By Jimmy Hyams

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt is puzzled.

He’s not sure what constitutes targeting.

“Really I don’t know the difference in what is and isn’t because what I think’s gonna be isn’t, and what I think isn’t, is. So maybe that’s just me. I don’t know.’’

It’s not just you, coach. It’s pretty much everyone.

Tennessee had another player ejected Saturday against Charlotte when defensive back Alontae Taylor was ejected for targeting. I thought it was the right call. Taylor led with the crown of his helmet and hit the Charlotte runner.

Others disagree, arguing that the runner lowered his head.

It is, without a doubt, a subjective call – even with slow motion and instant replay.

“I realize our officials have a tough job, I realize that,’’ Pruitt said after Tennessee edged Charlotte 14-3.

Then, he added: “I obviously don’t know what targeting is because I watched two games before I came over here (to Neyland Stadium) and they threw targeting fouls and once they replayed them, they wasn’t targeting fouls. I would have said both of them were.

“So I obviously don’t know …  I don’t think anybody does, to tell you the truth. So we’ve got to come to a common ground as coaches, officials and everybody involved because we all want the same thing. We want to protect our game, we want to protect our players. That’s what we’re trying to do. That’s what the rule’s there for.

“I just want to coach it the right way, and I hate that guys have to suffer maybe by poor technique. So I don’t know.’’

Officials missed what I thought was an obvious targeting foul on South Carolina against Tennessee running back Ty Chandler last week.

And I thought officials made a poor targeting call on LSU linebacker Devon White against Mississippi State, forcing White to miss the first half of the Alabama game.

Tennessee has hard three targeting calls against its defense – one was overturned.

Pruitt was asked if he would like to see different tiers for targeting – perhaps 15 yards with no ejection when no flagrant, but ejection when it is blatantly obvious.

“I don’t have the answer and I was not questioning anything that’s done,’’ Pruitt said. “I just think there’s a lot of …it’s kind of hard to figure out. So I’d like to do a better job as a coach to coach my guys so they don’t get targeting.

“I’ve coached for a long time. We didn’t have any targeting – not the guys I’ve coached. We’ve had two this year.’’

In Pruitt’s mind, that’s two too many.

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By Jimmy Hyams

A few days ago, Jeremy Pruitt said his Tennessee team was evenly matched against Charlotte.

I didn’t believe him.

Maybe I should now.

A Tennessee offense that was effective against South Carolina sputtered against a program that only recently went from FCS to FBS status, a team that was clobbered by Appalachian State 45-9.

A homecoming crowd of about 55,000 at Neyland Stadium watched the Vols’ feeble attack narrowly escape 14-3 Saturday on the SEC Network alternate channel.

That was appropriate because Tennessee alternated between inept and awful. UT managed just 20 yards on 26 runs against the No. 6 ranked run defense in the country (89.6 yards per game). The Vols had minus-7 yards entering the fourth quarter.

Charlotte (4-5) not only outrushed Tennessee (4-5) 92-20, the 49ers outgained the Vols 244-192. The combined 436 total yards amounts to about a half for Alabama’s offense.

UT’s leading rusher, Jeremy Banks, was playing linebacker last week. He finished with a mere 24 yards on 11 carries.

But rather than criticize his team, Pruitt praised Charlotte.

Asked why the Vols struggled so on offense, Pruitt said simply: “Charlotte.’’

He said the 49ers lined up differently quite often, causing indecision along the offensive line. And UT’s inability to run block led Pruitt to rotate lineman, compared to using only five last week against South Carolina.

Did Pruitt think going in the Vols – who ran for 156 against Florida and 144 against USC – would be more productive on the ground entering the game?

“We’ve struggled to run the ball all year so I don’t know why this game would be much different,’’ Pruitt said.

Asked if UT held anything back on offense preparing for future opponents, Pruitt said: “No, that’s not how we coach.’’

While Pruitt was lauding Charlotte, receiver Marquez Callaway said the Vols took a peek ahead.

“I think a lot of us underestimated Charlotte,’’ Callaway said. “They’re a great team, offense and defense. I think we were ready to get on to Kentucky (UT’s opponent Nov. 10).’’

UT certainly wasn’t ready for Charlotte. Yes, the 49ers have a nice team by Conference USA standards, but this game shouldn’t have been this close.

UT’s offensive line was repeatedly whipped by the 49ers. And the Vols had at least 10 negative yardage plays – which was rather embarrassing.

“We’ve got to do a better job in all phases of the offense,’’ Pruitt said. “It starts with the running game.’’

If not for a fortuitous break in the first half, this game could have been closer. A Charlotte punt pinned UT at its 6-yard line, but the 49ers were guilty of an illegal formation. A line drive rugby punt was then fielded by Callaway at his 18, and he outraced defenders to the right side and sprinted to the end zone.

“We knew they were a rugby team,’’ Callaway said. “And we’d have an opportunity to get to the other (side of) the field for a big return. As soon as I caught it, if I was able to get to the corner, I knew the blockers we’re going to be there.

“It was great getting to the end zone. I think the team was more happy for me that I was.’’

If not for that play, who knows how this snoozer of a game would have turned out.

Thankfully for UT, the defense showed up. Not that Charlotte is an offensive machine, but holding a team to only a field goal nowadays is an accomplishment.

“Coach Pruitt says the game starts 0-0,’’ said defensive end Kyle Phillips, “so if we don’t let them score, they can’t win.’’

Pruitt certainly wasn’t as unhappy with Saturday’s game as the fans.

“I’m proud of the way the guys found a way to win,’’ he said.

Callaway was in the same boat.

“As win is a win,’’ he said. “We’re always happy for a win, no matter who it is.’’

Even if it wasn’t very pretty.

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