Jones better get this team ready for a ticked off Razorback squad that will come to Knoxville next Saturday. I don’t know who will get Butch Jones ready, or how he will pick himself up after his debacle in the Swamp.

But he had better find two or three of those cliches he uses. Those would be “we just need to go back to work on the practice field on Monday to get better”. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. “We have to learn from our mistakes”. Have you heard these before? Are you sick of them as well?

Butch has made some bad decisions in a few games. Everyone knows that by now. They have cost the Vols two victories. He is being roasted by Vol fans, and SEC fans all over the South and beyond. There is only one way to stop it. That is to win. It has to start Saturday.

The Razorbacks are a huge disappointment so far. As a matter of fact, these two teams were predicted to win their respective divisions of the SEC by many. Now, both are struggling for their survival. Whoever loses this game, will find themselves trying to get to 6-6 at the end of the season.

More from Butch Jones

Arkansas is a dangerous team. They were beaten yesterday at home by a very good Texas A&M team. But it took A&M overtime to win this one. Arkansas had shown improvement from one week to the next. But it was a devastating loss for the Razorbacks, make no mistake.

So two teams needing a win collide. Arkansas has struggled offensively and defensively. Yesterday they got their act together. They put 225 yards passing on 20 0f 25 attempts by quarterback Brandon Allen. They also put up an unbelievable 232 yards of rushing. All of this came against the defense of former Vol defensive coordinator John Chavis and his Texas A&M Aggies.

Chavis says the defensive ends that he has at Texas A&M are the two best he has ever coached. That is saying a lot. The Razorbacks did not have any trouble with these guys yesterday. So to say this team is dangerous is an understatement. They can run, and they can throw.

The Vols have been decent against the run. but the secondary has had a difficult time in coverage. The loss of nickel Rashaan Gaulden has hurt much more than we thought. Malik Foreman and Emmanuel Moseley have struggled mightily in coverage.

Cam Sutton has been the most consistent Vol in the secondary. He had a poor outing yesterday. He played softer than I have ever seen him play. I am sure it was by design. Todd Kelly Jr was steady.

Once again Safety Brian Randolph was out of position time and time again, and for the life of him, he can not stand up. Someone needs to do something with his cleats. He has slipped more than a seal at Sea World this season.

Corner Emmanuel Moseley made a few plays, but again, is just not physical enough at times. This unit has to get better quickly. If they do not improve this week, it will be another bad Butch Jones show next Sunday. I don’t even want to think about the message boards and facebook posts.

So Jones and this team need to shake it off and get better this week. The secondary has to play with passion and with a sense of nastiness. They are soft. Plain and simple.

Heck, from what I saw on the kick off tackle yesterday, I would put Jauan Jennings back in the secondary on Saturday in a heartbeat. You have to get your best players on the field.

The Vols need this one. The Hogs need this one. This is what College Football is all about. This will be a great game, but someone’s fan base is going to be blown up on Saturday night. Let’s hope that is Arkansas. I just don’t know…..

More from Tenn Truth

Home/Butch Jones