nicksjuzunk
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This week, the Minutemen of the University of Massachusetts take the beautiful drive down 1-81 before bearing right onto I-40 and ending their journey in downtown Knoxville.
UMASS is led by Mark Whipple, who is in his second go around at UMASS, currently in year 4... or 10, however you choose to look at it. He is also the offensive coordinator who has spent time as a QB coach and OC all over football, NCAA and NFL.
It need not be said, Whipple likes to score points when he is able to.
UMASS is currently 0-4, off of the back of a 2-10 season last year. In 2016, they were curiously competitive with Miss State and South Carolina, losing by 8 and 6 points respectively. UMASS may not have scored the big upset, but they are capable of threatening. Whipple seems to be a strong motivator who is able to get his team up when the opposition thinks they can relax a bit.
Keys to Victory:
1. Break the Hangover: Neyland Stadium will likely be a poor venue on Saturday. An early kick-off, heartbreaking loss, and general fan apathy setting in sets the stage for a really bad environment. If players are still feeling sorry for themselves and the fans have a short "boo tolerance", it may set up badly for the Vols. Players have already expressed much frustration at irate fans on Twitter, and the quicker the team and fans can move on, the better this season will be.
The truth is, the Vols have been here before. In 2015, after gut wrenching losses to Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas, the coals were lit in Knoxville, and people were limbering up their backs to ready their mattresses. The team responded with the best football in the Butch Jones era and came within a pass defended of beating Bama. This team should not be ready to pack it in after week 3, with everything left to play for.
2. Pass Defense: The UMASS pass offense ranks 19th nationally, at 322 yards per game. The Vol's pass defense ranking is completely irrelevant, based on the offenses faced so far.
Quarterback Andrew Ford has been efficient and taken care of the football. His 300 YPG average is also not built on dump offs to the RB. He has two WR's and a TE with big play ability. They come in 3 sizes, large (6'5"), medium (6'2") and small (5'10"), and each one has a skill set to beat you in a different way.
Tight End Adam Breneman (24 catches 369 yards) may not be available after injuring an ankle last week. That is a huge loss for UMASS if he can't go. Look for the WR Isabella to get a couple of rushes as well.
This will be the first true passing team the Vols have faced and it will be interesting to see how they fare with UGA up next.
3. DL Dominance: UMASS has struggled up front on the offensive line. They are averaging 2.6 YPC. Ready for more fun? They are last in FBS, with a whopping 5.75 sacks yielded per game... and they haven't been playing Clemson and Michigan here.
If the TN DL doesn't dominate :ermm:
4. Play to your strength: Tennessee can run the football. Tennessee is mediocre at passing the football. Right now, it is what it is. Larry Scott needs to recognize what he's got, and play to his strengths. Too often, the Vols left the run game on the shelf last week, and it cost them. Dominate on the ground game, build a lead, and then let the QB(s) play with a lead.
Prediction: Neyland is passive and the fans boo, no matter what the score is. Tennessee has a rather uninspired victory, but a dominate defensive line makes their presence felt. The secondary has lapses, and UMASS gets to score a few.
TN 41
UMASS 17
UMASS is led by Mark Whipple, who is in his second go around at UMASS, currently in year 4... or 10, however you choose to look at it. He is also the offensive coordinator who has spent time as a QB coach and OC all over football, NCAA and NFL.
It need not be said, Whipple likes to score points when he is able to.
UMASS is currently 0-4, off of the back of a 2-10 season last year. In 2016, they were curiously competitive with Miss State and South Carolina, losing by 8 and 6 points respectively. UMASS may not have scored the big upset, but they are capable of threatening. Whipple seems to be a strong motivator who is able to get his team up when the opposition thinks they can relax a bit.
Keys to Victory:
1. Break the Hangover: Neyland Stadium will likely be a poor venue on Saturday. An early kick-off, heartbreaking loss, and general fan apathy setting in sets the stage for a really bad environment. If players are still feeling sorry for themselves and the fans have a short "boo tolerance", it may set up badly for the Vols. Players have already expressed much frustration at irate fans on Twitter, and the quicker the team and fans can move on, the better this season will be.
The truth is, the Vols have been here before. In 2015, after gut wrenching losses to Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas, the coals were lit in Knoxville, and people were limbering up their backs to ready their mattresses. The team responded with the best football in the Butch Jones era and came within a pass defended of beating Bama. This team should not be ready to pack it in after week 3, with everything left to play for.
2. Pass Defense: The UMASS pass offense ranks 19th nationally, at 322 yards per game. The Vol's pass defense ranking is completely irrelevant, based on the offenses faced so far.
Quarterback Andrew Ford has been efficient and taken care of the football. His 300 YPG average is also not built on dump offs to the RB. He has two WR's and a TE with big play ability. They come in 3 sizes, large (6'5"), medium (6'2") and small (5'10"), and each one has a skill set to beat you in a different way.
Tight End Adam Breneman (24 catches 369 yards) may not be available after injuring an ankle last week. That is a huge loss for UMASS if he can't go. Look for the WR Isabella to get a couple of rushes as well.
This will be the first true passing team the Vols have faced and it will be interesting to see how they fare with UGA up next.
3. DL Dominance: UMASS has struggled up front on the offensive line. They are averaging 2.6 YPC. Ready for more fun? They are last in FBS, with a whopping 5.75 sacks yielded per game... and they haven't been playing Clemson and Michigan here.
If the TN DL doesn't dominate :ermm:
4. Play to your strength: Tennessee can run the football. Tennessee is mediocre at passing the football. Right now, it is what it is. Larry Scott needs to recognize what he's got, and play to his strengths. Too often, the Vols left the run game on the shelf last week, and it cost them. Dominate on the ground game, build a lead, and then let the QB(s) play with a lead.
Prediction: Neyland is passive and the fans boo, no matter what the score is. Tennessee has a rather uninspired victory, but a dominate defensive line makes their presence felt. The secondary has lapses, and UMASS gets to score a few.
TN 41
UMASS 17
