What is so difficult understanding

[Other_Guy]

Why the team was handled today? It's somehow confusing to some people that 3 backup OL against what some consider the best front 7 Saban has ever had cant block while the defense fields players who might start for Vanderbilt or Kentucky (no offense to those guys who have played their hearts out and made plays, like Jumper, but lets get real they started a THIRD string LB against Alabama) are getting pushed around.
We blame the offensive scheme? Maybe Shoop is overrated? The team wasnt prepared? Huh? Alabama had like one starter missing. This team has even ran out of fumes.
It was embarrassing because this finally seemed like the year to get Bama and all Bama fans think is "we pushed the #9 team around" when half of those players were on the bench, but it's not like we were exposed as some of you put it... what was exposed? 2nd and 3rd stringers arent as good as the #1 team in the country's starters? Big shocker.
No one likes moral victories. So what if they lost by a blowout? They werent ever going to seriously challenge. Dont call this loss "unacceptable" which makes no sense, instead let's get to the bye week, get guys healthy and run straight to Atlanta (can't see Florida winning out) with hopefully a HEALTHY team that we KNOW can challenge Bama.
Our boys had nothing left in the tank. They laid it all out at A&M. Terrible timing to play Bama. I still have confidence in this team. It is what it is.
GO VOLS

 

[GoBigOrange2008]

Spot on Sir :thumbsup:

 

[AstonRoyal]

Expected to see more of a fight. Championship teams don't make the excuses, they find a way to fight especially in the toughest situations.

With the exception of Barnett, there didn't appear to be much fight from this Tennessee team today.

 

[Zues1]

Why all the injuries? Is the team made of soft butter?

 

[Nationdom]

Doesn't matter to be honest. Getting beat and run out of our own stadium at this point, 4 years in should never happen, I don't care who we're playing.

 

[djohnnyg]

Outside of the absolute carnage we saw today...was the obvious difference in talent of Bama. Their teem speed is ridiculous..as evidenced on those long runs to the outside...and the return by Jackson. It comes down to recruiting. Their 3rd team is probably better than most starting lineups in the top 25. We think we're close in recruiting...but we are miles away from them....still.

The coaching was horrible. I mean punting on 4th and inches down 30 some points? Are u really concerned about the score getting out of hand more than it already was?

Then the 3rd down calls. Throwing to a guy short of the sticks with two players draped over him? WTH is that? Why not just wave a surrender flag instead?

At any rate...I know it's out of line to expect us to play Bama close after 4 years of Butch apparently but its obvious from today just how far away we are in recruiting in the real world. They have athletes to burn. With such speed and talent...we can't even stay on the same field with them.

Everybody talking how great recruiting is, but today showed just how far behind we really are.

 

[chuck0303]

Why the team was handled today? It's somehow confusing to some people that 3 backup OL against what some consider the best front 7 Saban has ever had cant block while the defense fields players who might start for Vanderbilt or Kentucky (no offense to those guys who have played their hearts out and made plays, like Jumper, but lets get real they started a THIRD string LB against Alabama) are getting pushed around.
We blame the offensive scheme? Maybe Shoop is overrated? The team wasnt prepared? Huh? Alabama had like one starter missing. This team has even ran out of fumes.
It was embarrassing because this finally seemed like the year to get Bama and all Bama fans think is "we pushed the #9 team around" when half of those players were on the bench, but it's not like we were exposed as some of you put it... what was exposed? 2nd and 3rd stringers arent as good as the #1 team in the country's starters? Big shocker.
No one likes moral victories. So what if they lost by a blowout? They werent ever going to seriously challenge. Dont call this loss "unacceptable" which makes no sense, instead let's get to the bye week, get guys healthy and run straight to Atlanta (can't see Florida winning out) with hopefully a HEALTHY team that we KNOW can challenge Bama.
Our boys had nothing left in the tank. They laid it all out at A&M. Terrible timing to play Bama. I still have confidence in this team. It is what it is.
GO VOLS

Excellent Analysis! We had too many starters out to give Bama a good game. Debord can't pass for Dobbs. I don't see how you can lay blame on the coaches when half of your starters are out injured.

 

[Other_Guy]

Expected to see more of a fight. Championship teams don't make the excuses, they find a way to fight especially in the toughest situations.

With the exception of Barnett, there didn't appear to be much fight from this Tennessee team today.

It baffles me that with all the injuries you would consider it an excuse.

It's the reality of football.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Getting "handled" is one thing, getting out rushed by nearly 400 yards is another.

 

[Shakinthefat]

So.....why do we have so many injuries? Really is it just dumb luck or are we a little soft.

 

[Shakinthefat]

So.....why do we have so many injuries? Reallyis

 

[KBVol]

Well, at least we won the turnover battle today, 2-1. Still lost by 39 points and got outrushed by 400+ yards, but at least we didn't turn the ball over 400 times like we have every other game? #silverlining?

 

[mpfvol]

Why is the O-line still the biggest weakness of this team and Butch knows by now that the SEC is won in the trenches? Why are they still slow when he knows speed kills ? and what the hell is up with all the injuries every stinking year ?

 

[Sarms58]

Doesn't matter to be honest. Getting beat and run out of our own stadium at this point, 4 years in should never happen, I don't care who we're playing.

Yea...we should have fired Fulmer when let Spurrier toast us for 35 points in the FIRST quarter back in 1996...yea, the Gators were the national champs that year but come on - it was Fulmer's 4th year and "it should never happen."

 

[Gandalf]

It is astonishing that people cant see this. These same coaches and players broke offensive records last week with the same schemes.

