Tennessee vs Georgia: How We Match Up (Heavily Moderated)

[VFL-82-JP]

Foreword: this is not about drama. Fistfights, sideline moods, firing and hiring, all that stuff has other threads; please leave it out of this one. This is about football.

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So how do the two teams stack up? Let's focus the question a little, because if we come out flat like we did last Saturday, it's game over before it even begins.

So, the question of this thread: if both teams come ready to play, amped up, excited, giving it their best effort, how do we do?

A few thoughts to start the conversation:

Vols OLine vs UGa DLine -- gonna be a tough fight, all game long. I'm a bit worried they have the edge here. Could be a long day for our QB(s). But if John Kelly does that thing where he floats behind the blockers for a half-second, then squirts out whichever side shows him an opening, we can still probably have a good running game. Just don't know if our OL is good enough vs their DL to give our still-inexperienced QBs time to pass downfield. May need to go with slants and quick outs and screens in the flats to keep the defense spread out.

Vols front 7 vs UGa's running game -- if our lads show up the way they did vs Florida, think we'll be okay. Chubb will probably get 100 yards anyway, but it shouldn't be devastating to us. For all the teeth gnashing about how Florida ended, our D held them to 168 total rushing yards (and would've only been 94 yards total if we hadn't allowed Davis that one breakout run of 74 yards).

In fact, if you take away that 74 yard run and the 63 yard hail mary that ended the game, you would say our D looked hella good, both against the run and the pass.

So the key for our defense seems to be: play tough, like you did against FL, but this time don't give away any big ones.

Given all that, it kinda comes down to this, I think: can we rattle Jake Fromm, get him to act more like Quinten Dormady has been performing early this season? And can we somehow shake something loose in Dormady's head that frees him up to reach his potential, so that he plays a lot more like how Fromm has been playing so far?

Hate to say it comes down to a battle of the QBs, but it kinda does seem to. And that's why UGa has the edge right now; their QB has been hot, while ours has been shaky.

Would love to see that flip-flopped this Saturday.

 

[05_never_again]

Hate to say it comes down to a battle of the QBs, but it kinda does seem to. And that's why UGa has the edge right now; they're QB has been hot, while ours has been shaky.

Georgia has the edge for a lot more reasons other than just that. QB play, which has been really inconsistent, is the least of Tennessee's problems. Tennessee doesn't match up particularly well against anybody right now.

 

[BeardedVol]

Georgia has the edge for a lot more reasons other than just that. QB play, which has been really inconsistent, is the least of Tennessee's problems. Tennessee doesn't match up particularly well against anybody right now.

I'd say their biggest edge is that the Georgia players actually seem to be enjoying themselves on the field. I haven't seen that from Tennessee this season.

 

[GAVol]

I've watched a lot of UGA this year. The first thing that jumps out at you is their speed on defense. They close on the ball like an NFL defense.

As far as the QBs go, Fromm has looked good, but he's been protected and he hasn't seen a crowd like he'll see Saturday. It's all about whether we can keep them out of big plays on the ground.

 

[UTFootballFan]

I think Georgia is better coached, better disciplined, faster and more physical. They also play as a team as if they are all on the same page.

If they come out flat or overconfident, it may be a ballgame. Otherwise, it could be a romp as I just don't think the Vols match up well with them.

 

[GAVol]

I also keep waiting for Jim Chaney to go pass happy like he did with us.

 

[WildTurkey]

But if John Kelly does that thing where he floats behind the blockers for a half-second, then squirts out whichever side shows him an opening, we can still probably have a good running game.

This is a pro-style technique by a naturally gifted RB who is coached by most likely UT's best position coach. Linemen still need to execute and Kelly would benefit from scrapping the 'read' part of the running game altogether. Edge - UGA (due to 'read' scheme)

May need to go with slants and quick outs and screens in the flats to keep the defense spread out.

This would require receivers to run proper routes and QB to throw on time. So far neither has happened consistently. Edge - UGA

In fact, if you take away that 74 yard run and the 63 yard hail mary that ended the game, you would say our D looked hella good, both against the run and the pass.

Yeah...too bad those count. And honestly plays like those happen all to often for this defense under Shoop. Edge - UGA (primarily due to UT's weak LB play)

Hate to say it comes down to a battle of the QBs, but it kinda does seem to. And that's why UGa has the edge right now; they're QB has been hot, while ours has been shaky.

Agree that Fromm looks the part and QD has been all over the place. QD problems are 1)footwork 2)scheme and 3)looking over his shoulder during a made-up QB battle. None of which I expect to be fixed by Saturday. Edge - UGA

 

[WildTurkey]

I've watched a lot of UGA this year. The first thing that jumps out at you is their speed on defense. They close on the ball like an NFL defense.

As far as the QBs go, Fromm has looked good, but he's been protected and he hasn't seen a crowd like he'll see Saturday. It's all about whether we can keep them out of big plays on the ground.

Outside of Jumper, from a pure speed standpoint UT can match man for man. I do agree that UGA plays faster. I think that is due to the comfort within Smart's scheme. UT's players look tight and rigid most plays.

 

[05_never_again]

I think Georgia is better coached, better disciplined, faster and more physical. They also play as a team as if they are all on the same page.

