- Joined
- Nov 23, 2012
- Messages
- 77,654
- Likes
- 114,949
First, I'll admit I only got to start watching the game after halftime because I was on my way home from work. However, before I lost 4G service on the ride home from Stillwater, I saw the score was 20-0 and debated not even turning on the game since it appeared to be a blowout like A&M in the making. However, it is Tennessee and like a Siren calling, I flipped on the TV...
To my surprise, the score was 27-10. Not entirely horrid mind you, but still had catastrophe written all over it. However, the team showed some true grit and tenacity behind them and made some really good stops on defense. And Dobbs? Who is this guy? Anyway, some thoughts...
AJ has two heirs apparent when he graduates this year. Reeves-Maybin and Maggit are ready to move into that leadership position next season and start wrecking folks just like he has been doing. And hopefully Weathered can step up the game a little more to fill that gap. Bates was right on the cusp of greatness before his injury and I look forward to what he can bring next year. And with the addition of Cherry coming in from recruiting? The LB corps looks to be pretty badass again.
Barnett is a complete wrecker. He looked a bit gassed by the fourth quarter, but that's to be expected when you put it all out there for three quarters against a top 5 team. So those idiots last night saying "OMG, you need to learn angles!" need to try going out there and pushing it to the limit for three quarters against Bama. You go right ahead and explain how those angles can be worked when you've been pounded for 45+ minutes against some of the top talent in the FBS. Anyway, this year of seasoning will push him into a higher level and he will be the talk of the town next year.
I know they moved Cooper around a lot, but I'd like to have seen more one on one match ups with Cam Sutton and him. I'm not a huge fan of that zone defense they put out when you have an All American and probable first round draft pick like Cooper lurking down the field. But my faith in Cam isn't wavering. He's still going to be a playmaker the remainder of this year and into next.
Von Pearson. One word, baller. If he isn't playing on Sunday in two years, there is no justice in this world. I don't usually compare current players to previous ones, but he has the talent and capability to outperform Patterson by the time he leaves. Just get him the ball and he makes plays.
Pig. I love this kid for fighting back onto the team and his starting spot. And he continues to be the go-to guy when all else fails. He is one of the anchors of the receiving corps that doesn't get a lot of publicity, but is an invaluable piece of the puzzle.
Josh Malone. For a freshman he has adapted well and is starting to look into the same form he had during the O&W game this spring. I predict seeing some Top 10 highlights from this young man moving into the future.
North. A bit disappointed at the drop in the end zone. Call me crazy, but when you have his talent you should catch a pass that's behind you especially when it hits you in the hands. But it's obvious he and Dobbs have a connection and it showed on the field. Dobbs just needs to perfect that deep throw and North will be dancing in the end zone.
Hurd that. Even playing sick, he still was making some good plays. I can't wait to see him back to 100% against the upcoming teams.
It was good to see Marlin Lane back out there. And even though Hurd is flashy, Lane is still giving his all for Tennessee and gets some positive yards when he's healthy.
And Peterman...love you for wearing orange and sticking around after the disaster last year, but you just doesn't have "it." I don't like to take prods at the individual players, but I'm trying to be as positively objective as I can. Keep fighting and getting better because competition is the only thing that will get all the QBs on the roster better.
And last, but not least Dobbs. I don't agree with the sportswriters and armchair coaches that say we would have won Florida or Georgia with Dobbs at the helm. I trust CBJ to make good decisions and if it wasn't his time until Alabama, it wasn't his time. But talk about complete opposites after he was tossed into the fire at Bama last year. He looks a lot more poised and collected, making good throws, moving his feet and made CBJs offense look like it is supposed to. I get the impression Kirby Smart was not expecting a scrambling QB in our game as it's not something we've done all year and it showed on his rushing stats. One thing is for certain, Dobbs showed what he was made of last night and outside of a couple of mistakes, showed he can lead the team both on and off the field.
And looking forward...I won't say we can go 4-0 on the remaining games. But I won't say we can't go 4-0 on our remaining games. USCe tends to play at the same level of their competition and has all year. Their secondary is suspect and if we have good connections between the QB and receiving corps we can slice and dice all the way to the end zone. But I can't ever say we can or will win against Spurrier. He's a crafty bastard.
UK I'm still unsure of. I think we can win, likely will, but I have all the respect in the world for them fielding a decent team after so many years. If our defense shows up like they have been, we should be able to put that game to bed early.
Mizzou is bipolar. No other way to describe their team. If we get good Mizzou at home, we could be in for a fight and the defense will have to shut down Mauk. If we get bad Mizzou at home, Wegzyn might even get to play a few snaps.
And Vandy? lulz Even Patrick Ashford might get to throw a touchdown or two.
