By JASON MARTIN (@JMartZone – September 15, 2018)

24-0 sounds good, it really does, until you take a look at the opponent. UTEP, with the loss, has dropped 15 consecutive games. That’s the longest active losing streak in FBS, and the Miners were obliterated by UNLV (Not Larry Johnson, Anderson Hunt, and Stacey Augmon either) one week ago.

Now how does 24-0 hit you? Not quite as sturdy anymore. It’s still a shutout, but there are more questions than answers as the Vols look ahead to the showdown with Dan Mullen and the Florida Gators on the 22nd.

Here are my Big 6 Takeaways from today’s victory at Neyland Stadium.

SELF-INJURIOUS IN THE FIRST HALF

Folks, Drew Richmond may as well have been wearing a UTEP jersey in that first half. He had two holds, one that was declined to bring up a fourth down situation and a punt, and he also destroyed a TD with a useless, unnecessary chop block inside the 5 yard line. It was as bad as a lineman can play in 30 minutes of football.

And he wan’t alone.

The Vols had to waste a timeout in the half because they had too many men on the field. After just three penalties last week, Tennessee had three in the first quarter and five in the first half. False starts, holds, chop blocks, just the kind of discipline issues that drive a coach crazy and drive a fan base ballistic. None of these things make you feel good about the mentality of the team in terms of poise with Florida on deck. They settled down in the second half, but UTEP wasn’t a W/L situation, it was a “get right” game, and that half ensured the process is far from over.

TY CHANDLER IS FAST

This isn’t news to anyone in Nashville, but Ty Chandler is a speedster. He’s the home-run threat the Vols haven’t had in a while, as John Kelly wasn’t particularly quick and Jalen Hurd wanted to run you over, certainly not blaze past you down the field. Well, more accurately he may have WANTED to speed past you, but that wasn’t in his skill set.

But Ty can fly, and that’s what we saw on the 81-yard score on the first offensive snap of the third quarter for Tennessee. It was the seventh longest run in school history and the longest since 2006. That’s what he can give you. He hit that left edge, got to the second level, and it was a wrap at that juncture. Chandler is the game breaker to go along with the more power style of Jordan, Banks, and even Macre London, who had an impressive hurdle in the red area in the second quarter.

Chandler’s return was a major bright spot for the Vols, and even though one must take into account the opponent, he’s going to make some plays for this football team. On 12 carries, he picked up 158 yards and the long score. He will be so important next week in early down situations, letting Jordan and the rest of the backs pick up whatever’s left on third down.

Pruitt said after the game he doesn’t think his team has a guy that can get 25 touches a game, so all players will be included in the game plan, and luckily, there are multiple guys you like carrying the football on this team, but none of them have the athletic ability of Chandler. It was terrific to see the local product back on the field today.

GUARANTANO IS THE GUY

Keller Chryst did nothing in the time he was out there, but even though 10-0 at half was incredibly disappointing for Jeremy Pruitt, his starter looked terrific. JG was accurate, he was looking off safeties, he was working through his progressions, and he was throwing bullets down the field. He’s been impressive in all three football games, and if you wondered if a quarterback controversy might exist at Tennessee, I’d say those questions have been answered.

Guarantano was 12-16 for 168 and a touchdown. He still hasn’t turned the football over all season long, which is also something to build upon. He’s been better than many might have thought, and he gives you a chance if you can protect him. Florida will look to make him uncomfortable in the pocket next week, following the West Virginia blueprint in that regard, and will hope that the offensive line will continue to shoot itself in the foot with penalties, movement, and inconsistent play.

As for JG, we saw him leading and talking on the sidelines, engaged in conversations with his receivers. On the field, he pulled it down when he had to and didn’t make any risky throws. 6 carries for 20 yards as he was sacked in the first half once, but generally, you can’t ask for much more than the awareness he’s shown thus far this season.

We saw last week against Kentucky that Mullen may not have a QB to do the job on that roster yet. We’re seeing so far that Jeremy Pruitt does, at least to some degree.

