Spread the field or hunker down

Here is how the pass protection looked for SEC teams, in terms of how many passing plays per sack allowed.

Tennessee allowed a sack every 22.84 passiing plays.

Here's the rest of the conference -

LSU - 20.37
Alabama - 15.04
Arkansas - 34.56
Auburn - 9.06
Mississippi State - 13.41
Ole Miss - 10.66
Georgia - 21.12
South Carolina - 17.21
Florida - 18.35
Kentucky - 12.18
Vanderbilt - 18.74

So, Tennessee had the 2nd best pass protection line in the conference, behind Arkansas.
 
Here is how the pass protection looked for SEC teams, in terms of how many passing plays per sack allowed.

Tennessee allowed a sack every 22.84 passiing plays.

Here's the rest of the conference -

LSU - 20.37
Alabama - 15.04
Arkansas - 34.56
Auburn - 9.06
Mississippi State - 13.41
Ole Miss - 10.66
Georgia - 21.12
South Carolina - 17.21
Florida - 18.35
Kentucky - 12.18
Vanderbilt - 18.74

So, Tennessee had the 2nd best pass protection line in the conference, behind Arkansas.
hm...wouldn't have guessed that, but now knowing it, it makes sense......good stuff AZ.
 
It's unreal that Andre Woodson put up the numbers he did playing behind that line.
 
Hmmm, thought I might look at the DL pass rushes of each school, too.

Tennessee created a sack every 20.47 pass plays by the opposition. That's bad.

Rest of the conference -

LSU - 10.33
Alabama - 26.46
Arkansas - 12.70
Auburn - 12.69
Mississippi State - 15.05
Ole Miss - 25.21
Georgia - 11.36
South Carolina - 11.10
Florida - 14.47
Kentucky - 17.24
Vanderbilt - 12.72

Tennessee ranked 10th.
 
Now, comparing the sacks allowed and sacks made against conference finish:

Best pass pro (conf. finish):
1. Arkansas (2)
2. Tennessee (5)
3. Georgia (7)
4. LSU (4)
5. Vanderbilt (11)
6. Florida (1)
7. South Carolina (8)
8. Alabama (9)
9. Mississippi State (10)
10. Kentucky (6)
11. Ole Miss (12)
12. Auburn (3)

And now, pass rush (conf. finish):

1. LSU (4)
2. South Carolina (8)
3. Georgia (7)
4. Auburn (3)
5. Arkansas (2)
6. Vanderbilt (11)
7. Florida (1)
8. Mississippi State (10)
9. Kentucky (6)
10. Tennessee (5)
11. Ole Miss (12)
12. Alabama (9)

I don't see any strong correlations, really. Maybe creating sacks is a tad more important than not allowing them, but not by much.
 
Ok, it is a slow day on the board, so I will pose this question to the nation. Right now it looks like our returning receiving corps is pretty average. Oneal and Vinson may provide some spark. Coker, Hardesty and Foster are all decent backs, and two of the three have proven speed and can effectively play the slot.

My question is this. Is a UT fan in for three yards and a cloud of dust this year, or will we see some spread and innovation? As much as I would hope for the latter, I think the first option is much more likely.
I say as the average UT fan, I have grown rather fond of the third down and cloud of dust myself.........NOT!:no:
 
Here is how the pass protection looked for SEC teams, in terms of how many passing plays per sack allowed.

Tennessee allowed a sack every 22.84 passiing plays.

Here's the rest of the conference -

LSU - 20.37
Alabama - 15.04
Arkansas - 34.56
Auburn - 9.06
Mississippi State - 13.41
Ole Miss - 10.66
Georgia - 21.12
South Carolina - 17.21
Florida - 18.35
Kentucky - 12.18
Vanderbilt - 18.74

So, Tennessee had the 2nd best pass protection line in the conference, behind Arkansas.

Did any pass rush in America underachieve more than UGA last year? Those DE's were supposed to be monsters.
 
Seeing that our receiving corp will not be as strong as last year, but that our O-line and backs will be arguably better, I think that you simply go with the mindset of using the run to set-up the pass, rather than vice versa.

We'll still throw the ball plenty, but I don't think it will be our primary focus this year.

You have to work with the personnel you got. And I do believe our RB's our better as a group than our receivers.
 
Seeing that our receiving corp will not be as strong as last year, but that our O-line and backs will be arguably better, I think that you simply go with the mindset of using the run to set-up the pass, rather than vice versa.

We'll still throw the ball plenty, but I don't think it will be our primary focus this year.

You have to work with the personnel you got. And I do believe our RB's our better as a group than our receivers.

This board was flooded with posts almost exactly like this about 12 months ago. Personally, I thought it was an idiotic move for UT to try to spread the field. Evidently, I was wrong. Next year, I really am not sure what to expect.
 
This board was flooded with posts almost exactly like this about 12 months ago. Personally, I thought it was an idiotic move for UT to try to spread the field. Evidently, I was wrong. Next year, I really am not sure what to expect.

I don't know if it is a matter of right and wrong. Fulmer's teams are much better when they can run at will...but you can say that about any football team that has that ability.

We do tend to come full circle on the board because most of us have consistent opinions. Over the past three years I have simply grown tired of watching lesser teams willing to simply throw the ball down field and allow receivers to make plays.

For several reasons, last years UT team was one that had to throw the ball to set up the run. Unless the OL has vastly improved, which is a possibility, I don't know that this year will be any different. It could be that the rut this team is stuck in is derived from the staff's inability to effectively set up the run with the pass.
 
I don't know if it is a matter of right and wrong. Fulmer's teams are much better when they can run at will...but you can say that about any football team that has that ability.

We do tend to come full circle on the board because most of us have consistent opinions. Over the past three years I have simply grown tired of watching lesser teams willing to simply throw the ball down field and allow receivers to make plays.

For several reasons, last years UT team was one that had to throw the ball to set up the run. Unless the OL has vastly improved, which is a possibility, I don't know that this year will be any different. It could be that the rut this team is stuck in is derived from the staff's inability to effectively set up the run with the pass.
exactly.:thumbsup:
 
I don't know if it is a matter of right and wrong. Fulmer's teams are much better when they can run at will...but you can say that about any football team that has that ability.

We do tend to come full circle on the board because most of us have consistent opinions. Over the past three years I have simply grown tired of watching lesser teams willing to simply throw the ball down field and allow receivers to make plays.

For several reasons, last years UT team was one that had to throw the ball to set up the run. Unless the OL has vastly improved, which is a possibility, I don't know that this year will be any different. It could be that the rut this team is stuck in is derived from the staff's inability to effectively set up the run with the pass.


I just cannot see our O-Line improving that much esp considering that our best guy in now in the nfl. I would also put it out there that we just dont seem very strong, very physical on the line...that used to be our hallmark and it seems like ages since we pushed anybody around.
 
Various reports say that McClendon and Richard are monsters. UT has a solid anchor in McNeil. Sears was a good tackle, but I don't think he reached his full potential. Maybe, just maybe, they will come around with a renewed sense of urgency.

I am beginning to wonder if the idea of setting the run with the pass is so foriegn to UT football, that the staff simply doesn't know how to scheme it.
 
they simply cannot be worse than last year......at run blocking that is....
 
yeah......it does sound weird doesn't it?

but the reality is that last year's running game was the most pathetic running game we've had under fulmer. and i just can't see a repeat or declining performance over last year.

as gavol has said....we get better by default.
 
I guess the real question is has our line grasped/mastered zone blocking, or have they dumped it for the blocking schemes they had in the 90's?
 
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