If they come out flat or overconfident, it may be a ballgame. Otherwise, it could be a romp as I just don't think the Vols match up well with them.

There are several hallmarks of Butch's teams, most of them bad. However, one of those hallmarks has both a good and bad side to it: they play to their level of competition. If that pattern follows, we should see a close game even though we don't match up well against them at all. There hasn't been a blowout in this series since 2010 (a 41-14 Georgia win in Athens).

 

[37620VOL]

Maybe we'll catch them looking ahead to Vandy. (blue... kinda)

 

[GAVol]

I'd think we load the box and try to play 4-3 against them and see if Fromm can go on the road and make the throws.

 

[05_never_again]

I'd think we load the box and try to play 4-3 against them and see if Fromm can go on the road and make the throws.

I think we'll load the box against them and they'll be able to run it effectively anyway. Our defensive line is really overrated and our LB depth is poor. There really isn't any good reason why we can't do the same job Notre Dame did (who doesn't have a great defense), which is limit them to 185 yards on 43 attempts (4.3 YPC), but I suspect they'll be much more efficient than that.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

There are several hallmarks of Butch's teams, most of them bad. However, one of those hallmarks has both a good and bad side to it: they play to their level of competition. If that pattern follows, we should see a close game even though we don't match up well against them at all. There hasn't been a blowout in this series since 2010 (a 41-14 Georgia win in Athens).

That is a true curiosity about the Jones-led squads. I mean, a lot of teams "play up" and "play down" to competition, but I don't think I've ever seen one do so to the extend of Teams 119, 120, and (so far) 121.

Here's hoping that plays to our advantage this weekend. If it does, and if we can flip-flop the storylines of the two QBs, we could even perhaps squeak out an upset 'W'.

 

[37620VOL]

Seriously though.

UGA played really well against MSU. They scratched out a ND win with a 4th quarter FG. I'm not ready to crown them yet.

 

[Biopsyman]

They have difference makers.. we don't game over

 

[jctenn1]

I think we match up better than people think..This is always a close game no mater the difference in talent level..I have to say that we have the best back in Kelly in all of SEC ( hope he proves me right Saturday )..They have good backs also and they will get their yards..We must win the turnover battle in my opinion if we win..We can not turn the ball over like we have been...Hoping for a coming out party for the VOLS...GBO

 

[GAVol]

They have difference makers.. we don't game over

Wouldn't go that far. Kelly, Callaway, Chandler, Byrd can go the distance anytime.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

They have difference makers.. we don't game over

Sure, we do. John Kelly is a difference maker. Marquez Callaway is a difference maker. Ty Chandler is a difference maker. Trey Smith is a difference maker. Trevor Daniel is a difference maker. There are others (Brandon Johnson, perhaps, Darrell Taylor, etc.). That's just off the top of my head.

The key is, we need to put our difference makers in position to make a difference, frequently, like every dang play practically. We need to maximize their impact this game.

 

[ATLVols]

Offense: This game comes down to our ability to throw the ball. If we can get our passing game going, it will open up our running game. If we can't throw, UGA will stop the run.

Defense: If Jumper plays most of the game, UGA will expose us so badly with their great TE and with their speed in the run game. If we can get other guys going, we can slow down their running game.

 

[BootheelVol]

If we make the Freshman QB beat us with his arm and he does then we just tip our hats to them. If we let him beat us with his legs then we hit Stoop over the head with said hat...

 

[Wylo]

Georgia runs well. Tennessee cannot stop the run.

Georgia makes explosive plays through the air. Tennessee allows anyone to pass deep.

Georgia coaching is unknown. Tennessee is laughably bad in the coaching department.

Georgia uses new players and let's them shine. Tennessee plays worse players while sitting potential stars.


Georgia is excited because they have won a big game on the road and a big time SEC showdown with Mississippi State. Tennessee struggled to beat a high school offense and the worst D1 team in America.

There ya go.


Edit: Tennessee does not quit. That much I'll say. They do not give up. They have a leader in over his head, but his teams do play hard.

 

[GAVol]

If we make the Freshman QB beat us with his arm and he does then we just tip our hats to them. If we let him beat us with his legs then we hit Stoop over the head with said hat...

Exactly...

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

IF our players haven't given up on this coaching staff (which is a huge IF), I actually like our chances to pull the upset. It's still really hard to win on the road in the SEC.

 

[05_never_again]

That is a true curiosity about the Jones-led squads. I mean, a lot of teams "play up" and "play down" to competition, but I don't think I've ever seen one do so to the extend of Teams 119, 120, and (so far) 121.

To rip off a Butch cliche, "it all goes back to your preparation." When you see that across multiple seasons and multiple coaching staffs with the same guy at the top, I don't know what else to make of that other than to lay the blame at the foot of the head coach. Some of Fulmer's teams later in his career had a tendency to do this as well.

People in any organization, especially young guys like college football players, take their cues on how to behave from the people at the top. If the coaching staff takes their foot off the gas, or if they don't do a credible job at making it look like their foot is on the gas before playing inferior teams, guys are going to naturally let up as well.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

UGA will have to come out and lay an egg honestly or we will have to force multiple TOs. ATP, UGAs best is clearly better than ours until proven otherwise.