While quarterback Joey Aguilar, receiver Chris Brazzell II and the rest of the Tennessee offense have received praise this week for racking up 496 yards and 41 points on a perennially potent Georgia defense, adulation has been lacking for the Volunteers defense.
The Vols surrendered 502 yards and 44 points during last Saturday’s overtime loss inside Neyland Stadium, and they really struggled on late downs. Georgia went 8-of-17 on third-down conversions and 2-of-2 on fourth-down tries, with the most memorable being Gunner Stockton’s 28-yard touchdown pass to London Humphreys on fourth-and-6 with 2:32 remaining in regulation.
That connection enabled the Bulldogs to pull within 38-36, and they added the 2-point conversion that ultimately sent the game into overtime.
“What I feel we need to do better is just execute and not telling ourselves that we’re tired,” Vols sophomore safety Edrees Farooq said this week in a news conference. “We need to communicate better and make sure we know where the sticks are so that we can stop them.”
The Vols (2-1), who remained No. 15 in the Associated Press poll after losing their Southeastern Conference opener, continued preparations Wednesday for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2-1), which visits Neyland this Saturday (12:45 p.m. on the SEC Network).