Question regarding the Opening of the Playbook

#1
crusse10

crusse10

THIS MAN IS A PERVERT
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#1
Yes, the offensive line seemed to struggle. But do you think that part of the reason we looked so vanilla was that the coaching staff didn't want to look much more than vanilla? Seemed like the coaches were hesitant to use any of their big hit plays until absolutely necessary. But when we used them, they were great (the almost catch that Smith dropped and the beautiful TD).

It just felt like the staff wanted a win without giving away all of our secrets.

Oh, and Appalachian State played some of the most sound football I've seen in ages. I remember turning to my buddy after a successful running play of theirs in the first half and saying that it was the most picture perfect outside run blocking I'd ever seen. Everyone got on their block and kept the pathway clear immaculately. The only way to have made this a game was to take advantage of the slim opportunities they'd get, and play fundamentally sound on every single play. Everyone will talk about this game as a failure for Tennessee. I think it showed just how solid Appalachian State is.
 
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#2
#2
I'm starting to think that we don't have a "vanilla" playbook.

We just have a playbook that happens to be "vanilla."
 
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#3
#3
When the Center ends up in the ground all the time and the o-line can't open holes or protect, I honestly don't know where you go. The play up front was shockingly bad last night.
 
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#4
#4
crusse10 said:
Yes, the offensive line seemed to struggle. But do you think that part of the reason we looked so vanilla was that the coaching staff didn't want to look much more than vanilla? Seemed like the coaches were hesitant to use any of their big hit plays until absolutely necessary. But when we used them, they were great (the almost catch that Smith dropped and the beautiful TD).

It just felt like the staff wanted a win without giving away all of our secrets.

Oh, and Appalachian State played some of the most sound football I've seen in ages. I remember turning to my buddy after a successful running play of theirs in the first half and saying that it was the most picture perfect outside run blocking I'd ever seen. Everyone got on their block and kept the pathway clear immaculately. The only way to have made this a game was to take advantage of the slim opportunities they'd get, and play fundamentally sound on every single play. Everyone will talk about this game as a failure for Tennessee. I think it showed just how solid Appalachian State is.
Click to expand...

Appy was average at best.. They scored on a fumble and a chuck pass play.. This was more about TN and less about hem.
 
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#5
#5
I believe whole heartedly that they only called plays from a limited "menu". I think the line still could have executed better but that these were a select grouping from the playbook that they thought and hoped would be enough to run through App State...but it wasn't. There was little of Kamara out of the backfield or designed runs of Dobbs. Those plays didn't disappear from last year. They just didn't plan on needing them.
 
#6
#6
Our playbook is what it is in my opinion. There is no going easy, or not showing them everything, or smoke screens or any of that crap. The playbook we have don't fit the players we have. Dobbs did so well last year because no one really knew how to defend him. But guess what everyone has figured out he can't burn you down field with his arm. It is my opinion we will see the same play scheme next week that we saw last night. With maybe a trick play or two.
 
#8
#8
GAVol said:
When the Center ends up in the ground all the time and the o-line can't open holes or protect, I honestly don't know where you go. The play up front was shockingly bad last night.
Click to expand...

To me, the offensive line played scared and extremely hesitant to take their initial charge. Maybe had something to do with the so-called 'quickness' of the defense, I don't know. But the O-line played "not-to-lose" beginning with our first offensive snap.
 
#10
#10
The coaches continue to almost lose games by playing not to lose. Conservative playcalling, limiting Dobbs, underusing Kamara and running Hurd behind a porous OL is a game plan we've seen before. Thomas was awful last night. Wonder if Jack Jones will get a shot?
 
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#11
#11
SmartVolFan said:
To me, the offensive line played scared and extremely hesitant to take their initial charge. Maybe had something to do with the so-called 'quickness' of the defense, I don't know. But the O-line played "not-to-lose" beginning with our first offensive snap.
Click to expand...

The o line played not to lose? Well ain't that the butch jones way?
 
#12
#12
crusse10 said:
Yes, the offensive line seemed to struggle. But do you think that part of the reason we looked so vanilla was that the coaching staff didn't want to look much more than vanilla? Seemed like the coaches were hesitant to use any of their big hit plays until absolutely necessary. But when we used them, they were great (the almost catch that Smith dropped and the beautiful TD).

It just felt like the staff wanted a win without giving away all of our secrets.

Oh, and Appalachian State played some of the most sound football I've seen in ages. I remember turning to my buddy after a successful running play of theirs in the first half and saying that it was the most picture perfect outside run blocking I'd ever seen. Everyone got on their block and kept the pathway clear immaculately. The only way to have made this a game was to take advantage of the slim opportunities they'd get, and play fundamentally sound on every single play. Everyone will talk about this game as a failure for Tennessee. I think it showed just how solid Appalachian State is.
Click to expand...

