Playing strong games early....

#1
C

checkerboard_charly

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#1
Florida has played two cupcakes and breezed through both. Played both at home and look like they are still in last years form. Not sure how Troy scored 31 on them but they did.

Tennessee on the other hand has opened against a top 10 team and struggled and played another strong team in S. Miss.

UT played like a very good team in the second half and seems to have it together somewhat. Do we actually go into the Florida game with momentum b/c of scheduling?
 
#2
#2
checkerboard_charly said:
Florida has played two cupcakes and breezed through both. Played both at home and look like they are still in last years form. Not sure how Troy scored 31 on them but they did.

Tennessee on the other hand has opened against a top 10 team and struggled and played another strong team in S. Miss.

UT played like a very good team in the second half and seems to have it together somewhat. Do we actually go into the Florida game with momentum b/c of scheduling?
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I dont think meyer ever allows their player to take games lightly... in both those games florida was up by 35 - 40 points... so though they have not been tested... they did good.. TCU scored when the second team D was there... but i hope tennessee is up for the challenge...
 
#3
#3
Troy scored 31 points of UF because Urban put in the 2nd or hell the 3rd string Defense. If Tennessee comes to play and the D steps up early then we have a chance because Florida is just writing us off as if we're just another run down team. The Defense has to get momentum early though, theres no way we can beat them if the D doesn't show up till the 2nd half like in S. Miss.
 
#4
#4
Considering Florida ALWAYS schedules two cupcakes ahead of us, and also considering our record against the Gators the last 15 years, I would say the answer to that is a pretty definitive NO.
 
#5
#5
our defense will dictate how we play. if our defense steps up big next week, i think we will win this game because our offense can also put up points
 
#6
#6
People making predictions of like 21 - 24 or low scores like that are wrong. atleast 30s 40s possibly, because both teams can score, and both teams have young defenses.
 
#7
#7
Sudeepvol said:
our defense will dictate how we play. if our defense steps up big next week, i think we will win this game because our offense can also put up points
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and their defense is not that great or havent been really tested with so many new starters... so the real match up will be how much their offense dominates our defense...
 
#8
#8
Scheduling two cupcakes ahead of the game with the Vols allows the Gator HC to evaluate players and schemes, without any risk to losing the game and maintains the potential for a 12 win season.

Scheduling top notch teams out of the shoot tests your ability to install the right players and schemes in during the fall camp, a tactic the Vols coaching staff struggles with....this is a risky approach.

Bottom line....yeah the Vols are battle tested, but a lot of open questions still waiting to be answered on both sides of the ball. On the other hand, the Gators have had the benefits of fall camp plus two easy games to iron out the wrinkles and get the younger players some serious game time. The Gators will be more prepared for the Vols than we will be for them.
 
#9
#9
adidasorange said:
Considering Florida ALWAYS schedules two cupcakes ahead of us, and also considering our record against the Gators the last 15 years, I would say the answer to that is a pretty definitive NO.
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I really think our off-week before the UF game hurt us more than anything. We seemed to lose all momentum and play tight.

With all our young guys it should help us to have played a couple of good teams. They know what happens when you miss assignments and it could help their concentration.

Plus, I don't like watching UT play terrible teams, especially when I'm forced to do PPV for the games.
 
#10
#10
I think playing tough games early can't do anything but help us and hurt Florida. With the exception of Gaines, we should have everyone healthy for the Florida game which is a plus. Yes, we have a few cuts and bruises but nothing that should hold anyone else out.
 
#11
#11
Volman09 said:
I think playing tough games early can't do anything but help us and hurt Florida. With the exception of Gaines, we should have everyone healthy for the Florida game which is a plus. Yes, we have a few cuts and bruises but nothing that should hold anyone else out.
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Florida needed two easier games in order to give the inexperienced players some good game time getting tuned up for the better teams. Also, why do you insiste on thinking that Troy isn't the equal of, say, USM? Troy gave Arkansas a decent game last week. I doubt USM could score 26 at Arkansas.

On the flip side, Florida may have some serious injury problems for this weekend. Luckily, we are deep at wide receiver, but I am particularly worried abour Fayson and James. Those guys are critical to our game plan.
 
#12
#12
lawgator1 said:
Florida needed two easier games in order to give the inexperienced players some good game time getting tuned up for the better teams. Also, why do you insiste on thinking that Troy isn't the equal of, say, USM? Troy gave Arkansas a decent game last week. I doubt USM could score 26 at Arkansas.

