I finally got to watch the game last night...

#1
thunder5

thunder5

Cause I like to party
Joined
Jan 19, 2006
Messages
10,557
Likes
8,743
#1
I had read the articles and comments about the game but hadn't seen it until last night...

What I saw was a QB that hung in the pocket, actually went through his progressions, has a cannon for an arm and did the one thing that his predecessor couldn't...he didn't make any plays that beat us...

What I also noticed was that despite solid play from the QB our offense still manage to look out of sync....I didn't really see a rhythm or purpose in the playcalling, there were way to many dropped passes and penalties...it just looked discombobulated and we weren't exactly paying a great defense...

With that being said...I do feel better about our QB situation....Stephens didn't set the world on fire but he was solid...his passes were crisp and for the most part on the money, he seemed to manage the huddle and the clock in a relatively smooth manner, and...once again...he didn't hand NIU a touchdown or fumble away a scoring opportunity at the 3 yard line

When you figure in dropped passes, Stephens threw 15 catchable balls out of 18 passes and he hit 5-6 differant receivers which is proof that he is going through his reads and progressions...I just feel alot better about him than I did with Crompton...it's nice to have some kind of light at the end of the tunnel...let's just hope it's not a freight train coming our way(thank you Metalica)

Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
I agree....

Although - I feel alot of the Vol Nation feel strongly for Stephens because of their discontent with Crompton. I thought he played a good game against NIU, but i'm reserving judgement until after this week. I do however feel that Stephens gives Tenn a better shot at winning.
 
#3
#3
What we will have to remember, and suffer through, is Nicks growing pains. Geo will be game 2 for him. Too bad he did not get the nod after ucla, maybe the offense would be in sync by this time. His arm and spreading the ball around makes opponents have to prepare for a more diversified attack...I look for and hope for better things to come this weekend. GO VOLS
 
#4
#4
PandamoniumReigns said:
I agree....

Although - I feel alot of the Vol Nation feel strongly for Stephens because of their discontent with Crompton. I thought he played a good game against NIU, but i'm reserving judgement until after this week. I do however feel that Stephens gives Tenn a better shot at winning.
Click to expand...

You should really reserve your judgement for three more games... it's only fair.
 
#5
#5
gcb/hoosiervol said:
What we will have to remember, and suffer through, is Nicks growing pains. Geo will be game 2 for him. Too bad he did not get the nod after ucla, maybe the offense would be in sync by this time. His arm and spreading the ball around makes opponents have to prepare for a more diversified attack...I look for and hope for better things to come this weekend. GO VOLS
Click to expand...

Thats what makes me feel good about him...from what I saw in the game, Stephens seems to have the abilities that will allow Clawson to do what he wants to do with his offense...

Crompton was so lost and out of sync that Clawson had his hands completely tied behind him trying to make it work...

With Stephens he has a guy that has the arm and...more importantly...the mind to actually run an offense that Clawson has been so succesful with at other places...

I know Stephens will have growing pains...he doesn't understand the full offense and he hasn't faced an SEC caliber defense yet...but what I saw in the replay was a guy who can play the QB position...

Crompton had all the physical tools but absolutely none of the mental ones that I saw glimpses of with Stephens against NIU
 
#6
#6
I think with Stephens getting all the first team snaps this week we will see more improvement.

I think splitting snaps with Crompton last week was a mistake by the coaches.
 
#7
#7
blamie said:
I know Stephens will have growing pains...he doesn't understand the full offense and he hasn't faced an SEC caliber defense yet..
Click to expand...

Valid points, but he has had just as long as Crompton to understand the offense. Granted he hasn't been getting snaps with the first team, but he has been practicing just as many days. He looked like he had a better grasp of it than Cromp however. But so does my dog.
 
#8
#8
If your looking for hope don't...this team will be LUCKY to win two more games!I just don't understand how this team is this bad NIU is the worst team on our card and we beat them 13-9 are u kidding me.We may not win an SEC game this year.I bet none of us seen that coming!Here is some news on the team we just beat 13-9 with their 3rd sting QB!

The Vols converted only 3 of 13 third down opportunities and had an embarrassing 225 yards total offense and nine first downs at home and against a team that lost to Toledo last year 70-21, a week after losing to Wisconsin 45-3. NIU allowed an average of 30.8 points in 2007 against a schedule that was loaded with MAC opponents.

