London Vol
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Well, everybody in class who genuinely thought we would win before the start yesterday please raise your hand, well mine is firmly not. I asked myself before the game what did I realistically hope to achieve and the three words that came to mind were becoming relevant again. The dictionary definition for relevant is having significant and demonstratable bearing on the matter in hand.
For some while we have not even troubled the elite teams and they have been 3 to 4 scores up by half time, rest their starters in the 3rd quarter and clear their bench in the 4th. Just look at our four losses this season, Pitt 6-1 we were disappointed that we didn’t win, Florida 4-3 we “rattled their cage”, Ole Miss 6-1 they were completely exhausted and were totally hanging on at the end and Alabama 7-1. To show how much we had significant and demonstratable bearing on the matter in hand go and rewatch the match then fast forward to 9.43 in the 3td quarter, enjoy watching Nick Saban go completely nuts to the point of bursting blood vessels. he could see what a danger we were to him last night. That is why I am so proud of the Vols as I believe we have become relevant again.
QUARTERBACKS
Hendon Hooker, given that he was far from fit and was playing against a standard of opponent he had never seen in the ACC, he was great. He hits the passes in the flat with accuracy (not always a given from other Tennessee quarterbacks in the past) and is even becoming more consistent with the long ball. He was not able to scramble efficiently but that was probably due to a combination of not being fit and up against a great Defensive Line. Regarding his second pick of the year he did not seem to be on the same page as Payton but even then he was trying to force the ball down the field and trying to win the game, so I give him a pass on that. I think he is a warrior and is far better than I imagined he would be.
RUNNING BACKS
There is a reason why Alabama’s D Line is number two in the country and it showed how we could not run at all. I think a fit Evans would have made some difference but not match changing. A shout out to the playing calling here, it was obvious that we had no chance of running up the middle so they started calling passes in the flat to try to get 5 yards on 1st down. In the past we would have persisted in plowing up the middle for no gain all match, Albert Einstein once said the definition of madness is “repeating the same thing and expecting a different outcome”. This coaching staff at Tennessee is a real upgrade to anything I have seen in 12 years.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Cedric Tillman was not a 5* recruit or a 4* but a low 3* and actually had a recruitment ranking of 1677, so I would say 152 yards against Alabama is sort of ok
In fact except for the route by Payton on the INT, this group was nearly faultless. I would actually like us to throw more downfield passes as even under thrown passes like Tillman’s first catch was a success, even though the man had to track back for the under thrown pass he still caught it.
TIGHT ENDS
A very quiet day here again. Fant continues to go missing in the passing game and Warren wasn’t looking on a critical pass near the end but the blocking continues to be of assistance to the O Line
OFFENSIVE LINE
No Cade Mays and up against a top Defensive Line I thought the boys did well. Only 3 sacks, 5 TFLS and 0 QH are commendable stats. However there were no running lanes all night. Overall well done.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Stars of the show again. When you consider how many plays this bunch had to “man up” for they were superb. On 1st and 2nd down they repeatably forced Alabama into 3rd and long only for the defense to give up the 3rd and long, I think it was 12 times, urgh!!. This is a repeating problem and quite frankly drives me nuts during the game, but this is not to be laid at the door of the D Line. Another step forward for Byron Young and he is starting to look to be the real deal.
LINEBACKERS
First, I must state this bunch gives everything they have, and I mean everything. That’s why they must never be faulted for how it went last night but the gap in class really shone though especially Beasley. He was roasted a number of times and for the second week running a non-running quarterback continually escaped for a 1st down. Now we are playing a different standard of opponent we now see how much we are missing Mitchell.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Bryce Young often had an eternity to throw and took it and that only confirmed how well the secondary were playing coverage but you can only cover for so long. Hadden & Slaughter flashed at times although I thought Flowers again played too deep (obviously under instruction of bend don’t break), however we were honestly in this game in the 4th quarter and only 7 points down and had them 3rd & 15 and Young bombs a 65 yard pass and Flowers in missing, Ouch.
VARIOUS POINTS
Penalties- 12 a game cannot continue especially against top teams.
Lop sided score – This was no 28 point beat down, at least 14 points were down to Heupel trying to win in the 4th quarter than just morally win. This attitude I applaud.
China not Teak – Its becoming almost comical how many injuries we pick up every week. The S&C has got a load of work to do before next season.
Run back Kick Offs – Velus Jones is nationally rated as a kick off specialist yet it was clearly a policy not to yesterday. Give the man a chance, he can “break one” anytime
Two weeks to Kentucky – To heal up and game plan for the Mildkats.
