First Quarter of the Season Review

#1
volinbham

volinbham

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#1
Offense Likes: running game at times looks strangely and wonderfully familiar to our heyday under Fulmer. I watched the Oregon game last night and the line and fullback were making great blocks. Also, like that we finally throw the ball down field again. It's been so long that eventhough Simms is botching most of the throws we are hitting some.

Offense Dislikes: Simms is 1) inaccurate, 2) holds the ball way too long. Dude has a strong arm but it's out of control. Receivers aren't dominant but are looking better.

Defense Likes: Tackling overall looks good. D-line is aggressive considering depth. Scheme looks better than Monte-ball against the spread. Overall, I like Wilcox.

Defense Dislikes: D-line gets winded. Pass coverage by LBs is poor. Secondary is weak, weak, weak.

Special Teams Dislikes (there is not much to like here): Kickoff coverage is a joke. Oregon almost housed a couple and UF had their way with us too. Oku isn't scaring anyone.

Overall, our lack of depth shows. There are flashes but overall we are not close to being a top caliber SEC team from a roster perspective. Jury is still out on coaching.
 
#2
#2
volinbham said:
Offense Likes: running game at times looks strangely and wonderfully familiar to our heyday under Fulmer. I watched the Oregon game last night and the line and fullback were making great blocks. Also, like that we finally throw the ball down field again. It's been so long that eventhough Simms is botching most of the throws we are hitting some.

Offense Dislikes: Simms is 1) inaccurate, 2) holds the ball way too long. Dude has a strong arm but it's out of control. Receivers aren't dominant but are looking better.

Defense Likes: Tackling overall looks good. D-line is aggressive considering depth. Scheme looks better than Monte-ball against the spread. Overall, I like Wilcox.

Defense Dislikes: D-line gets winded. Pass coverage by LBs is poor. Secondary is weak, weak, weak.

Special Teams Dislikes (there is not much to like here): Kickoff coverage is a joke. Oregon almost housed a couple and UF had their way with us too. Oku isn't scaring anyone.

Overall, our lack of depth shows. There are flashes but overall we are not close to being a top caliber SEC team from a roster perspective. Jury is still out on coaching.
Click to expand...
I am so sick of Oku running half speed when he returns kickoffs.
 
#3
#3
Agree with most of it but our defensive tackling has been pretty poor especially in the 2nd halves.
 
#5
#5
Eric Gordon is playing like a freshman. Giving way too much cushion. Get up on that guy, if he burns you then give him a 15 yard cushion.
 
#6
#6
volinbham said:
Offense Likes: running game at times looks strangely and wonderfully familiar to our heyday under Fulmer. I watched the Oregon game last night and the line and fullback were making great blocks. Also, like that we finally throw the ball down field again. It's been so long that eventhough Simms is botching most of the throws we are hitting some.

Offense Dislikes: Simms is 1) inaccurate, 2) holds the ball way too long. Dude has a strong arm but it's out of control. Receivers aren't dominant but are looking better.

Defense Likes: Tackling overall looks good. D-line is aggressive considering depth. Scheme looks better than Monte-ball against the spread. Overall, I like Wilcox.

Defense Dislikes: D-line gets winded. Pass coverage by LBs is poor. Secondary is weak, weak, weak.

Special Teams Dislikes (there is not much to like here): Kickoff coverage is a joke. Oregon almost housed a couple and UF had their way with us too. Oku isn't scaring anyone.

Overall, our lack of depth shows. There are flashes but overall we are not close to being a top caliber SEC team from a roster perspective. Jury is still out on coaching.
Click to expand...

Daniel Lincoln: 5/5
 
#7
#7
good synopsis

on 3rd down of 5 yards or greater, we are currently 1 of 33.

that has to change to win some games.
 
#8
#8
tm3 said:
good synopsis

on 3rd down of 5 yards or greater, we are currently 1 of 33.

that has to change to win some games.
Click to expand...


