Why are we so bad? real question

#53
#53
It all starts with the oline. And now we have really bad injuries to our best players on defense. Sutton snd JRM cannot simply be replaced.
 
#54
#54
A-RodWiLks said:
I think we threw 2 slant passes today...one to Malone and the other to Croom. Both were at least 10 yard gains. I can't comprehend why Butch would call a screen repeatedly and use slants so sparingly. But, I'm not making millions so maybe I just don't understand football.
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I don't understand that either. Middle of the field is constantly open. Dobbs can make a simple slant pass for goodness sake.
 
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#55
#55
OLine is the foundation of an offense and it's terrible. It doesn't matter if you have a great receiving corps/QB if Dobbs has to run to avoid a sack every other play.
 
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#56
#56
VFL-82-JP said:
Yeah, I don't get it, either. We know the OL is nowhere near proficient. We know Dobbs is inconsistent in his throwing accuracy. And we know we have very limited depth at LB. On top of all that, now we know our early-season luck with limited injuries has run out.

What we don't know yet is where this puts us on a good day...because we haven't yet had a good day. We had two good quarters in Bristol, but that's it.

We'll have to have a good day, one of our best, to beat Florida. Or Georgia. Or A&M. Or Bama.

So maybe the central question is, when do we have the good days? When do our lads come in perfectly focused, determined, disciplined, and hungry? We haven't seen them that way yet this season. Does it come with SEC play?

We'll start to know the answer 7 days from now.

Until then, people just need to breathe into a paper bag. Things are rough for us, but we haven't lost yet.

Go Vols!
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Appreciate the optimism and I'm not in full meltdown either. As long as we get a win, I avoid the ledge.
But wow, just ugly. Watching other teams at the moment. They just look so natural in comparison.
We have this odd, awkward and clunky looking execution and completely mind-boggling calls. It's like if it works, we put an X through it. If it fails miserably, run it again immediately.
Still, could look completely different next week. Didn't expect this 180 from the bowl performance. So at least we know that we are capable of dramatic turnarounds. Now let's see if works both ways.




Still really ugly though.
 
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#57
#57
The O-line is horrible they can not pass or run block. Maybe it is the Coach and or the Scheme . Heck the got to TN and had a hole line of NFL ready lineman and made them look sub par. Dobbs is a better runner than passer. Defense is ok . And Butch and Company have very difficult times with putting the best player on the field IMO.
 
#58
#58
Volatility said:
OLine is the foundation of an offense and it's terrible. It doesn't matter if you have a great receiving corps/QB if Dobbs has to run to avoid a sack every other play.
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The real question is how did the coaching staff make it through spring and summer without noticing that - not to mention the past three years?
 
#61
#61
Let's not harp on Shoop fthe defense has been pretty good other than terrible pass rush. And don't bash on Jumper. Yeah it was Ohio but he played really well today IMO
 
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#62
#62
SaintLouisVol said:
If the line can't block and Dobbs can't throw, what exactly would you like the OC to call?
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I would like to see a power I, and with the following:
* Teach the O-line to drive block
* Teach the O-line to combo block
* Forget the zone-blocking crap

Get Hurd through the d-line with a lead blocker and keep running this until the safeties move up in run support. Teach our QB to recognize the safety shift and audible to short slant passes at the line.

Two damn plays; it ain't rocket science.

This is big-boy football, and we don't have to run all of that deception, zone-read crap.
 
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#63
#63
Gandalf said:
I really dont understand why we are playing so badly against 3 cupcake teams. Yes, I know that App State and V-Tech are better than cupcakes blah blah blah - but please dont tell me how good Ohio is. This is not another complaint filled, sky is falling thread - this is me trying to understand with all the talent we supposedly have and considering how well we played late last year (longest winning streak in quite awhile), why does it look like we are actually WORSE after having an entire off-season and returning most of the same team? Granted, our OC is questionable but our DC is supposedly one of the best in the league.

Our QB still cant throw, our receivers still cant catch the ball, our Oline is almost non-existant, our Dline has Jumper wandering around in the middle looking lost each play. We are getting injured all over the place, penalty flags are dropping like flies. Can someone with some football knowledge help me understand? Likke an actual analysis. The logic just does not compute...

What the hell have we been doing the last 9 months to make us play worse than we did last year?

Lifecycle of a Volfan watching a game:
:eek:hmy: :blink: :unsure: :angry: :censored: :ermm: :no: :cray: :dunno: :hmm: :mega_shok:
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We don't have a good head coach we have a good recruiter. we don't have a good quarterback we have a good athlete. in my opinion no one is being used properly. the coaches need to adapt to their players strengths instead of the players having to adapt to the coaches philosophies. just my opinion
 
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#64
#64
The level of stupidity from this staff is what amazes me. Go back and watch pretty much any game where we should be trying to work the clock and you will see Tennessee in a HUNH offense and snapping the ball with 20 seconds on the clock. (That's clueless coaching.) Go back and watch pretty much any play that is ultra short yardage (inches) and you will see our clueless coaches go to the shot gun. Go back and watch the Iowa game where the announcer was able to predict the plays based on formation, that hasn't changed as our coaches are clueless. Go back and watch any game with Worley or Peterman and ask yourself why we are running the Read Option with a immobile QB. Go back and ask yourself why we kick the extra point instead of going for 2. Butch can claim that his chart said to kick it but we all know that's stupid. Real answer was he didn't think about it. Ask yourself today why our only healthy LB leader was still on kick coverage (and got injured). Might have something to do with our clueless coach not recognizing the situation. Ask yourself why we have 0 running plays where our tailback gets the ball with a head of steam. What happened to the toss sweep, the option, the jet sweep? The mistakes that this staff makes wouldn't be made by many high school staffs in this area.
 
