GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Tennessee’s rushing offense vs. Vanderbilt’s rush defense. With QB Jarrett Guarantano questionable following an apparent concussion last week, the Vols would turn to QB Keller Chryst, who has been shaky (23 of 47, 450 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions.) That would place an extra emphasis on the running game, where freshman RB Ty Chandler (542 yards, 5.0 per carry) has been solid, but Tennessee doesn’t have great options after him. If Guarantano is out, expect VU to stack the box and force Chryst to beat the ‘Dores.
The Commodores have struggled against the run (4.8 per carry) but were better last week against Ole Miss (30 rushes, 121 yards) thanks to the play of ILB Dimitri Moore, who maybe his best game of the season with eight tackles (six solo) and a sack.
DRAFT SLANT
–CB JoeJuan Williams came up big against one of the best receiving tandems in the country in Ole Miss’s A.J. Brown and DeMarkus Lodge last week. Williams gave up some catches, some on great coverage, but the junior also came up huge with a fourth-quarter interception in the end zone. Williams broke up a pass intended for Lodge on a fourth-down play in overtime to seal a 36-29 win over Ole Miss, his fourth break-up of the night.
ROSTER REPORT:
–OL Saige Young is listed as a co-starter with Cole Clemens at left guard. Young missed the Ole Miss game with an undisclosed injury.
–S Frank Coppet is listed as a starter this week over S Tae Daley.
–S Tae Daley is listed as Frank Coppet’s backup this week, but Daley has been playing well over half the team’s snaps and is often used as a nickel.
–CB B.J. Anderson, a true freshman who’s seen action just once this year (Arkansas), is listed as the backup to CB JoeJuan Williams, who rarely comes off the field.
–S Brendon Harris, a true freshman who has not seen action on defense, is listed on the depth chart in an “or” situation with S Gil Barksdale as a backup to LaDarius Wiley. Harris was once a Tennessee commitment.