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Statistical rankings of the Tennessee Vols after the Georgia game

The stat rankings this week show serious slippage in a few key defensive categories, but improvement in several other key areas.

By Joel Hollingsworth
Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

What Tennessee is currently doing well

There were a few casualties to the Top 30 because of the Georgia game -- Turnover Margin, Fumbles Lost, and Red Zone Defense -- but offsetting that is welcoming home three other stats: Fewest Penalties, 4th Down Conversion Percentage, and First Downs Offense. Folks, that's a lot of green for a team attempting to turn the corner against the 13th-toughest schedule in the nation. The Vols still appear to be a team identified by its success in special teams and lack of turnovers and penalties, but the offense is beginning to crown.

Categories in which Tennessee is in the Top 30
Category 2011 2012 2013

2014

 BG OK WC FL AR GA
Blocked Kicks Allowed

1

 1 1 1 1 1 1
Blocked Punts Allowed 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Kickoff Returns 41 80 20 14 5 8 3 2 1 2
Blocked Kicks 70 3 4 11 18 5 5
Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game 51 67 21 6 44 70 33 18 17 8
Passes Had Intercepted 63 83 107 84 1 28 14 9 6 10
Turnovers Lost 20 58 87 61 1 7 4 5 8 12
Fewest Penalty Yards 9 45 72 38 22 21 17
Fewest Penalties Per Game 56 92 26 7 22 74 42 29 25 17
Punt Returns 61 22 51 37 6 13 17 25 25 18
3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense 57 50 91 14 27 58 25 13 21 19
First Downs Offense 98 20 101 54 14 40 27 34 37 20
4th Down Conversion Pct 91 80 76 26 70 100 55 27 37 21
Rushing Offense 116 61 44 89 4 20 17 18 19 21
Scoring Offense 106 22 94 62 13 32 13 20 30 23
Fewest Penalties 13 23 77 48 38 31 24
Net Punting 104 52 28 36 57 18 13 7 6 24
Kickoff Return Defense 7 47 118 23 17 9 30 28 28 27
New this week: None.
Back in this week: Fewest Penalties, 4th Down Conversion Pct, First Downs Offense.
Departing this week: Turnover Margin, Fumbles Lost, Red Zone Defense.

Where Tennessee needs major improvement

We did have a bit of a lapse in a couple of categories that really matter. Punt Return Defense and Passing Yards Allowed fell back into the pit and were joined by newcomers Team Tackles for Loss and Team Sacks, both of which began this season where they left off last in the Top 30 and gradually slid down the slope and into the stink. We saw what pressure on the quarterback did for this team last year, and improving that plus Passing Yards Allowed would do wonders for Team 119.

Passing Offense did escape the mire this week, though, so that's offsetting the bad news a bit.

Categories in which Tennessee is 90th or below
Category 2011 2012 2013 2014 BG OK WC FL AR GA
Total Defense 28 107 83 36 114 104 78 76 93 91
Passing Yards Allowed 12 111 27 22 120 108 81 87 88 92
Team Sacks 100 98 99 29 29 37 74 51 90 95
Team Tackles for Loss 67 48 90 21 27 20 41 46 84 101
Tackles for Loss Allowed 38 9 37 122 54 89 61 93 100 102
Punt Return Defense 85 67 92 11 107 98 89 75 83 112
4th Down Conversion Pct Defense 48 86 117 26 102 107 114 123 122 124
New this week: Team Tackles for Loss, Team Sacks.
Back in this week: Punt Return Defense, Passing Yards Allowed.
Climbing out of the gutter this week: Passing Offense.

THE BIG FAT MIDDLE

Categories in which Tennessee is in the Middle of the Rankings
Category 2011 2012 2013 2014 BG OK WC FL AR GA
Red Zone Defense 47 115 11 124 32 98 68 88 30 36
Red Zone Offense 58 29 100 5 61 38 23 12 36 37
Fumbles Lost 6 28 24 37 1 1 1 14 29 40
Turnover Margin 59 88 54 53 26 26 8 16 28 40
3rd Down Conversion Pct 56 81 92 78 19 39 56 54 45 41
Fumbles Recovered 71 113 29 78 21 47 18 33 55 43
Total Offense 104 18 102 90 14 61 54 56 53 44
Time of Possession 37 116 91 51 27 61 51 44 63 57
Team Passing Efficiency Defense 58 24 86 74 51 56 59 61
First Downs Defense 18 86 45 33 92 91 49 51 69 63
Sacks Allowed 40 5 21 117 27 71 72 83 69 63
Team Passing Efficiency 69 31 111 70 34 95 61 57 65 63
Passing Yards per Completion 115 116 40 68 77 71 67 65
Scoring Defense 36 104 78 35 82 93 64 70 71 66
Turnovers Gained 91 95 35 34 60 55 31 41 65 68
Rushing Defense 69 85 100 65 53 64 70 52 78 74
Completion Percentage 32 49 109 75 70 73 75
Passes Intercepted 86 56 40 15 45 42 40 61 76
Passing Offense 50 15 109 70 76 105 97 102 95 81

Players in the Top 30

Player Stat 2011 2012 2013 2014 BG OK WC FL AR GA
Evan Berry Kickoff Return TDs 2 4 1 1
Evan Berry Kickoff Returns 8 1 4 2 1
Alvin Kamara Punt Return TDs 2 2 2 2
Evan Berry Combined Kick Returns 29 14 16 2 2
Trevor Daniel Punting 4 4 5 3 4
Cameron Sutton Punt Returns 4 13 17 23 23 12
Jalen Hurd Rushing TDs 3 8 9 9 13 19
Joshua Dobbs Points Responsible For 18 25 25 20
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Total Tackles 2 12 16 16 27
Aaron Medley Field Goals Per Game 17 26 22 27
Joshua Dobbs Points Responsible For Per Game 19 28
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Solo Tackles 12 2 9 11 19 29
Jalen Hurd Scoring 4 16 13 9 26
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Tackles For Loss 7 27 19 26
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Fumbles Recovered 2 4 10 16 27
Derek Barnett Fumbles Recovered 10 16 27
Shy Tuttle Fumbles Recovered 10 16 27
Jalen Hurd Rushing Yards 29 26 26 28
Todd Kelly, Jr. Interceptions 6 16
Aaron Medley Scoring 24
Ethan Wolf Receiving TDs 4 16
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Forced Fumbles 19
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Sacks 25
Jalen Hurd Rushing Yards Per Game 29 28
Alvin Kamara Rush Yards Per Carry 9
Alvin Kamara Rushing Yards 14
Alvin Kamara Rushing Yards Per Game 14
Cameron Sutton Combined Kick Returns 17
Jalen Hurd Points Responsible For 18
Jalen Hurd Points Responsible For Per Game 19
Alvin Kamara Scoring 26
Ethan Wolf Scoring 26

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