Vols: Keys To Beating Alabama

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Oct 17, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) makes a long run against the Texas A&M Aggies in the third quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Gang Tackle Derrick Henry For Four Quarters

Butch Jones should have started preaching this at the end of last season. The Vols will have to gang tackle Alabama’s sensational running back Derrick Henry. Henry is tough to stop one on one.

He has an interesting style. He is tall and looks a little wiry. He doesn’t look powerful, and he doesn’t look fast. He runs upright and not with a typical body lean of most running backs. But yet he runs over, around, and through every defense he runs against. I am convinced if they had given him the ball more against Ohio State they would have won that game last season.

The Vols will have to get to Henry before he gets into the second level. He runs away from tacklers when he hits that level. So the defensive line of Tennessee will have to play its’ best game of the season. Derek Barnett will have to be on his game. I believe this will be Barnett’s finest performance to day.

The Vols will miss freshman Shy Tuttle this week who is out for the season with a broken leg. As a result the Vols will use fellow freshman Kahlil McKenzie more as a run stopper in the middle of the Tennessee line. The Tide loves to run between the tackles. Tennessee is pretty stingy there.

It is the second level that I worry about. The Vols have not found a middle linebacker yet, although it looks more like Darrin Kirkland will be the man. Again, it is a freshman being put in a tough situation.

This Alabama offensive line is not as dominant as usual, but they are still as good as anyone in the country. However, the Vols should be able to put some pressure on the quarterbacks if they can force some third and longs by stopping the run game. This will not be easy for Tennessee.

The Tide offense can and will turn the ball over. It will be imperative for the Vols to make Alabama move the chains in order to sustain drives. Tennessee can not win this game if Henry or burner Kenyan Drake break long touchdown runs. Drake is as dangerous to Tennessee as Henry.

The Vols will have to make the Tide work hard for every yard. They will have to gang tackle these two. They will have to punish these two every time they hit them. More importantly, they will have to get the mindset that they will have to do this for four complete quarters. Alabama will keep coming at you with these two. The Vols defensive line will have to be up to the task.

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