I think this is a really interesting post. A couple of years ago when reading about some spring scrimmages I was struck how the analysis some how reflected a kind of dissconnect between plays. In other words each play is looked at for its potential to score with not much concern with the set up. Its a difficult thing to describe and obviously there was some set up in the pass in the fourth to Brown that got us down into the red zone before the fumble. And I know that when I first observed this dimension in what appeared to be a kind of thinking in the program that this was before Cut and was just really an impression. Still it seems likes this is what you are describing. But maybe this has to do with all the check offs which seem to be norm for the offense both at the line and during any pass play. And this seems to have carried over from Sanders to Cut. With a check off there is no commitment to a plan. Still this idea of a series multiple critical decisions with each play is fascinating. Ainge looked like Manning at times today as he was checking through the receivers looking for the play when back in the pocket. But you are right, this seems to minimize the importance of game plan.
The run game did have a bit more than one isolated run by Coker. Foster was getting good numbers and this was heartening even as heart breaking the fumble was. And here shadows of losses to Georgia and Alabama suggest there is something around ball protection in the red zone that is somehow not being taught. Even though the hit today like the hit in Alabama game last year was something. The Penn. St. defense was for real, but I agree the Vols might should have challenged vertically earlier and more often. Go strength against strength. That flubbed reverse definitely lacked flow.
But remember as a friend of mine observed it was an opportunistic Auburn defense that was the difference in their win of Nebraska. I have a good feeling about the Vols moving ahead. Penn St. looked very talented and is one year out of the Orange Bowl. I think the game was much closer than the final score indicated. Still I agree the Vols seemed to lack an edge. I am thinking vaguely however that the problems addressed in this thread revolve around falling away from an emphasis on "body lean" in the running game.
