London Vol
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When Guarantano came out with 2:07 left in the 3rd quarter straight after “the interception” I actually said to myself, its 3.10am in England I might as well go to bed, it felt like watching the film Titanic over and over again, I keeping hoping this great ship will surely not sink again and ….. it does. But it was a fleeting moment, if you’re a Vol you’re a Vol no ifs no buts and with 7:00 minutes left I have finally rewarded.
I will try to not discuss the quarterback situation too much (there are numerous articles all basically saying the same thing). Guarantano’s era finished after the second interception against Kentucky and Pruitt is just ruining his own position with this siege mentality on the topic. I will just highlight one comment from the TV commentary last night “Guarantano’s 4 picks 6s since the beginning of last year is the most by ANY quarterback in college football” and if Pruitt really believes that this is our best chance then he has really lost it. There I’ve said enough.
I want to be positive were I can so here goes. I actually realised there were many good things last night that were totally overshadowed by ……
QUARTERBACK
Harrison Bailey, the man who we were told is being protected for his own good, was sent out with 7 minutes left to plunder 3 touchdowns (I would hate to see what being thrown to the wolves looks like?). But actually what he did was give me hope and these are reasons 1) he moved the offense effortlessly for a touchdown drive, it almost seemed easy. 2) suddenly the O Line held up pass protection even though Bailey was only going to throw and Auburn were just teeing off. 3) So we do have tight ends!! We probably always did, but were not spotted with the lack of seeing the field and staring down the primary target (belated apologies to Wood Anderson who was totally ignored for two years). Now I think Bailey looks very young, at times very nervous and is far from the finished product but the 3 points above only confirm that this kid “has it".
RUNNING BACK
Eric Gray is the best running back I have seen here (since 2009) but his efforts are being completed wasted. I thought some of his moves were made for Sunday football and to think we have another year of him at least. Just imagine what he can do if the opposition need to respect our passing game and not stack the box. Chandler was good as always, although not in Grays class.
WIDE RECEIVERS
A tough day because they had 53 minutes from one quarterback and 7 minutes from another. Keyton again dropped a couple of passes and I would like to see the freshman's numbers called more but I’m reluctant to criticize any of them due to what meager crumbs they have had to feed from.
TIGHT ENDS
I have been confused why so many 4 star tight ends offer absolutely nothing and then the last 7 minutes happened. Warren and Fant had 6 catches between them which made me realise that I was wrong to question them. Their lack of production was due to what meager crumbs they have had to feed from.
OFFENSIVE LINE
They really came out to play in the second half, making great running lanes for Gray and providing the aforementioned pass protection for Bailey. They may not have had the season we hoped for but they are the best we have had for a number of years and would have had a better season if the opposition didn’t have 9 defenders every play in the box.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Still no pass rush from the tackles but run defense was better, although not great. Butler was the pick of the bunch. A big shout out to Bennett who now has 4 sacks in the last two games, he has threatened a breakout for a year now so well done young man.
LINEBACKERS
Another very poor day, Crouch is wasted at linebacker (he was No 1 recruit in the country as a running back until the defense whisperer Pruitt moved him) Henry T looks like he is trying to stop the run and defend the pass at the same time and now is achieving neither, at least Banks did lay some wood but he is not a game changer.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Thompson did his best and Burrell was an upgrade on George but the rest were poor. Flowers still gets noticed, but for missed assignments, missed tackles and missed interceptions and yet he does have potential, he has now for three years. Tank looks confused without Warrior and Jackson is simply not covering the middle which the nickel back needs to do.
SPECIAL TEAMS
We are average more than special but a small mention to Cimaglia, yes he missed two kicks but both of those were right after Guarantano (the game manager, sorry I couldn’t resist it) took bad sacks and made the kicks so much harder.
In short we are at a crossroads, one way gives us hope that we still may salvage something from this season and beyond (a comfortable win at Vandy and a win over one of A&M or Florida) or the damn ship will sink again.
GO VOLS
I will try to not discuss the quarterback situation too much (there are numerous articles all basically saying the same thing). Guarantano’s era finished after the second interception against Kentucky and Pruitt is just ruining his own position with this siege mentality on the topic. I will just highlight one comment from the TV commentary last night “Guarantano’s 4 picks 6s since the beginning of last year is the most by ANY quarterback in college football” and if Pruitt really believes that this is our best chance then he has really lost it. There I’ve said enough.
I want to be positive were I can so here goes. I actually realised there were many good things last night that were totally overshadowed by ……
QUARTERBACK
Harrison Bailey, the man who we were told is being protected for his own good, was sent out with 7 minutes left to plunder 3 touchdowns (I would hate to see what being thrown to the wolves looks like?). But actually what he did was give me hope and these are reasons 1) he moved the offense effortlessly for a touchdown drive, it almost seemed easy. 2) suddenly the O Line held up pass protection even though Bailey was only going to throw and Auburn were just teeing off. 3) So we do have tight ends!! We probably always did, but were not spotted with the lack of seeing the field and staring down the primary target (belated apologies to Wood Anderson who was totally ignored for two years). Now I think Bailey looks very young, at times very nervous and is far from the finished product but the 3 points above only confirm that this kid “has it".
RUNNING BACK
Eric Gray is the best running back I have seen here (since 2009) but his efforts are being completed wasted. I thought some of his moves were made for Sunday football and to think we have another year of him at least. Just imagine what he can do if the opposition need to respect our passing game and not stack the box. Chandler was good as always, although not in Grays class.
WIDE RECEIVERS
A tough day because they had 53 minutes from one quarterback and 7 minutes from another. Keyton again dropped a couple of passes and I would like to see the freshman's numbers called more but I’m reluctant to criticize any of them due to what meager crumbs they have had to feed from.
TIGHT ENDS
I have been confused why so many 4 star tight ends offer absolutely nothing and then the last 7 minutes happened. Warren and Fant had 6 catches between them which made me realise that I was wrong to question them. Their lack of production was due to what meager crumbs they have had to feed from.
OFFENSIVE LINE
They really came out to play in the second half, making great running lanes for Gray and providing the aforementioned pass protection for Bailey. They may not have had the season we hoped for but they are the best we have had for a number of years and would have had a better season if the opposition didn’t have 9 defenders every play in the box.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Still no pass rush from the tackles but run defense was better, although not great. Butler was the pick of the bunch. A big shout out to Bennett who now has 4 sacks in the last two games, he has threatened a breakout for a year now so well done young man.
LINEBACKERS
Another very poor day, Crouch is wasted at linebacker (he was No 1 recruit in the country as a running back until the defense whisperer Pruitt moved him) Henry T looks like he is trying to stop the run and defend the pass at the same time and now is achieving neither, at least Banks did lay some wood but he is not a game changer.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Thompson did his best and Burrell was an upgrade on George but the rest were poor. Flowers still gets noticed, but for missed assignments, missed tackles and missed interceptions and yet he does have potential, he has now for three years. Tank looks confused without Warrior and Jackson is simply not covering the middle which the nickel back needs to do.
SPECIAL TEAMS
We are average more than special but a small mention to Cimaglia, yes he missed two kicks but both of those were right after Guarantano (the game manager, sorry I couldn’t resist it) took bad sacks and made the kicks so much harder.
In short we are at a crossroads, one way gives us hope that we still may salvage something from this season and beyond (a comfortable win at Vandy and a win over one of A&M or Florida) or the damn ship will sink again.
GO VOLS
