Just for some perspective, here's a flashback to 2010: Auburn 52 Arkansas State 26

[bhouston79]

GAME RECAP: Auburn struggled defensively giving up 351 yards passing to a pesky Arkansas State team before pulling away for a 52-26 win in their season opener. Auburn's offense looked unstoppable in their opener as dual threat QB Cam Newton completed 9/14 passing for 186 through the air and ran for 171 yards on 15 carries. However, Arkansas State remained in the contest well into the third quarter as a touchdown on their opening possession of the third quarter made the score 35-23. Auburn pulled away in the late third and fourth quarters of the game as their offense continued to roll and Arkansas State began to wear down. However, the ability of Arkansas State, a Sunbelt team that went just 4-8 in 2009, to pass for 351 yards raises significant concerns about the Auburn secondary. Auburn will face a much tougher opponent next week in Mississippi State.

Arkansas State vs. Auburn - Play-By-Play - September 4, 2010 - ESPN

POSTLUDE:

The 2010 Auburn Tigers finished the season 14-0 and won the national championship. The 2010 Arkansas State team finished 4-8.

MY POINT:

This post is not intended to suggest that Tennessee will win a national title, but it is meant to suggest that you can't draw too many conclusions from a blow out win against an inferior opponent. Simply put, we will know more next week, and by the end of this month, we will have a good idea of just how this team will do overall. Go Vols!

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Very well argued, BHouston, perfect use of a recent analogous situation. 59-30 vs BGSU in the opener tells us just about as much about Team 119 as 52-26 vs Ark St told Auburn about their 2010 squad.

We'll learn a lot more next week, hopefully mostly good.

Go Vols!

 

[fade route]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

You didn't understand the OP's post at all, I don't think, Fade.

He's not talking up BGSU (which, btw, does have a surprisingly good offense). Nor is he playing up Tennessee.

His point is really simple: first games of the season don't always tell you very much about the character or potential of a team.

That's all he said, he just argued it very well with a good example from the recent past.

 

[Face]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

Their offense returned almost everybody and their QB made one throwing error while quick releasing all day long.

We scored 59 points by doing nothing. No scheme on offense or defense. Just simple runs and press man all day. Get over yourself.

 

[BBlevyOUUT]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

Need a Snickers?

 

[Carlitovol]

More perspective:

The SEC NOW crew was talking up both UGA and FLA last night after their "impressive" wins.

1. New Mexico State went 2-10 last year in the Sun Belt and got beat by the likes of UTEP (blowout), GA Southern, Idaho, and TX State.

2. LA Monroe went 4-8 last year in the Sun Belt and got drilled by UK 48-14. Also lost to Appy State, GA Southern and TX State.

Honestly I think playing a team like BG was good for us because:

1) it exposed some weaknesses that we can correct this week (clearly we have talent in the secondary, just a lot of inexperience)

2) It tempers expectations from the fans AND players going into the OU game. I think it will keep the team focused and humble going into Saturday's game.

just my 2 pennies.. GBO!

 

[rocky top buzz]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

Yeah i would say it's obvious their defense sucked, we pretty much scored at will. The issue is their quarterback. Yes we had some busted coverage but there were several plays where he was making great throws and receivers were covered but making the catches.

Penalties also extended their drives and killed ours. Could easily have been 64-23. Glad to have a dose of reality before OU

 

[92volalum]

So did the first game last yr tell us anything about that team?? Yes it showed we couldn't run against anyone and that proved the case all year.

No pressure on QB is bigger problem than secondary. Maybe that was the plan but the last def to give up 600 yards got the coach fired.

This week will let know if it's going to a long yr or not.

 

[rickyyrs]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

BGU can put up points. Everyone knew going into that game they could score. The Vols were not going to show everything against BGU. Oklahoma does not play that fast like BGU does. You will see a different Tennessee team Saturday against Oklahoma.

 

[fade route]

Their offense returned almost everybody and their QB made one throwing error while quick releasing all day long.

We scored 59 points by doing nothing. No scheme on offense or defense. Just simple runs and press man all day. Get over yourself.

Our offense was not the problem. Sorry my analysis offends you so much. Maybe we weren't watching the same game

 

[Volsfaninva917]

More perspective:

The SEC NOW crew was talking up both UGA and FLA last night after their "impressive" wins.

1. New Mexico State went 2-10 last year in the Sun Belt and got beat by the likes of UTEP (blowout), GA Southern, Idaho, and TX State.

