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Fans, media blast Tennessee’s offense after first-half shutout vs. Florida
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Tennessee endured more offensive struggles in the first half against Florida on Saturday night.
The Vols were shutout in the first half and are losing 3-0 to the Gators at the break. To this point in the game, it’s been a continuation of what Tennessee’s offense looked like for most of its Week 6 loss to Arkansas.
Tennessee’s offense averaged just 4.2 yards per play in the first half. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 7-of-10 passes, but they went for just 89 yards. Iamaleava also threw a crucial interception at the end of a 7-play drive in the second quarter.
Tennessee’s run game was more-or-less non-existent. The Vols averaged just 2 yards per carry on the ground in the first half. DeSean Bishop had 22 yards on 6 carries while Dylan Sampson mustered 19 yards on 9 carries.
Turnovers were also once again an issue. In addition to Iamaleava’s INT, he also fumbled the ball on Tennessee’s opening drive of the game. Iamaleava has struggled with ball security all season and it seems there’s still more work to be done in that area for the redshirt freshman.
Tennessee isn’t out of this game by any means, but Vols fans and college football media both noted the unit’s struggles at halftime:
I’ve been trying to tell y’all that Tennessee has a below-mediocre offense.
— Blain Crain (@Blain_Crain) October 13, 2024
Who broke Tennessee's offense and can it be fixed?
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 13, 2024
https://twitter.com/TheVFLshow/status/1845254861639585972
What has happened to Tennessee’s offense?
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) October 13, 2024
Tennessee down 3 at halftime, feels like 30 the way the Vol offense is playing
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) October 13, 2024
Nico Iamaleava may be Joe Milton 2.0 my god has he been bad as of late consistent overthrows, balls into triple coverage and has yet to show a real ability to scramble
— Jacob Bishop (@jbish444) October 13, 2024
Nico Iamaleava with an awful decision to throw into triple-coverage and it's intercepted.
And then John Campbell Jr. was called for unnecessary roughness after the play.
Think there were three other receivers open on the play to add salt to the wound.
— Ben McKee (@benmckee14) October 13, 2024
Nico Iamaleava when he gets the snap and there’s already a Florida Gator in the backfield pic.twitter.com/A7iadKGxS4
— Brandon Olsen (@WNS_Brandon) October 12, 2024
Nico Iamaleava is a generational QB talent and the University of Tennessee is ruining him before our very eyes.
— Jake (@JakeAndBall) October 12, 2024
Florida has won 17 of the last 19 meetings in this series.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
