London Vol
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The season has started which is a celebration in itself. I have listed my thoughts from Saturday however I must state I have not taken into account the lack of conditioning, practices and planning so I hope as the season progresses problems will be ironed out.
QUARTERBACK
In England we have something called Marmite, 50% love it and 50% hate it so whatever I say about Guarantano it will please half and displease half. However, the Box Score said 19/31att, 63% comp, 8.4ave, 259 yards, 1 TD 0 Int. I would have personally taken all of those stats before the kick off so I will come down on the pleased side. It is apparent there is no rainbow of growth and this really is it. In short the only consistency he shows is his ability to be inconsistent throw by throw.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Morris not fit, SMITH hurt shoulder in 2nd quarter and MAYS sipping Pepsi’s back in Knoxville, this was not the O Line I was dreaming about so I wont be too hard, but there was nothing like the push I was expecting (except for the 1st drive in the 2nd half) but they redeemed themselves by some of the best pass protection (hardly stiff competition in the last few years) I’ve seen and that’s probably why Guarantano had a decent game.
RUNNING BACKS
Solid but not outstanding. Chandler had the best day but again failed to “break a big one” and I thought that with 5 mins left in the 4th quarter it was time for the O Line and Running Backs to impose themselves on South Carolina with a long drive that would close out the match and …… nothing. One positive, due to the lack of any Tight Ends I think both backs will be used for laterals, screens and short passes more this season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Johnson was a very pleasant surprise which included a contender of “Catch of the Decade” and Palmer confirmed that he is a genuine No1 receiver, I would like to see him targeted more. I'm sure other names will appear as the season rolls out so I am happy with the part of the team.
TIGHT ENDS
So Fant has emerged as the main man but yet to see that he or any of the others will feature much this year. Pruitt likes a blocking Tight End well why not use a Jumbo Tight End (Calbert or Cooper Mayes) instead, There is no great plan for the Tight Ends to catch this season.
DEFENSIVE LINE
After the pre-season un-hype and that first drive I was sinking into my seat, then the messed punt and we were dangerously close to going 14-0 down and who knows how it would have ended, but they stiffened up just like last year and kept us in the game. The Interior kept getting some push and did the dirty work as usual.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
The stars of the show without doubt and this was an area of most concern before the season. Johnson was immense, 2 ½ sacks is almost his total from the last three years combined. Bennett was again so close to some glossy stats and Barron was the best Freshman on show. We actually have depth here.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
To`o To`o will probably not play another bad game since Georgia State but I was disappointed in Crouch (lets hope he was not match fit). Banks was far better that Crouch until his Dumb and Dumber penalties. I would not ditch him like some want to but he needs both a strong talking to and a short leash.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Taylor and George at Cornerback and Flowers and Thompson at Safety wont happen again this year as they were a disaster but Taylor and Thompson at Cornerback and McCullough (must get fit) and Shamburger (must be available to play) is a totally different situation. Missouri uses short dump offs and crossing routes so be ready Vols.
NOT SO SPECIAL TEAMS
Albright suffering stage fright, Brooks thought he was Eric Gray (punted well after that) and AutoMaglia …..wasnt. Jones however was a bright spot and he will go the distance at least once this season, welcome back Even Berry.
FIRST IMPRESSION AND PREDICTIONS
South Carolina – WIN 31-27
Missouri – 31 -6 down after 3rd suggests they were not as good as we thought WIN
Georgia – 5 -7 down at half time, they are not as good as Florida, we have a chance LOSE
Kentucky – Solid but we have their number WIN
Alabama – Best team in the SEC, best we can wish for is to keep it close again LOSE
Arkansas – they were better but circle this is as winnable game WIN
Texas A & M – Thrashed Vandy by 5, still don’t get their hype TOSS UP
Auburn – Good but not great, still don’t get Nix hype TOSS UP
Vanderbilt – Probably the performance of the day but we don’t lose to them anymore WIN
Florida – How do you stop Pitts over the middle after watching SC on Saturday. best hope is they are beaten up by the final game LOSS
Final thought, a win is a win is a win. After last season’s wins against Miss St, Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana, Pruitt clearly has developed a culture of winning despite being quite flawed but can they develop this team to a 7-3 team?