By the way, all 11 of the Huskies defensive starters returned this season so though a year older they’re only marginally better. Minnesota, which went 1-11 in 2007, scored 31 points and amassed 425 yards against NIU in the season opener. The Gophers sliced up the Huskies secondary to to the tune of 24-of-37 passing and 298 yards, no interceptions and a TD. MAC opponent Western Michigan scored 29 in a game two loss for the Huskies last month in which it rushed for 198 yards in 32 carries and completed 21 of 30 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterbacks have registered an efficiency rating of 113.62. in the first five games vs. NIU. The Vols rushed for 69 yards in 32 carries against the Huskies.
 
Last edited:
#9
#9
I think we'll really see what Stephens is made of after the Georgia game, but so far I think he has done an excellent job.
 
#10
#10
volsfan55 said:
If your looking for hope don't...this team will be LUCKY to win two more games!I just don't understand how this team is this bad NIU is the worst team on our card and we beat them 13-9 are u kidding me.We may not win an SEC game this year.I bet none of us seen that coming!Here is some news on the team we just beat 13-9 with their 3rd sting QB!

The Vols converted only 3 of 13 third down opportunities and had an embarrassing 225 yards total offense and nine first downs at home and against a team that lost to Toledo last year 70-21, a week after losing to Wisconsin 45-3. NIU allowed an average of 30.8 points in 2007 against a schedule that was loaded with MAC opponents.

By the way, all 11 of the Huskies defensive starters returned this season so though a year older they’re only marginally better. Minnesota, which went 1-11 in 2007, scored 31 points and amassed 425 yards against NIU in the season opener. The Gophers sliced up the Huskies secondary to to the tune of 24-of-37 passing and 298 yards, no interceptions and a TD. MAC opponent Western Michigan scored 29 in a game two loss for the Huskies last month in which it rushed for 198 yards in 32 carries and completed 21 of 30 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterbacks have registered an efficiency rating of 113.62. in the first five games vs. NIU. The Vols rushed for 69 yards in 32 carries against the Huskies.
Click to expand...

Okay we get it...the sky is falling...but do you honestly think that Stephens played as bad or worse Saturday than Crompton has in other games...

Keep in mind that Crompton stunk against the 2nd worst defense in the country

My point is...after watching the game...Stephens = decent chance to win a few SEC games...and...Crompton = no chance against any SEC team we have left
 
#11
#11
All I can say is..where is Bill Parcells when you need him...tear it down and rebuild it!!I just think thats the only way!This team is just going through the motions not improving but getting worse!
 
#12
#12
Our Qb may stuggle but I think this is a must win for Fulmer and Clawsen may try some stuff this weekend. I think FUlmer will have a great game plan for this game and if our players dont come out and shoot themselves in the foot like they always do and they actually make some plays instead of give away plays then we will be fine.
IMO the starters on O would go Stephens,Cooper,Hardesty,Stocker/Cottam,G.Jones,Taylor,Moore. I would rotate Foster in the slot or H back position so he can get outside on some screen plays because he does have good hands, then I would also rotate Brandon Warren in the slot as well. He is not the player everyone says he is, he cant block and his hands are decent. He would be a great slot reciever like Brett Smith was. I would also get Hancock and Paige in the game for experience. Hancock is a great downfield blocker and he has good hands not real sure why is not playing more??
Then if all else falls apart I would put Berry in the backfield with Jones and call it the "Desperation" and run with it.
 
#14
#14
Ok about us playing against a 3rd string QB last week is really nothing to do with Stephens...That is on our D not him...I also think we played against a 3rd stringer in Cali to open the season and he did well so who is to say that we can not do the same with our sophomore this weekend...Seriously, if our D can keep us in it I do think we have a better chance with Nick than John and the only thing holding that back is the terrible gameday coaching...I truely hope we can finally scheme well against someone!...Go Vols Beat the Dawgs!
 
#15
#15
The O's and Stephen's numbers might have been better if they'd had more than 50 plays. NIU's strategy seemed to be to hold the ball and shorten the game. UT's D didn't get off the field quickly enough to thwart that plan.

Thank John Chavis once again...
 
#16
#16
blamie said:
Thats what makes me feel good about him...from what I saw in the game, Stephens seems to have the abilities that will allow Clawson to do what he wants to do with his offense...

Crompton was so lost and out of sync that Clawson had his hands completely tied behind him trying to make it work...

