A writers thoughts on the Tennessee/Florida match up.

[ToineMac]

I may be alone in this but Florida scares the hell out of me. Their D should be a damned good one. Probably top 10 in the country. Though they lose Demps, Rainey, and Thompson, there is still a lot of talent though unproven on their offense. Probably as much talent as their OC has ever had. I think we can win especially since the game is at Neyland. But It will be a battle.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[WiseOlVol]

Translation: UF's secondary did not improve whatsoever during the off-season, while Rogers lit up Darell Revis in private workouts. UF's best DB is not as good as UT's best DB in the last 20 years. Playing a pass-happy Texas A&M team the week before playing pass-happy UT will not provide any teachable moments for UF's coaching staff. Even though UF returns just about all of its front 7 that dominated UT's run game, UT will run wild on UF.


Translation: Who needs another SEC East title? Our season is pretty much over before it starts if we lose to UF. The Gators finally have our full attention after being irrelevant nationally for decades before electricity and integration.


Translation: UF winning 5 straight between '93 and '97, and another 7 straight currently is the exception. UT running off ten straight against UF in the 1910s was the rule. Florida has no built-in advantages whatsoever to sustain a competitive football program in the Southeastern Conference.


Translation: UT's young and inexperienced players from a year ago have improved tremendously, while UF's kids spent the off-season eating donuts and playing Xbox.


Translation: Just like 2010

1. UTs WRs were and (now with 3 5* instead of just 1 -- all Jrs) are too much for 5 little, if a little more experienced, UF DBs. Seeing film of TAMU the week before the UT game, instead of Charleston Southern, gives UT a huge scouting advantage relative to years past (including 2010 ). Their best defense could be Pass Interference, which obviously was the coaches' instruction in 2011.

2. UT's Oline is large and averages 20+ starts. UF's hyped front 7 won't even be there -- it'll be a front 5 with 2 back in coverage (if they're smart).

3. UF didn't play UT every year since their 1st meeting in 1916 - only 20 times in 75 years. From 1916-1990 UT played .750 ball (playing Alabama every year since 1928), while the Gators played .550 ball (and played Alabama only twice a decade). Had UF and UT met every year for 75 years, UT would have about a 20 game lead in the series. So, yes, the recent 20 years is still not the standard.

4. It'll be tougher now for UT to restablish their dominance over the Gators, but obviously it will happen, and UT will be better for it. If you doubt that, ask an Alabama fan who enjoyed 11 in a row vs UT 1971-1981, then saw Phil Fulmer go 10-5-1 including a 7-in-a-row streak.

5. This is Tennessee: #9 all-time wins, #3 in bowl appearances, 6 National and 13 SEC Championships, with more wins since 1926 (Neyland's arrival) than anyone but Oklahoma (they were tied after 2009). If it wasn't, you wouldn't be here.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

1. UTs WRs were and (now with 3 5* instead of just 1 -- all Jrs) are too much for 5 little, if a little more experienced, UF DBs. Seeing film of TAMU the week before the UT game, instead of Charleston Southern, gives UT a huge scouting advantage relative to years past (including 2010 ). Their best defense could be Pass Interference, which obviously was the coaches' instruction in 2011.

2. UT's Oline is large and averages 20+ starts. UF's hyped front 7 won't even be there -- it'll be a front 5 with 2 back in coverage (if they're smart).

3. UF didn't play UT every year since their 1st meeting in 1916 - only 20 times in 75 years. From 1916-1990 UT played .750 ball (playing Alabama every year since 1928), while the Gators played .550 ball (and played Alabama only twice a decade). Had UF and UT met every year for 75 years, UT would have about a 20 game lead in the series. So, yes, the recent 20 years is still not the standard.

4. It'll be tougher now for UT to restablish their dominance over the Gators, but obviously it will happen, and UT will be better for it. If you doubt that, ask an Alabama fan who enjoyed 11 in a row vs UT 1971-1981, then saw Phil Fulmer go 10-5-1 including a 7-in-a-row streak.

5. This is Tennessee: #9 all-time wins, #3 in bowl appearances, 6 National and 13 SEC Championships, with more wins since 1926 (Neyland's arrival) than anyone but Oklahoma (they were tied after 2009). If it wasn't, you wouldn't be here.

