DG's Quick Takeaways from ETSU Game

[DiderotsGhost]

Given that this was a glorified scrimmage, the takeaways are few this week. Still, I thought there were some interesting things to observe.

Weird game for me. As a Johnson City native, it was odd. I've always rooted for both ETSU and UT. This is the first time I ever had to root against ETSU. I'm glad ETSU scored a field goal. I'm also glad that Randy Sanders didn't need to carry the goalposts back to Johnson City naked!

O-line struggles still biggest concern. It's one thing to get pushed around by West Virginia, but to get pushed around by ETSU early in the game? Yikes! If you really want to sum up why UT has declined this decade, the O-line is the biggest culprit. The right side of the line, in particular, seems to get pushed back a lot in run blocking. The OL improved as the game went on, but given UT's huge size advantage, I think that's to be expected. I'm hopeful Pruitt gets OL play back up to par, but the realist in me recognizes that we may have to wait till Year #2.

No turnovers, few penalties, few mistakes. These are the biggest positives to me. You can only learn so much from a game where one team physically dominates the other, but mistakes are still important. We made very few big mistakes. This (alongside the lack of injuries) feels like the biggest difference between this year and last.

Awareness on D. I felt like some of the turnovers were "lucky", but our guys were very aware and took full advantage of the opportunities.

DBs still making mistakes. Unfortunately, the one area I did see mistakes was by our CBs in coverage. Those mistakes will cost more against SEC receivers.

Jeremy Banks looks good. He had a great game, which improves my outlook for our RBs.

Nice to see RBs; where were our backup WRs? Surprisingly, only 4 WRs had catches and Callaway dominated. Would've liked to have seen more of guys like Tyler Byrd and Cedric Tillman. I guess, to some extent, you can't expect to pass that much against a team that you can run all over, but still would've liked to have seen more backup WRs catch the ball.

Chryst looked good. We're not at the top of the SEC at QB, but we're in reasonable shape overall with JG and Chryst. Both JG and Chryst are capable of winning SEC games if only the O-line does well and our defense plays better.

Still no pass rush. This may be partly a consequence of switching schemes, but our pass rush has been pretty weak both games. It's not like we don't have guys that can rush the passer; it's just not happening for some reason. I expect our D to improve as the year goes on as these guys get more familiar with the scheme.

Gooden, Ignont, Thompson. Good to see all three of these guys play well. We need to build depth in a hurry!


Looking Forward

UTEP. The worst team in FBS accoring to Sagarin. Also worth noting that we play the 2nd worst team in the FBS according to Sagarin later in the year (Charlotte). This is arguably the weakest slate of G5/FCS opponents we've scheduled in decades. So we have a very polarized schedule where there are 3 cupcake games and 3 games against teams considered national title contenders (Bama / UGA / Auburn).

Florida. I was wrong about West Virginia being 'overrated', but I think I was right about Florida. Dan Mullen is a good coach, but he inherited a mess in Florida. I'm not sure why the sportswriters saw a magical Year 1 turnaround in store there. So far as I can tell, we're in similar situations and they may even have it worse than us. This is a very winnable game in Knoxville.

3 out of 5. Assuming we don't pull a monster upset against Bama, Auburn, or Georgia, we need to win 3 out of 5 between Florida, SCe, Vandy, Kentucky, and Mizzou to make a bowl game.

What did we learn about South Carolina? I watched a bit of the SC-Georgia game, but I'm not sure what to takeaway in regards to South Carolina. Obviously, SC is not in the top tier of the SEC, but I didn't get a very good sense of where they were at. Be curious if others have thoughts.

Darnell Wright recruitment. Would be huge if we could land him. We need help on the OL badly right now. Our offense could be very good if we could just get the OL fixed.

 

[give_him 6]

Very concerned about our Offensive Line and Defensive Backs, especially when we get to SEC league play.

 

[savannahfan]

Don't think OL will "come around". Mind set, and just plan not very good players (sorry, maybe good at some level, but not SEC). I am afraid, no I think it will take 3 more years to get o-line to where we want it to be. Signing limits and practice time along with having kids want to go to programs "on top" not rebuilding programs will make it tough to build this group. It's not like defense linemen that get rave coverage by press and on field results that any casual fan can see. O-linemen are like Vise Presidents just part of the team.

