Been a rabid Vols fan since the 60's, and I can't remember any game where I was more frustrated, angry and disgusted than I was last Saturday. This is a retrospective, logical, unemotional look at the game. If I'd written this after the game Saturday, there would be no way to look at it without emotion and it probably wouldn't make much sense.
I know this is easy to say, but IF you take away the turnovers (including the touch back fumble through the end zone), and IF the play calling had been more creative, it could have, would have, should have been a much different game. Not saying the Vols would have won, but the game would have been much closer. And yes, I know, that IF a frog had wings . . . . . yada, yada, yada . . . . .
A couple of the turnovers were, IMO, related directly to lack of play on the offensive line AND play calling combined. Related to the offensive line, they appeared to NOT know who they were supposed to block on several plays, which, in turn got JG killed. This is true not only for the offensive line but for the running backs and fullbacks. Related to the play calling, especially on screen passes, it was like the Gators were in the huddle with them and the Gators were jumping the routes, and that caused one of the turnovers. Play calling was WAY too conservative IMO. They've GOT to open the playbook some more, let the guys learn, and take their licks until they get it. But if play calling is this conservative all year, the outcomes will be dismal.
But the bottom line is, no matter what plays are called, no matter who the Vols are playing, there won't be many happy Saturdays this year unless the offensive line figures out, and fixes, their woes. In watching the highlights (or in this case, the low lights), even when it looked like they DID know who to block, they got manhandled on several key plays. The worst one I noticed was on the safety. The entire left side of their line got pushed two or three yards back into the end zone, thus, safety. I don't get it. I mean for YEARS, every time we get a new strength and conditioning coach, all we hear is how good he is and how our players, especially the linemen, are going to be able to compete, or even push the other teams around. This hasn't happened, as we well know. The offensive line is dotted with 4 and 5 star players, who, had they gone to another school, would be kicking butt. At UT, not so. Why? This reminds me of when the Dooley dude was there, and from week to week, they could not snap the ball to the QB consistently in the shotgun. I kept thinking to myself . . . . well I'm sure they will address that in practice this week and next game these snap errors won't be an issue. But, guess what, as we all know, that went on for several weeks. Same thing seems to be going on with the offensive line right now.
We're not that bad. Broad statement? Yes. But as the old saying goes, "you're never as good as you look on your best day, and never as bad as you look on your worse day". I think that's true of this team. That being said, we're NOT going to beat anyone in the next three games, UGA, Auburn, Bama. As a matter of fact, if they haven't improved immensely on the offensive line, they will be lucky to hold UGA under 50. Same goes for Bama. Not sure about Auburn. As for down the stretch, USC Jr, KY, Vandy, IF JP can keep the team, and IF they can gel, we might be able to compete and maybe even win a couple, but it won't be easy.