Bingo! absolutely what was going on, if you noticed, and I think you did, we did not pull guards, tackles and the TE shifted to provide support to the run or pass protection, maybe a little too vanilla for my liking, but why show your hand. Butch knew we could win, why do you think he never really got red faced? it was just a matter of time........they did what they had to do to win, no more or no less........stick to the game plan......and eventually we put a few plays together to win........ranking do not mean anything until November. UT is 1-0........and that is were we all want them to be.
 
#14
#14
Hurd doesn't fall on the fumble and we lose that game by 3.

That is all I need to know.

Butch managed a very bad game.
 
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#15
#15
Just so everyone knows. There is no such thing as holding back plays. You install plays according to the opponent weekly.
 
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#16
#16
We were definitely not opening up the playbook last night.

My question, admittedly never having been a coach, is why? Why do we have to rely on sneaking up on our upcoming opponents with some ace-up-our-sleeves trickery in order to beat them? Do you honestly think the VT coaches are just going to focus on the App St game film and get all giddy thinking "hehe, UT doesn't pull any of their OL in run blocking anymore, and they only have 6 plays in their playbook now. Sweet! We're going to destroy them!" I mean, seriously, what's the harm in running the plays that worked so well in the NW game? Obviously, our upcoming opponents already have access to film on them anyway? :unsure:
 
#17
#17
NEOCON said:
Hurd doesn't fall on the fumble and we lose that game by 3.

That is all I need to know.

Butch managed a very bad game.
Click to expand...

Hurd doesn't fall on the fumble and we go to another overtime because Appalachian State wasn't putting anything through the uprights
 
#18
#18
VFL34 said:
Just so everyone knows. There is no such thing as holding back plays. You install plays according to the opponent weekly.
Click to expand...

True. More meaning that the plays were held back this week. And if the running game was getting the job done, then we may not have called the Malone TD play.
 
#20
#20
SmartVolFan said:
To me, the offensive line played scared and extremely hesitant to take their initial charge. Maybe had something to do with the so-called 'quickness' of the defense, I don't know. But the O-line played "not-to-lose" beginning with our first offensive snap.
Click to expand...

I just talked to a former player who was at the game. He said he didn't think he'd ever seen two tackles and a center get dominated like that by inferior competition.
 
#21
#21
crusse10 said:
Yes, the offensive line seemed to struggle. But do you think that part of the reason we looked so vanilla was that the coaching staff didn't want to look much more than vanilla? Seemed like the coaches were hesitant to use any of their big hit plays until absolutely necessary. But when we used them, they were great (the almost catch that Smith dropped and the beautiful TD).

It just felt like the staff wanted a win without giving away all of our secrets.

Oh, and Appalachian State played some of the most sound football I've seen in ages. I remember turning to my buddy after a successful running play of theirs in the first half and saying that it was the most picture perfect outside run blocking I'd ever seen. Everyone got on their block and kept the pathway clear immaculately. The only way to have made this a game was to take advantage of the slim opportunities they'd get, and play fundamentally sound on every single play. Everyone will talk about this game as a failure for Tennessee. I think it showed just how solid Appalachian State is.
Click to expand...

App State was very good in their run fits, which #88 to make so many play for them. He was a LB.

But their safeties and corners were also in the box.

BALANCED playcalling would have put them on their heels.

They could not guard Williams, Malone or Smith. We had one on one 70% of the time, but hand off to Hurd into a run blitz.....

We should have had them beat by half time.

It's really simple what happened last night. The players on offense don't really believe in our philosophy, and Debord reinforced it.

At least for that game.

More than likely we put 40 on VTech....
 
#22
#22
VFL34 said:
Just so everyone knows. There is no such thing as holding back plays. You install plays according to the opponent weekly.
Click to expand...

My question is where were the plays that rocked Northwestern? To me it is a very similar defensive team to App State. We had NW on their heels the whole game. I saw none of that. I saw no misdirection no pulling no seam routes! Did they just throw all that that worked so well in the trash?
 
#23
#23
crusse10 said:
Yes, the offensive line seemed to struggle. But do you think that part of the reason we looked so vanilla was that the coaching staff didn't want to look much more than vanilla? Seemed like the coaches were hesitant to use any of their big hit plays until absolutely necessary. But when we used them, they were great (the almost catch that Smith dropped and the beautiful TD).

It just felt like the staff wanted a win without giving away all of our secrets.

Oh, and Appalachian State played some of the most sound football I've seen in ages. I remember turning to my buddy after a successful running play of theirs in the first half and saying that it was the most picture perfect outside run blocking I'd ever seen. Everyone got on their block and kept the pathway clear immaculately. The only way to have made this a game was to take advantage of the slim opportunities they'd get, and play fundamentally sound on every single play. Everyone will talk about this game as a failure for Tennessee. I think it showed just how solid Appalachian State is.
Click to expand...

Here's the rub.
I believe that the highest rated O-line player was 3 stars (and that was Freshman Victor Johnson; I don't believe that he even played.)

We need an O-line coach.
 
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