My Game Review

#1

Outdors21

A new hope.
Joined
Jan 9, 2008
Messages
1,618
Likes
1
#1
I know there are a lot of you who have seen me post and complain about this or that...who cares. Today's game was a sad testament to the lack of quality talent that was here before Lane Kiffin arrived. Here's my view:

OFFENSE

* Jonathan Crompton may have all the physical tools to play at the FBS level, but he obviously lacks the mental capability to do so. He rarely looks off his first target, has consistent mechanical breakdowns, and is seemingly vastly overconfident in his arm strength.

* The Tennessee OL should be embarrassed. UCLA may have a good D-line, but the amount of pressure that Crompton faced and the lack of nearly any running room game long was horrific. I am betting that Kiffin will be ill tomorrow watching Sullins, Richard, and McClendon getting blown up.

* The playcalling was really terrible on the drive that failed to score before the safety. Crompton could've WALKED in with a naked bootleg on the 4th down play, but it's obvious that Kiffin had lost all faith in JC doing anything but hurting the team.

* Even with ESPN's typically terrible camera work, I saw very few receivers who were able to open up good space against the UCLA DBs. Now, I don't really know who this falls on, as I feel like the WR crew is one of the better groups on the roster. The overthrow of Gerald Jones was one critical miscue, obviously.

* I am frustrated with just about everything on the offense. Go look at the stats. Unless it turns out that UCLA ends up with one of the best defenses in the NCAA, I am really enraged at the brutal failure of the OL.


DEFENSE

* I have very little negative to say overall. The scheme worked, the tackling was good team-wide, but some young guys are still learning on the fly.

* Eric Berry was in on stopping almost every single running play. He's just amazing.

* Janzen Jackson looked really, really good. He really impressed me overall.

* Nick Reveiz is so easily out-athleted it's kind of curious why he starts. Maybe Monte feels he needs a smarter player (is he?) at the MLB spot, I don't know. Just seems like McCoy-Lathers-Thompson is our best LB group.

* I was pretty impressed how the DL penetrated even when there wasn't blitzing. And also, how many DL showed up flying to the ball down the field. They look like they are tough and in great shape.



Thoughts?
 
#2
#2
We gained more yards on offense than they did,but just had way too many turnovers..essentially we beat ourselves..but I'm not giving up on the future of this team over one game,as ugly as it may have been.
 
#3
#3
I didn't mention turnovers only because that's obvious...and it was disgusting. Especially the first play of the 2nd half. Kiffin's reaction was priceless.
 
#4
#4
I have lost faith in Crompton. I cannot understand how he could have missed so many open vols in order to find so many bruins. I think the playcalling was very questionable, but you have to wonder to what extent the playcalling was due to lack of confidence in Crompton?
 
#6
#6
* The playcalling was really terrible on the drive that failed to score before the safety. Crompton could've WALKED in with a naked bootleg on the 4th down play, but it's obvious that Kiffin had lost all faith in JC doing anything but hurting the team.

If that is the case then why not put him on the bench. You can't play a QB if you can't ask them to throw the ball. Running it 4 straight times inside the 10 was pathetic! That one is squarely on Kiffin.
 
#7
#7
Completely agree about the bootleg! I said the same thing in another post. You've got to do something creative--and it's safe. It was worth a try. Running up the middle twice was lame as the going was tough in there all game! I also agree: As awful as Crompton is, our receivers almost never get open. We don NOT have a good group of wideouts--I disagree with you there. We had at least three drops today. I'm disappointed in Kiffin for not yanking Crompton, and for those play calls around the ucla five--weak.
 
#8
#8
I can't argue with you there. I wasn't giving out grades, but Kiffin would've been given a failure for that one. I've no idea what the thought was there.

Im going to watch the game again on ESPN360, so I'll re-check my Janzen Jackson grading.
 
#9
#9
I don't blame kiffin for the 4th down stop. The running game got him down there. He was hoping the running game would cash it in.
 
#10
#10
I know there are a lot of you who have seen me post and complain about this or that...who cares. Today's game was a sad testament to the lack of quality talent that was here before Lane Kiffin arrived. Here's my view:

OFFENSE

* Jonathan Crompton may have all the physical tools to play at the FBS level, but he obviously lacks the mental capability to do so. He rarely looks off his first target, has consistent mechanical breakdowns, and is seemingly vastly overconfident in his arm strength.

