Five Big Things: To beat Mississippi State

1. Get Physical: Almost to a player, the Vols say Mississippi State was the most physical team it played in 2007, including eventual national champion LSU. Tennessee must match State’s intensity on both lines of scrimmage or today’s game could be different than its grind-it-out 33-21 victory last year in Starkville.

2. Win Outside: Tennessee hasn’t been a tough team to figure out thus far on offense. Opponents commit to stopping the run and leave receivers in one-on-one coverage outside. Until UT’s wideouts can win some of those matchups with regularity – or hit a few more deep passes – it’ll be tough to muster much offense. Tennessee needs to show it can pass to open up the run.

3. Play For Third: Third down has been a bugaboo on both sides of the ball. UT’s defense ranks last in the SEC in opponent conversions, while on offense the Vols have 30 three-and-outs this season and are 10th in the SEC in third-down conversions. Simply put, the Vols have to perform better on both sides today.

4. Hold the Line: Tennessee’s vaunted offensive line has turned into a shrinking violet. They were pushed around against Georgia and struggled against Northern Illinois. State won’t be the most impressive front seven UT sees this season, but the Vols will have a hard time winning if they can’t run the ball. This group needs a gut check, and they’ll need to have a good day for the Vols to win.

5. Just Win, Baby: The Vols are beyond style points. A win, even if it’s 2-0, is a win. A loss means UT drops to 0-4 in SEC play for the first time since 1977, Johnny Majors’ first year as head coach. It also means the Vols likely won’t be bowling for the second time in four years. UT’s players have bounced back well so far, but every team has a breaking point. If Tennessee has any designs on turning its season around, it has to win tonight.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!