Spread the field or hunker down

#1
Lexvol

Lexvol

I'm Your Huckleberry
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Jan 22, 2005
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#1
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.
 
#2
#2
i think you'll see a few wrinkles of the latter, but the bread and butter will be what it always has been.

we will be aggressive in the running game this year, use TE's more than we have been used to, at least since Witten anyway.

unless/until any of the WR's show that they can be relied upon on a consistent basis, i don't know how much "flash" we'll see.

now, i'm betting that at least two guys step up and have really good years and provide that option for hte offense.

i don't expect a lot of difference in the offense, but i do expect it to be effective, which at the end of the day is all i care about.
 
#3
#3
Give me a power running attack and a playaction game any day of the week. I think even the most successful "spread" teams are able to spread things out without losing the ability to play smashmouth when they need to. You need look no farther than what Florida did last year for proof of that.
 
#4
#4
Lexvol said:
As much as I would hope for the latter, I think the first option is much more likely.
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I don't know why you would think that Lexy... For all the criticism about 'predictable' Fulmer offenses, the fact is that they have always been very multiple formations. Three yards and a cloud, as I consider the definition, simply does not exist at Tennessee.

Will we spread the field this year? I think yes, though not to the degree that some might espouse.

But no, we will not 'hunker down'... Anyway, the line will be more physical I think, but not that much more physical...
 
#5
#5
jakez4ut said:
i think you'll see a few wrinkles of the latter, but the bread and butter will be what it always has been.

we will be aggressive in the running game this year, use TE's more than we have been used to, at least since Witten anyway.

unless/until any of the WR's show that they can be relied upon on a consistent basis, i don't know how much "flash" we'll see.

now, i'm betting that at least two guys step up and have really good years and provide that option for hte offense.

i don't expect a lot of difference in the offense, but i do expect it to be effective, which at the end of the day is all i care about.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Same O Same O.
 
#7
#7
orange+white=heaven said:
I don't know why you would think that Lexy... For all the criticism about 'predictable' Fulmer offenses, the fact is that they have always been very multiple formations. Three yards and a cloud, as I consider the definition, simply does not exist at Tennessee.

Will we spread the field this year? I think yes, though not to the degree that some might espouse.

But no, we will not 'hunker down'... Anyway, the line will be more physical I think, but not that much more physical...
Click to expand...

When that did happen, too often last year, it was because of the OL. That will need to improve.
 
#9
#9
GAVol said:
Give me a power running attack and a playaction game any day of the week. I think even the most successful "spread" teams are able to spread things out without losing the ability to play smashmouth when they need to. You need look no farther than what Florida did last year for proof of that.
Click to expand...
agreed, and by bread and butter, this is what i meant....play action has always been a key part of the offense for us...i see it being no different this year, esp considering that there should be more option available at pass catcher....WR, RB, TE should all be solid contributors on the receiving end of those passes.
 
#10
#10
GAVol said:
I've always said that. We use as much shotgun and 3-4 WR formations as anybody.
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10-4 on that........if you want to see "hunker down", go look at some Carolina Panther offensive tape.

not 1 shot gun formation. and you could probably count on one hand how many 4+ WR formations they got in to last year.

i keep up with both very closely, and i don't think that i'd be lying if i said that TN's offensive play book and schem was a lot, A LOT, more imaginitive than the Panthers ever thought of being........
 
#11
#11
I think UT will begin the season trying to mix things up quite a bit. We've seen glimpses of that with discussion of occassional no huddle and I think Fulmer is feeling the pressure to be more aggressive. Add in that Cut has had a full year now to work on it, and it seems like at least the attitude is there to open it up, at least relatively speaking.

Whether that is how things are done at mid-season or not depends on two things: whether the receivers mature and blossom fast enough and whether there are no key injuries to the offensive line and/or Ainge.
 
#12
#12
orange+white=heaven said:
I don't know why you would think that Lexy... For all the criticism about 'predictable' Fulmer offenses, the fact is that they have always been very multiple formations. Three yards and a cloud, as I consider the definition, simply does not exist at Tennessee.

Will we spread the field this year? I think yes, though not to the degree that some might espouse.

But no, we will not 'hunker down'... Anyway, the line will be more physical I think, but not that much more physical...
Click to expand...

A rephrase may be in order. Perhaps I should have used the term more or less conservative playcalling.
 
#13
#13
lawgator1 said:
I think UT will begin the season trying to mix things up quite a bit. We've seen glimpses of that with discussion of occassional no huddle and I think Fulmer is feeling the pressure to be more aggressive. Add in that Cut has had a full year now to work on it, and it seems like at least the attitude is there to open it up, at least relatively speaking.

Whether that is how things are done at mid-season or not depends on two things: whether the receivers mature and blossom fast enough and whether there are no key injuries to the offensive line and/or Ainge.
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hm. nice post.
 
#14
#14
LG, I love your use of blossom, but we are not looking for flowers at UT. We want football players.
 
#15
#15
Lexvol said:
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.
Click to expand...

I'm expecting Chris Brown to lead the team in receiving yards and catches. Cottam might be second on the team.
 
#19
#19
jakez4ut said:
hm. nice post.
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I am curious myself to see whether they make a genuine effort at it. I think the fans definitely are in the mood to see it. I think the players probably would get behind it. And the coaches are talking about it.

Only question is whether there is really the will there to do it, and that comes down to Fulmer. He has not been the icon of flinging it around or misdirection in the past. But I sense that he is probably willing at this point to let Cut take a shot at it and he'll just have to give up some of his playcalling management to Cut to let it happen.






Lexvol said:
LG, I love your use of blossom, but we are not looking for flowers at UT. We want football players.
Click to expand...


Har de har har. Nomenclature aside, do you not feel that some of the UT offensive players in the recent past have been stifled by a too-conservative playbook? I do, and I'm not even a UT fan.
 
#23
#23
lawgator1 said:
Only question is whether there is really the will there to do it, and that comes down to Fulmer. He has not been the icon of flinging it around or misdirection in the past.
Click to expand...

We threw for about 30 more yards per game than you guys did last year.
 
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