We are better than Texas A&M

#51
#51
The game is played on the field not paper. Advantage TN. We got this by 6. GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
#52
#52
zooguy said:
Well, I'm a Fightin Texas Aggie, so I'll beg to differ with you. They are two great players.

I wish we played TN every year rather than SC. Being from Texas (and now living in the Knoxville area), the two fan bases are very very similar. You guys won a Championship in 1998; we were in the Sugar Bowl that year. We fired Slocum, you fired Fulmer. Both of us haven't been relevant nationally since then. Both of us are up and coming teams. Heck, both QB's have similar stats over their careers.

And, General Neyland did go to Texas A&M. Course, we got Sam Houston from you guys. I think we got the better of that trade.
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Don't ever put Texas A&m in the same league as Tennessee
 
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#53
#53
I think these are two teams that have not yet played their best football, if either one of our teams shows up and plays 4 great quarters it could get ugly for the opposition. Should be a great matchup, games like this make me glad we moved to the SEC.
 
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#55
#55
ChattaTNVol said:
Again, I don't think it's confidence we're lacking. It's humility on the part of some of our guys. Lack of humility leads to lack of focus and, subsequently, poor discipline and execution. Being a bit cocky is not always a good thing. We have too many guys who have been playing a bit too cocky and consequently we've been doing things that CBJ repeatedly describes an "uncharacteristic" of our team. We need some humility. If we didn't gain any internal humility with the way that game ended then I don't think anything changes either. However, I think it's human nature that most would be humbled a bit after Saturday - if, in fact, you do have good character. The bolded part of your comment is where I think we gained from the Georgia game. It may not be universal but I think it makes a difference overall. jmo.
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Tend to agree. Unfortunately, I don't think the wake up came Saturday. Quite the contrary. I think it reinforces the notion that they're charmed....a team of destiny. IMO, nothing short of a good whipping at the hands of aTm and/or Bama will get their attention. And that might not be the worst thing that can happen. Better to lose one mid season and to a team from the west than late against the likes of UK, USC or Vandy.
 
#56
#56
ntxVOL said:
A&M is playing better football than the Vols right now.

If we don't come out firing on all cylinders we may get boat raced. Must protect the ball and sustain drives in what will very hostile environment.
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My thoughts also. Not a great matchup for us and if we start slow and get down 14-21 early we could get ran off Kyle Field. They have the type offense that can score quick and in bunches. Not the team we want to wait till havetime to show up for.
 
#57
#57
jasonvol18 said:
Little different with them playing at home. Vandy held UF to 13 so based off that UF shouldn't have put up 28 on us.
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Well Butch did say that wasn't us in the first half against Florida that gave up 21 points. It was us in the 2nd half and we only gave up 7 points. So there's that. :)
 
#58
#58
81Orange said:
Missing CamS hurts but I am more worried about our LB situation.
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I'm very worried about a true freshman CB having to likely start against TAMU with Sealy-Jones, Kirk, and Reynolds. And with Moseley and Foreman too often getting burned on deep throws.

Some potential mismatches there.

I will say one thing about Foreman on that late Eason throw for a TD. I don't agree with Danielson, who said Foreman slowed down because MF didn't think Eason could throw the ball that far. That was just baseless, and Danielson, as do pretty much every color commentator, of projecting what he thinks someone else is thinking. Re-watching that play numerous times it is obvious that Foreman slowed down as Ridley slowed down, possibly concerned with a back-shoulder throw. Then Ridley turned on the burners, which gave him a step on MF and there was no time to make it up. It was really a heads up move by a young WR.
 
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#60
#60
I'm caught between us getting destroyed by A&M vs the team just keeps finding way to win football games.
 
