Volume 1, Issue 3: Tennessee Needs Dont'e Thornton Jr. On Saturday
In today's issue, I'm thinking about why the Vols really need a lot of snaps from WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. on Saturday vs. Alabama.
Happy Thursday, folks. Welcome to the ‘Sports Renaissance Man’ daily Tennessee Vols newsletter. Every day you’ll find in this jam-packed newsletter my Tennessee Volunteers thought of the day, what’s new with ‘The Chase Thomas Podcast’ and ‘TPL Tennessee’, interesting Vol media nuggets, how to keep up with everything I’m doing each day covering the Vols and much more.
If you’re a Vol fan, please make sure you subscribe below so you never miss an issue.
Tennessee fans are ready to see the Volunteer passing attack take off against No. 7 Alabama on Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium. I get it. In all three SEC games this season the Vol offense has been a struggle to watch – especially in the first half where the team has been shut out in back-to-back weeks. The Vols are 65th nationally in passing yards right now. The Vols are 68th in passing touchdowns right now. Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava has tossed one touchdown pass in three conference games. Iamaleava is averaging 6.9 YPA in conference play and completing just 60 percent of his passes compared to 70 percent in non-conference play.
The sky isn’t falling, though. Tennessee has one of the best defenses in the country. Defensive coordinator Tim Banks’ defense hasn’t given up a touchdown in the first half this season. Junior tailback Dylan Sampson has 15 touchdowns and has been a star for the Volunteer offense through the first six games.
However, one thing I’ve wondered about this week for the Vols is what the game against Florida on Saturday night would have looked like with a healthy and available Dont’e Thornton Jr. It would be fair to assume Sampson would be the highest-graded Vol per PFF this season. However, that is not the case. The Oregon transfer leads all Vol offensive players with an 88.3 PFF grade. In just four snaps against the Gators, which included a key 11-yard reception in overtime, Thornton Jr. was the Vols’ highest-graded receiver in the game.
Thornton Jr. has settled in on the outside. He’s the only Volunteer wide receiver with a touchdown against P4 competition this season. Quite simply, Tennessee needs as many snaps from Thorton Jr. on Saturday afternoon as possible to give this passing attack and Iamaleava the best chance to get things rolling in the right direction against an Alabama secondary prone to give up big plays this season.
Something I’ll be tracking from the get-go on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville is how early and often Thornton Jr. is on the field for Tennessee. Thornton Jr. is averaging 32.8 yards per reception for a reason. He’s been the most consistent big-play wideout for the Vols this season and I think for Tennessee to breakout through the air on Saturday the tall and speedy wideout will have to play a pivotal role in that.
TODAY ON THE CHASE THOMAS PODCAST
Chase Thomas is the Sports Renaissance Man, Atlanta Sports Guy & VFL. On today's program, Chase is joined by More Important Issues' Landon Raby & Caleb Mitchell to talk about No. 11 Tennessee beating Florida on Saturday night, Vol fan worries about Tennessee, Josh Heupel going for it on their own 10-yard line, Mike Matthews still not being a factor at WR, Vols losing Keenan Pili for the season and Tennessee vs. Alabama preview.
Host: Chase Thomas
Guests: Landon Raby, Caleb Mitchell
Listen via Apple l Spotify l Google l Stitcher l Download l RSS l YouTube
APPLE
SPOTIFY
Today Over At TPL Tennessee
On Thursdays, I write about my three key storylines heading into that weekend’s Tennessee game. This week, it’s No. 7 Alabama.
Read a brief excerpt from the column below:
“If Saturday afternoon against this Crimson Tide defense isn’t the game in which redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava and the wide receivers have a big day, I’m not sure if and when we’ll see glimpses of that 2022 offense in 2024. The Crimson Tide are tied for 12th in the SEC in touchdown passes allowed. Alabama is 13th in the SEC in 10-plus yard pass plays allowed this season. They’re 15 in 30-plus yard pass plays in the SEC this season. Based on what we’ve seen out of this Alabama defense from the second half against Georgia on, the Vols are going to have their chances to gash this Crimson Tide secondary for a heck of a lot of chunk plays on Saturday afternoon. Granted, Tennessee will need to protect Iamaleava well to take advantage of this Alabama weakness in the back end, but the Gators got after Iamaleava last Saturday night and the Vols still took a lot of downfield shots. Sure, Tennessee didn’t connect on any of them, but they were close on several.”
You can read the whole piece here:
Make sure you’re also subscribed to the TPL Tennessee YouTube channel and hear from some of your favorite Tennessee Vol athletes each week.
Check out the latest episode featuring Tennessee Volunteers wide receivers Kaleb Webb and Dont’e Thornton Jr below.
HOMEFIELD APPAREL VOLS MERCH
Use CODE: VolsTPL15 for 15% OFF your first order, and stay tuned for announcements on event collabs with Homefield & TPL Tennessee!**
The TPL Tennessee Daily Column Schedule
Each day, I write a different column over at TPL Tennessee on the Tennessee Vols all year long.
MONDAY- 48 Hours After Tennessee Vols Recap
TUESDAY- Terrific Tennessee Spotlight
WEDNESDAY- Tennessee Vols Wednesday Wonder
THURSDAY- Know The Foe Vols Game Preview
FRIDAY- 3 Thoughts & 1 Prediction For The Tennessee Vols
SATURDAY- Instant Reaction To Latest Tennessee Vols Game
SUNDAY- Stock Report For The Tennessee Vols
The Chase Thomas Podcast Weekly Lineup
There are a lot of different ways to stay locked in on all the Tennessee Vols podcasting coverage I’m putting out every day.
Below is my weekly podcast lineup, so you always know what’s coming down the pike each day on the program. (Note: There are always surprise special Tennessee Vols guests that pop in throughout the week as well.)
MONDAY - A Pod Divided w/ Fellow University of North Georgia alumni Matt Green
TUESDAY - Tennessee Vols Sports Guys w/ Rocky Top Insider’s Ryan Schumpert, Saturday Down South’s Ethan Stone and Omaha Production’s Jack Foster
WEDNESDAY - More Important Issues w/ Landon Raby & Caleb Mitchell
THURSDAY - A Pod Divided w/ Fellow University of North Georgia alumni Matt Green
FRIDAY - TBA (STAY TUNED)
(Final Note: All of this and more information on Knoxville’s No. 1 independent Tennessee Vols podcast is available over at the official website which you can find here.)
Make it a great Thursday, everyone.
Best,
Chase