I have not come to bury Tennessee…

Okay, I don’t want to make the same mistake I’m concerned the team might make of taking Tennessee too lightly, so let’s look at a couple of areas of legitimate concern, via Bill Connelly.

First, despite being hobbled by injuries, there’s one area where the Vol defense has excelled, and it’s something a team with a rookie quarterback should be a little nervous about.

Despite the loss of star end Derek Barnett, however, UT is still getting after the quarterback. Their passing-downs sack rate of 17.5 percent is tied with Washington State’s for tops in the country. Senior linebacker Colton Jumper has 3.5 sacks and 5.5 TFLs to lead the way.

UMass quarterbacks Andrew Ford and Ross Comis attempted 15 passing-downs passes on Saturday; they were sacked five times and completed just 4 of 10 passes. Net yards on those 15 attempts: 6. The pass rushed saved Tennessee’s bacon.

As a counter, there’s another stat Bill cites that likely points the way to a repeat of what Georgia did to great success last week:  The defense is allowing at least five yards on 45 percent of opponent carries (120th in FBS). That’s one way to take pressure off Fromm in his first conference road start.

Part two is John Kelly, who gets my vote as the SEC’s best running back in 2017.  As Bill points out, with over 80% of the team’s combined carries and pass targets, Kelly is the centerpiece of Tennessee’s offense, and with good reason.

Thru 4 games, Tennessee RB John Kelly has already forced 34 missed tackle (27 on rush att, 7 on receptions)

— CFB Film Room (@CFBFilmRoom) September 26, 2017

He’s not the fastest back in the world, but as that stat indicates, he’s a real bear to bring down.  Georgia’s newfound competency in tackling is going to be given a work out.

That is, assuming Booch decides to use Kelly effectively.  Given the questionable strategy of only running Kelly once on Tennessee’s three trips inside the Florida twenty in the Vols’ loss to the Gators, you can’t entirely dismiss the possibility that he won’t.  Of course, Georgia could simply stomp out to a comfortable lead and take that decision out of Booch’s hands, which would be fine with me.  In any event, you have to think stopping Kelly is Job One for Smart and Tucker as they put together this week’s defensive game plan.

Georgia is on a two-game losing streak with the Vols, which is something else to consider as the game approaches.  It wouldn’t be smart to take anything for granted in Knoxville.