Positives from App St. Game

[P.O.T.S. VOL]

As an Aeronautical Engineer, Dobbs is very bright. On that last play, he realized the ball was going to come up short and therefore he placed it in the end zone for Hurd.

That was an extremely intelligent move!

I bet he will never do that kind of thing again...he made a mistake. He sacrificed his body for a TD and a win for his team, school, and fan base.

Curious...what did you major in?

 

[rcrrcr]

Clemson also pulled their starters for the entire 4th quarter (or maybe it was midway through the 3rd). UT had the 1's in the whole game, right?

Our 1st team Lbs played the whole way. One LB got ejected so one was our second teamer. WE are not deep at LB we played our two deep on the dl and in the secondary. Your offense is very hard to defend. Your RB may be a pro. he is very good. Dale Jones did a great job with you Defense. They play like he did in college. All grit. You should be proud of your team. I know if my team played the way your team played last night I would be proud of them. Win or Lose!! You guys are going to win a lot of games this year.

 

[AppFan82]

Our 1st team Lbs played the whole way. One LB got ejected so one was our second teamer. WE are not deep at LB we played our two deep on the dl and in the secondary. Your offense is very hard to defend. Your RB may be a pro. he is very good. Dale Jones did a great job with you Defense. They play like he did in college. All grit. You should be proud of your team. I know if my team played the way your team played last night I would be proud of them. Win or Lose!! You guys are going to win a lot of games this year.

Thanks! I do love App State football and am looking forward to great things.

I guess I was most surprised at mostly 1's in the game for UT most of the game because of the posters on here that touted the extraordinary speed and depth of UT.

Good luck the rest of the season. I'll be pulling for you for sure.

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

Positives...

Sutton stepped up despite blowing it on the opening punt return.

Hurd stepped up despite problems with the OL. Ended up with the game winning fumble recovery when it looked like App St surely had it. Really smart football player.

Barnett had a good game and was very disruptive. His burst off the edge looks quicker than it did last year.

McDowell looked like good in-place of JRM, he's definitely not afraid to lay a guy out.

Richmond established himself out there and did a good job for his 1st collegiate start.

Ethan Wolf was reliable and looks ready to make some big plays out.

Abernathy tackled and contained well, has a very nice future.

Kirkland is fast, smart and reliable. Looks great for a year 2 LB.

Kamara did damage when his card was called, unfortunately that only happened 3 times and 1 of those plays was called back (after J. Smith's reviewed catch).

Malone was clutch.

Berry looks like he hasn't missed a step. Very dangerous.

Medley was consistent, gotta give him props for that.

Trevor Daniel is going to make serious bank in the NFL. Avg 49 yards in 6 punts. Did you see him tackle that punt returner? This guy gives us a ridiculous advantage on punts / returns. What an asset.

 

[jonnon111]

I am always shocked how when we win big everyone says don't read too much into game 1. Do those same people downplay this close win in game 1?

 

[1986sugarvols]

Win and no injurys

 

[volger]

I'm positive this team is grossly over rated.

 

[Shakinthefat]

Positive....1 game closer to a new OC in 2017.

 

[GBOTango]

Shoop made a defensive adjustment. Admittedly late, but he made one. Held AP to a goose egg in the second half. Defense will figure it out. Special teams will be fine as well. Gotta find an O line that is willing to get nasty. Debord has got to ride Dobbs legs as long as Dobbs can stay healthy. Debord is a better play caller than he was against App State. Butch has got to be a bull in the china shop. Quit over coaching and thinking too much. Throw everything you got at each opponent. Hurd and Kamara will be fine. They should be on the field together more. Kamara must be used a lot more, and I think he will be. Receivers are better than they get credit for. An Sec QB has to thread the needle. I think the receivers can catch it if the passes are catchable. Debord and Butch take the most blame. Dobbs next, then o line

 

[GetEmVols]

There were 2 positives in this game:

1. We won
2. No injuries

 

[SJF]

No positives! Nuff said!

 

[FTCvol]

Somehow we snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat instead of the opposite.

Yeah. Other than that...

Oh, and our punter is still pretty good. So there's that, too.

 

[zjcvols]

1) The secondary is stacked.

2) Corey Vereen is absolutely on a mission this year. He looked great. He could have a great year.

3) Preston Williams and Josh Malone have definitely improved and should really get more touches this year.

4) It's goes with #1 but Micah Abernathy looks like a fixture at safety.

5) Drew Richmond looked really good for three quarters after he settled his nerves.

 

[sjt18]

Clemson also pulled their starters for the entire 4th quarter (or maybe it was midway through the 3rd). UT had the 1's in the whole game, right?

