September 19, 2024 10: 00 am CT
The Oklahoma Sooners and Tennessee Volunteers will kick off SEC play in a leading-15 match that will have the eyes of the college football world upon them. ESPN “College GameDay” will be in Norman to emphasize the celebrations, and ABC put the big-time match in primetime.
Both groups come in at 3-0, however the Tennessee Volunteers have looked unbelievable, outscoring their challengers by an average rating of 63.7 to 4.3 points per videogame. They’ve ridden a running videogame that is one of the finest in the country, averaging 336.3 lawns per videogame, great for 3rd in the nation.
The Sooners haveactually been brought by a strong protective effort, one that has minimal challengers to simply 77.7 hurrying lawns per videogame through 3 weeks.
Brent Venables and Zac Alley’s defense squaring off versus Josh Heupel’s offense makes it an OU household affair inside the boundaries of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
To assistance get you allset for OU vs. Tennessee on Saturday night, we touched base with Dan Harralson of Vols Wire to offer us an inside appearance at the Volunteers.
1
What hasactually made the Tennessee run videogame so unique in 2024?
Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
Center Cooper Mays being healthy this year is the anchor of Tennessee’s offensive line. Josh Heupel is likewise using 3 tight ends this season and is able to usage more 11 and 12 workers, along with camouflaging 10 for 11 workers and 11 for 12 workers with different groupings, opening up more plays within the run videogame.
Harralson, Vols Wire
Having a veteran center like Cooper Mays can make all the distinction for a young quarterback. The experience and management along the offensive line for Tennessee might be the distinction in the ball videogame.
2
Aside from James Pearce Jr., who is the Tennessee protector that OU fans requirement to be worried with?
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It is not always one particular individual. Tim Banks and Rodney Garner have pieced together a front 7 that can relocation around side-to-side and play within the challenger’s’s backfield with pressure and athleticism, along with established depth. Omari Thomas, Dominic Bailey, Omarr Norman-Lott, Tyre West, Bryson Eason, Joshua Jospehs, Elijah Simmons, Keenan Pili, Arion Carter, Jordan Ross and Caleb Herring are a coupleof playing a part through 3 videogames for Tennessee’s initially and 2nd levels.
Harralson, Vols Wire
The Tennessee Volunteers are playing group defense in2024 It’s offered them an chance to stand out. As vibrant as the Tennessee protective front is, they just have 4 sacks this season.
3
If there is a weakpoint for the Volunteers, where is it?
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Tennessee’s secondary still has not been really checked. Entering the season, the impression of the Vols’ front 7 was understanding how well those systems were and likewise understanding they would assistance ease possible issues in the secondary. If Jackson Arnold is able to develop plays with his feet, the Sooners might be able to extend plays downfield on the run versus Tennessee’s secondary.
Harralson, Vols Wire
Oklahoma is getting back Nic Anderson this week and perhaps Andrel Anthony. That’ll make a world of a distinction for Oklahoma’s passing attack. If they can hit some huge plays in the passing videogame, it’ll open up some things in the run videogame.
4
What have you seen from Nico Iamaleava in his 4 college begins, consistingof the bowl videogame versus Iowa?
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He is poised and has decision, along with