RikidyBones
Formerly utvols88
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No question the coaches made some poor decisions, but consider the flip side of the last few minutes:
1) If the Vols run Kelly three times into run blitzes and the field goal gets blocked (or Medley, not exactly Mr. Reliable, misses it), then we're all upset that Butch was too predictable. "Why didn't we open up the playbook to try and win the game?" I thought Tennessee should have run the ball at least once in that sequence, but remember that Kelly drops a sure touchdown pass on first down. Clearly the Florida defense didn't expect that play.
2) MacElwain said in the press conference afterward that the Gators were trying to pick up 25 yards or so, call a timeout, and give Pinero (a really good, big-legged kicker) a shot at the game winner. If Shoop plays three-deep or quarters zone coverage, or worse yet, only rushes three, then it plays right into the Florida play-call.
I'm as pissed as anyone at the end of the game, but if Kelly catches that touchdown pass, Kongbo doesn't let Franks escape containment, or Abernathy (I think he was the safety on Cleveland) doesn't take one false step, Tennessee wins that ballgame. Note that I'm not blaming any of the individual players-- win as a team, lose as team-- but execution absolutely crushed the Vols all day.
The biggest indictment of Butch (and Scott, if he had a free hand to call plays) is the offensive gameplan in the first half. That first-and-goal sequence was terrible, and relying on first year receivers (Palmer) at the goal line is a recipe for disaster. Watching Henderson return the tipped pass for a touchdown gave me PTSD flashbacks to the immortal AJ Suggs against Georgia back in the early 2000s.
TL;DR: The game never should have come down to Florida's best WR against a safety in single coverage, because Tennessee should have been up 13-6 or more at halftime. Who knows how the game plays out if the Vols have a halftime lead, but I don't think Tennessee loses on a Hail Mary.
I don't think it's that drastic.If we don't put JG in we have no chance to win a big game this year. None.
It's a roll of the dice. I think JGs legs are his only advantage over QD. I fully admit I am basing it on limited snaps but what I saw out of JG in the ISU game was very, very raw. Talented, but raw.
1. If we give the ball to Kelly 3 times and get stuffed, then he can say "we went with the best player on the field." He'll get some criticism, but we can live with it.
2. I'm not super upset about the playcall to end the game. We were in quarters. They were trying for a FG. WR didn't know the play and ran deep and QB scrambled and took a shot. Sucks that it happened, but it wasn't a Hail Mary by any means.
But it never should've come down to that. Horrendous playcalling by Butch and Scott left 6-14 points on the field.
Absolutely. My point is QD doesn't execute the plays that cater to his skillset. Definitely not his fault they continue to run the read option. Dobbs was very raw if I remember correctly.
This. QD is not the problem. JG has a bright future but the ISU game proved to me he has a lot of work to do. Anyone thinking JG will be our savior this year is going to be severely disappointed.
Butch reminded me of Ted Cruz last night . All red faced and embarrassed that he should've endorsed Trump in his speech but too stubborn to do it.
You have the read option in your playbook . You have two QB's and only one has the skillset to run the play. You run the play with the QB who doesn't have that skillset.
The other QB has a cannon for an arm. Yet you continue to play the 1st QB who has already thrown 3 picks (1 pick 6 on a high throw) hoping he will get hot. Luck ran out.
JG deserves a shot. Give him the chance to learn on the job.
C'mon Ted/Butch swallow your pride and endorse JG.
One thing Doug Matthews spoke a little bit on this morning that I hadn't thought about:
If Butch is just absolutely opposed to going under center and running the ball in short yardage situations, why don't they have some sort of package to run the ball when you need a yard?
Surely with all the RB depth we have we could put together a wildcat or something and direct snap to Kelly/Chandler.
You've gotta have SOMETHING in your offense for when you need a yard and want to run the ball. The simplest solution is lining up under center and running or sneaking it, but there are other options toon
Absolutely baffling to me that in 5 years here Butch has refused to put in SOMETHING for these situations.
One thing Doug Matthews spoke a little bit on this morning that I hadn't thought about:
If Butch is just absolutely opposed to going under center and running the ball in short yardage situations, why don't they have some sort of package to run the ball when you need a yard?
Surely with all the RB depth we have we could put together a wildcat or something and direct snap to Kelly/Chandler.
You've gotta have SOMETHING in your offense for when you need a yard and want to run the ball. The simplest solution is lining up under center and running or sneaking it, but there are other options toon
Absolutely baffling to me that in 5 years here Butch has refused to put in SOMETHING for these situations.
Don't recall a wildcat to a RB ever. Think we have used it a couple of times last year with JJ. Wildcat to Kelly with a lead blocker (Jakob J) would have been a surprising call in the RZ