Go Vols.
QUARTERBACK
In England we have something called Marmite, 50% love it and 50% hate it so whatever I say about Guarantano it will please half and displease half. However, the Box Score said 19/31att, 63% comp, 8.4ave, 259 yards, 1 TD 0 Int. I would have personally taken all of those stats before the kick off so I will come down on the pleased side. It is apparent there is no rainbow of growth and this really is it. In short the only consistency he shows is his ability to be inconsistent throw by throw.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Morris not fit, SMITH hurt shoulder in 2nd quarter and MAYS sipping Pepsi’s back in Knoxville, this was not the O Line I was dreaming about so I wont be too hard, but there was nothing like the push I was expecting (except for the 1st drive in the 2nd half) but they redeemed themselves by some of the best pass protection (hardly stiff competition in the last few years) I’ve seen and that’s probably why Guarantano had a decent game.
RUNNING BACKS
Solid but not outstanding. Chandler had the best day but again failed to “break a big one” and I thought that with 5 mins left in the 4th quarter it was time for the O Line and Running Backs to impose themselves on South Carolina with a long drive that would close out the match and …… nothing. One positive, due to the lack of any Tight Ends I think both backs will be used for laterals, screens and short passes more this season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Johnson was a very pleasant surprise which included a contender of “Catch of the Decade” and Palmer confirmed that he is a genuine No1 receiver, I would like to see him targeted more. I'm sure other names will appear as the season rolls out so I am happy with the part of the team.
TIGHT ENDS
So Fant has emerged as the main man but yet to see that he or any of the others will feature much this year. Pruitt likes a blocking Tight End well why not use a Jumbo Tight End (Calbert or Cooper Mayes) instead, There is no great plan for the Tight Ends to catch this season.
DEFENSIVE LINE
After the pre-season un-hype and that first drive I was sinking into my seat, then the messed punt and we were dangerously close to going 14-0 down and who knows how it would have ended, but they stiffened up just like last year and kept us in the game. The Interior kept getting some push and did the dirty work as usual.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
The stars of the show without doubt and this was an area of most concern before the season. Johnson was immense, 2 ½ sacks is almost his total from the last three years combined. Bennett was again so close to some glossy stats and Barron was the best Freshman on show. We actually have depth here.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
To`o To`o will probably not play another bad game since Georgia State but I was disappointed in Crouch (lets hope he was not match fit). Banks was far better that Crouch until his Dumb and Dumber penalties. I would not ditch him like some want to but he needs both a strong talking to and a short leash.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Taylor and George at Cornerback and Flowers and Thompson at Safety wont happen again this year as they were a disaster but Taylor and Thompson at Cornerback and McCullough (must get fit) and Shamburger (must be available to play) is a totally different situation. Missouri uses short dump offs and crossing routes so be ready Vols.
NOT SO SPECIAL TEAMS
Albright suffering stage fright, Brooks thought he was Eric Gray (punted well after that) and AutoMaglia …..wasnt. Jones however was a bright spot and he will go the distance at least once this season, welcome back Even Berry.
FIRST IMPRESSION AND PREDICTIONS
South Carolina – WIN 31-27
Missouri – 31 -6 down after 3rd suggests they were not as good as we thought WIN
Georgia – 5 -7 down at half time, they are not as good as Florida, we have a chance LOSE
Kentucky – Solid but we have their number WIN
Alabama – Best team in the SEC, best we can wish for is to keep it close again LOSE
Arkansas – they were better but circle this is as winnable game WIN
Texas A & M – Thrashed Vandy by 5, still don’t get their hype TOSS UP
Auburn – Good but not great, still don’t get Nix hype TOSS UP
Vanderbilt – Probably the performance of the day but we don’t lose to them anymore WIN
Florida – How do you stop Pitts over the middle after watching SC on Saturday. best hope is they are beaten up by the final game LOSS
Final thought, a win is a win is a win. After last season’s wins against Miss St, Kentucky, Missouri and Indiana, Pruitt clearly has developed a culture of winning despite being quite flawed but can they develop this team to a 7-3 team?
Go Vols.
