Tennessee looks to tune-up against Ohio before conference play begins

The University of Ohio Bobcats will face the Tennessee Volunteers in Neyland Stadium on Saturday.

Although the Bobcats aren’t as prestigious as the Buckeyes’ program just 60 miles northwest, they still provide a challenge before Tennessee starts conference play against the Florida Gators next week.

The Bobcats come in to Knoxville with a 1-1 record on the season — a 56-54 triple overtime loss to Texas State and a 37-21 victory against the Kansas Jayhawks. A 1-1 record in the MAC may be easy for most Tennessee fans to overlook, but the Vols should expect to have their hands full on Saturday after a 45-24 win over Virginia Tech last week.

Ohio’s offense has already put up over 1,100 yards of total offense, which is nearly 500 yards more than Tennessee’s offense has produced. There’s not a “Lamar Jackson situation” going on, either, where one player is an entire team’s offense. Ohio has two players — Dorian Brown and Greg Windham — with 180 yards or more on the ground. The Bobcats also have two receivers with over 150 receiving yards on the season. If Ohio is able to get contributions like that from a variety of players in the passing and the running games, the Vols’ defense will be on their heels.

Speaking of heels, ankle injuries to defensive end LaTroy Lewis and star middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. have made the burden even heavier on Tennessee’s defense.

Butch Jones announced on Wednesday that Colton Jumper will replace Kirkland as one of the starting linebackers this week. LaTroy Lewis’ absence will create more playing time for young players like Jonathan Kongbo and Kahlil McKenzie. With this inexperience and ankle injuries, defensive mishaps are likely afoot.

On the other side of the ball, Tennessee’s offense will need to score big and get multiple players touches in order to be successful. What is seen as a tune-up game by most fans will have to be just that. Offensive woes early in both of Tennessee’s games have nearly led to disaster. Poor offensive line play has led to three-and-outs and sacks on the ever-so-elusive Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs will have to get more help from his line in order to combat the slow starts the Vols have had.

In a game where Tennessee is favored by 28 points, backups are likely going to see more playing time than ever. Running back Alvin Kamara, arguably the Vols’ most explosive player, has hardly seen the ball this season. That will have to change if the Volunteers are going to confuse SEC defenses down the road.

Saturday’s showdown between the Bobcats and the Volunteers will be just the second time these teams have met. Tennessee won the only other matchup in 2009 by a score of 34-23. If Tennessee wants to rest starters in the second half, the Vols’ offense will have to stave off another slow start.

Tennessee faces Ohio on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

Edited by Adam Milliken

Featured image by Donald Page, courtesy of Tennessee Athletics

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