1. Kindly refresh my memory...when was the last time UT beat UF primarily by passing instead of establishing the run?

2. See #1, and explain to me what you saw in year's offensive line that leads you to believe that this year's unit will all of a sudden become dominant against one of several d-lines that manhandled them last year. UF's oline was "huge" too...it's the SEC. Everyone has huge offensive linemen.

3. So what might have happened in the 75 years we didn't play every year carries more weight than what's actually happened the last 22 years when we have played every year. Got it.

4. Obviously...considering UT played second fiddle to UF during its most dominant period in the modern era. Dominating Bama in the 90s while missing out on the SECCG more often than not is nothing to pound your chest over. When UF beat Bama (and vice versa), it actually meant something...at worst an SEC title and at best a shot at the national title.

5. Congrats on all that history.

Bottom line, there are valid points to be made why UT will beat UF this season. It begins and ends with UF's offense, nothing more and nothing less. We have no proven playmakers, and our "huge" o-line played soft. I have no doubt our defense can hang with anyone in the conference. Whether we can score is another story.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

cfbstats.com - 2011 Southeastern Conference Team Leaders

This site has always been very reliable. If they are incorrect, please send them a correction. No skin off my teeth.

Can you even read the stats on your own site? UT allowed opponents to compete 63 percent of their passes, UF allowed 51 percent. UT allowed opponents better than seven yards per attempt, UF better than six. SEC opponents threw forty-odd more times against UF than they did against UT and only got, what?, sixty odd more yards. You do understand that not being able to run against a defense is hardly an indictment of the the passing defense, don't you?

All I ever said was that it was a weird statistic. It is a strange one. What is even stranger is that you don't understand that it is not a measure of the passing defense of the two teams.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

For all the 5 and 4 stars on UF's D, the DBs are still inexperienced and small. DaRick Rogers looked like Gulliver in Lilliput in 2011, and Hunter is bigger. Elam is not as good as Eric Berry, but he's good. He's only 1 man, though, and TAMU is likely to wear out and expose the Gator pass defense. Odds are, UF overplays the pass and the Vols ring up 150 yards on the ground. The UT Oline is massive and averages 20+ starts.

Beating UF is more important than going to Atlanta because UT needs to face up to the fact that they can't ignore the Gators anymore, like they did for 75 years. The teams first played in 1916; through 1975 UT was 13-2; through 1990, UT was 14-6, having in 1990 put the worst beating on UF they every suffered -- 45-3. Then Spurrier found his groove with the spread and UT continued to focus on Alabama (whom the Vols beat a lot) and running the (sometimes too cumbersome) Pro Set.

With Alabama on the sched every year -- historically, the most important game in Southern football -- the Vols have been reluctant to view UF as anything more than a temporary nuisance. Sans Spurrier and Tebow, it is possible that what we've witnessed from the Gators1991-2010 was a temporary abberation, but UT can't afford to judge itself by its opponents' downfalls.

The loss of UT's best player -- Hunter (22 ypc) -- in Q1 2011 can't be underestimated, but that's because the Vols were young and thin. Now they're a year older, have added 1 5* WR (Patterson) and 3 4* WRs, and aren't as likely to fold up if faced with adversity -- and on the other hand, Rainey and Demps are gone. Word is Dooley has added a spread package just for the Gators.

Finally, when UT arrives 2-0 (NCSU hasn't had a Top 25recruiting class since forever), look for 108,000. 31-17.

Can you not read? UF's secondary is not small. You guys don't even know who is starting. UT does have large and talented receivers, but saying over and over that UF's secondary is small will not make that true. Elam is the only one under six feet. One of the four starters will be inexperienced (the other three have had a season of starting) and he beat out two players with extensive starting experience. UT has a fine passing offense; so why is it so important to you to misrepresent UF's defense? Of course, fear does cause strange behavior.

 

[HeartOfOrange]

You realize if (when) we win against Florida, and you head to the strip for an all night massive wow baby celebration, there is a good chance your other (and only) kidney may suffer major damage. You really should consider giving up one of your legs. I'll help you to the strip, I promise.

dang..didn't think that one through....hmmm...nah don't wanna go without a limb....maybe I'll just sell my brother's kidney! He's a Georgia fan so...he doesn't deserve it XD

 

[WiseOlVol]

Can you not read? UF's secondary is not small. You guys don't even know who is starting. UT does have large and talented receivers, but saying over and over that UF's secondary is small will not make that true. Elam is the only one under six feet. One of the four starters will be inexperienced (the other three have had a season of starting) and he beat out two players with extensive starting experience. UT has a fine passing offense; so why is it so important to you to misrepresent UF's defense? Of course, fear does cause strange behavior.

