Sunday observations...

#26
#26
One has to wonder at this point, if Chaney's lack of love for the running game, isn't one of the biggest turnoffs for recruiting big elite RBs. Sure, wins have some to do with it, but he hasn't consistently ran the ball with a lot of success either, especially between the tackles.
 
#27
#27
g8terh8ter_eric said:
One has to wonder at this point, if Chaney's lack of love for the running game, isn't one of the biggest turnoffs for recruiting big elite RBs. Sure, wins have some to do with it, but he hasn't consistently ran the ball with a lot of success either, especially between the tackles.
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I tend to agree. Although it was great to see Bartholomew's role in the offense, Chaney just doesn't seem to like running the ball out of the I.

I also wonder if we have simply become too predictable even in the pistol...a formation designed to guard against predictability.
 
#28
#28
Even decent SEC D's will catch Neal behind the line of scrimmage for a loss if he continues to bump everything outside. What concerns me is Neal's approach to his first game as a full time starter. I would think he would want to show everyone he can line up and truck some ACC LB and step on his face on his way to a big gain, but he didn't.
 
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#29
#29
g8terh8ter_eric said:
One has to wonder at this point, if Chaney's lack of love for the running game, isn't one of the biggest turnoffs for recruiting big elite RBs. Sure, wins have some to do with it, but he hasn't consistently ran the ball with a lot of success either, especially between the tackles.
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I think his mentality is basically a token run game. Just effective enough to keep teams honest. There will be a time when you have to run to win in this league.
 
#30
#30
Cartervol said:
I think his mentality is basically a token run game. Just effective enough to keep teams honest. There will be a time when you have to run to win in this league.
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If the running game is just lip service then we will eventually get drilled in SEC play.
 
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#31
#31
Lexvol said:
I tend to agree. Although it was great to see Bartholomew's role in the offense, Chaney just doesn't seem to like running the ball out of the I.

I also wonder if we have simply become too predictable even in the pistol...a formation designed to guard against predictability.
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Bartholomew had a great game. Check out his block on CP's reverse.
 
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#32
#32
fade route said:
Even decent SEC D's will catch Neal behind the line of scrimmage for a loss if he continues to bump everything outside. What concerns me is Neal's approach to his first game as a full time starter. I would think he would want to show everyone he can line up and truck some ACC LB and step on his face on his way to a big gain, but he didn't.
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Time for Graham to earn his cash.
 
#33
#33
g8terh8ter_eric said:
1. We won. No analyzing it with this observation, just enjoy the win.
2. With that being said, our running game between the tackles is still terrible. They better keep it between the tackles the entire Ga State game, just to prepare for FL. FL has too fast of LBs to go East/West, and it looked like NC State kept at at bay running outside as well.
3. CP84 is the real deal. That kid is going to help us win games, and I hope we get him more than one season.
4. It was great to see Hunter playing the way he played Friday night. I'm glad they targeted him as much as they did, and helped him work off some of the gameday rust.
5. Our defense is going to have to play better. Yes, we had 4 INTs, and yes we pressured their QB all night, but we gave up too many big plays, and that had more to do with communication than anything. Still, good effort as a defensive unit.
6. Our team is most definitely in shape. I can say this is the best conditioned team I have seen play in years. Kudos to Coach Mac.
7. Jim Chaney's play calling is still suspect. There were several times I asked myself what I was watching. I love the fact we can hit the big play down field, but I'm scared too death with what we are going to do in the SEC when faced with 3rd and 5, and no between the tackles running game.
8. Very happy we won in the ATL. Good to get that proverbial monkey off our backs.
9. Bray needs to learn a bit of touch. Throwing it full bore all the time isn't the best practice, and he won't be able to to that at the next level. Hope he gets that down.
10. Eric Gordon has the ability to be a "STAR" this season. Looking forward to his development and to see if he can maintain the tenacity he showed Friday night.
11. AJ, Curt, and Jaq really impressed me playing LB. They will cause problems this year for teams, but we don't have much below them, so health is going to be a big concern with our LB.
12. My heart broke for Lathers getting hurt, but sounds like he will be back for FL. That guy is a VFL.
13. I wasn't all that impressed with McCullers play. He took up a lot of space, but he's not near as aggressive as I thought he might be.

Lots of other observations to tell, but those are some that stuck out most to me. This team answered a lot of questions for us, but still left a lot of them on the table. I think we will know a whole lot more about this team the second half of the FL game.

So, here's to a blowout next week, and Go Vols!!!

:hi:
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Good observations Eric. I 100% agree with you on CJC. I wish we had lost him with the rest. We managed a bunch of 3rd and 10+ that kept us in the game. That won't happen with the in-conference schedule.