Yet it stuns the unthinking fans here when our 3rd stringers cant keep up with the deep deep roster of the #1 recruiting team for the last 5 years?

Nothing left in the tank after the last 3 games - and we are about where we figured to be 2-2 in this murders row stretch. 10-2 an SEC East champ is not a given but still a good possibility - and that is a darn fine growth from where we have been. That we are even thinking we could be contending is frankly a big difference from where we were, even 2 years ago.

 

[TheSpartan]

We almost beat them last year. From that to this is pretty sad, injuries or not.

 

[Volnut]

We just went through a hellacious 3 game gauntlet and amassed many injuries on the way. Bama has had it relatively easy with only Arky recently. They were up and we were hurt and it you saw what happened. Hard to judge where we really are based on today. Too many people hurt. Of course the coaching staff would get roasted if they offered that excuse, but it's reality.

 

[jboyinmiss]

No knock on Joshua Dobbs because he has been a huge asset to this team, but lets face it he is not a passing QB.With all the injuries it probably wouldn't have mattered if Peyton were back there but IMO they are not using Dobbs capabilities to their fullest. Maybe a slot receiver or hell a back out of the wildcat formation. These other teams still know they have to stop the run because Dobbs wont beat them with his arm. But it is what it is, so carry on Rocky Top.

 

[Hunter10139]

It is astonishing that people cant see this. These same coaches and players broke offensive records last week with the same schemes.

Yet it stuns the unthinking fans here when our 3rd stringers cant keep up with the deep deep roster of the #1 recruiting team for the last 5 years?

Nothing left in the tank after the last 3 games - and we are about where we figured to be 2-2 in this murders row stretch. 10-2 an SEC East champ is not a given but still a good possibility - and that is a darn fine growth from where we have been. That we are even thinking we could be contending is frankly a big difference from where we were, even 2 years ago.

I find people tend to make opinions with their emotions these days instead of cold hard logic.

 

[Wylo]

Expect to lose. The Volnation way! Moral Victory U.

Bama is better. Nobody should be dumb enough to question that. But Butch has shown his ceiling.

He can beat a down Georgia. He can beat Florida in year two of their coach's tenure.

But he is conservative by nature and too stubborn to play the best running back on the roster any more than he did today. He won't beat the west when it matters.

Injuries only highlight his conservative nature. His coaching can't overcome the injuries.

 

[Revengevol]

We got our butts stomped. First step in correcting a problem is realizing you have one. Some say a lot of our starters are hurt. True but if Butch is such a great recruiter were are all the quality backups. Correct the problem....but we all know we won't we will keep making excuses and talk about how Butch is such a great recruiter.

 

[AstonRoyal]

It baffles me that with all the injuries you would consider it an excuse.

It's the reality of football.

Well the reality was that Butch was suppose to recruit enough players to be competitive in this situation.

Is it unrealistic to ask for a win with our injuries? Probably
Is it unrealistic for our team to fight and be competitive with our injuries? Hell No

This board would be speaking a much different tune had this been a competitive ball game.

 

[Freak]

Expect to lose. The Volnation way! Moral Victory U.

Bama is better. Nobody should be dumb enough to question that. But Butch has shown his ceiling.

He can beat a down Georgia. He can beat Florida in year two of their coach's tenure.

But he is conservative by nature and too stubborn to play the best running back on the roster any more than he did today. He won't beat the west when it matters.

Injuries only highlight his conservative nature. His coaching can't overcome the injuries.

Barring a catastrophe Tennessee will have improved it's record in each of Butch's four seasons. I'm not sure I consider that a ceiling.

Division rivals, Georgia and Florida, were two huge wins that we had to have if we hope to make it to Atlanta. Not sure what sense it makes to try and diminish the significance of either.

But you're right about Bama. They showed today what a team with a bazilllion consecutive top recruiting classes looks like.

 

[AstonRoyal]

Barring a catastrophe Tennessee will have improved it's record in each of Butch's four seasons. I'm not sure I consider that a ceiling.

Division rivals, Georgia and Florida, were two huge wins that we had to have if we hope to make it to Atlanta. Not sure what sense it makes to try and diminish the significance of either.

But you're right about Bama. They showed today what a team with a bazilllion consecutive top recruiting classes looks like.

Yes but with the way that we've won against App St. and Ohio, I can't blame the fanbase for wondering how much of this season has been a Fugazi (a mirage or smoke screen).

Even when you're talking about his strategic coaching ability or game management, you'd be hard press to find many people who would say that he's even above average.

 

[Wylo]

Barring a catastrophe Tennessee will have improved it's record in each of Butch's four seasons. I'm not sure I consider that a ceiling.

Division rivals, Georgia and Florida, were two huge wins that we had to have if we hope to make it to Atlanta. Not sure what sense it makes to try and diminish the significance of either.

But you're right about Bama. They showed today what a team with a bazilllion consecutive top recruiting classes looks like.

Look, I'm dancing a fine line here. Trying to compliment Butch while retaining my Nega card. Lol.

I think Butch has done a good job this year. He has the team believing.

But let's be honest about several things:

It took a miracle to beat Georgia.
It took a lucky break by Hurd when he recovered the fumble in the end zone.
Tennessee has been unprepared to play in EVERY first half.
Penalties, turnovers, discipline.

My real problem with Butch is that he doesn't try to overcome deficiencies. He stays conservative while down players. Bama was gonna destroy Tennessee today the way Butch and Bsia coached that game. Swing passes to Hurd, of all people?

Butch makes no attempt to let his coaching turn the tide.