* The Tennessee OL should be embarrassed. UCLA may have a good D-line, but the amount of pressure that Crompton faced and the lack of nearly any running room game long was horrific. I am betting that Kiffin will be ill tomorrow watching Sullins, Richard, and McClendon getting blown up.

* The playcalling was really terrible on the drive that failed to score before the safety. Crompton could've WALKED in with a naked bootleg on the 4th down play, but it's obvious that Kiffin had lost all faith in JC doing anything but hurting the team.

* Even with ESPN's typically terrible camera work, I saw very few receivers who were able to open up good space against the UCLA DBs. Now, I don't really know who this falls on, as I feel like the WR crew is one of the better groups on the roster. The overthrow of Gerald Jones was one critical miscue, obviously.

* I am frustrated with just about everything on the offense. Go look at the stats. Unless it turns out that UCLA ends up with one of the best defenses in the NCAA, I am really enraged at the brutal failure of the OL.


DEFENSE

* I have very little negative to say overall. The scheme worked, the tackling was good team-wide, but some young guys are still learning on the fly.

* Eric Berry was in on stopping almost every single running play. He's just amazing.

* Janzen Jackson looked really, really good. He really impressed me overall.

* Nick Reveiz is so easily out-athleted it's kind of curious why he starts. Maybe Monte feels he needs a smarter player (is he?) at the MLB spot, I don't know. Just seems like McCoy-Lathers-Thompson is our best LB group.

* I was pretty impressed how the DL penetrated even when there wasn't blitzing. And also, how many DL showed up flying to the ball down the field. They look like they are tough and in great shape.



Thoughts?

I disagree across the board. With the exception of Bizarro (Crompton) having the meltdown we are all to familiar with I thought the offense did pretty well. One must remember; they studied film on Crompton and knew all they had to do is rattle him and he would fall apart. I thought the run was actually pretty good but I don't know why we did not test the outside more; they had the middle completely stuffed?

The defense on the other hand gave up too many 3rd down conversions; missed key tackles. I guess the talent is simply not there. I really thought we would beat them on personel alone but boy was I wrong. The bottom line is that with the exception of some players this simply is not a very good team. I would say they re like the 1980-1982 Vols. We will win some games and lose some in entertaining fashion (at least the games are entertaining) We will be 6-6 or 7-5.

The bright side: Kiffin is playing true Frosh, that will lead to us getting the talent level up.
 
#11
#11
I have lost faith in Crompton. I cannot understand how he could have missed so many open vols in order to find so many bruins. I think the playcalling was very questionable, but you have to wonder to what extent the playcalling was due to lack of confidence in Crompton?

The sad truth is that JC is a curse on this team. He is the anti Tim Tebow; Tebow ingle handidly wins games for the Gators while JC pretty much single handidly loses games for the Vols. We are at best a 7-5 team until we get a QB that has an IQ over 70.
 
#12
#12
I disagree with the defense's tackling tonight. I saw lots of missed tackles that could have stopped UCLA for a 4th down. Often the players took bad angles to the ball runner and relied on an arm tackle. Also it seemed that our defense looked slower than last week.
 
#13
#13
I disagree across the board. With the exception of Bizarro (Crompton) having the meltdown we are all to familiar with I thought the offense did pretty well. One must remember; they studied film on Crompton and knew all they had to do is rattle him and he would fall apart. I thought the run was actually pretty good but I don't know why we did not test the outside more; they had the middle completely stuffed?

The defense on the other hand gave up too many 3rd down conversions; missed key tackles. I guess the talent is simply not there. I really thought we would beat them on personel alone but boy was I wrong. The bottom line is that with the exception of some players this simply is not a very good team. I would say they re like the 1980-1982 Vols. We will win some games and lose some in entertaining fashion (at least the games are entertaining) We will be 6-6 or 7-5.

The bright side: Kiffin is playing true Frosh, that will lead to us getting the talent level up.[/QU

I agree with you that we will do no better than 6-6 this year and that's a stretch I think. Every team that we play will load the box and force Crompton to beat them with his arm. I can't believe that Stephens is an improvement if he can't beat Crompton on the practice field.

