nicksjuzunk
Coming home soon.
- Joined
- May 29, 2009
- Messages
- 35,435
- Likes
- 111,815
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Game Time: 4:00 pm ET
Venue: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
Network: SEC
Tennessee returns from Alabama with another loss in the column, but feeling a lot better about the future after a hard fought loss to the Crimson Tide. The bad news is the Vols are sitting at 2-5. The good news, is Tennessee fans have not felt better about their team since about 10 seconds into the Georgia State game. Every game left on the schedule is a winnable game. They almost certainly will not win every game, but they have a reasonable chance to win any of them.
Keys to Victory:
1. QB or not QB... that is the question: For the second week in a row, Brian Maurer has sustained a head/neck injury that leaves his availability in doubt for the following game. No one really knows what is going on... whether it is truly a concussion, a neck strain, or something else. Because of this, we have no idea whether or not he is going to be available on Saturday. It's not a stretch to say the game hinges very much on whether Maurer is good to go (and finish) the game because we know what JG gives us and Shrout still has not gained the trust of the coaching staff. Don't expect an answer to this question till Saturday, as Pruitt will not show his cards until necessary.
2. OL Physicality: The Tennessee OL has really begun to come into it's own, though Darnell had a really rough night against Bama. South Carolina has beef on their DL, with Javon Kinlaw and LB DJ Wonnum being the stars of the defense. On the back-end, they have a talented secondary which creates all kinds of problems for opposing quarterbacks. Jake Fromm had an awful day as SC upset Georgia and Kyle Trask had a fair day, but the SC defense kept them in the game until late when the rug came out from under them.
Tennessee will need to have a Bama game like effort to neutralize the SC rush and seek to establish the running game in the likely absence of Brian Maurer.
3. TN WR Play: Will Muschamp is 100% aware that Chaney has no faith in JG to throw the ball downfield. This is concerning. He will have his corners sit all over the WR's in the short passing game and force TN to take chances downfield. If they are not able to beat the press coverage, it's going to be a long day. Israel Mukaumu had three INT's against UGA and returned one for a TD. Former Vol commitment Jaycee Horn is a star in the making. The TN WR corp needs to strap it on and be ready to carry some wood.
4. Feaster Famine: Former Clemson RB Tavien Feaster is finally realizing the potential that made him a highly recruited running back years ago. He is averaging 6 YPC on the year and blew Florida up for 175 yards at 7 YPC. Tennessee needs to see Feaster kept in check. QB Ryan Hillinski has been ok, but not stellar. In fact... outside of a bizarre 324 yard passing game against Bama... of all teams, he hasn't topped 200 yards in games against KY, Mizzou, UGA, or Florida. If Tennessee can eliminate turnovers and generate some offense, the next concern is Feaster.
Prediction: Without knowing the status of Brian Maurer, this becomes such a difficult call because it is literally a difference of 14 points on the field, IMO. A 14 point spread is easily the difference between these teams, so that being said...
With Maurer
TN 24
USC 21
Without Maurer
TN 10
USC 24
Game Time: 4:00 pm ET
Venue: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN
Network: SEC
Tennessee returns from Alabama with another loss in the column, but feeling a lot better about the future after a hard fought loss to the Crimson Tide. The bad news is the Vols are sitting at 2-5. The good news, is Tennessee fans have not felt better about their team since about 10 seconds into the Georgia State game. Every game left on the schedule is a winnable game. They almost certainly will not win every game, but they have a reasonable chance to win any of them.
Keys to Victory:
1. QB or not QB... that is the question: For the second week in a row, Brian Maurer has sustained a head/neck injury that leaves his availability in doubt for the following game. No one really knows what is going on... whether it is truly a concussion, a neck strain, or something else. Because of this, we have no idea whether or not he is going to be available on Saturday. It's not a stretch to say the game hinges very much on whether Maurer is good to go (and finish) the game because we know what JG gives us and Shrout still has not gained the trust of the coaching staff. Don't expect an answer to this question till Saturday, as Pruitt will not show his cards until necessary.
2. OL Physicality: The Tennessee OL has really begun to come into it's own, though Darnell had a really rough night against Bama. South Carolina has beef on their DL, with Javon Kinlaw and LB DJ Wonnum being the stars of the defense. On the back-end, they have a talented secondary which creates all kinds of problems for opposing quarterbacks. Jake Fromm had an awful day as SC upset Georgia and Kyle Trask had a fair day, but the SC defense kept them in the game until late when the rug came out from under them.
Tennessee will need to have a Bama game like effort to neutralize the SC rush and seek to establish the running game in the likely absence of Brian Maurer.
3. TN WR Play: Will Muschamp is 100% aware that Chaney has no faith in JG to throw the ball downfield. This is concerning. He will have his corners sit all over the WR's in the short passing game and force TN to take chances downfield. If they are not able to beat the press coverage, it's going to be a long day. Israel Mukaumu had three INT's against UGA and returned one for a TD. Former Vol commitment Jaycee Horn is a star in the making. The TN WR corp needs to strap it on and be ready to carry some wood.
4. Feaster Famine: Former Clemson RB Tavien Feaster is finally realizing the potential that made him a highly recruited running back years ago. He is averaging 6 YPC on the year and blew Florida up for 175 yards at 7 YPC. Tennessee needs to see Feaster kept in check. QB Ryan Hillinski has been ok, but not stellar. In fact... outside of a bizarre 324 yard passing game against Bama... of all teams, he hasn't topped 200 yards in games against KY, Mizzou, UGA, or Florida. If Tennessee can eliminate turnovers and generate some offense, the next concern is Feaster.
Prediction: Without knowing the status of Brian Maurer, this becomes such a difficult call because it is literally a difference of 14 points on the field, IMO. A 14 point spread is easily the difference between these teams, so that being said...
With Maurer
TN 24
USC 21
Without Maurer
TN 10
USC 24
