TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Matchup to Watch: Indiana’s Secondary vs. Tennessee’s Receivers
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Jaylin Williams (23) and Khalil Bryant (29) look to stop Tennessee’s wideouts Image: Indiana University Athletics
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The matchup to watch, in our opinion, will be how Indiana’s secondary handles the Tennessee wide receivers. The Hoosiers finished the season ranked 10th in the Big Ten in pass defense by giving up 211.7 yards per game, and 231.6 yards per game against conference foes. On the other side, Tennessee did not lead the SEC in passing, they actually ranked eighth at 220 yards per game through the air. Where the Volunteers are impressive is with their personnel at the receiver position.
The Hoosiers will catch a break with Tennessee’s leading receiver Jauan Jennings being suspended for the first half of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl for stepping on an opponent’s head in their season finale against Vanderbilt. Jennings made 57 catches for 942 yards and eight touchdowns. He is a big-bodied receiver at six-foot-three and 208 pounds. He can make every catch and is fast enough to go down field when needed. The Hoosiers second half game plan will be affected by his return.
The Volunteer receiving corps is more than just Jennings though as Marquez Calloway is an elite deep threat averaging 21.24 yards per catch and finished the regular season with 29 catches for 616 yards and six touchdowns. Indiana defensive coordinator may have Taiwan Mullen play on Callaway and have a bigger safety play on Jennings when he returns in the second half.
The Indiana secondary will be well rested, but put to a physical test. Staying on receivers without committing holding and pass interference penalties will be of vital importance as well as winning the battle for 50/50 balls. Mullen lead the Hoosiers with 12 pass break ups and the Hoosiers had 38 as a team, but only had five interceptions. Turning those breakups into changes of possession could turn the tide for a defense that struggled down the stretch.
In their eight wins in 2019 the Hoosiers allowed just 185.1 passing yards per game while in their four losses the defense gave up 264.8 yards through the air per game. For Tennessee, their numbers were not quite as skewed as they passed for 230.5 yards per games in their seven wins and 205.6 in their five losses. Either way the more successful the Hoosiers defense has been against the pass, the better the team does and Tennessee has more passing yards in their wins.