Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / BYU defenders reach for Tennessee running back Ty Chandler during Saturday night’s game at Neyland Stadium.KNOXVILLE – The Tennessee Volunteers showed a lot of progress on offense in their second game of the season.
When progress still doesn’t equal overall success, though, sometimes it’s a sobering reality of where one stands.
In a 29-26 double-overtime loss to BYU on Saturday night at Neyland Stadium, the Vols were dominant offensively – on one half of the field. Unfortunately for them it was their half, and the problems unearthed in a season-opening 38-30 loss to Georgia State re-emerged against the Cougars.
Through two games, the Vols have run 78 plays in opponents’ territory, eight more than in Tennessee territory. While they have averaged 7.2 yards per play in their territory, that numbers dips to 4.1 after crossing the 50-yard line.
Tennessee ran 42 plays in BYU territory but managed only 148 yards on those plays, and the scoreboard results reflected the lack of success. The Vols had to settle for four Brent Cimaglia field goals (from 51, 39, 22 and 40 yards), with their two touchdowns coming on passes from Jarrett Guarantano to Jauan Jennings – a 5-yarder on the game’s first possession and a 13-yarder in the first extra period.