Tennessee vs. Georgia Tech position grades

Quarterback: B-

Quinten Dormady and the offense finally fell into a rhythm on Monday night following a rough start in the first half. By no means was Dormady’s play great, but he never turned the ball over, nor did he make any costly mistakes. He didn’t receive much help from his receivers either, as they dropped five passes in the first half. Dormady’s accuracy and vision from the pocket still need some work, but 221 passing yards for two touchdowns and no interceptions is a solid start to the season.

Running Back: A

The Tennessee running game was one of the few things that was consistent for them throughout the game. John Kelly rushed the ball 19 times for 128-yards and four touchdowns in his first start of 2017. Kelly kept the Vols’ offense from running out of steam and helped take some pressure off Dormady. The running game was by far the brightest spot for Tennessee on Monday.

Wide Receivers/Tight End: C

This grade is for every receiver, but one in particular: Marquez Callaway. Callaway stepped up in the absence of Jauan Jennings by posting 115 receiving yards and two touchdowns. However, the rest of the receiving corps’ performances were forgettable. Ethan Wolf was targeted five times, but dropped one ball that was costly for the Vols. Overall, Callaway was the only consistent target for Dormady in his first career start.

Offensive Line: C+

Starting the opener with two starting tackles missing is no easy task, but Tennessee’s pass blocking was horrible at times against Georgia Tech. Dormady was never able to fully settle in from the pressure put on him by the Yellow Jackets’ pass rush, although it never resulted in a sack. The run block is what kept the Vols’ offense from imploding. Finding consistency from the offensive line is key moving forward.

Defensive Line: D+

The defensive line is where the problems started for Tennessee’s defense against the potent triple-option. Darrell Taylor carried the line with 12 tackles, but received no help from anyone else on the defensive line. The rest of the defensive line combined for just 21 tackles and no tackles-for-loss all while being gashed for 535 rushing yards.

Linebackers: B

With little help coming from the defensive line and not having starting linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. on Monday, the Vols’ linebackers had a solid game. Daniel Bituli separated himself as a playmaker with a team-high 23 tackles, followed by Cortez McDowell and Colton Jumper combining for 31. It’s impressive that the linebackers played as well as they did considering the overwhelming amount of time they spent on the field.

Defensive Backs: C-

The Tennessee defensive backs didn’t get to see much action against the Yellow Jackets’ classic triple-option. However, when they were tested, they didn’t perform all that well. Georgia Tech capitalized by throwing for 120-yards on just five throws. Rashaan Gaulden forced a fumble late in the game, which was the biggest highlight for the Volunteers’ secondary, but there are concerns about how dependable they really are.

Special Teams: A

Evan Berry showed why he’s a former All-American as a kick returner after returning two kicks for a total of 86-yards. Punter Trevor Daniel didn’t disappoint as usual, punting six times for an average of 47 yards-per-punt to earn the Ray Guy Award Punter of the week. Kicker Aaron Medley made all six of his extra point attempts. Special teams continues to be a huge difference maker for Tennessee on a consistent basis.