The Official #5 Tennessee @ South Carolina Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

[utVolFanInVA]

It's not so much that the whole D sucks.....

It's the fact that the secondary sucks

Its the whole unit. Secondary is not good but D line & Blitzers are not getting pressure on the QB which is amplifying how bad our Secondary is.

 

[Other_Guy]

The Vols are still gonna win.

It will be the greatest meltdown/2nd half adjustments you've ever seen if so.

 

[BeardedVol]

It’s weird to say that when the offense is so good. Normally it’s an offense that isn’t built that way. It’s opposite with us. But like Beamer said, we blew MIZZOU out in the 4th. He knows and will keep throwing the sink

We kept ahead of Missouri though, the defense didn't play well at all in the first half, but the offense wasn't trying to dig us out of a hole.

 

[sechamp2012]

I mean USCjr has to make a mistake on offense on some point right?

You would think a penalty or turnovers on long drives they’ve been doing them all year but they’re playing a clean game with refs not calling much. We sack Rat we getD holding they get a 1st instead of 3rd & 19 good assist ref. That’s part of 5 possession 5 scores. First time since 2013

 

[SonOfGodVolforlife]

Of course halftime show saying this game is more surprising then the rest of the top 4 struggling, Mullen tried to put a word in and say but Tennessee can score ina hurry and Both of the other announcers said but can they play some defense in a spiteful way.. just bs man but I will say it’s our fault we put ourselves in this position.

 

[DWright39]

Fwiw. A lot of people who said Randy Sanders needed to be fired back in about the mid-season of 05 were also bashed.

 

[malibuvol]

Not at all, horrible defensive preparation all week, all year, I’ve seen enough, Martinez and banks must go! We have enough talent to have a solid Defense not look like a complete pile of ****

We really don't have the talent...LB and secondary players are not that good...Banks helps the defense when he is playing, but apparently has a tough time keeping things in the middle of the road...

 

[VolGirl81]

Lets start a positive here.
SC has absolutely played their best. We have in no way played anywhere close to good football. Its an 11 point game. Make a statement in the 2nd half. We took the knockdown but we aint out.

I wanna believe!

 

[Stephen Gray]

I think this obsession with the voters and playoffs is a big part of the problem tonight.

It’s only a problem if the players get distracted by it. Fans can speculate all they want, and I know it’s part of the fun, but I do not understand why so many have been so worried about the various ways other teams can finish and how we could robbed. Sure discuss it a bit, but fans worrying about games our team have no control over seems kind of silly when our guys still have games they must win themselves before any of those scenarios matter.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

They did. Rattler got sacked and the refs bailed them out with a phantom holding call

No way that guy was even an option for Rattler to pass to on that play.

 

[Arrested Devolopment]

If we win, it would be the first win when we're down at half, under Coach JH.

There's always the exception.

 

[SmashMouth]

9-3...humiliating losses to SC and Vandy. Thats not so bad right. The turd is kinda swirling thats way down the bowl.

 

[Gandalf]

We consistently look like garbage the other way around. Defense and oline playing like garbage and Hooker is a bit sporadic in his decision making.

While the O hasnt been as great as usual. The Defensive backfield might as well have stayed in the locker room. What is Rattler's completion rate? 90% tonight? It sure feels like it.

 

[lilesrt]

If you’re blaming the offense you have a football IQ of 0. Defense allowed a touchdown on every possession other than the knee at the end. You’ve just become accustomed to it getting torched every damn play.

I could have yielded the same results as Tim Banks tonight.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

When you give up 35 points in one half to a garbage team like SC, there is no reason to mention the offense.

 

[volmoon]

I think this obsession with the voters and playoffs is a big part of the problem tonight.

Really? Do you think that was the mindset of our coaches and players coming into this game?

 

[gr82batnvol]

You notice the theme…always a QB wakes up against us. Or is it the terrible play of our secondary?

Can’t believe you walk into SC and play such garbage ball on D. Take some dang pride

 

[GhostVol]

Getting no pressure on Rattler up front either!

Yeah, they're packing it in to protect and have confidence in their WRs in one-on-one because TN's DBs, for whatever reason, don't seem to know how to defend a pass

that reason being that they're not taught how to do it.....

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Halftime??
Should’ve made them at the start of the 2nd quarter!

During the thirty minute break between quarters?

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

You would think a penalty or turnovers on long drives they’ve been doing them all year but they’re playing a clean game with refs not calling much. We sack Rat we getD holding they get a 1st instead of 3rd & 19 good assist ref. That’s part of 5 possession 5 scores. First time since 2013

We just need a good holding call to destroy one of their drives

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

A different gear in the second half. The change up pitch. Pressure on the snake. Done and done.

 

[P.O.T.S. VOL]

I guess td here and then one to start the 3rd and we back in it, but I’m not holding my breath

Please do....

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

And we see how that has worked out for LSU… they are winning the games they should

Lol that has nothing to do with your whining and complaining that we can’t outside Neyland

 

[VolsFan-TX]

Get it down to 4 points and get a stop and you’re in business. If we can take the lead they will start to panic and doubt will start creeping in. I don’t see Rattler having a second half as good as the first. Something has to give.

He couldn’t be much better (14/19, 249 yds, 4 TDs)

 

[YankeeVol]