London Vol
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Some days it is Sunny some days it is Rainy sometimes it is like it can’t make up its mind and you just get both.
Well last night I found Tennessee flipping from brilliant to disastrous almost from play to play and department to department and it was hard to evaluate was it a good but flawed performance? or one of a deeper concern?.
I like to write the day after a match as I’m so wrapped in the emotion of the game and at that time it would only distort what I really saw including the “bigger picture” With the aid of some time to cool down I would like to point out a few overall facts such as we had a winning season, we were .500 in SEC play, our points per game went from 21 to 39, Our coaches (Heupel and Banks) and players (Hooker, Tillman, Carvin, Fant and Warren) CHOSE to come back. Surely these are the benchmarks that should override any negativity regarding last night, yet I still feel not very happy about last night’s match where we had ample opportunities to close out the game
TOUGH MOMENTS
I don’t normally discuss these type of moments as I truly don’t believe the officials are corrupt but are only human and make mistakes just like players do, but boy there was a bunch of head scratchers last night. The Pass Interference calls, especially a couple against Warren Burrell were a joke but you then tell yourself some officials allow “the boys to play, some don’t” and this crew don’t. Then they missed the most important one when Tillman was held badly by his jersey at the end, this would have given us at worst a 40-yard field goal attempt. Another moment, despite a great catch by the WR for Purdue for the late touchdown, the ball moved at the end normally this gets called incomplete and whether you agree or not, that’s what they call. Flopping, we all agree this HAS to stop. Apparently even the officials told Josh Heupel this needs to change, but wait a minute, can’t the zebras call an Ungentlemanly Conduct penalty, they do for less than this. And finally, the complete farce of the Jaylen Wright moment. First, they said it was whistled dead, no it wasn’t. Then they said forward progress had stopped, wait a minute how many times have you seen a Running Back held up then 4 or 5 300llb linemen join in pushing the pile for sometimes as much as 10 yards. Oh, and what about the 62 yard rumble by the Purdue Tight End who seemed to have stopped and then it looked like three defenders avoided contact for fear of a late hit penalty, yet he was allowed to start up running again.
See, I said I don’t complain about the referees or bad luck then I write all of the above, that’s what I meant with the opening sentence.
QUARTERBACKS
There is no better example of the schizophrenia on show last night than Hendon Hooker. He started as if his Heisman campaign had been launched. Then for two quarters he was auditioning for Bambi and then he was near unstoppable in the last quarter. Just to make my point I thought his running/scrambling (65 yards) was more impressive than his throwing (378 yards 5 TDs and 0 INTS). On paper that statement makes no sense.
RUNNING BACKS
I was rather disappointed in the running run for most of the game. We never seemed to fall forward or break a tackle (I was planning to write how much we needed Justin Williams next season) then hey presto we catch fire and post 292 yards rushing with Jabari Small accounting for 180 of those. A crazy night.
WIDE RECEIVERS
At last something was normal and his name is Cedric Tillman. We are so lucky to have him for one more year. Just another 150-yard game and that is considering that we went away from him for two quarters. Velus Jones had another big night and I was pleased to see Jalin Hyatt snaring 3 catches and a touchdown and he left another two big opportunities on the field. We need him to step up next season.
TIGHT ENDS
Here again I was going to comment on a quiet night, then Princeton Fant rumbles for 60 yards. I still think we are so explosive downfield that the Tight Ends get unfairly left out of the game plan.
OFFENSIVE LINE
First the Sun, the pass protection was excellent for practically all evening with the worst missed assignment was by Dayne Davis resulting in the fumble. Now the Rain, there were very few running lanes and throw in a couple of big moment holding penalties. I’m struggling to grade them.
DEFENSIVE LINE
They were actually quite consistent but unfortunately not in a good way. There was very little penetration (this allowed our secondary to be exposed, more of that in a minute) and the unremarkable Purdue running game got through to second level far too often. A mention to Byron Young for a well-read drop back and resultant interception.
LINEBACKERS
After the lack of penetration from the D Line I was most thankful that Jeremy Banks had a career night with 20 tackles. Next season he could get some national recognition but he desperately needs a “partner in crime” figuratively speaking, next season so watch the Transfer Portal.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Giving up 534 yards through the air when the opponents were missing their two best receivers tells its own story. Yet I can also think of some big stops by Flowers, Hadden and McCullough. To quote the last two words in the film “A Bridge over the River Kwai” madness, madness. Oh, and we also had 3 interceptions and we dropped at least 3 more. So, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde were playing in or secondary, it would seem.
So what did I make of it, was it Sunny or Rainy? Well, I decided with: We qualified for a Bowl Game where we posted 45 points and 670 yards against and underrated (well definitely by me) team, so as this is near the very top of my expectations for the 2021 season in going to call it Sunny.
Finally, I would like offer a big thank you to Josh Heupel and the team for the effort that was put in this season, there was no doubting that.
