Coaching Follies: Yes, Butch Jones, You Easily Qualify

Tennessee should have won its pivotal SEC East game at Florida.  However, for its 2nd straight visit to the Swamp, inexplicable coaching decisions doomed the Vols against its frequent tormentor (The Gators are 21-6 in their last 27 against the Rocky Toppers.  Peyton Manning’s Vols could never beat the Gators).  On the surface, Feleipe Franks’ 63-yard bomb to Tyrie Cleveland on the game-deciding last play, was one piece of gross mismanagement by the Vols’ coaching staff.  And, indeed, it was.  Normally, we would label this as a Hail Mary.  But, in a typical Hail Mary scenario, defensive backs are patrolling the end zone with the same zealousness Donald Trump would like to see in our border patrol agents.  However, this bizarre piece of theater featured Cleveland streaking past a Safety as the Cornerback on the same side of the field decided to advance toward the line of scrimmage to cover a potential short pass!  But, even with these incredible developments, one would expected some other Volunteer defenders to be  sentinels against the deep ball.  Nope!  Barely in the same zip code.

OK, any coach can be the captain of a disasterous play.  For Butch Jones, the last play was just the capper of a hideous day of game management.  If I were to tell you that Tennessee had 7 plays inside the Florida 10, would you believe me if I told you there were no running plays?  One series started with a first down and goal  from the Florida 1.  The first down pass was almost intercepted.  A later pass in the series was intercepted.  If Tennessee had no running game, one could almost understand the curious play calling.  However, the Vols had John Kelly.  The running back was sufficiently skilled to scorch Florida’s D for 141 rushing yards.  Earlier in the game, Tennessee, needing only one yard for a first down, put its QB in the shotgun.

Jones had already provided Vol fans with another nightmare in Tennessee’s last visit to the Swamp in 2015.  After Jalen Hurd scored a touchdown with 10+ minutes left, Tennessee extended its lead to 26-14 before a fateful point after touchdown decision.  Jones elected to kick the extra point, amply demonstrating that he never fully grasped his “7 times tables” in his youth.  Down 27-14, Florida staged a furious comeback, replete with three key 4th down conversion on two drives, to win a 28-27 thriller.  Of course, Jones should have gone for 2 after the Vols’ last touchdown.  In a bizarre twist, the game-winning TD pass from Will Grier to Antonio Callaway also went for 63 yards.

There have been other games in the Jones’ era where defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory (their Oklahoma collapse is one example).

To Jones’ credit, he has recruited well and the 4th quarter effort from Tennessee was impressive in their game against the Gators and their improbable comeback thriller in their opener against Georgia Tech.  However, the program would be immeasurably helped if somebody else was making the key in-game decisions.