Ten Thoughts

#1
zjcvols

zjcvols

"On a Tennessee Saturday night."
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#1
1. I know everyone hates these two words, because I hate them too and the objective is to win, but that was a good moral victory Saturday. I was impressed with our run defense. I thought Demps was going to get 150. Great job by the D-Line.

2. But we couldn't get any pressure on Brantley, especially on 3rd-n-long. It's one thing not to get pressure on 2 & 5, 3-n-4. But not getting it on 3&13, 3&9 is distressing, considering our ends were suppose to be the strong point of the team.

3. We have to do something about our return game. Not only are the kick returning, but our punt returning is horrendous. We haven't had a chance at a decent return. Eric Russell, isn't this your job?

4. Matt Simms was very frustrating Saturday. He made some nice throws, and he had no time on a lot of throws. But those picks were dumb. Hopefully it was a good sign.

5. Zach Fulton playing over Jarrod Shaw is an improvement. It's not like Shaw is loading with experience either and quite honestly, might as well trying something different considering we had only two runs of 10+ yards. Maybe our run game was stuffed because Florida's D is that good, and we just had a bad day.

6. We have got to get Stocker the ball more. He should be getting 8-10 targets a game. Simms is struggling on his intermediate throws and it's affecting Stocker. Maybe run some out's and short curls to get Stocker in space.

7. I am throughly impressed with Daniel Lincoln this year. That kick Saturday has plenty of distance and did a good job curving the ball in. I was so sure he was done this year, but he has improved and it has been a pleasant surprise. Good job Daniel Lincoln.

8. I don't know how quite honestly, but Victor Thomas has played very well, and he was in the middle of a ton of run plays Saturday. Having Victor play well for 20 snaps a game is a big help to the defense and I hope he keeps it up.

9. UAB is an excellent game to get our young WR's the ball. We really need to get Da'Rick out in space and get him on the outside. I really want to see what Hunter can do on some screens. And I really think Matt Milton might help with our redzone woes. How hard is it to learn "fly route, back plyon"?

10. I think UT will win fairly easy, something like 44-20, a game where you can try some different stuff. Get the run game on track, get the WR's the ball, and get to the passer to get ready for the toughest stretch in UT football since I have been watching. Go Vols! :hi:
 
#2
#2
I would like to see Bray play. I've watched Simms in person twice and on TV (and Replay) 15 times. He's limited and not an SEC QB. We are going to lose more than win this year, let's build our future and Simms ain't it.
 
#3
#3
25801VOL said:
I would like to see Bray play. I've watched Simms in person twice and on TV (and Replay) 15 times. He's limited and not an SEC QB. We are going to lose more than win this year, let's build our future and Simms ain't it.
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You just contradicted yourself right there. Yes Bray is very likely our future, thats exactly why he doesnt need to be behind this inexperienced line and get hurt. Wait 2 years, and let these kids get their feet wet and let Bray watch and learn.
 
#4
#4
That's what will happen and may be what is best. At this point (3 years without have a QB that can throw the ball) I'm ready to go wildcat exclusive.
 
#6
#6
25801VOL said:
That's what will happen and may be what is best. At this point (3 years without have a QB that can throw the ball) I'm ready to go wildcat exclusive.
Click to expand...

UT was the last major school to transition from the single wing to the T formation. UT will probably be the last to go back to it!
 
#7
#7
We have NO idea whether Bray is an SEC caliber QB. What we do know is that the coaching staff believes Simms gives us a better chance to win games right now. We're just not a very good team, so just deal with it. There's no magic pill. Putting Bray in the game does not make our problems go away and puts a young, rather frail looking QB at risk.
 
#8
#8
I think VN should ban the phrase "moral Victory."
 
#9
#9
Were gonna have to settle for some moral victories this season.

I'm tired of hearing people calling for Bray to start. He might be a good qb but throwing him into the fire is not good in the long run. I still think it had some effect on Ainge. Had we not had had Schaiffer in 04 to keep defenses guessing, he woulda been in a lot more trouble. QB's need to sit and learn. Playing Bray might well cost us a game over Simms this season. He needs to be well practiced ready and confident. I can guarandamntee that will NOT happen if he starts this season.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#11
#11
milohimself said:
Were gonna have to settle for some moral victories this season.

I'm tired of hearing people calling for Bray to start. He might be a good qb but throwing him into the fire is not good in the long run. I still think it had some effect on Ainge. Had we not had had Schaiffer in 04 to keep defenses guessing, he woulda been in a lot more trouble. QB's need to sit and learn. Playing Bray might well cost us a game over Simms this season. He needs to be well practiced ready and confident. I can guarandamntee that will NOT happen if he starts this season.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

If Simms plays bad and we are 2-6 going into Memphis, then you have to put Bray in as the starting QB. No point in keeping Simms there.
 
#12
#12
PMC2726 said:
We have NO idea whether Bray is an SEC caliber QB. What we do know is that the coaching staff believes Simms gives us a better chance to win games right now. We're just not a very good team, so just deal with it. There's no magic pill. Putting Bray in the game does not make our problems go away and puts a young, rather frail looking QB at risk.
Click to expand...

agreed. let the coaching staff decide and we should support their decision. didn't some of you learn your lesson last year when you were calling for Crompton's head and wanted Nick Stephens in?
Fulmer gave in to the pressure and put Stephens in but that didn't do squat.
 