3-1 can be achieved if all the cylinders are firing. 4-0 if we play lights out. I'm not one for "moral victories" and such, but last night I saw an offense that didn't give up, a QB that scrambled and made plays with his feet and a defense that wouldn't stop coming after the ball. Call me a sunshine pumper for looking at the positive side of things, but there was some real progress made last night.
To my surprise, the score was 27-10. Not entirely horrid mind you, but still had catastrophe written all over it. However, the team showed some true grit and tenacity behind them and made some really good stops on defense. And Dobbs? Who is this guy? Anyway, some thoughts...
AJ has two heirs apparent when he graduates this year. Reeves-Maybin and Maggit are ready to move into that leadership position next season and start wrecking folks just like he has been doing. And hopefully Weathered can step up the game a little more to fill that gap. Bates was right on the cusp of greatness before his injury and I look forward to what he can bring next year. And with the addition of Cherry coming in from recruiting? The LB corps looks to be pretty badass again.
Barnett is a complete wrecker. He looked a bit gassed by the fourth quarter, but that's to be expected when you put it all out there for three quarters against a top 5 team. So those idiots last night saying "OMG, you need to learn angles!" need to try going out there and pushing it to the limit for three quarters against Bama. You go right ahead and explain how those angles can be worked when you've been pounded for 45+ minutes against some of the top talent in the FBS. Anyway, this year of seasoning will push him into a higher level and he will be the talk of the town next year.
I know they moved Cooper around a lot, but I'd like to have seen more one on one match ups with Cam Sutton and him. I'm not a huge fan of that zone defense they put out when you have an All American and probable first round draft pick like Cooper lurking down the field. But my faith in Cam isn't wavering. He's still going to be a playmaker the remainder of this year and into next.
Von Pearson. One word, baller. If he isn't playing on Sunday in two years, there is no justice in this world. I don't usually compare current players to previous ones, but he has the talent and capability to outperform Patterson by the time he leaves. Just get him the ball and he makes plays.
Pig. I love this kid for fighting back onto the team and his starting spot. And he continues to be the go-to guy when all else fails. He is one of the anchors of the receiving corps that doesn't get a lot of publicity, but is an invaluable piece of the puzzle.
Josh Malone. For a freshman he has adapted well and is starting to look into the same form he had during the O&W game this spring. I predict seeing some Top 10 highlights from this young man moving into the future.
North. A bit disappointed at the drop in the end zone. Call me crazy, but when you have his talent you should catch a pass that's behind you especially when it hits you in the hands. But it's obvious he and Dobbs have a connection and it showed on the field. Dobbs just needs to perfect that deep throw and North will be dancing in the end zone.
Hurd that. Even playing sick, he still was making some good plays. I can't wait to see him back to 100% against the upcoming teams.
It was good to see Marlin Lane back out there. And even though Hurd is flashy, Lane is still giving his all for Tennessee and gets some positive yards when he's healthy.
And Peterman...love you for wearing orange and sticking around after the disaster last year, but you just doesn't have "it." I don't like to take prods at the individual players, but I'm trying to be as positively objective as I can. Keep fighting and getting better because competition is the only thing that will get all the QBs on the roster better.
And last, but not least Dobbs. I don't agree with the sportswriters and armchair coaches that say we would have won Florida or Georgia with Dobbs at the helm. I trust CBJ to make good decisions and if it wasn't his time until Alabama, it wasn't his time. But talk about complete opposites after he was tossed into the fire at Bama last year. He looks a lot more poised and collected, making good throws, moving his feet and made CBJs offense look like it is supposed to. I get the impression Kirby Smart was not expecting a scrambling QB in our game as it's not something we've done all year and it showed on his rushing stats. One thing is for certain, Dobbs showed what he was made of last night and outside of a couple of mistakes, showed he can lead the team both on and off the field.
And looking forward...I won't say we can go 4-0 on the remaining games. But I won't say we can't go 4-0 on our remaining games. USCe tends to play at the same level of their competition and has all year. Their secondary is suspect and if we have good connections between the QB and receiving corps we can slice and dice all the way to the end zone. But I can't ever say we can or will win against Spurrier. He's a crafty bastard.
UK I'm still unsure of. I think we can win, likely will, but I have all the respect in the world for them fielding a decent team after so many years. If our defense shows up like they have been, we should be able to put that game to bed early.
Mizzou is bipolar. No other way to describe their team. If we get good Mizzou at home, we could be in for a fight and the defense will have to shut down Mauk. If we get bad Mizzou at home, Wegzyn might even get to play a few snaps.
And Vandy? lulz Even Patrick Ashford might get to throw a touchdown or two.
3-1 can be achieved if all the cylinders are firing. 4-0 if we play lights out. I'm not one for "moral victories" and such, but last night I saw an offense that didn't give up, a QB that scrambled and made plays with his feet and a defense that wouldn't stop coming after the ball. Call me a sunshine pumper for looking at the positive side of things, but there was some real progress made last night.
