Tennessee enters Saturday’s week six matchup at Arkansas with a new starting quarterback and an opportunity to build on its first SEC win.
George MacIntyre is expected to make his first career start after helping the Vols defeat Auburn. But Tennessee still has questions to answer offensively.
Former Tennessee defensive back Todd Kelly Jr. joined Live Ball to identify three keys for the Vols against Arkansas.
1. MacIntyre must keep Tennessee’s offense balanced
MacIntyre completed eight of 10 passes for 86 yards against Auburn, but Kelly believes his impact went beyond the numbers.
“I think he went from one dimensional to two dimensional,” Kelly said. “He ran the offense like it’s supposed to be ran.”
MacIntyre’s willingness to distribute the football forced Auburn to respect Tennessee’s passing attack.
Now, the challenge is sustaining that efficiency for four quarters on the road. Arkansas could be the perfect opportunity. Their secondary has allowed nearly 200 yards per game and have just one interception and 11 passes defended this season.
Kelly believes MacIntyre doesn’t need to be spectacular. He needs to trust his preparation, work through his progressions, and get the ball to Tennessee’s playmakers.
2. Tennessee must get its receivers involved
DeSean Bishop rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn, but Tennessee has yet to establish a consistent passing attack. The star running back now has 540 yards on the season.
Kelly believes Saturday presents an opportunity for Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley, Radarious Jackson, and Tristen Keys to become more involved.
“We’re almost halfway through the season, and we still have not implemented the passing attack like Josh Heupel’s offense has in prior years,” Kelly said.
Tennessee is averaging just 174 yards through the air.
Arkansas has recorded just one interception through five games, creating an opportunity for MacIntyre to attack through the air.
With Alabama next on the schedule, Kelly believes Tennessee needs to develop that balance now rather than continue relying primarily on its rushing attack.
3. Tennessee’s defense must keep KJ Jackson under pressure
Tennessee’s defensive front has been one of the Vols’ biggest strengths.
Now it faces an Arkansas offensive line that has allowed 10 sacks through five games.
“David versus Goliath,” Kelly said when asked about the matchup.
Arkansas insider Jackson Fuller echoed those concerns during Live Ball, identifying the Razorbacks’ inability to establish a consistent rushing attack as one of their biggest obstacles against Tennessee.
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Jackson can extend plays with his legs, making Tennessee’s improved tackling and pursuit particularly important.
Kelly expects the Vols to approach Jackson similarly to how they defended Auburn quarterback Byron Brown.
“Anytime your quarterback’s the leading rusher, you probably don’t want to play this defense because they’ve got you targeted, they’ve got a spy on you,” Kelly said.
If Tennessee can contain Jackson and force Arkansas into obvious passing situations, the Vols could make it difficult for the Razorbacks to establish an offensive rhythm.
For Kelly, Saturday is an opportunity for Tennessee to continue building on its defensive identity while taking another step forward offensively.