On the flip side, Florida may have some serious injury problems for this weekend. Luckily, we are deep at wide receiver, but I am particularly worried abour Fayson and James. Those guys are critical to our game plan.
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Who all is out or questionable for the game this weekend?
 
#14
#14
Caldwell was to have an MRI of his MCI, but they are hoping he will be okay and able to play. I haven;t heard anything knew on that. I believe James sprained his ankle.
 
#16
#16
Our strong schedule gives us a better idea of our team. For example, I will not be betting on the Vols this week.
 
#18
#18
tvolsfan said:
Our strong schedule gives us a better idea of our team. For example, I will not be betting on the Vols this week.
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LOL, its all relative. You may truly believe that the Vols have shortcomings, but how do you know how those deficiencies will stack up against the Gators? Might be masked or overcome by your particular strengths.

Listen, I do think Florida will win. But such an upset of us by the Vols would not be nearly of the same magnitude as we have seen in other games around the country so far this season. Its out of our hands as fans, just got to root and hope.
 
#19
#19
lawgator1 said:
Florida needed two easier games in order to give the inexperienced players some good game time getting tuned up for the better teams. Also, why do you insiste on thinking that Troy isn't the equal of, say, USM? Troy gave Arkansas a decent game last week. I doubt USM could score 26 at Arkansas.

On the flip side, Florida may have some serious injury problems for this weekend. Luckily, we are deep at wide receiver, but I am particularly worried abour Fayson and James. Those guys are critical to our game plan.
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USM's no world beater, but they're a much tougher test than Troy. Period.
 
#20
#20
lawgator1 said:
Also, why do you insiste on thinking that Troy isn't the equal of, say, USM? Troy gave Arkansas a decent game last week. I doubt USM could score 26 at Arkansas.
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:eek:lol: Give me a break man.
 
#21
#21
Both are predicted to win their conferences this year. Troy came within a touchdown last year of beating FSU at FSU. They played Arkansas pretty tough and scored 26 points at Arkansas. On ESPNs rankings for the strength of programs over the last decade, Troy is #85, ahead of teams such as Vanderbilt, Tulsa, La. Tech., and just behind Kansas, Memphis, and Hoston.

Southern Miss is a lot higher, but I don't think that for teams like UF and UT there is a meanginful difference between the two.

Anyway, I am used to this criticism. Happens every year because of the way we open things up. But last year, after enduring such criticism to start, we ended up with the #1 toughest schedule and still went 13-1, so if it makes you feel better to think you had the tougher opening stretch, have at it.
 
#22
#22
lawgator1 said:
Also, why do you insiste on thinking that Troy isn't the equal of, say, USM? Troy gave Arkansas a decent game last week. I doubt USM could score 26 at Arkansas.

That is an absurd argument.....It's like suggesting that if Tennessee doesn't score 31 points this week that they couldn't beat Troy....Nonsense......Florida plays nothing but Sun Belt Conference crap every year because they enjoy the path of least resistance....When they had the gumption to play quality opposition prior to Tennessee in the past ('91 Syracuse and '02 and '03 Miami) they lost - BADLY!
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#23
#23
JagerVol01 said:
lawgator1 said:
Also, why do you insiste on thinking that Troy isn't the equal of, say, USM? Troy gave Arkansas a decent game last week. I doubt USM could score 26 at Arkansas.

That is an absurd argument.....It's like suggesting that if Tennessee doesn't score 31 points this week that they couldn't beat Troy....Nonsense......Florida plays nothing but Sun Belt Conference crap every year because they enjoy the path of least resistance....When they had the gumption to play quality opposition prior to Tennessee in the past ('91 Syracuse and '02 and '03 Miami) they lost - BADLY!
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:clapping:
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#24
#24
Without a playoff your better off playing weaker teams. Less chance of injuries and losing.

Florida was lucky last year to even get in the NC game. Normally they wouldn't have gotten a chance and OSU would played Michigan or some other overhyped team and won.
 
#25
#25
NEVolFan said:
Scheduling two cupcakes ahead of the game with the Vols allows the Gator HC to evaluate players and schemes, without any risk to losing the game and maintains the potential for a 12 win season.

Scheduling top notch teams out of the shoot tests your ability to install the right players and schemes in during the fall camp, a tactic the Vols coaching staff struggles with....this is a risky approach.

Bottom line....yeah the Vols are battle tested, but a lot of open questions still waiting to be answered on both sides of the ball. On the other hand, the Gators have had the benefits of fall camp plus two easy games to iron out the wrinkles and get the younger players some serious game time. The Gators will be more prepared for the Vols than we will be for them.
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:thumbsup:
 
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