Of all the stats that went into Texas’ 20-17 win over Tennessee Saturday, one sticks out like a sore thumb.

Or a sore shoulder. Or a sore sternum. Or a sore knee. Or a sore ankle. Or a sore back. Or, just an overall achy body.

Volunteers quarterback Faizon Brandon was sacked 10 times. Double-digit sacks don’t just happen by accident. It’s a trend that gets perpetrated by a pretty good defense.

I mean… Texas has some talent up front. It’s a good bet left tackle David Sanders had nightmares about Colin Simmons that disturbed his sleep Saturday night.

Simmons is a 6-foot-3, 246-pound edge rusher that spent most of the day in the Tennessee backfield. He collected five sacks in the game, tying a Texas program all-time record.

However, what he will be remembered for is the celebration he made with about five minutes left in the second quarter after a sack inside the Vols’ 15-yard line.

It’s hard to reconstruct accurately, but when the official described the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for the world to hear, he said, “Simulating using the restroom.”

That was a classic. In almost 50 years of covering football, I’ve never heard that explanation.

Anyway, that little bit of levity didn’t take the sting out of the beating Brandon took. Coach Josh Heupel wasn’t about to throw one person completely under the bus. He lumped Brandon and the line together in the post-game blame.

The only part of the Tennessee game that didn’t have many negatives sent in its direction was the defense. If coordinator Jim Knowles can keep his unit playing with that sort of energy and intensity, this thing could end well.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning was sacked six times. Tyree Weathersby was credited with 2.5 of them. That left Texas rushing for a net 61 yards.

Manning threw for 201 total yards, though he had 120 of those in the first quarter. That meant, for the final three quarters, the Longhorns were limited to just 81 passing yards.

Defense like that will win a lot of football games.

Almost won this one.

The only thing worse than Tennessee’s seven penalties for 55 yards was Texas’ 11 for 115.

The Longhorns weren’t very smart in a lot of situations. Twice Manning crossed the line of scrimmage while scrambling and then threw an illegal pass. On third-and-two on the Tennessee 22, they were flagged for delay of game.

Manning, who came into the game heralded as a potential No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick, did little to live up to that billing. The Vols kept him in the pocket and took away part of his game.

He was hardly a factor. For right now, his name is the only thing that will keep him in consideration.

There was enough good shown on defense to offset 10 sacks and a running game that generated just 70 net yards. Tennessee came into the game averaging 299 rushing yards a game, fourth best in big-time football.

Oh well, time to turn the page and learn from those mistakes. If Brandon is able to hobble out to practice Monday, he needs to reset his quarterback clock, get rid of the ball quicker, and figure out a way to beat Auburn.

That’s all.

Source: Yahoo Sports