I always enjoy your comments and observations.
GO VOLS
Well last night I found Tennessee flipping from brilliant to disastrous almost from play to play and department to department and it was hard to evaluate was it a good but flawed performance? or one of a deeper concern?.
I like to write the day after a match as I’m so wrapped in the emotion of the game and at that time it would only distort what I really saw including the “bigger picture” With the aid of some time to cool down I would like to point out a few overall facts such as we had a winning season, we were .500 in SEC play, our points per game went from 21 to 39, Our coaches (Heupel and Banks) and players (Hooker, Tillman, Carvin, Fant and Warren) CHOSE to come back. Surely these are the benchmarks that should override any negativity regarding last night, yet I still feel not very happy about last night’s match where we had ample opportunities to close out the game
TOUGH MOMENTS
I don’t normally discuss these type of moments as I truly don’t believe the officials are corrupt but are only human and make mistakes just like players do, but boy there was a bunch of head scratchers last night. The Pass Interference calls, especially a couple against Warren Burrell were a joke but you then tell yourself some officials allow “the boys to play, some don’t” and this crew don’t. Then they missed the most important one when Tillman was held badly by his jersey at the end, this would have given us at worst a 40-yard field goal attempt. Another moment, despite a great catch by the WR for Purdue for the late touchdown, the ball moved at the end normally this gets called incomplete and whether you agree or not, that’s what they call. Flopping, we all agree this HAS to stop. Apparently even the officials told Josh Heupel this needs to change, but wait a minute, can’t the zebras call an Ungentlemanly Conduct penalty, they do for less than this. And finally, the complete farce of the Jaylen Wright moment. First, they said it was whistled dead, no it wasn’t. Then they said forward progress had stopped, wait a minute how many times have you seen a Running Back held up then 4 or 5 300llb linemen join in pushing the pile for sometimes as much as 10 yards. Oh, and what about the 62 yard rumble by the Purdue Tight End who seemed to have stopped and then it looked like three defenders avoided contact for fear of a late hit penalty, yet he was allowed to start up running again.
See, I said I don’t complain about the referees or bad luck then I write all of the above, that’s what I meant with the opening sentence.
QUARTERBACKS
There is no better example of the schizophrenia on show last night than Hendon Hooker. He started as if his Heisman campaign had been launched. Then for two quarters he was auditioning for Bambi and then he was near unstoppable in the last quarter. Just to make my point I thought his running/scrambling (65 yards) was more impressive than his throwing (378 yards 5 TDs and 0 INTS). On paper that statement makes no sense.
RUNNING BACKS
I was rather disappointed in the running run for most of the game. We never seemed to fall forward or break a tackle (I was planning to write how much we needed Justin Williams next season) then hey presto we catch fire and post 292 yards rushing with Jabari Small accounting for 180 of those. A crazy night.
WIDE RECEIVERS
At last something was normal and his name is Cedric Tillman. We are so lucky to have him for one more year. Just another 150-yard game and that is considering that we went away from him for two quarters. Velus Jones had another big night and I was pleased to see Jalin Hyatt snaring 3 catches and a touchdown and he left another two big opportunities on the field. We need him to step up next season.
TIGHT ENDS
Here again I was going to comment on a quiet night, then Princeton Fant rumbles for 60 yards. I still think we are so explosive downfield that the Tight Ends get unfairly left out of the game plan.
OFFENSIVE LINE
First the Sun, the pass protection was excellent for practically all evening with the worst missed assignment was by Dayne Davis resulting in the fumble. Now the Rain, there were very few running lanes and throw in a couple of big moment holding penalties. I’m struggling to grade them.
DEFENSIVE LINE
They were actually quite consistent but unfortunately not in a good way. There was very little penetration (this allowed our secondary to be exposed, more of that in a minute) and the unremarkable Purdue running game got through to second level far too often. A mention to Byron Young for a well-read drop back and resultant interception.
LINEBACKERS
After the lack of penetration from the D Line I was most thankful that Jeremy Banks had a career night with 20 tackles. Next season he could get some national recognition but he desperately needs a “partner in crime” figuratively speaking, next season so watch the Transfer Portal.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Giving up 534 yards through the air when the opponents were missing their two best receivers tells its own story. Yet I can also think of some big stops by Flowers, Hadden and McCullough. To quote the last two words in the film “A Bridge over the River Kwai” madness, madness. Oh, and we also had 3 interceptions and we dropped at least 3 more. So, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde were playing in or secondary, it would seem.
So what did I make of it, was it Sunny or Rainy? Well, I decided with: We qualified for a Bowl Game where we posted 45 points and 670 yards against and underrated (well definitely by me) team, so as this is near the very top of my expectations for the 2021 season in going to call it Sunny.
Finally, I would like offer a big thank you to Josh Heupel and the team for the effort that was put in this season, there was no doubting that.
I always enjoy your comments and observations.
GO VOLS
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