I think you'll enjoy watching the MSU game tonight.
I caught a glimmer of something I really liked in the D-Line in that game. Bolden, Williams, Ayers, Mitchell and company started to show me a little meanness. If they can build on that flash of really physical play, if that glimmer is not a mirage, then something resembling a consistently tough defense might yet be possible.
Problem is, as I said, I remain unconvinced.
Bama is a really good test that comes at a really good time I think...
ok, well i watched it last night, and i think knowing the outcome prior to seeing it has probably affected my opininon somewhat seeing as how i wasn't stressed out watching the 1st half and half the 3rd quarter...watching it live i would have been pulling my hair out.
i think they started off great...that first offensive series was a thing of beauty.
defensively, i didn't see the swarming to the ball we saw against GA, early on. there was 4-5 minute stretch in the 1st qtr where MSU looked like anything but MSU. i think they have a pretty good qb in that freshman. and they have a good wide out, #4 and a decent tight end. #24 runs hard and is load to bring down. and their O line was very good for 2 1/2 quarters.
but here's what got me as i take the game as a whole, the defense played relatively well save for 3 drives, and those three drives MSU scored TD's. there was no pressure on the qb until the 4th qtr. the swarming to the ball didn't happen like it did the week before and there were still some pretty severly missed tackles.
i also saw more mistakes than i'd care to...the muffed punt, dropped TD pass, missed fg from chip shot range, and more penalties than i'm used to seeing from this TN team. I think the defense still has some growing up to do, but they did play much better in the 2nd half. Dan Williams and Bolden got better as the game went along. i'm not sure it'd make a difference if Mapu were in the game or not. i guess the one play that stood out to me on our defense ineptitude was the reverse. was that not the slowest developing reverse you've ever seen? and they still got a 1st down out of it.....RECOGNITION!!! and they tested the middle of our defense early on and got passing grades for a while.
offensively, the play calling the 1st qtr was really good and the execution for the most part was there. there were a few missed blocks on the O line on some running plays and there were 3-4 balls that EA threw that seemed hurried, for no reason? the play action was on, and the direct snap to AF was interesting.
for the positives, how can you not be impressed with Lucas Taylor? he was outstanding. Austin Rodgers was serviceable, but the drop in the end zone really stings. Chris Brown keeps showing tons of heart and had some big grabs. Eric Ainge, despite the couple of errant throws, had a really good day as well. the INT he threw late, on 3rd and 10, felt more like a short punt than a dagger to a drive, and he continued to not make the "big" mistake, so all in all, EA did just fine.
now, on to the stars of the game......the offensive line was pretty much outstanding. the pass protection was very good and the run blocking got better and better as they pushed around a rather thin MSU defensive front in the 2nd half. it was nice to see us "out physical" someone. it really showed up in the 4th quarter, and as lex said, that's right in CPF's wheelhouse on football philosophy. i don't think CPF could have pictured it any better, we were more physical then they were down the stretch and that was the difference. and that's fine for the kinds of teams we're going to face down the stretch of the schedule, though all of htem will be more talented than MSU, and it doesn't solve our problem against teams like FL in the future.
running backs......AF started a little slow, but really picked up some steam as the game wore on. his vision has gotten better and the ability to cut back has enhanced his game. MH was also a bright spot, and they way they used both AF and MH was a thing of beauty late in the game. AF gets tired and boom, here comes MH ave. 5 ypc.....
i think in the end, i pretty much agree with everything i read, it wasn't perfect, but it was a glimpse of what TN football was/is all about. physical O line, good defense and run the ball, play action pass.
the problem, we don't play MSU every week, and the defense wasn't as good as you'd like it to be against what most would consider a rather pedestrian MSU offense.
so i'll take the SEC road W and hope for another one Saturday morning.