Compared to UT's 3 Wrs and 2 TEs, UF's DBs are indeed small. And they're still inexperienced relative to UT's receivers, all of whom are upperclassmen. Watch the tape of Bray's performance in the 2011 game (link below), particulary Rogers' catch at 9:30 -- he's a head taller than UF's DBs, and Hunter's even taller and jumps higher. Unless the UF DBs have gotten a lot taller, Bray can throw high to spots and its a turkey shoot. You'll also notice that UT abandoned the run very early and UF dropped 3 guys back into coverage.

Tyler Bray vs Florida 2011 - YouTube

But for 10 Pass Interference viloations by UF's bewildered DBs, Bray gets 400 (in his 8th start) in the Swamp.

As for UT's OLine, all were highly recruited and now have 20+ starts together. In 2010, UT's OLine was 4 Frosh and 1 Soph -- of course they looked bad.

If Muschamp is willing to believe UT won't try to run and drops 3 into the secondary, then UT will run. If he keeps 7 in the box to shut down the run, Bray will get 500 and we'll get to see all the UF QBs before the final whistle.

 

[WiseOlVol]

1. Kindly refresh my memory...when was the last time UT beat UF primarily by passing instead of establishing the run?
============================

Bray's 89-yard TD drive late in the 2nd Q in 2011, on 8 straight passes (5 for 6 + 2 PIs), tells me that exceptional passing talent might beat the odds, even in the SEC.

Even Vol haters have to admit that this kid reads and throws the ball exceptionally well. Like, NFL well.

 

[ukvols]

I so sick and tired of listening to Florida fans talk about how Tennessee doesn't need a win over the Gators, and how it's more important to Muschamp. That kind of garbage makes me want to vomit. As if it's done wonders for our program to stop beating them.

 

[99gator]

1. Kindly refresh my memory...when was the last time UT beat UF primarily by passing instead of establishing the run?
============================

Bray's 89-yard TD drive late in the 2nd Q in 2011, on 8 straight passes (5 for 6 + 2 PIs), tells me that exceptional passing talent might beat the odds, even in the SEC.

Even Vol haters have to admit that this kid reads and throws the ball exceptionally well. Like, NFL well.

kentucky agrees

 

[WiseOlVol]

kentucky agrees

Who can throw effectively with a broken thumb?

 

[99gator]

Who can throw effectively with a broken thumb?

oh.

well then, perhaps tennessee should have relied on that massive offensive line.

 

[marcusluvsvols]

Can't wait til we actually play the game..then we can just say "scoreboard." Hope all you gator trolls come on up to knoxville to watch the track meet. Your dbs suck...the blatant pass interference last year was embarrassing and pathetic. Even wore gloves so the jersey grabbing would be hard to see...God hates a cheater. Trolls go home. Hope you all get DUIs on the way home or get your arses kicked on the strip after the game. I'm sure the loss won't humble you, maybe a straight right hand will. I've heard of how Vol fans are treated in the swamp, and while most UT fans have moore class than that I personally hope each of you trolls run into some who don't. Good luck. You suck. Get a life.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Can't wait til we actually play the game..then we can just say "scoreboard." Hope all you gator trolls come on up to knoxville to watch the track meet. Your dbs suck...the blatant pass interference last year was embarrassing and pathetic. Even wore gloves so the jersey grabbing would be hard to see...God hates a cheater. Trolls go home. Hope you all get DUIs on the way home or get your arses kicked on the strip after the game. I'm sure the loss won't humble you, maybe a straight right hand will. I've heard of how Vol fans are treated in the swamp, and while most UT fans have moore class than that I personally hope each of you trolls run into some who don't. Good luck. You suck. Get a life.

Stay classy buddy. k:

 

[Lawrence Wright]

1. Kindly refresh my memory...when was the last time UT beat UF primarily by passing instead of establishing the run?
============================

Bray's 89-yard TD drive late in the 2nd Q in 2011, on 8 straight passes (5 for 6 + 2 PIs), tells me that exceptional passing talent might beat the odds, even in the SEC.

Even Vol haters have to admit that this kid reads and throws the ball exceptionally well. Like, NFL well.

You artfully dodged my question.