#61
#61
Im going to be positive and say a lot of people will count us out of this one because of injuries and rankings, but it puts a chip on our guys shoulders and we play the most complete game all year and win. gbo
 
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#62
#62
chatt-townVOL said:
After seeing the opening line yesterday, I really started feeling doubtful about our chances to win Saturday. On the surface, Texas A&M looks scary. However, last night I watched Texas AM vs S. Carolina, and I became much more optimistic. Yes, I'm aware A&M was missing several starters, but IMO South Carolina was the better team on the field. They both scored on the opening drive, then they both went stalemate. Neither team scored again until the 3rd quarter. Carolina shot themselves in the foot all game long. They moved the ball fairly easily on that "stout A&M defense", then they would stall out and fail to finish the drive. Also, they missed 2 field goals.

Knight is very suspect. They call him "one-read Knight" on their message boards. He freaks out under pressure, bad. They run a 4-wide set, but they don't have the QB to use it.

Also, something else to consider,

Recruiting class rankings for the last 3 years (using 247 composite):

2016:
Tex-18
Tenn-14

2015:
Tex-11
Tenn-4

2014:
Tex-6
Tenn-7

Average class ranking for the last 3 years:
Tex: 11
Tenn: 8

Also, and I rarely say this, we have the better coach. Sumlin made his reputation by lucking out with Manzeil/Evans, since then he has frequently been on the hot seat.

We have the better team, recruiting-wise. Barnett is better than Myles Garrett. Texas A&M was 8-5 last year. We haven't been beat in 11 games, and we're supposed to be scared of this team?

I'm not saying this is an easy win. But look at the data and watch a bit of film on them this season, they're not what everyone thinks they are.
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So in a nutshell you're saying you don't know much of anything about this A&M team. LOL I mean if you're resorting to recruiting rankings and making assumptions based on how they played against a crappy USC team at far from full-strength.

That's ok. I've obviously seen all 5 of Tennessee's games and still don't really know what to make of them. One of the National guys made a good comparison this morning saying this Tennessee team reminded him of Winston's 2014 FSU team that just pulled out win after win in close games before eventually getting trounced in the 1st playoff game. Hey, if this Tennessee team had a run like that I'd take it in a heartbeat.

You know I'd say that both fan bases are really in the same position with regards to still not really knowing exactly how good their team is. This is the 3rd straight year that A&M has started 5-0. Of course they finished the past two pretty poorly so you have a lot of Aggies fans wondering if that same shoe is about to drop again. A&M almost choked the UCLA game away and who knows how good Arkansas really is at the end of the day. That said, the Gators didn't make the Vols look any better by winning ugly in Nashville and you could say that Georgia really exposed weaknesses in the Vols' defense a week after being humiliated by Ole Miss.

I really don't have a good gauge on this game. Nothing would really surprise me. I'd say that A&M's defense may be a tad better than the Vols' and UT's offense a tad better than A&M's. Both teams really mirror each other pretty well. I really think it comes down to which QB makes the fewer mistakes. Both Knight and Dobbs figure to make plays, who's going to make the bigger mistakes? I see this game being tight in the 4th quarter and favoring the team who handles the pressure better. Should be a classic and here's to hoping it's another great 4th quarter to remember for the Vols!

All of that said, how awesome is it to finally be relevant again and to have all of the attention we are getting. Playing in big games week after week. I had almost forgotten what it was like.
IT'S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL!!
And you better believe I'll be repping hard this week down here in Aggieland!
 
#64
#64
jakez4ut said:
the 4 starters that didn't make the trip were all impact players, and starters. i'll be surprised if they all aren't back on the field this week.

and the recruiting rankings aren't so far apart that you should find any drastic differences in talent and depth, at least not so much that i'd just say 'we're better'.

i'm not predicting we'll lose here, but i definitely think this is by far the best team overall, top to bottom we've played so far. and it's in their house.

additionally the two biggest weaknesses they've had historically are up the middle on both sides of the ball....they seem to have fixed that, now allowing all that skill on offense to do what they can do. they lead the league in rushing and i think are 3rd in rush defense.

and trevor knight has to be the biggest pleasant surprise that aggie fans have seen this year, considering what a mess their qb situation was in at the end of last year.

couple that with our defensive injuries, and i'd say it's reasonable to think this is a spot where we drop a game.
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:eek:k:
 
#65
#65
VOLINHTOWN said:
So in a nutshell you're saying you don't know much of anything about this A&M team. LOL I mean if you're resorting to recruiting rankings and making assumptions based on how they played against a crappy USC team at far from full-strength.

