GrowVol
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this is a young team and will get better every game and still they gave the number 4 team in the country a real fight.
just imagine what could have been if our o-line had another years experience, this would have been a much different game and it will be next year in our house.
My advice to everyone is to sit back and enjoy the ride because its not often you get the chance to watch a team as talented and as young as this one grow up.
we will improve every single week and we have the potential to surprise a lot of people this year and in years to come this team will be a force to be reckoned with.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and its getting brighter every day.
go vols !
ill be curious to see how the team rebounds.. it is going to be interesting .. they fought the whole game.
Butch will remind they are still undefeated in SEC play. They won't face another front 7 that is that talented and experienced. Our oline was basically 18-19 year olds going against an OU front 7 made up of 21-23 year olds, and have been in OU's S&C program for 4-5 years for some of them. Men against boys.
Bama, UF, and even Ole Miss, all have very talented front
7s, but all have some youth in their groups. But OU starts RS seniors, seniors, and RS juniors across the front 7. (the good news is a lot of those OU players will need to be replaced next season when OU comes to Neyland)
I think our OL will learn a lot from that and I think they grew some as I thought they played some better down the stretch, which of course could be due to them being in better condition as the game wore on. (I don't know that, just speculating as to one reason they seemed to play better later in the game)
I also think our defense learned a lot about themselves last night, and should feel pretty good about what they learned. Young players will have to clean up some mental errors here and there, which cost some big plays, but take away those few big plays, and the defense was outstanding. Their 3rd down defense was verygood.
And I was very proud of Worley. He's taken a lot of grief from our fanbase, but he put in the work it takes to be an SEC QB, and he's the toughest QB we have had since the Ice Man.
Like Booger said post game - I think Tennessee is trending up.
But the punting and return teams need some work.
My only concern is Worley. That young man took some shots and it showed. I don't know how serious it is. I do know that he is the kind of guy that will try to play through it. I can't blame him. You take the ball out of his hands now and it could be the last time he ever plays. I'm not going to be the one calling for it. I would rather see him finish his college career.
The Georgia game on the road will be tough, but after seeing the Gators play, this Vol squad has a good shot at beating the Gators at home in Neyland, I truly believe that!
Now that the sting has worn off, its clear to see many reasons to believe we are a lot better than many of us think right now.
This Loss may prove to be invaluable going into SEC play for many reasons. Bet we become the SEC spoilers of the year (please O/L)
First, OU only loses 2 seniors from our starting front 7 on D......Grissom, our Jack LB & Ndulue, DE. The starting ILB's (Evans & Alexander) are sophomores & the NT, Jordan Phillips, the OLB, Eric Striker, & the other DE, Charles Tapper are all juniors. Of course, the juniors could come out but based on their respective circumstances, I doubt if any do.
Now, let me get to the heart of my post. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with your HC and your team. You all are definitely headed in the right direction and the game in Knoxville will be a war.
I will start with your QB.....Worley was a champion. He never lost his poise even under relentless pressure. Obviously, you have some work to do with the O-line but your skill people, including Hurd, are very good and will only get better.
I was very impressed with your D. Your front 7 was tremendous and they were obviously schemed to stop our running attack & that did a damn fine job of it.
This was a weird game. I never felt that we didn't have control but I never felt comfortable that we could hold on to it.
I was at the game & you all had a strong visiting contingent. I hope they all enjoyed their visit to Owen Field. I am looking forward to coming to Knoxville nest year. In my opinion, you have turned the corner.
First, OU only loses 2 seniors from our starting front 7 on D......Grissom, our Jack LB & Ndulue, DE. The starting ILB's (Evans & Alexander) are sophomores & the NT, Jordan Phillips, the OLB, Eric Striker, & the other DE, Charles Tapper are all juniors. Of course, the juniors could come out but based on their respective circumstances, I doubt if any do.
Now, let me get to the heart of my post. I cannot tell you how impressed I was with your HC and your team. You all are definitely headed in the right direction and the game in Knoxville will be a war.
I will start with your QB.....Worley was a champion. He never lost his poise even under relentless pressure. Obviously, you have some work to do with the O-line but your skill people, including Hurd, are very good and will only get better.
I was very impressed with your D. Your front 7 was tremendous and they were obviously schemed to stop our running attack & that did a damn fine job of it.
This was a weird game. I never felt that we didn't have control but I never felt comfortable that we could hold on to it.
I was at the game & you all had a strong visiting contingent. I hope they all enjoyed their visit to Owen Field. I am looking forward to coming to Knoxville nest year. In my opinion, you have turned the corner.