 

[BigPapaVol]

FTR, Da'Rick doesn't look like Gulliver.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

I so sick and tired of listening to Florida fans talk about how Tennessee doesn't need a win over the Gators, and how it's more important to Muschamp. That kind of garbage makes me want to vomit. As if it's done wonders for our program to stop beating them.

Beating UT hasn't done much for us lately either.

I think the loser of our game still has a chance to win the East. UGA rarely lives up to high expectations, and South Carolina seems to lose a game (or two) they have no business losing.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

I may be alone in this but Florida scares the hell out of me. Their D should be a damned good one. Probably top 10 in the country. Though they lose Demps, Rainey, and Thompson, there is still a lot of talent though unproven on their offense. Probably as much talent as their OC has ever had. I think we can win especially since the game is at Neyland. But It will be a battle.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

If, if they can cover us man to man, they beat us. If they have to play with two safeties we should be able to win. I know it is a small sample set but Poole had a nine yard run that he should have scored on because of how they had the safety over JH. Croom Rogers and CP will be a tough cover as well. We at least have a decent shot this year. First time since 06. Kind of the same scenario too.

 

[Ancient Reptile]

Compared to UT's 3 Wrs and 2 TEs, UF's DBs are indeed small. And they're still inexperienced relative to UT's receivers, all of whom are upperclassmen. Watch the tape of Bray's performance in the 2011 game (link below), particulary Rogers' catch at 9:30 -- he's a head taller than UF's DBs, and Hunter's even taller and jumps higher. Unless the UF DBs have gotten a lot taller, Bray can throw high to spots and its a turkey shoot. You'll also notice that UT abandoned the run very early and UF dropped 3 guys back into coverage. Tyler Bray vs Florida 2011 - YouTube

But for 10 Pass Interference viloations by UF's bewildered DBs, Bray gets 400 (in his 8th start) in the Swamp.

As for UT's OLine, all were highly recruited and now have 20+ starts together. In 2010, UT's OLine was 4 Frosh and 1 Soph -- of course they looked bad.

If Muschamp is willing to believe UT won't try to run and drops 3 into the secondary, then UT will run. If he keeps 7 in the box to shut down the run, Bray will get 500 and we'll get to see all the UF QBs before the final whistle.

You can bet UT will abandon the run even sooner this year. As I said UT does have large receivers. That does not make UF's secondary small. And what exactly did you mean by a "turkey shoot"? Were you referring to the ease with which Bray will complete passes, or the ease with which UF's physical secondary will rip your receivers apart? Last year it didn't even require a hit.

 

[WiseOlVol]

oh.

well then, perhaps tennessee should have relied on that massive offensive line.

UK put 8 in the box when Bray proved ineffective.

 

[WiseOlVol]

You can bet UT will abandon the run even sooner this year. As I said UT does have large receivers. That does not make UF's secondary small. And what exactly did you mean by a "turkey shoot"? Were you referring to the ease with which Bray will complete passes, or the ease with which UF's physical secondary will rip your receivers apart? Last year it didn't even require a hit.

I don't know what game you were watching. You can't count on 1 hand the times it took 2 or 3 Gators to bring down Rogers.

Bray would have completed 35 and thrown for 400 but for the PIs.

If UF puts only 4 in the box, UT will run successully until they don't. Then the turkey shoot begins.

Didn't that vaunted UF front 7 lose 5 games in 2011 -- 4 very badly? Alabama, LSU and SC (sans Lattimore) ran for about 220 yards and UGA 185.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

UK put 8 in the box when Bray proved ineffective.

And UT couldn't run against lowly Kentucky....got it.

 

[volger]

Historically UGA is a bigger rival, and the coach who defined our program is now at South Carolina.

So it took nearly 100 years for your program to become "defined?" Welcome aboard the bandwagon, with the rest of your trolls.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

So it took nearly 100 years for your program to become "defined?" Welcome aboard the bandwagon, with the rest of your trolls.

And it only took about 20 years to turn the UF-UT series in our favor.

Been a UF fan since the 70s, season ticket holder since 1986 and alum since 1990.

Nice try though.

 

[WiseOlVol]

And UT couldn't run against lowly Kentucky....got it.

Alabama couldn't run vs. Kentucky (or any SEC team) if they put 8 in the box all game.

The UT-UK game was sort of like the UF-FSU game, except that FSU won by 2 TDs and on 95 yards of offense and IN THE SWAMP.