⚡ CFB Dashboard

For receivers to get separation and for a QB to have time for a play to develop in seconds, it ALL starts up front. That is the fundamental foundation to the whole thing working. If the line doesn't block, which we all saw they didn't, then the whole thing can't operate successfully. The staff could have and should have called a lot more short distance crossing routes and wr screens inside to keep their linebackers a lot busier that's about all they could do and they didn't. That is squarely on the staff for sure. But the deep ball and taking chances takes time for the play to develop and the online MUST do their job. It takes time for a WR to get down field, it takes time for a QB to see this and set up and release the ball. If the QB is on their ass or running for their life, this can't develop and you're throwing off balance on the run. This has the defense licking their chops. If the coaches would have tried a lot more passes into the flat and in no man's land behind the defensive line and in front of the linebackers then maybe there would have been more pass protection on defense "keeping them honest". So yes, that is on the staff squarely. But if the offensive line would have halfway done their job, Tennessee could have won this game by a couple of scores.