SEC Power Rankings, Week 2: SEC West gets four teams in top five
Sep 5, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Alvin Kamara (6) runs the ball against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Overall, the defense allowed 557 yards of offense (443 passing) and 24 first downs. The Vols did a good job holding Bowling Green to just four first downs in 17 third down opportunities and won the turnover battle, but the performance was largely disappointing for a unit that expects to be one of the best in the SEC.
Tennessee running backs Alvin Kamara and Jalen Hurd each cracked the century mark with 144 and 123 rushing yards, respectively. Tamara had two touchdowns and Hurd scored twice. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs added 89 yards and a TD, and was very efficient with a 15-for-22 performance as a passer (though he struggled with accuracy on occasion), with 205 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
For a team expected to compete for the SEC East title this season, the second half hiccup is a bit of a red flag. However, the offense looks even better than expected, scoring more points than any Tennessee squad in a single game since 2009. The defense, however, is a concern heading into next week’s game against Oklahoma at Neyland Stadium, which will be a huge opportunity for the Vols to make a statement on a national stage.
Next Game: Saturday September 12 vs. Oklahoma
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6
Tennessee Vols 1-0 (0-0)
Last week: Beat Bowling Green 59-30
Last rank: 6th
Tennessee played a “neutral” site match-up in Nashville against Bowling Green. The Vols looked great early, especially running the football, but things got a little hairy in the second quarter.
The Tennessee secondary sleepwalked through the second 15 minutes of the contest. Cornerback Emmanuel Mosley had a rough time holding down Bowling Green receiver Gehrig Dieter, who had 98 yards on three catches in the first half and scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass in which he burned Mosley down the sideline. The TD was part of a 17-point run for the Falcons, which pulled the score to 21-20. Luckily, the Vols responded with two touchdowns before halftime to take a 35-20 score into the locker room.
Overall, the defense allowed 557 yards of offense (443 passing) and 24 first downs. The Vols did a good job holding Bowling Green to just four first downs in 17 third down opportunities and won the turnover battle, but the performance was largely disappointing for a unit that expects to be one of the best in the SEC.
Tennessee running backs Alvin Kamara and Jalen Hurd each cracked the century mark with 144 and 123 rushing yards, respectively. Tamara had two touchdowns and Hurd scored twice. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs added 89 yards and a TD, and was very efficient with a 15-for-22 performance as a passer (though he struggled with accuracy on occasion), with 205 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
For a team expected to compete for the SEC East title this season, the second half hiccup is a bit of a red flag. However, the offense looks even better than expected, scoring more points than any Tennessee squad in a single game since 2009. The defense, however, is a concern heading into next week’s game against Oklahoma at Neyland Stadium, which will be a huge opportunity for the Vols to make a statement on a national stage.
Next Game: Saturday September 12 vs. Oklahoma
Next: Arkansas