 

[SmilezDavis]

I think I can count on one hand the number of seasons in which we have had good offensive line play this century. I think we all agree that it is the single biggest factor in our decline, and I just can't make sense of it. Even when we had multiple future NFL players on the line, we got pushed around. Kiffin's staff eventually made the Sullins twins look at least serviceable, though, so fingers crossed.

 

[VOLfrombama]

USCjr looked at UGA the same as we did in the second half of WV. Shocked and Awed. They were in shock that UGA started pulling away and in awe of UGA's talent and depth. UGA was far and away better than theirs.

 

[volfannga]

I think I can count on one hand the number of seasons in which we have had good offensive line play this century. I think we all agree that it is the single biggest factor in our decline, and I just can't make sense of it. Even when we had multiple future NFL players on the line, we got pushed around. Kiffin's staff eventually made the Sullins twins look at least serviceable, though, so fingers crossed.

Do our OL problems continue to go back to the Dooley years when he signed ZERO in one class and only TWO the following year, as I recall? Was that hole too big for Butch to make any headway on?

 

[DiderotsGhost]

Do our OL problems continue to go back to the Dooley years when he signed ZERO in one class and only TWO the following year, as I recall? Was that hole too big for Butch to make any headway on?

That was the origin of our O-line problems. Butch Jones was a crap coach in many ways, but the damage Dooley did was much deeper. Dooley did almost no recruiting after his 1st year on the job.

We kept hoping Butch's much better recruiting would eventually fix things and he recruited the OL much better than Dooley, but Butch was horrendous at developing talent. So now we have a lot of talented guys who haven't been developed properly for years.

I'm really hoping Pruitt is "the guy". We need someone who knows how to both coach and recruit. You can't compete in the SEC with just one or the other.

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

Thanks, OP. Enjoy reading your threads. Hope we can steal a few games to make a bowl and have a positive overall season. Would love to get that UF game. The night kickoff will be a great environment for the team to play well.

 

[1974Vol]

Keep seeing people saying we got no pass rush. What I saw were several batted balls - I think Kyle Phillips got 3 or 4, some were tipped and intercepted, ETSU QB was pressured almost every time he dropped to throw causing overthrows on some passes where ETSU WR had a step. Just because you're not getting sacks doesn't mean you're not getting a pass rush. Maybe we got used to seeing JG get sacked every other play last year and thought that was normal. Experienced QB's don't get sacked very often they avoid the rush long enough to throw the ball away. I thought the pass rush was much improved over UWV, but given the opponent that should be expected.

 

[VolFanNC09]

Yes think part of the OL problem is just getting the lineup to be consistent. In both games they started off slow and then picked up their play as the game went on. I believe by Florida the play should be quite a bit better than the WVU game.

For the DL, not sure the issue. The inside rush has been good, the edge rush hasn’t been and not sure if it can be fixed without more speed on the edge

 

[05_never_again]

Keep seeing people saying we got no pass rush. What I saw were several batted balls - I think Kyle Phillips got 3 or 4, some were tipped and intercepted, ETSU QB was pressured almost every time he dropped to throw causing overthrows on some passes where ETSU WR had a step. Just because you're not getting sacks doesn't mean you're not getting a pass rush. Maybe we got used to seeing JG get sacked every other play last year and thought that was normal. Experienced QB's don't get sacked very often they avoid the rush long enough to throw the ball away. I thought the pass rush was much improved over UWV, but given the opponent that should be expected.

Batted balls do not constitute a pass rush and is not exactly a repeatable skill (lot of luck involved). Bigger, FBS-level QBs are better at moving around in the pocket and making sure those passes don't get batted down. We need to be truly affecting the QB (sacks, hurries, make him move around in the pocket, hit the QB just after ball has been released, etc.).

The lack of a pass rush is really concerning, particularly because we need to have one since the secondary is so inexperienced. The biggest problem of all is the offensive line though.

 

[DiderotsGhost]

Yes think part of the OL problem is just getting the lineup to be consistent. In both games they started off slow and then picked up their play as the game went on. I believe by Florida the play should be quite a bit better than the WVU game.

This is true and I think the mistakes can be corrected over time, but I'm more concerned by the fact that we seem to be getting pushed back on the right side of the line consistently on run plays. Note that we ran to the left side an awful lot against ETSU and there's a reason for that. The left side of the line looks much better than the right side. Naturally, Trey Smith is a big part of that.