Disagree about Bray, he WILL be able to throw that way a lot more than he is now. In fact, that is expected there. If you can't catch the laser rocket arm, you don't last long.
 
#34
#34
Lexvol said:
The pass on third and one early in the game nearly did me in.
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I know. When I got home yesterday, I stopped at that play to see what was going on. They just made a mistake, put simply.
From what I could see, we thought we could catch them in a mismatch for an easy pitch and catch to Hunter in the slot, or maybe even catch them in a sub penalty. Well, neither worked. Bray went to throw and he saw Amerson breaking on the ball from his corner spot. An out throw to JH there would have probably been a pick 6, but Bray did a great job of throwing it in the dirt.

We just need to get in a 2 wide set so they have to have at least one safety, TE, fb, rb and hit the hole, jay graham style. I don't like the pistol with slow forming misdirection and single back against SEC d lines.
 
#35
#35
Lexvol said:
If the running game is just lip service then we will eventually get drilled in SEC play.
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It sure looks that way. He's going to ride that arm of Bray for all it's worth. You can't give defenses time to react in this league, they're too fast. You either run right at them or you don't run much at all.
 
#36
#36
g8terh8ter_eric said:
So, basically all you wanted was a "you were wrong post", right?? Who gives a damn!! There are plenty of people wrong on a message board, but I don't a find a use in pointing it out here. I'll give you back a pat on the back though, just so you feel better about pointing it out. Good job.
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Thanks for eating your crow. As for your evaluation, I'll agree on the running between the tackles part. Take away CP's two rushes for 72 yards, we only averaged 3.3 ypc. To put that in perspective, BG averaged 3.7 ypc vs UF.

I would like to see Lane get the start against UF - and if he show's patience, he can rip the interior of the florida line. BG's running back's, IMO, were very good in letting the play develop, just not speedy enough to clear florida's LB's.
 
#39
#39
dreVol said:
what did you guys think about the pistol?
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in a quick summary, without touching base on a few play calls and power running questions:

over 500 yards, almost 200 rushing, 2 drops from Bray throwing for just under 400, and embarrassed their AA 3 times before halftime.
 
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#40
#40
This is a good thread full of reasonable debate.... carry on please :hi:


Oh, and Chaney's play calling has been befuddling since he took over duties when Kiffin left. I just cannot understand how someone can excel and be so creative in orchestrating a passing game and yet be utterly incompetent when it comes to designing a running scheme.
 
#41
#41
dreVol said:
what did you guys think about the pistol?
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It allows Bray to see more of the field, which from what we have seen is a good thing. I don't like running out of it. For that, a more mobile guy would probably be better suited.
 
#43
#43
Lane seemed to find his way through traffic better. He lowered his shoulder into a LB after a middle run as well.
 
#44
#44
fade route said:
Even decent SEC D's will catch Neal behind the line of scrimmage for a loss if he continues to bump everything outside. What concerns me is Neal's approach to his first game as a full time starter. I would think he would want to show everyone he can line up and truck some ACC LB and step on his face on his way to a big gain, but he didn't.
Click to expand...

I think he really wanted to prove himself in his first start with some big runs to the outside. He and DY were both trying too hard to hit home runs when all we needed was 4-5 yds. FWIW Hunter was trying to do the same thing. He was cutting backwards trying to make a big play when he could have just dove forward for the first down.

I think our offense put a lot of pressure on themselves to come out and dominate on Friday. Hopefully they get that all out of their system with Ga St and come ready to play smart against UF.

I'm thinking that watching the NC St film will really help them see the obvious mental mistakes.
 
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#45
#45
Don't care for the pistol either and I think we could use some of our TE/FB could be used as FB to help us run up the middle. However Chaney won't do anything that conventional.
 
#46
#46
1. We won. No analyzing it with this observation, just enjoy the win.

#'s 2-13 didn't exactly follow 1.
 
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#47
#47
another observation-don't know if its been said- we look really good running the ball out of the I formation, with Lane. His style of running is very unique.
 
#49
#49
You have to give McCullers a break, It was his first game. I'm sure he's never been through anything like that, he will only get better, just look at Mo Couch. He didnt have an impact until 2nd half oof the season last year.
 
#50
#50
Disagree on Bray and Neal.
Bray showed a little touch on his screen to Marlin to pick up the 1st down. He just has to be confident with not drilling it in there.
Neal looked good the few times he ran between the tackles. He is shifty in the hole and has the power to finish the run. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt due to it being his first game at RB in 2 years. Now, if he doesn't make progress in the coming weeks, we might have an issue.
 
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