EVH's sensible post-game thread

#1
Eddie Vol Halen

Eddie Vol Halen

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#1
One of the most important things I saw in the Bowling Green game was growing maturity.

A Dooley led team would have folded like a cheap tent in a thunderstorm twice yesterday. When BG made it 21 - 20 after that fourth down conversion, Team 116 would have melted down faster than the official VN gameday thread after a vol mistake. We all know what happened when Dooley took the team to the locker room for a lightning delay too.

Our team of freshman and sophomores (with our great mix of upperclassmen leaders) marched 11-plays at 21 - 20 for the TD to effectively tell BG - "get over yourselves, y'all ain't winning this."

I thought BG would move the football, gain about 400 yards. I predicted something like 48 - 17. We gave up too many big plays which explains the extra yardage they amassed - but those are easily fixed this week. The pass rush was there - BG has an experienced O-line, an NFL QB, and two NFL receivers. We had several TFLs.

I dislike offenses that only line up in the shotgun, however, DeBord was true to his word and the run game looked as good as it has since Fulmer. The O-line was more than serviceable. Looks like a huge upgrade from Bajayjay for all the right reasons. There were no bonehead-Bajakian plays called.

For all the Dobbs hand-wringing, I saw him throw one bad pass, and one pass he could have thrown better. I think he tucked it a couple of times when there were plays down the field, but a very solid performance with no turnovers.

If Medley performs as per normal, special teams were truly special and the General smiles down on Neyland from somewhere.

This was a great first game for Team 119; I don't think it could have been scripted any better. A decent team (a conference champ) that tested us without really scaring the bejesus out of us. Coaches can raise cane all week about some fundamental stuff and make the team better; opposing coaches know we are going to cause a bunch of teams a lot of problems and we didn't even show our hand.
 
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#2
#2
Fantastic post. I agree completely.

BGSU sported a talented Baylor transfer, a former Ohio State commit, and a sophomore that broke numerous records as a freshman last year at WR.

Some SEC teams (Vandy and UK in particular) would kill for that type of talent at WR.

We struggled defending the deep ball.

Some of it was the secondary. Some was lack of a pass rush due to their very good OL and their offensive system. But like CBJ said, 2 of those throws that QB made (who will be playing on Sundays) were perfect and impossible to defend. It happens.

I really believe if CWM was available adjustments would have been made sooner in the secondary.

Having TKjr back and 100% for OU is huge as well.

Could not have asked for a better tune up for OU. Almost identical system headed to a crazy Neyland next week.

Film study this week will be huge.
 
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#3
#3
I was impressed. looked a little flat early. opening in Neyland next will bring the energy level up.
 
#4
#4
17Vols said:
I was impressed. looked a little flat early. opening in Neyland next will bring the energy level up.
Click to expand...

This. I think playing in Nashville took some of the energy away from the team. BGSU gave our defense all it could handle but moving forward i think it will be corrected. No need to freak out just yet.
 
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#5
#5
17Vols said:
I was impressed. looked a little flat early. opening in Neyland next will bring the energy level up.
Click to expand...

There was plenty of fan energy...that was our stadium...could have checkered it. :)
 
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#6
#6
Volsfaninva917 said:
This. I think playing in Nashville took some of the energy away from the team. BGSU gave our defense all it could handle but moving forward i think it will be corrected. No need to freak out just yet.
Click to expand...

It was the first game of the season. Energy shouldn't be a problem.
 
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#7
#7
I like the balance between Hurd and Kamara too. Really loved the way they were used in this game - both over 100 yards, TDs, best combo running attack since the two-headed Travis monster. I think it is safe to say Georgia is the only team that can say they have a 1-2 combo like that in the SEC.
 
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#8
#8
Yes, very happy overall. Won by 29. No major injuries. BGSU has a talented and experienced offense. Didn't expect to see a shut out. I believe that our VOLS will look much improved next week. GBO
 
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#9
#9
I'm with you. BG was a good team. A conference champion last season with a really good offense that had experience and talent across the board. The QB made several perfect throws with pressure in his face and the WRs made some really nice catches. I am not sure if the QB or WRs are NFL guys but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they were. It did seem, at minimum, that they had a better group than a few SEC teams. I am concerned about the secondary with the injuries and the performance in spite of the quality of the BG offense. Moseley got burned too frequently--one or two were just great plays though--and I had expected him to be much better this year. I think we are really missing McNeil, Gaulden, and a healthy Justin Martin. I'm hoping Martin can get it together since he will help a lot. All in all, a 29 point win against BG is a good enough win, the coaches will have a lot to harp on in preparation for OU (enough bad to keep the team focused on improving but not bad enough to sap the team's confidence), the similarities in the offensive systems will be useful, and being home rather than at a neutral site will help the energy and performance.
 