 

[jakez4ut]

@DiderotsGhost on USCe, i think early on they were very competitive with UGA. they had a couple things go badly early and weren't able to regroup, and UGA being who they are, took full advantage. the pick 6 early in the game, man, that was tough. before they knew what hit 'em i think they were down 17-0 or 14-0. can't give a team like UGA a head start. they did, and they paid for it.

that said, i do think UGA is a lot better than USCe.

Still, i think it's a little unwise to write them off. everybody is talking about KY or MO being the 2nd best team in the East, i'm one that still thinks USCe could still be #2 in the East. no sin in losing to GA. the rest of the conf schedule is fairly manageable. they could lose the 2 west games, and win the rest of the East games and likely still finish 2nd.

 

[05_never_again]

@DiderotsGhost on USCe, i think early on they were very competitive with UGA. they had a couple things go badly early and weren't able to regroup, and UGA being who they are, took full advantage. the pick 6 early in the game, man, that was tough. before they knew what hit 'em i think they were down 17-0 or 14-0. can't give a team like UGA a head start. they did, and they paid for it.

that said, i do think UGA is a lot better than USCe.

Still, i think it's a little unwise to write them off. everybody is talking about KY or MO being the 2nd best team in the East, i'm one that still thinks USCe could still be #2 in the East. no sin in losing to GA. the rest of the conf schedule is fairly manageable. they could lose the 2 west games, and win the rest of the East games and likely still finish 2nd.

I thought Carolina had a good chance of covering that 10.5 but no such luck. Unfortunately, Georgia is going precisely nowhere from where they were last year. They truly are Alabama East. Not saying at all Kirby will win 5 national titles in the next 10 years, but they absolutely are going to have that reloading quality about them just like Alabama. That is a job where the athletes just fall into your lap, especially if you are dominant and winning. Their offense might enter another level when Fields takes over.

Maybe we can send Georgia to the West to consolidate all the good SEC teams into one division, and they can send someone like Arkansas our way.

 

[1974Vol]

Batted balls do not constitute a pass rush and is not exactly a repeatable skill (lot of luck involved). Bigger, FBS-level QBs are better at moving around in the pocket and making sure those passes don't get batted down. We need to be truly affecting the QB (sacks, hurries, make him move around in the pocket, hit the QB just after ball has been released, etc.).

The lack of a pass rush is really concerning, particularly because we need to have one since the secondary is so inexperienced. The biggest problem of all is the offensive line though.

Batted balls do very much constitute a pass rush and are very much a repeatable skill. The DL work on it everyday. You are taught as a DL to get your hands up in the QB's face and make him throw over or threw you and to try and knock the pass down. Also, the ETSU QB Logan Marchi is very much a FBS QB. He started for Temple last year until he was injured and had some very good numbers against big time teams including 245 yards and 2 TDs against Notre Dame. Just saying stuff don't make it true.

 

[05_never_again]

Batted balls do very much constitute a pass rush and are very much a repeatable skill. The DL work on it everyday. You are taught as a DL to get your hands up in the QB's face and make him throw over or threw you and to try and knock the pass down. Also, the ETSU QB Logan Marchi is very much a FBS QB. He started for Temple last year until he was injured and had some very good numbers against big time teams including 245 yards and 2 TDs against Notre Dame. Just saying stuff don't make it true.

I'm sure we'll do well against SEC QBs and offenses by just getting our hands up and giving him a pocket in which to throw.

This isn't basketball. You have to do something to speed the QB's clock up, especially if your secondary is young and has trouble covering good receivers.

 

[jakez4ut]

I'm sure we'll do well against SEC QBs and offenses by just getting our hands up and giving him a pocket in which to throw.

This isn't basketball. You have to do something to speed the QB's clock up, especially if your secondary is young and has trouble covering good receivers.

i don't think he's saying as a strategy, it's one you should employ. but if you don't think they're taught to get their hands up.....not sure what to tell you. absent of a pass rush, get your hands up. put something in the way of the qb and the target. and every now and then you get deflections.

it's not a substitute for a real pass rush. i don't think he's saying it is. but it is another way to affect the QB, and the passing game in general. in that way, i would say we caused those turnovers.