2. LA Monroe went 4-8 last year in the Sun Belt and got drilled by UK 48-14. Also lost to Appy State, GA Southern and TX State.

Honestly I think playing a team like BG was good for us because:

1) it exposed some weaknesses that we can correct this week (clearly we have talent in the secondary, just a lot of inexperience)

2) It tempers expectations from the fans AND players going into the OU game. I think it will keep the team focused and humble going into Saturday's game.

just my 2 pennies.. GBO!

Yea the Florida love is mind numbing

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

If anything else, team 119 got their first taste of some adversity this year and showed some resolve.


I'm still very concerned about the defense (at all 3 levels), but its probably a better thing that they got a wake up call week one against BGSU than a later opponent.

 

[Ashevolle]

Our offense was not the problem. Sorry my analysis offends you so much. Maybe we weren't watching the same game

you call that analysis?

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Our offense was not the problem. Sorry my analysis offends you so much. Maybe we weren't watching the same game

talking =/= analysis

 

[NorthDallas40]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

Maybe we should call the NCAA and forefit the win?

He made a reasonably valid hypothesis using a relevant historical comparison. At least we were playing BG when we got our wake up call and not OU.

However I am worried less about Perine and more about the fifty receivers OU threw to for 430 yds yesterday.

 

[BenGrimm]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

All of those teams were good mid-level teams last year. Every one of them went bowling with 8+ wins. (did you see how Western Mich played #5 Mich State on Thursday?)

Every analyst predicted BG to score some points. Only the orange shaded posters on here, myself included, dismissed the potential of BG's offense.

I wasn't happy that they burned us Repeatedly with the same play over and over but let's also not pretend that BG is a first year program like ETSU that exposed us.

 

[Col_Cathcart]

More perspective:

The SEC NOW crew was talking up both UGA and FLA last night after their "impressive" wins.

1. New Mexico State went 2-10 last year in the Sun Belt and got beat by the likes of UTEP (blowout), GA Southern, Idaho, and TX State.

2. LA Monroe went 4-8 last year in the Sun Belt and got drilled by UK 48-14. Also lost to Appy State, GA Southern and TX State.

Honestly I think playing a team like BG was good for us because:

1) it exposed some weaknesses that we can correct this week (clearly we have talent in the secondary, just a lot of inexperience)

2) It tempers expectations from the fans AND players going into the OU game. I think it will keep the team focused and humble going into Saturday's game.

just my 2 pennies.. GBO!

In defense of the SEC NOW crew, Florida also lost to Georgia Southern so maybe NMST was a big win for them.

 

[jabroni]

BG lost to Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Toledo, Ball St, and Northern Illinois last year and they returned no one on D this year. They're not a good team and everyone needs to stop playing them up to make themselves feel better about yielding nearly 600 yards of offense to them.

BG lost thier starting QB last year and their offense was still good. Johnson is a very good QB and runs BG's offense great. That kid made great throws all night last night. I'm worried anout UT's secondary just like everyone else, but don't diminish what BG can do, bro.

 

[JohnMarxism]

More perspective:

The SEC NOW crew was talking up both UGA and FLA last night after their "impressive" wins.

1. New Mexico State went 2-10 last year in the Sun Belt and got beat by the likes of UTEP (blowout), GA Southern, Idaho, and TX State.

2. LA Monroe went 4-8 last year in the Sun Belt and got drilled by UK 48-14. Also lost to Appy State, GA Southern and TX State.

Honestly I think playing a team like BG was good for us because:

1) it exposed some weaknesses that we can correct this week (clearly we have talent in the secondary, just a lot of inexperience)

2) It tempers expectations from the fans AND players going into the OU game. I think it will keep the team focused and humble going into Saturday's game.

just my 2 pennies.. GBO!

best post i've read all morning

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Yea the Florida love is mind numbing

New Mexico State is one of the 3 worst FBS football teams.

Next Flo gets East Carolina and at UK. Either could beat them under the right circumstances.

After oK, we get an extra week to prep for Flo with Western Carolina.

 

[cwbytruckers]

BG also has a 5th year senior QB. The 2nd most experienced OL. A WR transfer from Baylor. SMU. And Notre Dame. If you think this team isn't talented your delusional. This team could very well go on to be an 11 win team and be a top 20 team if they can figure out some defense. They should roll through the MAC.