7 Takeaways On Yesterday's Classic at Kyle Field

#1
TXVol_44

TXVol_44

I've Played The Game
Joined
Nov 13, 2008
Messages
532
Likes
180
#1
From a Volnation Correspondant in Corpus Christi:

1) First things first: I am WORN OUT! That was a BIG TIME college football environment at Kyle Field. The tradition of the 12th Man and the Corps of Cadets is worthy of our respect. That place is as loud of a stadium as I've ever been in. I'm not sure how it all looked on TV, but when you're THERE...its a hostile environment.

2) How this Tennessee team continues to find a way to win AND compete HARD with the key injuries they've sustained is beyond me. "Next man up" is the new mantra, and the mantra is quickly becoming an attitude.

3) Tennessee's corners and receivers need to play much better. We were exposed by a QB that, at times, couldn't seem to hit the broad side of a barn with a scatter gun. Our receivers dropped too many easy balls against smaller DBs. That's bad for us entering Alabama week and even beyond if we can't get both areas shored up.

4) Alvin Kamara is a STUD..PERIOD. I know Jalen Hurd will likely be back for Alabama, and we will need his physicality against the Tide. But...WOW! AK brings a dimension to the offense that gave D-Coordinator John Chavis fits. He is a north-south runner that runs hard, despite his size. He shredded the Aggies en route to a nearly 700-yd offensive day for the Vols. We have to get him the ball more against Alabama and beyond. Tyler Byrd also...

5) Is it just me, or do ya'll feel the same way: When QB Josh Dobbs has the ball in his hands, I have a quiet confidence that good things are going to happen. Yes, he threw 2 picks, one of which ended the game in OT2. BUT...can you imagine Tennessee Football without this guy right now? In my opinion, he is the best playmaker UT has had, regardless of position, since Condredge Holloway. Teams have no answer for him -- period.

6) Play 4 Quarters. Enough said.

7) Tennessee Fans & Band -- WOW! The POTSL Band was fantastic, and they didn't march a lick at halftime or pre-game. Their smaller travel band kept playing...and playing...and playing... They were instrumental (pun intended) in getting Tennessee's fans back into the game at 28-7. Several A&M fans I spoke with said our fans had the largest and loudest presence in what was otherwise a SEA of MAROON.

Summary: Fantastic game, great game atmosphere. One of the treasures of college football is the passionate fans, and I enjoyed my interaction with those in Orange and Maroon yesterday. There's a kindred spirit that weaves us all together. Every TN player that went down to injury yesterday was met with applause from the Aggie fans. So...a tipped hat to Texas A&M, their fans, and their superb football facility.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 13 people
#2
#2
Nice write up

On #6, I am excited and hopeful but am never quite confident in Dobbs -- mainly because he's made too many bad reads and plays (first OT, if he had kept the ball he had a lead blocker on front of him and open field ahead. Second OT, self professed bad throw after misreading the coverage). But he's made enough big plays for us that I'm always hopeful

At the same time I'm not confident in our defense to make a stop on a final drive either. They have played well all year but 2 weeks in a row we've let the other team go the length of the field for a game winning shot (missed FG saves us again like it did against Appy St)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#3
#3
We gotta stop waiting till halftime to play. Clean up our secondary and we win out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#4
#4
The Vols have been living dangerously thus far this season and it simply caught up with us Saturday. Taking the game to OT after turning the ball over seven times was amazing.


T120 has moxie!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#5
#5
Willie Martinez-coached DBs are not taught to look back at the ball it seems. When he was at GA, their DBs had the same problem, among many others when he was the DC.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#6
#6
Willie Martinez teaches a "trail and tackle" technique and hope for a bad throw.......For the life of me NOT one DB has turned his head around ALL Year which leads me to beleive they are all taught to do what they are doing..............
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#9
#9
Nice summary. Kudos to you for being there to cheer the Vols on. Several positive comments from media mouthpieces on UT travel. I would add:

#1 Quit turning the ball over...see Maxims. Focus area for practice this week for sure!
#2 Got to be consistently tough WRs and DBs. Jennings is tough. Put him and Malone in the circle of life or transfusion.
#3 CBJ has gotta get on SEC office and refs. Almost every other play Malone or Barnett held or interfered with and these targeting calls are ridiculous. And the out of bounds "no call" on TAM and ball being in the end zone but placed on the two were ridiculous.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#10
#10
grobin4300 said:
Willie Martinez teaches a "trail and tackle" technique and hope for a bad throw.......For the life of me NOT one DB has turned his head around ALL Year which leads me to beleive they are all taught to do what they are doing..............
Click to expand...

Derek Barnett covered a receiver and the ball hit him in the name plate. I was yelling at the TV to turn around and intercept the ball. Then, I saw the players number. Realizing it was DB, I revised my feelings on the play. DB is a special player to cover when needed. Not all DEs can do that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#11
#11
McDad said:
Derek Barnett covered a receiver and the ball hit him in the name plate. I was yelling at the TV to turn around and intercept the ball. Then, I saw the players number. Realizing it was DB, I revised my feelings on the play. DB is a special player to cover when needed. Not all DEs can do that.
Click to expand...