#13
#13
Good point about Daniel Lincoln.
Also, has anyone else noticed the playmaking of Austin Johnson? In each game, he has been wreaking havoc and making the most of his playing time. The caused fumble against UF was very noteworthy.
Yet, I haven't seen any postings about his play. I know he is the backup to Reveiz who is a captain, but I think we need this guy on the field as much as possible.
 
#14
#14
Vol in Michigan said:
Good point about Daniel Lincoln.
Also, has anyone else noticed the playmaking of Austin Johnson? In each game, he has been wreaking havoc and making the most of his playing time. The caused fumble against UF was very noteworthy.
Yet, I haven't seen any postings about his play. I know he is the backup to Reveiz who is a captain, but I think we need this guy on the field as much as possible.
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If we had a big NT, we'd see a lot more A.J. and 3-4 defense.
 
#15
#15
We are miles ahead of where we were last year at this time at QB. It's not even close. Crompton was allowed to throw against FL last year-what-10 times? Simms is better than he is being given credit for, and the way he played down the stretch was very encouraging-same goes for how close that game was despite all the turnovers-and spending the entire 1st quarter inside the 5.

I agree with the starter of this thread about the WR's. I want to see something from these guys-especially Rogers.
 
#17
#17
Moral victories are not even what the team wants right now, so why would we? They want to compete and win and are working for that. Losing teaches you lessons and how to get better...that's not the same as a moral victory!
 
#18
#18
zjcvols said:
2. But we couldn't get any pressure on Brantley, especially on 3rd-n-long. It's one thing not to get pressure on 2 & 5, 3-n-4. But not getting it on 3&13, 3&9 is distressing, considering our ends were suppose to be the strong point of the team.

:hi:
Click to expand...

Generally, elite offensive tackles will win the battle over good defensive ends, and that's what happened. That said, Jackson still got pressure several times as did Hughes, which will be as good as it gets for anyone against that Florida OL. There's a reason guys like Nixon were the #1 OT in the country out of high school.
 
#20
#20
wood007 said:
Moral victories are not even what the team wants right now, so why would we? They want to compete and win and are working for that. Losing teaches you lessons and how to get better...that's not the same as a moral victory!
Click to expand...

I understand. I hate hearing that phrase too. But after getting absolutely destroyed by Oregon, coming out and being one or two plays away from tying up the game against UF, it's a good performance.
 
#21
#21
My take...I think the players are giving honest effort. In fact I think the players are ahead of the learning curve, even Lincoln seems to be focused. In terms of player skill level what we had in 98 was a corvette...what we have now is a mini van, but it's going as fast as it can go IMO. I believe in coach Dooley's vision and it will get there, but I think the coaching has been somewhat vanilla. I think it shows up most in special teams and 2nd half adjustments. Special teams it seems they are off balance and unorganized not 11 playing as 1 but 11 playing as 11. In the 1st half we come out with a decent gameplan, the players are fired up and flyin and we go in the locker room honorably with a close game goin on. Adjustments are made by our opponents, and we either fail to adjust or make poor ones. Is this a sign of lackluster coaching, or a coaching staff thats making decisions based on lesser talent in uniform? Both our coaches and players are young in expierience and things will get better if recruiting improves. It'll definately make the coaches look smarter.
 
#22
#22
zjcvols said:
I understand. I hate hearing that phrase too. But after getting absolutely destroyed by Oregon, coming out and being one or two plays away from tying up the game against UF, it's a good performance.
Click to expand...

One or two plays away? I see you're trying to keep Phil Fulmer's spirit alive by latching on to his delusional rhetoric.
 
#23
#23
The Tall Gguy said:
Moral Victory is a term made up by losers to make themselves feel better about losing.
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You mean like The 300?

All losses are bad but some are even worse because of the effect they have long term. Being able to take some positives away from a loss is better than not being able to. Being able to take something to build on away from a game is better than not.

UT in many ways took a very young team and stood toe to toe with one of the most talented, experienced, and well coached teams in the country. That is a far better starting point than getting slapped around like Fulmer did in his last games vs Bama and UF.

You can call it whatever you want but if you don't feel better about a loss where your team plays its heart out and does some good things only to lose to a better team than you do about getting dominated....:dunno:
 
#24
#24
Vol423 said:
One or two plays away? I see you're trying to keep Phil Fulmer's spirit alive by latching on to his delusional rhetoric.
Click to expand...

Yes. One or two plays. If Simms throws the ball to Hunter in the corner rather than throwing the pick in the end zone... it is a different game. No Poole fumble = different game. No Simms pick in UT territory = different game. A good tackle on the fake punt = different game.

The better team won but there were several points where UT could have made it tight or even taken a lead.
 
#25
#25
25801VOL said:
I would like to see Bray play. I've watched Simms in person twice and on TV (and Replay) 15 times. He's limited and not an SEC QB. We are going to lose more than win this year, let's build our future and Simms ain't it.
Click to expand...

I trust your wonderful analysis and highly qualified judgment over the coaching staff. BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!
 
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