That's ok. I've obviously seen all 5 of Tennessee's games and still don't really know what to make of them. One of the National guys made a good comparison this morning saying this Tennessee team reminded him of Winston's 2014 FSU team that just pulled out win after win in close games before eventually getting trounced in the 1st playoff game. Hey, if this Tennessee team had a run like that I'd take it in a heartbeat.

You know I'd say that both fan bases are really in the same position with regards to still not really knowing exactly how good their team is. This is the 3rd straight year that A&M has started 5-0. Of course they finished the past two pretty poorly so you have a lot of Aggies fans wondering if that same shoe is about to drop again. A&M almost choked the UCLA game away and who knows how good Arkansas really is at the end of the day. That said, the Gators didn't make the Vols look any better by winning ugly in Nashville and you could say that Georgia really exposed weaknesses in the Vols' defense a week after being humiliated by Ole Miss.

I really don't have a good gauge on this game. Nothing would really surprise me. I'd say that A&M's defense may be a tad better than the Vols' and UT's offense a tad better than A&M's. Both teams really mirror each other pretty well. I really think it comes down to which QB makes the fewer mistakes. Both Knight and Dobbs figure to make plays, who's going to make the bigger mistakes? I see this game being tight in the 4th quarter and favoring the team who handles the pressure better. Should be a classic and here's to hoping it's another great 4th quarter to remember for the Vols!

All of that said, how awesome is it to finally be relevant again and to have all of the attention we are getting. Playing in big games week after week. I had almost forgotten what it was like.
IT'S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL!!
And you better believe I'll be repping hard this week down here in Aggieland!
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I thought the same thing after the Ohio game and went back and looked more closely at FSU's 2014 team. I'm hoping we have enough guys with better character than to fall into the same trap that befell the Seminoles. Hey, they're kids until they reach 30 years old so we'll see if they're maturing any faster than the typical curve for their age group. Life hasn't taught them quite all the lessons they need to learn yet. Butch says football is just life sped up. Here's to hoping we're learning fast.
 
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#66
#66
zooguy said:
Well, I'm a Fightin Texas Aggie, so I'll beg to differ with you. They are two great players.

I wish we played TN every year rather than SC. Being from Texas (and now living in the Knoxville area), the two fan bases are very very similar. You guys won a Championship in 1998; we were in the Sugar Bowl that year. We fired Slocum, you fired Fulmer. Both of us haven't been relevant nationally since then. Both of us are up and coming teams. Heck, both QB's have similar stats over their careers.

And, General Neyland did go to Texas A&M. Course, we got Sam Houston from you guys. I think we got the better of that trade.
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Nice FYIs!

Should forward this to the Gameday crew.
 
#67
#67
I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place for this comment, but I was just reading some of A&M's threads and for the most part it seems like they have lots of the same sentiments as we do towards them. Both fan bases know this could go either way, gonna be a helluva game. But it is a little comical reading their thoughts about Dobbs. Someone posted that they think he's the best QB they will have faced this year, then was met with several responses saying "Dobbs is terrible when he's pressured, he's barely good when there's no pressure at all, etc etc."

I ran into a Bama fan in Nashville while watching the game downtown. He wouldn't stop saying how Dobbs can't throw, he's awful, whatever. Anyone who's watched this team this year knows that Dobbs is the most dangerous person on team 120 in my opinion. I'm hopeful that Dobbs just plays like Dobbs on Saturday, puts the game on his back like he can and leads us through that battle.
 
#68
#68
swchandler1988 said:
I ran into a Bama fan in Nashville while watching the game downtown. He wouldn't stop saying how Dobbs can't throw, he's awful, whatever.
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Ain't that the damn truth. Fans of every team we have played so far this season have said prior to the game that Dobbs is an awful QB, can't throw, can only scramble for yardage once the play breaks down. And then for the first half of games Dobbs seems to prove them right, then proceeds to destroy their souls when the game is on the line.
 
