TAMPA— Kyler Kerbyson remembers the days when people viewed the offensive line as Tennessee’s weakness.
Those days are far in the past.
There were many heroes in No. 23 Tennessee’s 45-6 shellacking of No. 13 Northwestern Friday in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Jalen Hurd, the Outback Bowl MVP, rushed for 130 yards and scored a touchdown despite injuring his hamstring in practice earlier this week. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs was dangerous as both a passer and a runner, accounting for two touchdowns on the ground. And the Tennessee secondary snagged four interceptions, including one that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown by Evan Berry in the waning seconds of the victory.
But it was the offensive line that controlled the trenches, allowing Tennessee to take total control in the third quarter.
“We really put it as a testament of our offense is being able to run the ball and these last few games we’ve shown how much work the o-line has put in over the offseason,” Kerbyson said. “We were seen as the weak point last year. We didn’t want that to happen again. We always had that in the back of our mind as we were working towards this season. We were really able to turn it around and be the strong point of this offense and have people lean on us. That’s what we want.”
Tennessee (9-4) leaned on Kerbyson and his offensive line cohorts Friday. The unit helped orchestrate a 14-play, 67-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter that featured a heavy dose of power running, giving the Vols a 24-6 lead late in the third. Another run-heavy touchdown drive (9-plays, 80 yards) two possessions later essentially assured Tennessee the victory.
“It’s great. That’s the thing we want to do is get long drives going,” Kerbyson said. “We want to able to wear down defenses that way. I think we had a few drives that were over 10 plays and that’s what we really want. It is really exciting to see.
“When you do run the ball successfully it gives you a little bit more adrenaline as offensive linemen to think, ‘hey, we’re really pounding it to them. We’re doing a good job with it.
In total, Tennessee rushed for 226 yards on 53 carries. But those stats don’t reflect Tennessee’s dominance in the running game, as the offense had its backups in early in the fourth. Friday’s rushing attack wasn’t an aberration either. Tennessee averaged 223.5 rushing yards, the most since 1989, in 2015 and rushed for the second-most yards in program history (2, 908).
That production not only helped Tennessee secure an easy victory on Friday, but it’s also a big reason why Tennessee won 9 games this season, the most since 2007.
“They’ve been opening up great holes for us,” Dobbs said. “They’ve done a great job owning the line of scrimmage.
“We established the line of scrimmage,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones added. “It’s a mindset and it’s a mentality.
“You know, (offensive coordinator) Mike DeBord has brought another element in terms of toughness. I think that showed today. You know, and pounding with patience in the running game.”
The Vols’ defense did some pounding too. The unit complemented the offensive line’s performance by also dominating in the trenches: limiting Northwestern (10-3) to 261 yards and registering four sacks and eight tackles for loss. Northwestern’s only score came in the second quarter on a three-yard Justin Jackson touchdown run, which at the time cut Tennessee’s lead to 10-6.
The Vols were forced to rely on their defense early, as the offense initially struggled. Tennessee’s first three drives were three-and-outs. The Vols’ first score didn’t come until 14 seconds left in the first quarter, which is late by their standards. Dobbs broke free for a 14-yard touchdown run. A 35-yard Aaron Medley field goal in the second extended Tennessee’s lead to 10-0. Alvin Kamara strolled into the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown run to cap Tennessee’s first half scoring, giving the Vols a 17-6 halftime lead.
Then Tennessee and its offensive line began to take over and assert its will in the second half. First it was Hurd, who punched in a three-yard touchdown run with 4:40 left in the third. Then it was Dobbs, who initially bobbled the snap before tight roping down the sideline for an 18-yard score early in the fourth. All the defense had to do in the second half was make sure the Wildcats never threatened to comeback.
The unit did that and more: Northwestern never sniffed the end zone in the second half and two fourth quarter interceptions led to two touchdowns. Berry’s 100-yard interception return in the final minute punctuated a complete performance.
“We played complimentary football,” Jones said. “The great teams, the teams that win, they play complimentary football in all three phases, and we were able to do that.”
Tennessee will be entering the offseason with plenty of momentum. The Vols will most likely finish the season ranked in all polls for the first time since 2007. Right now, They are the favorites to win the SEC east in 2016.
The Vols, however, could have loftier goals in mind.
A reporter asked Hurd if he was aware that next year’s national championship would be played in Tampa – on the same field the Vols dominated Northwestern.
Hurd was indeed aware.
“We’re already prepared for it,” Hurd said.