THIRD FREAKIN’ DOWN

Last season, Butch Jones’ Vols were awful on the “must” down, with barely a 35% conversion percentage. This season, it hasn’t been much better. 38% entering the game for Jeremy Pruitt and Tyson Helton’s offense is good for 89th in college football. Today against UTEP, it was 4-12, including 1-6 to start. 33% on third down against the Miners ain’t good enough, by any measure. Most of them weren’t lengthy downs and distances either, which is even more troubling.

If Tennessee hopes to win any of these next five games, that percentage has to get higher, and that means the play calling and the blocking has to be better. The OL is still a struggle, especially when guys like Richmond appear to be playing for the other team. But maintaining possession and extending drives must improve…now.

Third down struggles for Butch have continued so far for JP, and today on second down, the Vols in the first half were averaging – wait for it – ONE YARD. Can’t have that. Not against UTEP. Not against Florida. Not against anybody. I’m sure Pruitt knows it, but third down needs to be a major focus this week.

ENERGY AND EFFORT LACKING

UTEP is an awful football team. Kai Locksley cannot throw the football and doesn’t seem to have any command in the passing game. He’s basically a HS quarterback that tries to gain yardage on the ground, because his coach doesn’t believe he can do it through the air. He was 6-19 last week, and was 9-22 for just 39 yards this week. The Miners aren’t good, and we knew it going in. ETSU might beat them by 14.

That’s why 24-0 and especially that first half was so discouraging. The Vols were going to win the football game, of that no one had any doubt, but there was zero enthusiasm early in the contest. It was a problem in the opener in Charlotte and also last week against ETSU. One thing that usually accompanies a good start is a fervor and a level of excitement exuding from a team at kickoff.

We have not seen that from the 2018 Tennessee Volunteers in three games. Next week, expect to see the Vols hyped and ready amidst that sellout crowd at Neyland Stadium. But, it shouldn’t take Florida to get you up to play. Tennessee just looks lethargic and more apt to yawn than bark when these games kick. That’s got to change, and that comes from the top. Pruitt has to light a fire under these guys. Period.

SOLID ON DEFENSE

UTEP passed for 39 yards in 60 minutes. UTEP rushed for 95 yards on 28 attempts in 60 minutes. Their offense is inept, but that was still a great performance from Tennessee’s defense. The linebackers had a stellar day and the young secondary was up to the task of batting down whatever balls were close enough to a receiver to have been dangerous.

The past two weeks, the Vols defense has shown improvement, not just because it was ETSU and UTEP, but in their discipline, coverage, and spacing. This was a dominant performance today from them, which they’ll have to duplicate as often as they can during the stretch that awaits the Volunteers fro this point forward. It was a well-executed defensive game, with the only exception being creating zero turnovers.

UTEP protected the ball well, but in the way you protect an Easter egg you’re not planning to eat, just show off. It wasn’t like the Miners were going to do anything with it, but they didn’t give it away. There weren’t many attempts to steal that egg, because of how conservatively Dana Dimel’s team played.

OVERALL

With Florida traveling to Knoxville seven days from now for the NEXT chance at a Vols win over the Gators, I don’t know how you feel today. 24-0 is 24-0, but against UTEP, with the mental blunders we saw, the OL continuing to be spotty, and two weeks of “tune up” that won’t really prepare you for the athletes you’ll see next week, it’s questionable.

Ty Chandler’s day is encouraging, the defense has played well the past two weeks, and special teams is in relatively good shape as well (minus Callaway’s muffed punt today), all of which are good signs. Guarantano has been better than expected and looks to be dialed in as a passer. He’s spreading it around and his receivers are finding space, although Gators and Miners aren’t comparable in any way.

Some things you like today, some things you hate, and some downright bowling shoe ugly stuff in that first half. Discipline and limiting the mental errors will be on Pruitt’s mind. He’s also said the team hasn’t put together a good full week of practice yet. They’ll need it this week.