10 Thoughts

[cotton]

1. Many of my past criticisms of Phillip Fulmer have centered on personality issues. Those were extraneous to the debate and I apologize.
2. I have steadfastly defended John Chavis. I can't do that after today.
3. The play of our team in the second half was an embarassment to every player, ex-player, coach and fan of the University of Tennessee. If guys don't want to play, find people who do. There shouldn't be a single position that isn't up for grabs this week.
4. Pat Riley once talked about how once your players quit responding to your voice, you never get them back. UT's staff has reached that point.
5. Each defensive lineman should look in the mirror this week. Their collective play was abysmal.
6. Our fans who said Saban's impact was being overrated look exceptionally silly now.
7. Deion Sanders always talked about the need for a short memory at defensive back. I hope Eric Berry has that.
8. I hope everyone shows up next week and cheers like hell against South Carolina. The issue that has divided our fan base the last couple of years is now obviously going to be addressed at the end of the year. Time to defend our home field against Spurrier & Co.
9. DJ Hall will soon join Anthony Lucas in the pantheon of WRs who dominated us, then went on to do absolutely nothing in the NFL.
10. Look on the bright side. Major Applewhite won't be at Alabama for more than a couple of more years.

I can't add a lot to that, other than to say that the most disappointing thing about the game to me is that it showed we are, particularly defensively, the same team that played Cal and Florida. I had hoped that after our less-than-disgusting play against UGA and MSU that the defense was coming around. In fact, those games showed a lot more about the collective Bulldogs than it did about the Volunteers. The secondary, with two starters, at least has an excuse, but the linebacking corps has not been as good as expected and the line, as hat observed, simply isn't very good.

My internet has been down all weekend, and I don't want to rehash what I'm sure has been posted ad nauseum without looking through the board, but when your defense gives up 383 yards passing (185 to one player,) a 100 yard performance to one back, and over 37 minutes in TOP, you are going to get beat.

 

[Ooltewah Vol]

My thought? 100-37.

Perfect point Hat. 100-37 = Embarrassment

 

[WA_Vol]

Here are a few observations:

1. 4th and 2 and Ainge throws it out of bounds instead of up for grabs??
2. 19 total running plays? Is Ainge checking off at the line to passing plays?
3. Hardesty not playing
4. Zero pressure makes John Parker look like he's All-SEC
5. 86 yds in the 2nd half on offense.

 

[Jaytrain5]

How is it that, the same staff that produced Haynesworth, Henderson, Walker, Ellis, Harrell, Franklin, Little, McBride, Mahelona, Veal, Moore (and on and on) on the defensive line over the past decade, can't generate an effing pass rush?

 

[JagerVol01]

I watched the Alabama vs Florida State game three weeks ago and also watched the Florida vs Auburn game three weeks ago and a replay of the Cal vs UCLA game Saturday....Alabama, Florida and Cal combined to score 45 points in those three games (which were all against unranked opponents) - they scored 145 points against Tennessee.....

I also want to add that the Lincoln Financial coverage of the game Saturday was atrocious.....I can't believe they only showed one replay (a long distance shot at that) of the pass interference call when Tennessee intercepted the pass in the end zone toward the end of the first half....It was the turning point play of the game and they virtually ignored it....There is no point in them televising games if they are incapable of doing a more professional job than that.

 

[cotton]

How is it that, the same staff that produced Haynesworth, Henderson, Walker, Ellis, Harrell, Franklin, Little, McBride, Mahelona, Veal, Moore (and on and on) on the defensive line over the past decade, can't generate an effing pass rush?

A decade is a little far to go back, but I think the answer to your question is that there isn't a Haynesworth, Henderson, et al. playing for us. Despite some good recruiting classes, we haven't been able to put a dominant defensive lineman on the field since Mahelona and he wasn't on the same level as many of the others you mentioned (I discount Harrell because of his limited play due to injury.) Some of the youngsters on this team had the highschool pedigree to perhaps develop into NFL talent, but DLine has certainly dropped off from a talent standpoint over the past several years.