With Stephens he has a guy that has the arm and...more importantly...the mind to actually run an offense that Clawson has been so succesful with at other places...

I know Stephens will have growing pains...he doesn't understand the full offense and he hasn't faced an SEC caliber defense yet...but what I saw in the replay was a guy who can play the QB position...

Crompton had all the physical tools but absolutely none of the mental ones that I saw glimpses of with Stephens against NIU
Click to expand...

He seems to know it better than Crompton. He's been in Clawson's system just as long as Crompton has.
 
#17
#17
justingroves said:
He seems to know it better than Crompton. He's been in Clawson's system just as long as Crompton has.
Click to expand...

Agreed...and I would say the only person at UT right now that does understand the whole offense is Clawson himself...

What I got from the game is that we now have a QB that is capable of playing like a QB...he can stand in the pocket and deliver a pass under pressure, he can go through his progressions and find a 2nd or 3rd receiver, he can manage a huddle and the play clock....

I know about his downsides...he's inexperienced, he doesn't know the whole offense, he's only played against NIU...but I feel like we have a SEC caliber guy at QB now...or at least someone who is capable of playing adequately at this level...

With Crompton...I couldn't even find the words to describe what he played like but he certainly didn't play like a QB....I mean...he didn't do any of the things that a QB does...it was like we took a person off the street who had never played or even seen someone play the position and threw him back there
 
#19
#19
blamie said:
Okay we get it...the sky is falling...but do you honestly think that Stephens played as bad or worse Saturday than Crompton has in other games...

Keep in mind that Crompton stunk against the 2nd worst defense in the country

My point is...after watching the game...Stephens = decent chance to win a few SEC games...and...Crompton = no chance against any SEC team we have left
Click to expand...

A 13-9 win over NIU, and you’re now stating that on the strength of this powerhouse performance we could possibly win some SEC games? <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" /><o:p></o:p>
 
#21
#21
Vol423 said:
A 13-9 win over NIU, and you’re now stating that on the strength of this powerhouse performance we could possibly win some SEC games? <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" /><o:p></o:p>
Click to expand...

You know...I saw that you were the last to post in this thread before I clicked on it and I just knew it was going to be the typical sarcastic crap you usually spew...

Read the post...

Stephens = a chance

Crompton = no chance

Stephens' play was very decent and head-and-shoulders better than anything Crompton produced this year...

That "powerhouse performance" you speak of was a by-product of the sloppy play of our receivers, linemen, and RB's as well as our defenses inability to get off the field
 
#22
#22
blamie said:
You know...I saw that you were the last to post in this thread before I clicked on it and I just knew it was going to be the typical sarcastic crap you usually spew...

Read the post...

Stephens = a chance

Crompton = no chance

Stephens' play was very decent and head-and-shoulders better than anything Crompton produced this year...

That "powerhouse performance" you speak of was a by-product of the sloppy play of our receivers, linemen, and RB's as well as our defenses inability to get off the field
Click to expand...

...or in other words, it was a crappy effort by the entire team against an absolutely abysmal, overmatched opponent. That's just the kind of performance that makes me optimistic about the future.
 
#23
#23
Vol423 said:
...or in other words, it was a crappy effort by the entire team against an absolutely abysmal, overmatched opponent. That's just the kind of performance that makes me optimistic about the future.
Click to expand...

This season sucks..there's no doubt about it...and in all likelihood it's going to get worse and not better

But I'm going to keep watching and hoping we win and pulling for us to win...

And regardless of what happens my opinion of what the problem is and what we need to do to fix it won't change

Hopefully in the offseason we can make the changes everyone knows we need to make to get back to where we used to be
 
#24
#24
blamie said:
This season sucks..there's no doubt about it...and in all likelihood it's going to get worse and not better

But I'm going to keep watching and hoping we win and pulling for us to win...

And regardless of what happens my opinion of what the problem is and what we need to do to fix it won't change

Hopefully in the offseason we can make the changes everyone knows we need to make to get back to where we used to be
Click to expand...

...then repeat after me: Fire the entire coaching staff!
 
#25
#25
Vol423 said:
...then repeat after me: Fire the entire coaching staff!
Click to expand...

Thats what I'm talking about...we're in complete agreement...

The paradox for me is that I know we need to lose a few more for the the coaching change to happen yet I can't bring myself to hope for those losses
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top