Pruitt’s defense vs. Malzahn’s offense

#28
#28
BigOrangeTrain said:
I honestly cannot see how any Vol fan can reasonably predict an upset win over AU.
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Well, a lot of VN picked upsets over WVU, UF, and UGA, so...

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#32
#32
During the mid/late 30's my dad use to watch the "General's" practices, he said that his plan was to be able to tell the defense what play UT was going to run, then do it successfully. In other words you know, now what you gonna do about it? I fell CoachP is in this situation. He knows what A-burn will do, but what can he do about it?
 
#33
#33
livefaith said:
I say we hang on to the 11AM ET start time as our ace in the hole. It's the best advantage we have vs the Barn. That should tell you all we need to know @ the outcome.
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The other advantage is that Auburn will be a tired team, having just played Miss State and playing their 7th straight game. As opposed to us coming off a bye. Still have no expectation that we’ll win, don’t believe we have a chance there. But perhaps we make a game of it, as opposed to the 3 other legit opponents we’ve played thus far who all beat us by 4 touchdowns. If we stay healthy and can get past the Alabama game, perhaps we can upset a mediocre SCar team here in about a month and find a way to finish the season “strong”.
 
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#34
#34
That front 7 against this Vol O-line and struggling offense that scores 12, 14, and 21 vs power 5 teams, 24 against a pushover? Not a very good chance to find the endzone for us.

I do believe the D will play decent being refreshed from a bye. The only way I see an upset is if the D scores a couple times and/or sets the O up in the red zone some. Taking the ball away will be critical for an upset.
 
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#35
#35
njvols said:
True about the talent diff, but think there’s a value in being dialed into tendencies and what has worked situationally in the past. Certainly can’t hurt.
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CJP will scheme well and execution will be a game day decision on the players.
 
#36
#36
KBVol said:
The other advantage is that Auburn will be a tired team, having just played Miss State and playing their 7th straight game. As opposed to us coming off a bye. Still have no expectation that we’ll win, don’t believe we have a chance there. But perhaps we make a game of it, as opposed to the 3 other legit opponents we’ve played thus far who all beat us by 4 touchdowns. If we stay healthy and can get past the Alabama game, perhaps we can upset a mediocre SCar team here in about a month and find a way to finish the season “strong”.
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I have felt this way since I first looked at the schedule. Strongly resembles when we went to Sucksaloosa a few years ago and had the lead late in the 4th. Granted we had better playmakers then, but the situations nearly mirror one another. Bama was also ranked 8th that game.
 
#37
#37
Take away the screens and short passes, put pressure on Stidham by blitzing him up the middle, and rattle him by hitting him a few times. He does not like pressure.

The AU running game is not as strong as it was last year. If Malzahn knew how to manage his RB talent, he wouldn't run them into the ground by late season, which is what happened to Kerryon Johnson last year.

Make no mistake, though....Auburn is a running team. Malzahn's offense is more like a modified Wing-T than it is conventional. If he ever gets another running QB like Nick Marshall was a few years back, look out.

As it is now, though, he has a large passing QB that doesn't like to get hit much. Stidham can sling it....he just doesn't run it much. Or, he doesn't LIKE to run it much. Nick Marshall was a threat to take off running at any moment. Stidham, not so much.

It's not a coincidence that Auburn has averaged 4 losses a year since Nick Marshall left.
 
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#38
#38
Titans Fan said:
Pruitt knows how to scheme against Malzahn. The off week comes at the perfect time.
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Auburn vs Miss St. could be a very revealing game for Pruitt and company. Auburn has only averaged 3 ypc rushing in 4 games against FBS teams. And their starting tailback is dinged up with a shoulder injury, last I heard it wasn't clear if he would play. So Gus may have to show everything he has in the playbook if he wants to avoid a 2nd conference loss. It'll be interesting to see what he does to get their offense moving, and how MSU defends it. I expect he'll try to get the WR's more rushing attempts and plenty of misdirection in the backfield to keep the MSU defense from being too aggressive. Stidham seems to have a severe aversion to being hit.
 
#42
#42
njvols said:
True about the talent diff, but think there’s a value in being dialed into tendencies and what has worked situationally in the past. Certainly can’t hurt.
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Our guys can't tackle, or block and we won't throw the ball
 
#43
#43
Everything in this thread is probably true...

And yet I am still flying into Birmingham from Denver on Friday... playing a couple rounds on the Trent Jones Trail that afternoon, and eating at The Club in Birmingham Friday night.

I'll be the one wearing orange with a shaker in my hand at noon on Saturday screaming my face off for the Vols at a stadium in Auburn, AL if you want to say hi...

Go Big Orange!!!!
 
#44
#44
livefaith said:
I say we hang on to the 11AM ET start time as our ace in the hole. It's the best advantage we have vs the Barn. That should tell you all we need to know @ the outcome.
Click to expand...
It's 11 central time not eastern, I am pretty sure on that. GBO!!!!
 
#46
#46
KBVol said:
The other advantage is that Auburn will be a tired team, having just played Miss State and playing their 7th straight game. As opposed to us coming off a bye. Still have no expectation that we’ll win, don’t believe we have a chance there. But perhaps we make a game of it, as opposed to the 3 other legit opponents we’ve played thus far who all beat us by 4 touchdowns. If we stay healthy and can get past the Alabama game, perhaps we can upset a mediocre SCar team here in about a month and find a way to finish the season “strong”.
Click to expand...
That’s my hope. Show real improvement with no injuries and pray we beat Carolina.
 
#48
#48
There’s a difference in knowing how to scheme against it and having your players execute the game plan. Our defense is improving but Auburn’s offense can really confuse our guys if they aren’t focused.
 
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