 

[05_never_again]

i don't think he's saying as a strategy, it's one you should employ. but if you don't think they're taught to get their hands up.....not sure what to tell you. absent of a pass rush, get your hands up. put something in the way of the qb and the target. and every now and then you get deflections.

it's not a substitute for a real pass rush. i don't think he's saying it is. but it is another way to affect the QB, and the passing game in general. in that way, i would say we caused those turnovers.

I know they are taught to get their hands up and I'm not saying they should not. But to say that constitutes a pass rush as he claimed is just silly.

 

[Voljlt]

The right side of the O-Line got blown up the entire game. The left side was mostly solid. Trey and the left guard kept pancaking defenders. ETSU kept blowing past the right side and knew they could. It's a blueprint for other teams to get the QB and stop the run. Just load up on the right and come at them. They have to improve their blocking technique. The O-Line coach needs to earn his money.

 

[jakez4ut]

I know they are taught to get their hands up and I'm not saying they should not. But to say that constitutes a pass rush as he claimed is just silly.

i see what you're saying. it's semantics at best on this point. but "affecting the qb" comes in many different forms. be it a sack, making him move around, or getting in his face and taking away a throwning lane. by hook or by crook, affect the qb.

 

[temptn]

The hope I have for the OL is that Fulmer is around the program and knows the importance of a BIG line.

 

[05_never_again]

The hope I have for the OL is that Fulmer is around the program and knows the importance of a BIG line.

I'm sure he knows the importance of it, but please Lord keep him away from running details of the program. His O-lines in his later years were nothing to write home about either. We haven't had a truly good offensive or defensive line since we were a nationally-relevant program, probably since the early 2000s. That isn't a coincidence. Those Dooley offensive lines were fool's gold; they were good pass blockers but not run blockers, even though multiple guys went into the NFL off of them.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Keep seeing people saying we got no pass rush. What I saw were several batted balls - I think Kyle Phillips got 3 or 4, some were tipped and intercepted, ETSU QB was pressured almost every time he dropped to throw causing overthrows on some passes where ETSU WR had a step. Just because you're not getting sacks doesn't mean you're not getting a pass rush. Maybe we got used to seeing JG get sacked every other play last year and thought that was normal. Experienced QB's don't get sacked very often they avoid the rush long enough to throw the ball away. I thought the pass rush was much improved over UWV, but given the opponent that should be expected.

We don't have any pass rush to speak of. Do we have a single sack yet this year? I honestly don't remember one.

 

[rjmclaff]

I agree that the OL is the biggest concern of this team, but in both of the games they have gotten better as the game has gone on and they have shown improvement. They are still learning a different blocking scheme and even though they will not be a top unit in the SEC, they are improving with each game... which is what you want to see in the early part of the season.

I really don't understand why we are so surprised by the DL not looking good, the defense was recruited to play in a 4-3 and now need to play a very different system... so obviously its going to take some time for them to adjust. Getting their hands up isn't a substitute for getting sacks, but they are still finding a way to disrupt the play without pressure... which is a positive

I also agree that there are some problems in the secondary, but Alontae and Bryce are already showing huge amounts of potential in their second game. Bryce Thompson is going to be an absolute animal

Take a step back from the edge, this team is showing improvements & promise, which is always an encouraging sign in a rebuilding year. Between the solid stable of running backs, JG's arm, the WRs, and the young corners, there is definitely potential for the future.

 

[Remy]

Batted balls do not constitute a pass rush and is not exactly a repeatable skill (lot of luck involved). Bigger, FBS-level QBs are better at moving around in the pocket and making sure those passes don't get batted down. We need to be truly affecting the QB (sacks, hurries, make him move around in the pocket, hit the QB just after ball has been released, etc.).

The lack of a pass rush is really concerning, particularly because we need to have one since the secondary is so inexperienced. The biggest problem of all is the offensive line though.

To your point batted balls are a reflection of a rusher not getting close to making a disruption in the backfield. Phillips has a noted wide wing span, very long arms. For whatever reason, Tuttle, Bennett, nor Phillips had more than 3 TFLs individually in the ETSU game. Young Gooden had 8. Our DLs need a fire lit under them or it will come to a point in the season, they'll be watching younger guys start and play in front of them.