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Butch Jones: “Facing Derrick Henry will be a great challenge”

Luckily, Tennessee’s bye week came at the perfect time. They have had consecutive games playing against some pretty good competition. The Vols have heard their fair share of criticism after those tough Oklahoma and Florida losses. Indeed, Tennessee has sustained various injuries throughout its football team.

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I’m also giving the benefit of the doubt to Andy Kennedy and Mississippi by picking them seventh.

With that said, I do believe the Vols can hang with Alabama. “There’s just a little bit different feeling with Alabama”. Allen, despite his poor performance against the Tide, is one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC and is well on his way to hearing his name called in the first round in a future NFL draft. There is only one way to beat Alabama and that is through the air.

Defense remains the cornerstone of Saban’s Alabama dynasty. & when it was as noteworthy to an icon ’cause it was to Paul “Bear” Bryant, the whole entire thing gets contagious.

Keeping the unit from reaching an A+ is how often they over pursue ball carriers in the backfield.

The Tide does not have a Julio Jones. Honestly I fear their passing game more than I do the running game. I think our players have done a great job. Of Daniel’s 33 punts, 14 went 50-plus yards and 13 have landed inside the 20-yard line. The Vols just need to make sure it is a quiet 130 yards on the day. “This game means a lot to both universities, our fan bases and our players”.

Freshman Damien Harris is the No. 3 running back, but most of his time on offense, if not all of it, has come during the second half of games with Alabama holding a big lead. Once again, the three pick-sixes cover up problems. Cam Sutton has been his steay self, but he has had lapses as well. Kamara still swaps text messages with Henry and other 2013 signees like Eddie Jackson as part of a group conversation the players use to wish each other good luck in their upcoming games. They’re more athletic than what they’ve been in the past at linebacker. That will be the key.

Traditionally played in the third Saturday in October, Alabama versus Tennessee is one of college football’s longest standing rivalries.

Dobbs had a really good game against the Tide last season in Knoxville. But while the return game has been strong, so has the Vols’ kicking game.

Freshman sensation Christian Kirk highlights the wide receiving unit for Texas A&M. He ran across the State of Texas on Saturday, and wasn’t touched much of the time. The Crimson Tide will make life a living hole for Tennessee’s offense. But that will put this secondary at risk. Bring the heat. What do you have to lose. The case can be made that, at least until Saturday, every single West team is alive. In his two career games, UT has actually outscored Alabama, 30-29, with Dobbs in the game. They are capable of doing it.

LSU freshman Ben Simmons was the choice of the media for SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Year. What will Alabama do in this game? They have a bunch of them.

 

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Really, Tennessee needs to be perfect to win this one. Before we get started, I’d like to say that our thoughts and prayers are with Coach Graham Clark of Dobyns-Bennett with the tragedy that his family’s going through right now. Not that I’m a homer or anything. I’ll change my mind to Vols by 20 by Friday.

Vols continue to build program