#11
#11
I would have rather of seen us open against Western Carolina at Neyland. Playing in Nashville was a little goofy even if it was a pseudo home game. This had trap game written all over it but the team persevered and that's a good sign. I watched BG a few times last year and I knew they weren't a slouch. The line was only 21 for a reason.

The good news is that if the defense can get off of the field the offense can score quick. I was very impressed with how explosive the offense was.
 
#12
#12
rocketskates said:
I would have rather of seen us open against Western Carolina at Neyland. Playing in Nashville was a little goofy even if it was a pseudo home game. This had trap game written all over it but the team persevered and that's a good sign. I watched BG a few times last year and I knew they weren't a slouch. The line was only 21 for a reason.

The good news is that if the defense can get off of the field the offense can score quick. I was very impressed with how explosive the offense was.
Click to expand...

I think we needed this kind of game...we're better prepared than Oklahoma after Akron.
 
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#14
#14
We are still a very young team. BG is a very well coached team that won a mid-major conference last year. I think our young guys eased off the gas after getting up 21-3. They will learn you don't ease up until you're ahead, have the ball, and there is less than 3 seconds to go in the game.

Our secondary faced one of the best QBs they will see all season. He, and BG's coaches, found a match-up they liked and exploited it. Playing one-on-one press coverage is one of the most difficult assignments in football. It didn't help that Johnson placed the ball where even Reavis couldn't have defended it. Like a good team, we made the necessary adjustments in the defense to shut it down.
 
#15
#15
BG also played really fast lining up and throwing so the defensive pressure won't be as great as it would be for a team that plays at a normal tempo.
 
#17
#17
This is the most sensible thread I have read since the fire dooley thread. We got exploited a couple of times but that will get fixed. We were down a coach that could have fixed the mismatches sooner. We won't be down a coach when the Sooners come to town. BG's offense is very good and not just b/c they connected on those bombs...they are just flat out good.

Our pass rush was there and we all know CBJ is telling Barnett that if keeps up with his antics he will be riding the bench. He won't allow Barnett to put the team in jeopardy...no matter how talented he is. He could of cost us big as well as last year.

We have things to work on but so does every other team in the country. Like another poster said, BG was a good prep for us and better then OK's Akron.
 
#18
#18
UTodd01 said:
Fantastic post. I agree completely.

BGSU sported a talented Baylor transfer, a former Ohio State commit, and a sophomore that broke numerous records as a freshman last year at WR.

Some SEC teams (Vandy and UK in particular) would kill for that type of talent at WR.

We struggled defending the deep ball.

Some of it was the secondary. Some was lack of a pass rush due to their very good OL and their offensive system. But like CBJ said, 2 of those throws that QB made (who will be playing on Sundays) were perfect and impossible to defend. It happens.

I really believe if CWM was available adjustments would have been made sooner in the secondary.

Having TKjr back and 100% for OU is huge as well.

Could not have asked for a better tune up for OU. Almost identical system headed to a crazy Neyland next week.

Film study this week will be huge.
Click to expand...

CWM did the saban bump, you accidentally bump into a 5* recruit.
 
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#20
#20
BG, is by far the fastest no huddle team we will play all season. That really effects the way our DB's line up and how quickly they can make adjustments. It's also really hard on the bigger guys on the DLine. It was a really tough match up for our D. We will play much better vs Pro style and power run teams. Our Wr's have to learn how to get open, and to come back to the qb when he's in trouble or moving outside the pocket. The Wr's are way too talented for the way they played yesterday. Hurd is a freaking beast.
 
#21
#21
We didnt show all of our cards in the playbook ran counter,sweep and a few zone reads and a handfull od passing plays and execuited 95% of them. Really impressed with both backs, jennings is gonna be great.
Von looks good also jj but wheres north? I even saw p williams
 
#23
#23
Things I liked:

1. Commitment to run game
2. John Kelley looks more than serviceable
3. Jennings looks completely legit
4. Cam Sutton

Thing I didn't like:

1. Coverage skills of Moseley and Foreman (hope there's a fix in the works - I was probably a little too hard on them last night, but it remains true that I'm not sure their talent level is up to top tier SEC standards)
2. MLB
3. Kicker
 
#24
#24
dcm3w said:
BG also played really fast lining up and throwing so the defensive pressure won't be as great as it would be for a team that plays at a normal tempo.
Click to expand...

This x 100. They pretty much took our pass rush out of the game with the up tempo quick passing attack
 
#25
#25
We know Medley can kick, hopefully he will visit a sports psychologist this week.
 
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