Halftime - quick takes

[VFL-82-JP]

1. That 1st quarter scared the hell out of me. I saw shades of 2017 all over again with a porous offensive line. Thank the football gods, we have good coaches this year, able to make some quick adjustments and stem the bleeding. 2nd quarter was significantly better.

2. But this coming week, the coaches maybe still need to relook the starting lineup on the right half of the line, including the center. From Kennedy out to Richmond, that's where the defenders were getting through.

3. Guarantano looks good. Especially when he has protection.

4. Chandler and Jordan are both going to be great running backs. I think Chandler got his bell rung, and is probably out for concussion protocol. There's a significant drop-off to the 3rd string (London). So we need Chandler and Jordan both to stay healthy for all the big games.

5. Tuttle looking good on DLine, but we still need to get better in the box at pressuring the QB. We're okay so far. Just not yet great. Need that talented group of LBs to start making a difference.

6. The youth of our defensive backfield is showing. Mental errors more than anything. They're physical and quick enough, just have to learn how to play smart.

7. Nothing special about special teams, so far. I think that's the one aspect of the Butch years that we're gonna look back fondly on.

8. The fans are awesome. Almost a perfect 50/50 mix of Vols and Mountaineers. But our fans are louder, at least that's how it sounded in the 2nd quarter, heh.

FINAL NOTE: We can win this game. If the 3rd and 4th quarters are like the 2nd, we got this. Still thinking my 27-24 prediction might be about right.

Go Vols!

 

[GRN1926]

Agree with everything except ST. Evan Berry is a generational talent. AMD honestly, while ST is important there are bigger issues to resolve 1st. First punt was meh but 2nd was decent. Room for improvement but I am excited about the adjustments and ball control offense. 1st time in 10yrs I have watched what I felt like was a real TN football squad. The long drive was fantastic! Play to win.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Agree with everything except ST. Evan Berry is a generational talent. AMD honestly, while ST is important there are bigger issues to resolve 1st. First punt was meh but 2nd was decent. Room for improvement but I am excited about the adjustments and ball control offense. 1st time in 10yrs I have watched what I felt like was a real TN football squad. The long drive was fantastic! Play to win.

Yeah, but not just Evan Berry. Trevor Daniel, too. And Cam Sutton on punt returns. We were really blessed with all of our special teams. Aaron Medley was the "weakest" element, and he was clutch on extra points and FGs inside 40 yards.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Freak, not gonna hurt my feelings if you merge this thread with yours; you got yours going first. *salute*

 

[Freak]

Freak, feel free to merge this thread with yours; you got yours going first. *salute*

It's fine. You put more work into yours.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Halftime stats?

 

[wesleydmartin]

I am here right now in the club level about to get Bojangles Chicken let me tell you 6pt at half time with this weather today we going win this ball game

 

[vollygirl]

We need a CBJ 2016 2nd half kinda energy to finish this.

 

[VolGirl1126]

I am here right now in the club level about to get Bojangles Chicken let me tell you 6pt at half time with this weather today we going win this ball game

From your mouth to God's ears, hopefully!

 

[Pepe]

The only thing neuheisel is an expert in is in how to get fired with cause. I'm sick of his mouth.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Our DL is concerning. They are just not getting it done with any consistency. OL has played a litt.e better as the game goes on, but still needs a lot of work. While the secondary looks rough, Flowers looks good. LBs are playing a little better than expected. They arent playing at an SEC lebel yet but I believe they will be a good group.

Special teams is very underwhelming at this point. Like you guys have said we have been spoiled with Berry, Sutton and Daniel. Hopefully we can find some explosive return guys.

Where are our TEs? Seems like we have barely used them. I figured Wood Anderson would feature prominently in the passing game. Kennedy is not that good.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

We did a really, I mean REALLY good job slowing down the game. Think each side only had 5 offensive series. And we were able to stop WVU's vaunted offense in two of the five, and hold them to FGs on two of the other three. Our defense is really doing well, all in all. Can see places for them to improve, absolutely, but you can't fault the results they've had so far.

 

[JAL]

The only thing neuheisel is an expert in is in how to get fired with cause. I'm sick of his mouth.

Hell, I wanted him fired as soon as I saw that guitar in his hands. WTF was that!? Fire the guy who thought that "song" was a good idea while their at it.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

I don't like this weather delay. I think we had the momentum and now who knows where that's gonna go

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Where are our TEs? Seems like we have barely used them. I figured Wood Anderson would feature prominently in the passing game. Kennedy is not that good.

I agree about the TEs. Wood-Anderson did get the TD catch, that was good. And Eli Wolf got one really good block. Otherwise, they've been quiet.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I agree about the TEs. Wood-Anderson did get the TD catch, that was good. And Eli Wolf got one really good block. Otherwise, they've been quiet.

Agree. We need to utilize them more imo.

 

[Pepe]

Hell, I want him fired as soon as I saw that guitar in his hands. WTF was that!? Fire the guy who thought that was a good idea while their at it.

He's always been a favorite of reporters almost as bad as Lou Holtz

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I don't like this weather delay. I think we had the momentum and now who knows where that's gonna go

I agree, MBRO. Makes me nervous, too. We definitely had them on their heels.

Just hoping our coaching staff is taking huge advantage of the extra time to make adjustments and teaching points.

 

[JAL]

I don't like this weather delay. I think we had the momentum and now who knows where that's gonna go

I hope they come up with a better game plan than they had at the beginning of the game.

 

[tennrich1]

Just a thought but we should probably refrain from making any definitive statements about any position at least until we’ve completed the first game. Hilariously I saw on TOS after the blowup first play from scrimmage a “true knowledgeable fan” make this statement....” Well I told y’all ...it’s gonna be a long season”.. quite sure he was serious...now that’s a guy to listen to for game breakdowns...LOL....

 

[jwilliams]

Really good recap. I agree with most of it. The offensive line is the most concerning thing at this point, but Helton did a nice job adjusting after the 1st half. It'll be interesting to see if WVU's D adjusts as well. JG looks poised, especially after getting his bell rung a couple times. We just need some damned blocking. Tim Jordan is looking good.

I'm not real pleased with where things are at, but I keep reminding myself that we're down by 6 to the 17th ranked team in the nation.

 

[photovol]

When Pruitt has his own players, the Vols won’t look so meek

 

[rickyyrs]

I think we should of played a lower class team for the first game of the season. WVU is ranked number 17. But that being said, we do have better coaches this season. It's looking good for the next few years. You will see.

 

[KBVol]

Halftime stats?

195 total yards for WVA, 135 for Vols. Key stat is we’re 5-10 in 3rd down conversions, primarily through the air, and 1-1 on 4th down.

Time of possession-
WVa 8:54
UT 21:06

 

[VFL-82-JP]

When Pruitt has his own players, the Vols won’t look so meek

I don't think we look meek, Photo. The right side of our OL looked porous in the 1st quarter, but got things adjusted. Other than that, our lads are playing some hard-nose football. Far from meek, I think.

Go Vols!