Good point. But your O also had an extra period to balance that out some.

UT's O played horribly and the ST's were uncharacteristically bad. But the D played well after they adjusted to the cut blocks.

Honestly, I hate playing teams that use cut blocks. You almost always lose a DL in those games.

UT escaped with a win and doesn't have any new injuries that we know of.

 

[AppFan82]

Good point. But your O also had an extra period to balance that out some.

UT's O played horribly and the ST's were uncharacteristically bad. But the D played well after they adjusted to the cut blocks.

Honestly, I hate playing teams that use cut blocks. You almost always lose a DL in those games.

UT escaped with a win and doesn't have any new injuries that we know of.

I was having to watch much of the game on the jumbotron and couldn't get the same perspective that I have sitting on the 50 at home games. I didn't see the cut blocking you speak of and cannot imagine Nate Woody / Dale Jones and crew teaching an illegal move as part of routine play. Perhaps I missed the refs calling those penalties (Neyland gets a little loud )?

I'm glad no one was injured for either team though I'm concerned about John Law's knee.

At the end of the day, TN found the endzone for the win. If Debord can open the playbook and the O line woes can be addressed quickly, y'all will be alright. Good luck with the rest of the season. We'll be cheering for you to win out.

 

[Aday25]

I was having to watch much of the game on the jumbotron and couldn't get the same perspective that I have sitting on the 50 at home games. I didn't see the cut blocking you speak of and cannot imagine Nate Woody / Dale Jones and crew teaching an illegal move as part of routine play. Perhaps I missed the refs calling those penalties (Neyland gets a little loud
I'm glad no one was injured for either team though I'm concerned about John Law's knee.

At the end of the day, TN found the endzone for the win. If Debord can open the playbook and the O line woes can be addressed quickly, y'all will be alright. Good luck with hte rest of the season. We'll be cheering for you to win out.

Cut block is not illegal. You are thinking of a chop block.

"...cut blocking is an offensive line technique that consists of an offensive player knocking a defensive player down by hitting his knees. The technique, which was initially instilled by Bobb McKittrick, the offensive line coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1999, is often criticized as being "dirty." Additionally, it is often illegal for an offensive player to "cut" a defensive player already engaged with another offensive player. This is considered a "chop block." In the NCAA, cut blocking is allowed as long as the block is no more than five yards away from the line of scrimmage and it is inside the tackle box."

While some still thinks it's dirty it's totally legal. I figured you misunderstood. Your linemen use this technique because it can nullify bigger faster D linemen if done right.

I also hate playing teams who do it because it increases the chances of injuries and thus why the NFL banned it. They banned it this year because it's highly controversial. And leading up to this years ban in the NFL many saw the technique as unethical.

Cut-blocking is legal, but is it ethical? - Houston Chronicle

So while your coaches don't teach an illegal move by your line it might be seen as unethical, there are coaches out there who refuse to teach it. I know I would.

 

[KBVol]

Does anybody else think we should throw it to ethan wolf more over the middle???

Yes. And throw it more to PWill and throw it more to Malone and throw it more to Smith and let Kamara even play, etc, etc.

But this head coach and OC are utterly obsessed with giving the ball 25-30 times a game to Hurd for 4 yards a play. All those weapons they've worked so hard and so tirelessly to recruit and bring aboard and they just refuse to use them. I'll never understand it.

 

[KBVol]

I was having to watch much of the game on the jumbotron and couldn't get the same perspective that I have sitting on the 50 at home games. I didn't see the cut blocking you speak of and cannot imagine Nate Woody / Dale Jones and crew teaching an illegal move as part of routine play. Perhaps I missed the refs calling those penalties (Neyland gets a little loud )?

I'm glad no one was injured for either team though I'm concerned about John Law's knee.

At the end of the day, TN found the endzone for the win. If Debord can open the playbook and the O line woes can be addressed quickly, y'all will be alright. Good luck with the rest of the season. We'll be cheering for you to win out.

Congrats to you and your very tough, very well coached Mountaineers team. Your boys lines up and took the fight to Tennessee and you guys deserved to leave Neyland with a win. Butch Jones says repeatedly before the game that "App State has our attention". Well, now you absolutely have their and this fan's respect. Wish you well the rest of the way in 2016 and especially that you hammer Miami in Boone here in a few weeks.

 

[AppFan82]

Cut block is not illegal. You are thinking of a chop block.

"...cut blocking is an offensive line technique that consists of an offensive player knocking a defensive player down by hitting his knees. The technique, which was initially instilled by Bobb McKittrick, the offensive line coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1999, is often criticized as being "dirty." Additionally, it is often illegal for an offensive player to "cut" a defensive player already engaged with another offensive player. This is considered a "chop block." In the NCAA, cut blocking is allowed as long as the block is no more than five yards away from the line of scrimmage and it is inside the tackle box."