We have become relevant again.
I always enjoy your comments and observations.
GO VOLS
For some while we have not even troubled the elite teams and they have been 3 to 4 scores up by half time, rest their starters in the 3rd quarter and clear their bench in the 4th. Just look at our four losses this season, Pitt 6-1 we were disappointed that we didn’t win, Florida 4-3 we “rattled their cage”, Ole Miss 6-1 they were completely exhausted and were totally hanging on at the end and Alabama 7-1. To show how much we had significant and demonstratable bearing on the matter in hand go and rewatch the match then fast forward to 9.43 in the 3td quarter, enjoy watching Nick Saban go completely nuts to the point of bursting blood vessels. he could see what a danger we were to him last night. That is why I am so proud of the Vols as I believe we have become relevant again.
QUARTERBACKS
Hendon Hooker, given that he was far from fit and was playing against a standard of opponent he had never seen in the ACC, he was great. He hits the passes in the flat with accuracy (not always a given from other Tennessee quarterbacks in the past) and is even becoming more consistent with the long ball. He was not able to scramble efficiently but that was probably due to a combination of not being fit and up against a great Defensive Line. Regarding his second pick of the year he did not seem to be on the same page as Payton but even then he was trying to force the ball down the field and trying to win the game, so I give him a pass on that. I think he is a warrior and is far better than I imagined he would be.
RUNNING BACKS
There is a reason why Alabama’s D Line is number two in the country and it showed how we could not run at all. I think a fit Evans would have made some difference but not match changing. A shout out to the playing calling here, it was obvious that we had no chance of running up the middle so they started calling passes in the flat to try to get 5 yards on 1st down. In the past we would have persisted in plowing up the middle for no gain all match, Albert Einstein once said the definition of madness is “repeating the same thing and expecting a different outcome”. This coaching staff at Tennessee is a real upgrade to anything I have seen in 12 years.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Cedric Tillman was not a 5* recruit or a 4* but a low 3* and actually had a recruitment ranking of 1677, so I would say 152 yards against Alabama is sort of ok
In fact except for the route by Payton on the INT, this group was nearly faultless. I would actually like us to throw more downfield passes as even under thrown passes like Tillman’s first catch was a success, even though the man had to track back for the under thrown pass he still caught it.TIGHT ENDS
A very quiet day here again. Fant continues to go missing in the passing game and Warren wasn’t looking on a critical pass near the end but the blocking continues to be of assistance to the O Line
OFFENSIVE LINE
No Cade Mays and up against a top Defensive Line I thought the boys did well. Only 3 sacks, 5 TFLS and 0 QH are commendable stats. However there were no running lanes all night. Overall well done.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Stars of the show again. When you consider how many plays this bunch had to “man up” for they were superb. On 1st and 2nd down they repeatably forced Alabama into 3rd and long only for the defense to give up the 3rd and long, I think it was 12 times, urgh!!. This is a repeating problem and quite frankly drives me nuts during the game, but this is not to be laid at the door of the D Line. Another step forward for Byron Young and he is starting to look to be the real deal.
LINEBACKERS
First, I must state this bunch gives everything they have, and I mean everything. That’s why they must never be faulted for how it went last night but the gap in class really shone though especially Beasley. He was roasted a number of times and for the second week running a non-running quarterback continually escaped for a 1st down. Now we are playing a different standard of opponent we now see how much we are missing Mitchell.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Bryce Young often had an eternity to throw and took it and that only confirmed how well the secondary were playing coverage but you can only cover for so long. Hadden & Slaughter flashed at times although I thought Flowers again played too deep (obviously under instruction of bend don’t break), however we were honestly in this game in the 4th quarter and only 7 points down and had them 3rd & 15 and Young bombs a 65 yard pass and Flowers in missing, Ouch.
VARIOUS POINTS
Penalties- 12 a game cannot continue especially against top teams.
Lop sided score – This was no 28 point beat down, at least 14 points were down to Heupel trying to win in the 4th quarter than just morally win. This attitude I applaud.
China not Teak – Its becoming almost comical how many injuries we pick up every week. The S&C has got a load of work to do before next season.
Run back Kick Offs – Velus Jones is nationally rated as a kick off specialist yet it was clearly a policy not to yesterday. Give the man a chance, he can “break one” anytime
Two weeks to Kentucky – To heal up and game plan for the Mildkats.
We have become relevant again.
I always enjoy your comments and observations.
GO VOLS
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