Im only speaking of the DBs............Barnett does not have the ability to turn his hips around like a DB should
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#12
#12
nash101 said:
Nice write up

On #6, I am excited and hopeful but am never quite confident in Dobbs -- mainly because he's made too many bad reads and plays (first OT, if he had kept the ball he had a lead blocker on front of him and open field ahead. Second OT, self professed bad throw after misreading the coverage). But he's made enough big plays for us that I'm always hopeful

At the same time I'm not confident in our defense to make a stop on a final drive either. They have played well all year but 2 weeks in a row we've let the other team go the length of the field for a game winning shot (missed FG saves us again like it did against Appy St)
Click to expand...
you do realize NO QB ever makes all the right decisions and no one would be complaining about those 2 if we win.

This is a situation where placing blame makes no sense there is an issue FUMBLES. That is it period. Remove the 6 times we put the ball on the ground and this game is not close. In ever game this year we have put the ball on the ground in insane amount of times.. up till the last 2 games we came up with it more often than not. The answer is not coming up with the ball its not putting it there in the first place.

Given the situations our team has been the INT's Dobbs has thrown can be discounted to the situation. He only threw 5 picks all of last year. And as I have pointed out a few times in other threads his picks come when under an immense amount of pressure.

Now every fumble hasn't been something the players on the field could have controlled but a lot have been and even given that the sheer number of them is disturbing. I would say a good number have been caused by injuries, the revolving door at center has played a role in quite a few. The fumble on the exchange with Kelly and so on. But those types of things have made that a focal point of defenses. Teams are definitely preparing with our ball security problems in mind.

We need to take advantage of that. I don't know the answer but my gut says it lies in the 5 guys who line up in front of Dobbs every Saturday. They have improved as the season has gone on but they need to step up even more. Our defense has performed miraculously given the injuries and terrible situations they have been put in.

The fact Josh Dobbs has not had a meltdown on the sidelines or huddle on the O-line has baffled me and makes me respect the guy even more than his play on the field. I honestly think that he will be a surprise in the League. Some smart scout/coach/gm is gonna look at his tape closely and see what he really is. I wouldn't trade him for any QB in college football. Trust me these other more highly touted QB's would have thrown in the towel long ago.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#13
#13
McDad said:
Derek Barnett covered a receiver and the ball hit him in the name plate. I was yelling at the TV to turn around and intercept the ball. Then, I saw the players number. Realizing it was DB, I revised my feelings on the play. DB is a special player to cover when needed. Not all DEs can do that.
Click to expand...

My wife was complaining that he didn't turn around and intercept that. I was all like "that's a defensive end, that he was able to do what he did was awesome".
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#14
#14
I was there on the last row of upper deck. I could see Tennessee from my seat. Aggie fans were very gracious before and after the game. They were good hosts that knew they barely escaped a humiliating defeat.

Talked to an Aggie that said he had been going to aggie games for 20 years and never seen so many visiting fans. Orange was everywhere. Many other comments on how loud our minority was.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#15
#15
BeardedVol said:
Willie Martinez-coached DBs are not taught to look back at the ball it seems. When he was at GA, their DBs had the same problem, among many others when he was the DC.
Click to expand...

Just need to add a remote control head turner to their helmets. Should be doable in this day and age.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#16
#16
grobin4300 said:
Im only speaking of the DBs............Barnett does not have the ability to turn his hips around like a DB should
Click to expand...

I know. I was just impressed with Barnett in coverage and he didn't get his head turned. I saw my opening to brag on DB and I took it. No Ragrets.
 
#18
#18
govols105 said:
this game is not a classic. hello we lost. if we had won it would be a classic.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry you feel that way, but its your opinion, and what I said is mine. If your only criterion for saying a game was a great football game (i.e.a classic) is that Tennessee must win, that is a very short-sighted view of the game of football. You win some, you lose some. That was a great football game, despite the final score.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#19
#19
We have fumbled 21 times in our 6 games. 15 in first 5 games. Let that stat sink in. I cannot recall us having that many fumbles in my many years.
 
#21
#21
McDad said:
I know. I was just impressed with Barnett in coverage and he didn't get his head turned. I saw my opening to brag on DB and I took it. No Ragrets.
Click to expand...

Yes, but if the ball is thrown properly and Reynolds doesn't have to slow down Barnett is never in the play and you guys are all wondering what Barnett is doing guarding a receiver.
 
#22
#22
The turnovers are toooo obvious.

The thing that continues to haunt this team is the soft WRs dropping way too many passes.
They have to get tougher and go to the ball and CATCH the dang thing....... :hi:
 
#23
#23
DocAg said:
Yes, but if the ball is thrown properly and Reynolds doesn't have to slow down Barnett is never in the play and you guys are all wondering what Barnett is doing guarding a receiver.
Click to expand...

I'm still wondering. Lol. DB has covered recievers a few times this year.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top