While some still thinks it's dirty it's totally legal. I figured you misunderstood. Your linemen use this technique because it can nullify bigger faster D linemen if done right.

I also hate playing teams who do it because it increases the chances of injuries and thus why the NFL banned it. They banned it this year because it's highly controversial. And leading up to this years ban in the NFL many saw the technique as unethical.

Cut-blocking is legal, but is it ethical? - Houston Chronicle

So while your coaches don't teach an illegal move by your line it might be seen as unethical, there are coaches out there who refuse to teach it. I know I would.

Ah, yes, I read "cut" and my brain read "chop". We've lost too many players to teams that use both techniques on us for any coach to think it's a good idea. At some point I'll rewatch the game thoroughly. Today I'll be glad there were no significant injuries Thursday night for either team.

 

[Tnslim1]

I read somewhere that ASU has never signed a 4 star player. To get that kind of production out of 3 stars and below says a ton about effective coaching. I'd swap our coaching staff with ASU in a heartbeat. CBJ and staff are great recruiters but pretty much suck at game day coaching.

 

[LittleDTO]

I hope this is a wake up call to the coaches. I think the coaches failed in the preparation of this team and looked to VT. Our team looked slow and woefully unprepared. Oline will be better but I think Coleman Thomas should look over his shoulder at Jack Jones. Our Oline recruiting better get a ton better too.

Defensively, we were very very vanilla but adjustments shut down Appy State in the second half.

I think Appy St is a legit top 30 team and they snuck up on us......a team that had read how great they are all off season.

 

[TN Outlaw]

After watching most of the game again, and i know its been hashed and rehashed, but the amount of mistakes made (mostly on Offense) was just so uncharacteristic of this team. I know the major mistakes have been talked about alot but everytime we had a nice gain either there was a fumble at the end of it or a bad snap following it or holding call. App was defending those screens like mad men and we hurt alot of good D's with them all last year. Other than the Oline, and maybe Dobbs arm, talent didnt seem the problem. Just being so sloppy and not even trying hard to stay focused and make sure all 11 done their job cleanly and correctly.

Ill not take nothing away from App state. They came in and played their hearts out and if it wasnt against my team id be VERY proud for them. If 120 had played their normal low mistake football in all 3 phases that we have already seen them do several times before, even with App whoopin' our oline's arse all game and calling the same 6 plays over and over its still a 28-10 type ballgame.

All the wasted possessions ending with penalty's, fumbles, bad snaps, INT's and the muff punt that prob took away our points and gave App a TD, PWilly TD not being a TD, losing JRM who was looking like a beast BTW, i just dont know why this team came out like that at home in a year with so much to play for? At least those are not things this team is known for doing so they should be able to return to normal quickly.

Oline is still a MAJOR question. Normally we do alot of guard pulling and sealing the edge for sweeps so maybe when we return to the normal play calling that will shore up some of those problems. Thomas supposedly had his ankle hurt pretty bad so that may be why we werent pulling him very much and maybe why he kept getting whipped...bad! Im ready for Chance Hall to be back and id like to know why Jack Jones is not playing? You know, the same guys that pushed around GA and Bama several plays?

They better clean up and return to what they do best and let this game make them hungry to prove themselves. If they play like that, Virginia Tech will beat us by 20 but this team playing focused still could reach all the goals they set. 3 weeks from now will be when we know the truth. If we are 3-0 and looked waaay better in Bristol and our 2's and 3's look good vs Ohio and App state is 2-1 and beat Miami, i wont feel so bad.

ps congrats AppFan82 on your team playing balls out and earning a victory no matter what the final score said. Hope you had a good time in K-town. Good luck this season.

 

[TheJonesEra]

It was so nice to see our defense actually be fresh in the 4th quarter and not basically worn out...props to Shoop for keeping our guys fresh just like he said he would...That could definitely save some games later in the year to have our Defensive front on rotation so they aren't on empty by the half!

 

[photovol]

As an Aeronautical Engineer, Dobbs is very bright. On that last play, he realized the ball was going to come up short and therefore he placed it in the end zone for Hurd.

That was an extremely intelligent move!

I thought that was a dumb move by Dobbs, could have gone the other way very easily

 

[tallyho]

Vols beat a good Sun Belt team...a team that won the conference and is probably better than several bottom feeder SEC teams. Check the results of the Miss St. V. So. Alabama game.

After one game we are 1-0. Oklahoma is 0-1. That is a good result for the Vols.