Wow. Amazing stat.

Anyways, we're 1-2. Which is what any reasonable fan should have expected for us after the first 3 games, even if they had hoped for better.

I think we can take the Florida game as a sign of progress going forward - the late game effort was better, and even as Simms continued to struggle with his accuracy, he did make a few great plays as well. Third down is a disaster on both sides of the ball. Can't get off the field on D, can't stay on the field on O.

I expected 6-6 before the season started. Honestly, I haven't seen anything to change my mind. I still think Vandy, Ole Miss, UAB, and Memphis are wins, and I think we get one of Georgia or Kentucky.
 
#9
#9
CB03 i think you are right. it has been clear for a long time that this season was going to be pretty rough. but when i consider that

UF has landed top 10 recruiting classes every year for what, 10 years or so?

we are down 15 scholarships.

we lost two starting D lineman before the 1st game, then lost our #1 WR, then lost our starting center for this game, then the backup center got hurt in the 2nd half, then we lost one of the starting O lineman (redshirt freshman) and replaced him with a true freshman, and hughes was spotty on DL because of injury ...

but we were in the game until late in the 4th

not too bad.
 
#10
#10
Incipient said:
Daniel Lincoln: 5/5
Click to expand...

From a results standpoint, Lincoln deserves credit but those kicks are still too low and that one did a miracle hook to go through.

The punts have be acceptable but our KO coverage, KO and punt returns and punt coverage to a lesser extent all are subpar IMHO.

Put another way - Special Teams represent the worst area of our team.
 
#11
#11
KCVolLaw said:
Agree with most of it but our defensive tackling has been pretty poor especially in the 2nd halves.
Click to expand...

And especially in the secondary. FL runners looked like pinballs bouncing off our secondary yesterday.
 
#12
#12
I always come on this site to see what everyone is talking about and despite a few negative so called fans I always enjoy the posts.

I just want to say that I feel like Dooley is the right guy. He's at least the best coach we've had since Fulmer. The proof is in how our guys didn't quit this last game and how hard they both played two top 25 teams. I say top 25 because I don't believe Florida is as good as everyone says. All you true Vols keep your heads up, we will be back to competing for the SEC in a couple years. Until then enjoy the job Dooley is doing with this program. Personally, all I see is positive results from this guy. We are in the toughest conference in college football and trying to recruit with all of them.

Go Vols! Gators still suck! :finger3:
 
#13
#13
Is what I thought it would be:

1. Simms is average to below average. That makes you one dimensional and that will kill you in this league. He has to get better or the losing will continue.
2. We still have nothing in regards to a pass rush. I mean nothing. Man I miss the days of Leonard Little, Shaun Ellis, Chuck Smith and guys of that caliber.

The bright spot is that I think some of the young guys like Hunter, James, and Smith could be as good as advertised and the beginning of a strong nucleus.
 
#15
#15
tm3 said:
CB03 i think you are right. it has been clear for a long time that this season was going to be pretty rough. but when i consider that

UF has landed top 10 recruiting classes every year for what, 10 years or so?

we are down 15 scholarships.

we lost two starting D lineman before the 1st game, then lost our #1 WR, then lost our starting center for this game, then the backup center got hurt in the 2nd half, then we lost one of the starting O lineman (redshirt freshman) and replaced him with a true freshman, and hughes was spotty on DL because of injury ...

but we were in the game until late in the 4th

not too bad.
Click to expand...

Great post.
 
#16
#16
Great thread, very realistic state of the program. Inexperience and youth are our biggest enemies right now, but those liabilities will turn into assets next year, particularly our o-line and WRs. D-line looks to be a problem unless we can pull a stud JUCO DT. Hard to say on Simms... Kid has a cannon of an arm, but not very good field awareness. I think his leadership ability is growing.

This year will be painful from a W L perspective but that was in the cards with the failures of our '07 & '08 recruiting classes.

Next year we can start making things interesting, this year our kids just keep learning.
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