Dobbs, big returns help Tennessee trounce Kentucky 52-21

Leaves are changing colors, a chill is in the fall air and Tennessee’s football schedule is getting softer. They’re a good football team.

Kentucky plays at Georgia Saturday at noon on either ESPNU or the SEC Network.

Not at Kentucky (4-3, 2-3) on Saturday night in Lexington.

Tennessee’s true road games are October 1 at Georgia, October 8 at Texas A&M, October 29 at South Carolina and November 26 at Vanderbilt. The Vols’ offense has gotten rolling at times this year. THe Tennessee defense is allowing 24.7 points and 411.1 yards per game with five interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and 14 sacks.

Tough to watch, but not as tough as seeing the Vols blow double-digit leads in losses to Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas. But I don’t think it’s just that.

“Everything we do is about (being) positive and moving forward, so it’s a week-to-week season”.

“You can’t hide. You go to work, you man up, and you go get better”, Stoops said. “We face adversity every day, day in and day out”.

Prediction Kentucky will give Tennessee its best punch. Is one validated, while one gets put on the hot seat? They are explosive on offense. They can score anywhere on the field.

They haven’t done it with any consistency, though. After being so close to beating Alabama, they’ll want to prove themselves with a win over Kentucky. He played at UT with Berry’s father, running back James Berry.

Tennessee is in prime position to have its best season under Butch Jones. American Pharoah put the finishing touches on his Grand Slam by winning the Breeders Cup and a United Kingdom win would ignite an all night party in Lexington.

Jones says he’s not looking past Kentucky. It was one of those games that you knew from the jump that UT would be victorious. “If you get down about it, you can go and lose all four”. Three turnovers thrown by their quarterbacks against Mississippi State, two by Patrick Towles and one by freshman Drew Barker, is something that will not fly against the Volunteers. “We got whipped in all areas tonight”, Stoops said. “He’s won numerous state championships (three at Highlands)”.

There’s no room for that kind of thinking, however, says Stoops. He’s athletic. He can make plays with his legs. Tennessee controlled the line of scrimmage with 249 rushing yards. The game will be the second between the Vols and Bobcats after a 34-23 UT win in 2009. However, I would like to point out that Kentucky does have a few advantages heading into this contest. “He showed great explosiveness off the ball”.

This could be a prime time for more pressure.

A shootout might be in order with Tennessee’s strong ground game and Kentucky’s unsafe passing game matching up against the opponent’s defensive weaknesses. Tamara has also caught 19 passes for 152 yards and has two of the team’s 11 receiving TDs. They gained almost 500 yards, limited United Kingdom to only two offensive touchdowns, forced a pair of turnovers and scored touchdowns on kick and punt returns.

The Vols improved to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the SEC, while Kentucky lost for the third straight game and fell to 4-4 and 2-4.

Last week against the Bulldogs was not even close, as Das Prescott threw for 348 yards and threw three TDs in a 42-16 laugher. “You go coach better, and that’s the way we’re going to do it”. This has to be a game of complimentary football. Joshua Dobbs was 16-of-26 for 233 yards, but Jalen Hurd only had 61 yards on 18 carries. “They’ve been resilient. They just do whatever you ask of them”. “I’m really proud of them for that. He has very, very good instincts”.

His missed attempt from 43 yards after the Vols’ opening drive was an early momentum killer.

“Aaron Medley is our kicker”, Jones explains. After last season’s 7-5 record, finishing 9-4 is undeniable improvement. Stanley “Boom” Williams suffered a dislocated elbow late in the second period and never returned. He also danced his way to a few highlight-reel runs, especially his sideline-hugging first score. Berry has three touchdowns on kickoff returns this year to tie Willie Gault’s 35-year-old school single-season record.