Clint Lamb
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It has not been a good start to the weekend for Jarrett Guarantano. From the start of game against Kentucky, the Tennessee quarterback has been a turnover machine. He’s now had a fumble and two pick-sixes, and it isn’t even halftime.
The first pick-six came early in the second quarter when former LSU cornerback Kelvin Joseph stepped in front of a Guarantano pass and returned it 41 yards for a score.
A Jarrett Guarantano pick 6 means the day has started pic.twitter.com/dE9X2R5oiq
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) October 17, 2020
The second pick-six came on the very next possession. This time, it was linebacker Jamin Davis who returned the interception 82 yards for a score to put the Wildcats up 14-0 on the Vols.
Jarrett Guarantano has two TD passes today, they just happen to both be thrown to Kentucky
Kentucky (+6.5) up 14-0 early
— OddsChecker (@OddsCheckerUS) October 17, 2020
Those poor decisions led to Guarantano benched for backup J.T. Shrout. Unfortunately for Tennessee, Shrout’s first pass attempt was intercepted as well, which led to Guarantano getting another crack at the job.
The senior did immediately lead the Vols offense down the field for its first score of the day, but one has to wonder how much more slack he’ll continue to have.
Will we see more Shrout at any point? Is Brian Maurer an option? When will Harrison Bailey be ready? These are all questions being asked by Tennessee fans right now.
Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.
Why go BACK to him? The hell is Pruitt doing? Either let him completely melt down or keep the backup in. This back and forth BS doesn’t work. Only Spurrier could make it work, and Pruitt ain’t no Spurrier.
Sad
He stared down the WR on that pick 6, but it’s not all on Guarantano.
The UT play calling is terrible. Chaney asks for too many LONG throws horizontally. That not only makes your QB have to wait in the pocket longer, but if you’re throwing across the field you’re leaving yourself open to picks. The balls in the air too long on those throws. Cut those out. That’s asking a QB to make pinpoint throws 35-40 yards to WR for 15 yard gains, who may or may not run good routes.
Guarantano, on top of that, doesn’t anticipate WR coming open, but waits until they appear open then decides to throw. You can’t do that against SEC defenses. It’s the coaching staff’s job to adjust play calling to their players’ strengths and they’re not doing it. They have to get smarter than they’re coaching. That was one of the worst efforts I’ve seen from a UT team and staff in a while.