5 big things: To beat VT

#1
EricberryFAN

EricberryFAN

GO VOLS MAN!
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#1
1. Berry Last Chance: It would be poetic justice to see Eric Berry pick off a Virginia Tech pass and return it 8 (or 80) yards to end his career with the NCAA record for interception return yardage. Berry started his junior year needing a measly 15 yards and, to everyone's great surprise, is still 8 short as he points to the NFL draft a year ahead of schedule.

2. Cure The Curse: The Georgia Dome has been Tennessee's personal haunted house in the 21st Century. The carnage includes 0-3 in SEC championship games and 0-2 in Chick-fil-A Bowls. It's worse - the basketball Vols are 3-6 in SEC Tournament games at the Dome, never surviving past the quarterfinal round. The last time a UT fan left the Dome with a smile was 1998, on the road to the national championship.

3. Who's Kicking?: It's never a good thing to go into a bowl game as an underdog with your placekicking duties unsettled. Based on unimpressive practice-field results it's unclear whether Daniel Lincoln or Devan Mathis (or even punter Chad Cunningham) will attempt field goals. Maybe Lane Kiffin just goes for it on fourth down.

4. Tech's Dynamic Duo: There's no mystery who makes Virginia Tech's offense go. Monte Kiffin and the UT defense have to contain tailback Ryan Williams (1,538 yards, 19 TDs) and quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2,102 passing yards) who has passed for 13 touchdowns and run for four more. Do that and the Hokies will struggle to score points.

5. SEC vs. ACC: The SEC likes to think of itself as clearly superior to the ACC - in football. Not so in 2008, when it was a 6-6 stalemate in head-to-head play. This year the SEC has a 5-3 edge (including an Alabama win over Virginia Tech in the Georgia Dome). A Tennessee win tonight would deny the ACC any wiggle room for yapping. A Tech win, however, would make the two-year score sheet an indecisive 11-10.

- Mike Strange

What do you all think?
 
#3
#3
I like your #5. Its about time someone said it hasn't been that decisive.

re #2, we have been pretty darn awful in the Georgia Dome as well. Actually I don't believe that we have won in any dome since 2000 Syracuse.
 
#4
#4
It would awesome if Monte moved Eric back to his old position for this game and let him run free like he used to.
 
#6
#6
With Ryan Williams in the backfield Berry is more useful playing that hybrid position. He is in a better position to stop the run.
 
#7
#7
SPEDVoL14 said:
With Ryan Williams in the backfield Berry is more useful playing that hybrid position. He is in a better position to stop the run.
Click to expand...

I agree. I don't see him being moved unless we get ahead far enough that VT sees it has no choice but to pass. In that case, I wouldn't put it past Kiffin to move him back there to give him that chance. He deserves that record.
 
#9
#9
The Interception record is ok....But I think Eric Berry is more concerned with getting a win and leaving Knoxville on a good note...This really is a big game for us as far as momentum in recruiting and developing for next year...

With Tyrod and Ryan Williams being the only real concern with VT's offense I like the Idea of Eric Berry at the Line of Scrimmage so they cant get started...Then if we get up on them shift him into the secondary to control the passing game...

But this game comes down to Dan Williams and the Defensive Line...If they can get in the backfield all day then our linebackers and everyone else will be all over Tyrod and Ryan...

I am really praying that our Offense comes out clicking and not off rhythm..

Go VOls
Ut 24
VT 13
 
#10
#10
EricberryFAN said:
1. Berry Last Chance: It would be poetic justice to see Eric Berry pick off a Virginia Tech pass and return it 8 (or 80) yards to end his career with the NCAA record for interception return yardage. Berry started his junior year needing a measly 15 yards and, to everyone's great surprise, is still 8 short as he points to the NFL draft a year ahead of schedule.

2. Cure The Curse: The Georgia Dome has been Tennessee's personal haunted house in the 21st Century. The carnage includes 0-3 in SEC championship games and 0-2 in Chick-fil-A Bowls. It's worse - the basketball Vols are 3-6 in SEC Tournament games at the Dome, never surviving past the quarterfinal round. The last time a UT fan left the Dome with a smile was 1998, on the road to the national championship.

3. Who's Kicking?: It's never a good thing to go into a bowl game as an underdog with your placekicking duties unsettled. Based on unimpressive practice-field results it's unclear whether Daniel Lincoln or Devan Mathis (or even punter Chad Cunningham) will attempt field goals. Maybe Lane Kiffin just goes for it on fourth down.

4. Tech's Dynamic Duo: There's no mystery who makes Virginia Tech's offense go. Monte Kiffin and the UT defense have to contain tailback Ryan Williams (1,538 yards, 19 TDs) and quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2,102 passing yards) who has passed for 13 touchdowns and run for four more. Do that and the Hokies will struggle to score points.

5. SEC vs. ACC: The SEC likes to think of itself as clearly superior to the ACC - in football. Not so in 2008, when it was a 6-6 stalemate in head-to-head play. This year the SEC has a 5-3 edge (including an Alabama win over Virginia Tech in the Georgia Dome). A Tennessee win tonight would deny the ACC any wiggle room for yapping. A Tech win, however, would make the two-year score sheet an indecisive 11-10.

- Mike Strange

What do you all think?
Click to expand...

Didn't the basketball team play in the final game of the SEC tourney just last season?
 
#11
#11
IV_Hokie12 said:
I like your #5. Its about time someone said it hasn't been that decisive.

re #2, we have been pretty darn awful in the Georgia Dome as well. Actually I don't believe that we have won in any dome since 2000 Syracuse.
Click to expand...
Gross record is a garbage stat when comparing conferences. The ACC is an out loud joke.

Force TTaylor to beat you through the air and it's a blowout. The question is: can we force it.
 
#13
#13
Two things, one Tyrod Taylor is 14th in the country in passing efficiency. Crompton is 41st. Taylor might have been awful in years past, but he has done okay throwing the ball around this year.

2. This isn't directed at you, but I talk a lot about our Nebraska win because they are not in the ACC (You guys don't like ACC wins) Well they are looking pretty good right about now.

edit: When comparing conferences, last year in particular the ACCs middle of the road teams played SEC teams that were higher up in the conference. This year has been different with GT getting most of the SEC games, but put the two years together and it comes out about right.
 
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