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#69
#69
vols4evah said:
Lighten up Frances.
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How about no?

Dude trashed the team, trashed the coach after being a complete jackass sunshine pumper, then instead of admitting he was wrong, tries to make some lame story about how he was "reverse jinxing".

I repeat, he can get bent.
 
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#70
#70
zooguy said:
Barnett is not better than Garrett. He's very good, but a shade below. Which is why most 2017 draft mocks have Garrett in the top 2 if not #1.

Imagine losing Barnett, one of your tackles, and 2 of your best receivers.
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1. Look at what Barnett has done in SEC play compared to Garrett; it isn't close. And he's better in the run game. Teams run AT Garrett. Barnett is not a "shade below."

2. We are without 3 of our 4 best players on defense so we are experiencing the same exact thing. For the last 2 SEC games we have played, actually.
 
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#71
#71
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
You're missing the most important point.

After that miraculous win last week, our players have got a jet fuel of confidence. They now believe no matter what adversity hits they will win. Our opponents also know no matter what they will lose.

Its our destiny.

Its just time to enjoy the ride.
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I know you're actually being serious, but WHAT?? NOW / AFTER the win LAST WEEK / GA ??

Just remember moving forward -- the TEAM and STAFF had / has maintained the same rocket fuel confidence before the first game, after the App St, after VT, after Ohio and AFTER the FL games, whereas, a few of the vocal fans on VN completely gave up / threw in the towel / accused the Team and Staff of being weak a week or two before GA.

Anyway, Welcome back.
 
#72
#72
UT-Rex said:
I know you're actually being serious, but WHAT?? NOW / AFTER the win LAST WEEK / GA ??

Just remember moving forward -- the TEAM and STAFF had / has maintained the same rocket fuel confidence before the first game, after the App St, after VT, after Ohio and AFTER the FL games, whereas, a few of the vocal fans on VN completely gave up / threw in the towel / accused the Team and Staff of being weak a week or two before GA.

Anyway, Welcome back.
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Yeah, you just quoted one.
 
#73
#73
This is going to be the toughest team we have played this year due to the match-up challenges they present. Assuming their DEs are back we will have to keep backs in to help with Pass Pro and I am concerned that our O-Line will be able to block them effectively 1:1 in passing situations.

Knight is a good QB that can run for a lot of yards. Our LBs are playing well for their skill sets but they will struggle in space against both ATM RBs and QBs. I'm hopeful that the DBs can hold up better than UGA, gave up some completions that were pretty bad, and allow us to play tight to the line to stop the run.

If our offense can move the ball (did a better job at UGA but still no consistency) in the first half and keep it within 14 we have a good shot at this game. If we get down big we will need another miracle and I'd rather save some of our 9 lives for Bama!

GBO!!!!!!!
 
#74
#74
The only thing I'm worried about is covering the WR.

We will limit the run enough to win

Was it not knight that we beat up at Oklahoma ultimately causing Mayfield to win it?
 
#75
#75
Dear Lord,
Let UT's pass rush sack, hurry, and fluster Knight.
Let UT's linebackers plug gaps, bat down passes, and tackle for losses.
Let UT's secondary ever be in the right place at the right time.
Let UT score thrice on turnovers.
Let UT's offense click from the first snap to the last.
Let UT's play calling baffle TAMU's defense.
Let Dobbs' passes be perfect.
Let UT's receivers catch 'em every time.
Let UT's backs run for 200+ yards.
Let the special teams pin TAMU inside the 20, every time.
Let Evan Berry take it to the house.
Let Alvin Kamara return a punt for a TD.
Let UT's point tally be greater than 50.
Let TAMU's be less than 30.
Grant Tennessee a "complete game" victory and steel them for dismembering Bama the following Saturday.
Amen, and carve the pumpkins.
 
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