By Jimmy Hyams / @JimmyHyams
When Alontae Taylor arrived at Tennessee, he was told one thing by those inside the Vol program: “You don’t lose to Kentucky.’’
Tennessee has won 33 of the past 36 meetings with the Wildcats, but coach Mike Stoops team has won two of the last four. That includes last year’s 34-7 rout when Kentucky bolted to a 17-0 second quarter lead thanks to a pair of pick sixes.
Tennessee (4-4) has not lost back-to-back games to Kentucky (6-2, ranked 17th) since 1976-77.
Here are several keys to Saturday’s 7 pm battle in the sold out Commonwealth.
The Levis Factor
Will Levis was a running quarterback at Penn State.
Kentucky fired offensive coordinator Eddie Gran after last season to open up its passing attack.
So, Levis wins the starting job over a couple of other candidates. Go figure.
Kentucky also hired Liam Coen from the NFL to install and more prolific pass game.
It took shape in Game One as Levis passed for 367 yards, including splash plays of 58, 62 and 57 yards. But the pass game has slowly declined since. Levis has gone five games in a row without reaching 200 passing yards and he was picked three times in a 31-17 loss last Saturday at Mississippi State.
Levis has had four games with 22 or fewer pass attempts. He’s had three games with a pass efficiency rating of less that 100 (compared to 230.9 in the opener and 212.2 against LSU). He had 189 combined pass yards against Florida and South Carolina. And he leads the SEC with nine interceptions (compared to 14 touchdown passes).
“He’s had some ups and downs,’’ Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said on the SEC teleconference when I asked him how Levis has progressed from Game One. “Even last week, he did some good things and some things you can’t do. You can’t win on the road with certain decisions he made.
“But I’m extremely confident in Will. We need him to put it together and for the players around him to play well.’’
Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks is very familiar with Levis. Banks was on the Penn State staff when Levis was the backup quarterback.
“Levis is a tremendous young man, really enjoyed my time around him,’’ Banks said. “Tremendous athlete, big, can run, super strong arm.
“He seems like he’s a lot more comfortable, in terms of throwing the ball. He’s always had a strong arm, but he seems to show more poise. I think that just comes with maturity in the more reps he’s gotten, but I’ve also thought he had a chance to be a really good player, an elite player.’’
Levis hasn’t run a great deal this season. He had 75 yards on 11 carries in a win over LSU. But his next best run games were 30 yards, then 25, then 21, then 18, then 12. He’s carried 53 times for 184 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Considering Tennessee’s vulnerability against running quarterbacks, Levis might attack the Vols with his legs. UT gave up 144 rush yards to Florida quarterback Emory Jones, 195 to Ole Miss’ Matt Corral and 42 to Alabama’s Bryce Young.
Does Banks expect Levis to run more against the Vols?
“It wouldn’t surprise me,’’ Banks said. “Typically, if you struggle with anything on tape, the offense the following week finds a way to put it in their scheme. We’re aware of it, and like I said, I know he (Levis) can run it.
“They haven’t run him a ton all year, but he has scrambled and made some guys miss, and guys have fell off of him. Our guys are very aware of how strong he is and that he can run. We’ve worked very hard during the bye week and this week to try to shore up some things, but obviously we have to do it in a game.”
Tennessee tops nation in TFLs
With rare exception, Tennessee’s run defense against opposing running backs has been exceptional.
Tennessee has held four teams to less than 100 rush yards.
Florida got 283, but 144 came from the quarterback. Ole Miss got 279 but 195 came from the quarterback. Alabama got 203 with 42 from the quarterback.
Only one opposing running back has rushed for more than 62 yards. Brian Robinson of Alabama had 107. Missouri’s Tyler Badie, the SEC’s leading rusher, was held to 41 yards.
Much of the credit goes to the defensive line, which has helped UT lead the nation in tackles for loss (70). Twenty-six players have contributed to the TFLs.
Is that scheme or player development?
Banks indicated it’s both, but he gave most of the praise to the players.
“I think, obviously, you try to play to the strengths of your players,’’ Banks said. “So, we pride ourselves on trying to minimize their weaknesses and putting those guys in the best possible position to be successful.
“It’s more of a credit to them, how hard they’re playing and giving the scheme a chance. It’s really all about the kids and how hard they’re playing. Those are the guys out there making the plays. … So, hat’s off to those guys.”
Tennessee will be challenged by Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez, who ranks second in the SEC in rushing at 101.1 yards per game. But against Mississippi State, Rodriguez was held to 34 yards on eight carries and UK was limited to 66 yards on 20 runs.
Where There’s a Will …
Mississippi State sophomore quarterback Will Rogers leads the SEC with 361.3 passing yards per game. So you know he’s capable of going off.
But what he did against Kentucky last Saturday was historic.
Rogers was 36 of 39 for 344 yards. His completion rate of 92.3 set an SEC record.
This season, Rogers is 327 of 435 for 2,890 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Stoops was asked if there were holes in the secondary or did the Wildcats just face a hot quarterback.
“A little bit of both,’’ Stoops said.
Stoops said State tries to be patient and take the underneath throws in Mike Leach’s system. That’s easier to do when you’re ahead. It’s also easier to get ahead when the opponent turns the ball over four times, like UK did.
“They were able to play the way they (want),’’ Leach said. “Give them credit. They took control. Having a hot quarterback was part of it.’’
You wonder if Tennessee saw anything in the Kentucky secondary that will lead to the Vols hitting short passes to move the chains.
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