Tennessee at Alabama Preview

"Then we did our job to seal the win".

Not that Saban was blind to the Tide's mistakes. It is not good enough to sniff at a mere five-point victory over a two-touchdown underdog. It was just the third time they've been over 100 rushing yards this season.

The message: "They're not stopping us. Jalen understands that. He's a team player, and he understands his attention will come, but he buys into what he needs to do to make this team better". That's debatable. But regardless of how you feel about it, the Vols were competitive in all four quarters against the Tide for the first time in several years, and they've been competitive in every game this season. "I think our receivers are guys that can get open and compete with a real quality secondary". If they get blown out the season may just come off the rails and they may be in danger of missing a bowl completely.

When Alabama plays Tennessee it's always a big game, but last night's game felt bigger than usual. Adam Griffith made his second field goal of the game to put Bama up 13-7 midway through the fourth quarter. But that's when the Tide took control. However, Coker was pressured immediately by multiple Tennessee defenders. This is due in part to sophomore running back Stanley Boom Williams, who is now the leading rusher for the Wildcats, bringing in 551 yards on 81 carries with three touchdowns. Two carries later by SEC's second leading rusher - who finished Saturday with 143 yards - and Alabama had regained the lead.

That sets up the showdown we've been waiting for on November. 7 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Volunteers still had 2:24 left to drive the field.

But that's when Alabama's defense rose up.

As was the case during the 5-0 start, much attention has been focused on quarterback Kyle Allen during the back-to-back losses. Anderson jarred the ball loose and A'Shawn Robinson recovered on the second one. "We win together, we lose together".

It's become a narrative all too familiar for Vol fans, but "waiting till next year" for the Vols to finally break through and win these games seems the best response. Georgia's schedule includes four opponents that are stingy against the run (Alabama, Florida, Missouri and Vanderbilt).

Said running back Alvin Kamara: "They're going to be good players". Aside from the four aforementioned corners, the Vols have just two other scholarship cornerbacks on the roster, and both those corners, Micah Abernathy and Darrell Miller, are true freshman.

"We didn't have a lot of energy like we usually do".

"We were exhausted out there today, dead-legged, and we didn't look really quick or fast". Arkansas was coming off a miserable loss, but that was an overtime squeaker and not the massive thrashing Georgia endured. I think that's playing eight games in a row.

Henry beat Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., to the end zone with 2:24 left and then the Crimson Tide did the rest.

"He's got to keep his head up", safety Brian Randolph said.

Instead, all that will matter is the bottom line. A Tennessee Volunteers team that shouldn't be able to match up in the trenches did so just the same.

- Guerry Clegg is an independent correspondent.