I know that we all were hoping for better, but I believe that Kiffin knows the hand that he has been dealt and he is dealing with it. As a result, I believe that we'll continue to see a heavy dose of freshmen playing more substantial roles. That will negate the potential negative impact of a losing season with the knowledge that any incoming freshman with talent will have the opportunity to play early and often. I am optimistic like you that the talent level will improve and we'll be competitive within two years.

As for Kiffin's playcalling, I was disappointed in the call on fourth and goal at the two yard line. Like you, I believe that some sort of play action or naked bootleg would have given more opportunity to score. Of course, it's easy to say that from this chair. I like the fact that Kiffin didn't back down from fourth and short on the drive. I believe that as a Coach, he will be good.

Good Post!
 
#14
#14
Janzen Jackson missed two critical open field tackles that led to UCLA points. Reveiz is playing because he doesn't miss tackles. Please point to these plays where Reveiz cost us - I just didn't see it.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#15
#15
Janzen Jackson missed two critical open field tackles that led to UCLA points. Reveiz is playing because he doesn't miss tackles. Please point to these plays where Reveiz cost us - I just didn't see it.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

Reveiz couldnt cover Paulsen if his life depended on it this game. He also struggled when it was his responsibility to pick up the FB out of the backfield. Watching the game again on 360, Ive got him at 3 blown coverages already.
 
#17
#17
This team brings me memories of Majors first year. Somewhat inadequate 5th year senoir QB (Pat Ryan). All American DB wearing #14 (Roland James). Gritty defense with an overachieving key part (Pert Jenkins, aka Reveiz). Low talent offensive line. Not much for wide receivers (Billy Arbo, Jeff Moore). They played everyone about as well as the could but lost most all the close ones.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#18
#18
I know there are a lot of you who have seen me post and complain about this or that...who cares. Today's game was a sad testament to the lack of quality talent that was here before Lane Kiffin arrived. Here's my view:

OFFENSE

* Jonathan Crompton may have all the physical tools to play at the FBS level, but he obviously lacks the mental capability to do so. He rarely looks off his first target, has consistent mechanical breakdowns, and is seemingly vastly overconfident in his arm strength.

* The Tennessee OL should be embarrassed. UCLA may have a good D-line, but the amount of pressure that Crompton faced and the lack of nearly any running room game long was horrific. I am betting that Kiffin will be ill tomorrow watching Sullins, Richard, and McClendon getting blown up.

* The playcalling was really terrible on the drive that failed to score before the safety. Crompton could've WALKED in with a naked bootleg on the 4th down play, but it's obvious that Kiffin had lost all faith in JC doing anything but hurting the team.

* Even with ESPN's typically terrible camera work, I saw very few receivers who were able to open up good space against the UCLA DBs. Now, I don't really know who this falls on, as I feel like the WR crew is one of the better groups on the roster. The overthrow of Gerald Jones was one critical miscue, obviously.

* I am frustrated with just about everything on the offense. Go look at the stats. Unless it turns out that UCLA ends up with one of the best defenses in the NCAA, I am really enraged at the brutal failure of the OL.


DEFENSE

* I have very little negative to say overall. The scheme worked, the tackling was good team-wide, but some young guys are still learning on the fly.

* Eric Berry was in on stopping almost every single running play. He's just amazing.

* Janzen Jackson looked really, really good. He really impressed me overall.

* Nick Reveiz is so easily out-athleted it's kind of curious why he starts. Maybe Monte feels he needs a smarter player (is he?) at the MLB spot, I don't know. Just seems like McCoy-Lathers-Thompson is our best LB group.

* I was pretty impressed how the DL penetrated even when there wasn't blitzing. And also, how many DL showed up flying to the ball down the field. They look like they are tough and in great shape.



Thoughts?

I agree with the play call on 4th and goal. I was thinking naked bootleg or reverse like we did against Miami.

I think the Oline is bad except for the Left Tackle and guard, that's the only side UT can run on occasionally. Problem is everyone knows it.

I agree about Reveiz. I know he is thick and muscular but he seems small still.
 
#19
#19
Reveiz couldnt cover Paulsen if his life depended on it this game. He also struggled when it was his responsibility to pick up the FB out of the backfield. Watching the game again on 360, Ive got him at 3 blown coverages already.

Ok, I do believe his strength lies much more in run support and that the DBs and OLBs should be handling more of the one on one pass coverage.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
Advertisement



Back
Top