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Not much movement in Vols’ statistical rankings after Florida

Tennessee’s rankings in the NCAA’s stat categories didn’t change much after the big win against the Gators, but it’s hard to complain about any of it.

By Joel Hollingsworth
Florida v Tennessee
Really, only one number matters anyway.
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The Vols' statistical rankings over the first three games of the season weren't particularly good, and we probably shouldn't expect them to get much better over a four-game stretch beginning with Florida and Georgia and ending with Texas A&M and Alabama. Here's how things look after playing Florida, which is probably still one of the nation's best defenses.

What Tennessee is currently doing well

Stat 2015 App St. VT Ohio FL
Blocked Kicks Allowed 28 1 1 1 1
Blocked Punts Allowed 64 1 1 1 1
Fumbles Recovered 81 1 3 4
Fumbles Lost 46 58 35 21 10
Kickoff Returns 1 4 3 41 22
Turnovers Gained 99 57 6 26 24
New this week: Kickoff Returns.
Falling out of the Top 30 this week: Red Zone Offense.

We'll start by reiterating that the most important stat is winning percentage, and in that category the Vols are currently tied for first. Also, Florida accidentally kicking the ball to Evan Berry gave the team an opportunity to make the Top 30 in Kickoff Returns.

Apart from that, though, the best we can say is that Tennessee's turnover fortune continues.

Where Tennessee needs major improvement

Stat 2015 App St. VT Ohio FL
Completion Percentage 58 92 98 64 90
Fewest Penalty Yards 6 63 72 99 95
Passing Offense 93 82 118 109 97
Red Zone Defense 24 19 43 78 98
Team Sacks 56 79 105 102
Passes Had Intercepted 7 65 70 72 104
4th Down Conversion Pct 6 73 101 113 106
New this week: Completion Percentage, Red Zone Defense, Passes Had Intercepted.
Getting out of the gutter this week: Passing Yards Per Completion, Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game, Total Offense, Passes Intercepted, Punt Returns.

Is it me, or is there a little cognitive dissonance here relating to those passing categories? I know the passing game dug a hole for itself and that it probably can't climb out of it in one game, but I'm having problems actually being concerned about those numbers. As soon as I look at them, they're immediately replaced by images of Jauan Jennings, Josh Malone, and Ethan Wolf hauling in touchdown catches to help win the game against the Gators. So maybe this is already fixed and just needs a few games worth of stats for it to show?

And something similar happens when I see Team Sacks down here. For some reason I'm not that concerned.

THE BIG FAT MIDDLE

Stat 2015 App St. VT Ohio FL
Kickoff Return Defense 15 30 55 42 33
Net Punting 30 60 51 41 33
Turnover Margin 50 74 14 36 35
Scoring Defense 26 30 42 35 37
4th Down Conversion Pct Defense 123 70 58 51 39
Total Defense 46 48 60 39 39
3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense 4 24 58 47 42
Passing Yards per Completion 87 64 96 103 44
Tackles for Loss Allowed 107 46 71 82 49
Team Passing Efficiency 57 86 85 72 51
Rushing Defense 49 94 97 71 52
First Downs Defense 30 50 61 57 53
Passing Yards Allowed 57 17 29 35 54
Rushing Offense 21 84 63 56 54
Scoring Offense 36 88 61 69 56
Sacks Allowed 51 58 66 84 57
Team Tackles for Loss 80 55 42 63 57
Turnovers Lost 13 66 53 48 58
Team Passing Efficiency Defense 35 61 78 44 59
Punt Return Defense 102 124 120 81 64
3rd Down Conversion Pct 20 59 99 71 65
Red Zone Offense 82 1 1 1 68
First Downs Offense 37 75 97 76 71
Fewest Penalties Per Game 16 52 58 76 74
Time of Possession 56 94 91 84 76
Fewest Penalties 17 53 63 79 79
Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game 6 62 71 95 85
Total Offense 50 92 111 101 85
Passes Intercepted 93 30 66 93 86
Punt Returns 2 86 99 106 88

That's still a giant Big Fat Middle, but once again, I'm having trouble complaining after last Saturday.

Players in the Top 30

Lotsa Joshes below.

Player Stat 2015 App St. VT Ohio FL
Micah Abernathy Fumbles Recovered 1 1 1
Josh Malone Receiving TDs 24 6 5
Joshua Dobbs Points Responsible For 27 22 7
Joshua Dobbs Points Responsible For Per Game 30 24 11
Joshua Dobbs Passing TDs 16
Josh Malone Yards per Reception 2 6 22 20
Corey Vereen Fumbles Recovered 11 16 22
Dillon Bates Fumbles Recovered 22
Shy Tuttle Fumbles Recovered 22
Derek Barnett Tackles For Loss 25
Trevor Daniel Punting 6 3 13 28
Kendall Vickers Forced Fumbles 19
Todd Kelly, Jr. Forced Fumbles 19
Cameron Sutton Total Interceptions 8 25
Aaron Medley Field Goals Per Game 14 15 25
Cameron Sutton Interceptions Per Game 8 28
Jalen Hurd Rushing Yards 29 28
Jalen Hurd Rushing Yards Per Game 30
Aaron Medley Field Goal Percentage 1
Cameron Sutton Punt Returns 1
Evan Berry Kickoff Return TDs 1
Evan Berry Kickoff Returns 1
Cameron Sutton Punt Return TDs 2
Alvin Kamara Punt Return TDs 12
Evan Berry Combined Kick Returns 13
Aaron Medley Scoring 23
Jalen Reeves-Maybin Fumbles Recovered 23

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