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#65
#65
Some teams play down to their competition, get more motivated when pressed or get behind and find a way to win. It seems team 120 may be one of those teams. Which means we will hate and love them all season.
 
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#66
#66
Gandalf said:
I really dont understand why we are playing so badly against 3 cupcake teams. Yes, I know that App State and V-Tech are better than cupcakes blah blah blah - but please dont tell me how good Ohio is. This is not another complaint filled, sky is falling thread - this is me trying to understand with all the talent we supposedly have and considering how well we played late last year (longest winning streak in quite awhile), why does it look like we are actually WORSE after having an entire off-season and returning most of the same team? Granted, our OC is questionable but our DC is supposedly one of the best in the league.

Our QB still cant throw, our receivers still cant catch the ball, our Oline is almost non-existant, our Dline has Jumper wandering around in the middle looking lost each play. We are getting injured all over the place, penalty flags are dropping like flies. Can someone with some football knowledge help me understand? Likke an actual analysis. The logic just does not compute...

What the hell have we been doing the last 9 months to make us play worse than we did last year?

Lifecycle of a Volfan watching a game:
:eek:hmy: :blink: :unsure: :angry: :censored: :ermm: :no: :cray: :dunno: :hmm: :mega_shok:
Click to expand...

What another guy said, we can't protect the quarterback and can't seem to get reliable pressure on the quarterback. I'm just waiting for Butch to get that question and claim it's a lack if experience....
 
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#67
#67
Offensive play calling is simple, predictable, and lacks imagination. I only have one explanation...not saying this is happening but it's the only thing that makes sense to me: this whole CBJ rebuild project relies on winning next Saturday against UF; and it's been known by all since The Outback Bowl. If you accept that premise and belueve CBJ knows that regardless of what he says then maybe the offensive play calling is a product of that belief.

It's a reach and not sure it's really believable but if the entire fanbase sees how we underutilize our talent you gotta figure the staff knows we've been bland. I know Debird is public enemy #1 for many but he's seen plenty of football. He's really not dumb.

I just want to believe we see all kinds of wrinkles next week - I formations, down field passing, Tyler Byrd in space, trick plays. It all has to be on table next week and just maybe it's been planned.

Call me crazy but maybe this staff isn't concerned about close games so far, or hell, even if we'd lost one of those non-conference games. All that matters in terms of season success is beating UF and getting to Atlanta and they've been choosing to show nothing until then.

Disclaimer: not saying I'm buying it but I suppose it's plausible and the product we're seeing fits this narrative.

It also fits the narrative that coaches are stubborn and we've regressed but hey, that doesn't lend to my narrative of optimism 🙂. What can I say, I like the sunshine.
 
#68
#68
fundamentals83 said:
The level of stupidity from this staff is what amazes me. Go back and watch pretty much any game where we should be trying to work the clock and you will see Tennessee in a HUNH offense and snapping the ball with 20 seconds on the clock. (That's clueless coaching.) Go back and watch pretty much any play that is ultra short yardage (inches) and you will see our clueless coaches go to the shot gun. Go back and watch the Iowa game where the announcer was able to predict the plays based on formation, that hasn't changed as our coaches are clueless. Go back and watch any game with Worley or Peterman and ask yourself why we are running the Read Option with a immobile QB. Go back and ask yourself why we kick the extra point instead of going for 2. Butch can claim that his chart said to kick it but we all know that's stupid. Real answer was he didn't think about it. Ask yourself today why our only healthy LB leader was still on kick coverage (and got injured). Might have something to do with our clueless coach not recognizing the situation. Ask yourself why we have 0 running plays where our tailback gets the ball with a head of steam. What happened to the toss sweep, the option, the jet sweep? The mistakes that this staff makes wouldn't be made by many high school staffs in this area.
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A lot of valid points here. I give you credit for actually backing up your belief with examples. But I do think that this same style you dislike was good enough to beat UF, ALA, and OU last year. I know we lost all 3 but the playstyle was good enough to win. Your original complaint of stupidity is still alive and may be highlighted in 2 of those losses but offensive production wasn't an issue last year. (But I too hate the lack of an I formation, especially considering we have a Jalen Hurd).

My headaches don't come from playstyle but more from our play calls. Opposing Coaches have watched our film from last year. They all choose to stop the run and make Dobbs beat them with his arm. That's why the edge runs and flat passes aren't there this year. We need to adjust.
 
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#69
#69
VolFootballIsLife said:
Offensive play calling is simple, predictable, and lacks imagination. I only have one explanation...not saying this is happening but it's the only thing that makes sense to me: this whole CBJ rebuild project relies on winning next Saturday against UF; and it's been known by all since The Outback Bowl. If you accept that premise and belueve CBJ knows that regardless of what he says then maybe the offensive play calling is a product of that belief.

It's a reach and not sure it's really believable but if the entire fanbase sees how we underutilize our talent you gotta figure the staff knows we've been bland. I know Debird is public enemy #1 for many but he's seen plenty of football. He's really not dumb.

I just want to believe we see all kinds of wrinkles next week - I formations, down field passing, Tyler Byrd in space, trick plays. It all has to be on table next week and just maybe it's been planned.

Call me crazy but maybe this staff isn't concerned about close games so far, or hell, even if we'd lost one of those non-conference games. All that matters in terms of season success is beating UF and getting to Atlanta and they've been choosing to show nothing until then.

Disclaimer: not saying I'm buying it but I suppose it's plausible and the product we're seeing fits this narrative.

It also fits the narrative that coaches are stubborn and we've regressed but hey, that doesn't lend to my narrative of optimism 🙂. What can I say, I like the sunshine.
Click to expand...

Could be, but playing close and having to keep key players on the field may well have cost us the players we need against FL.
 
#72
#72
Gandalf said:
I really dont understand why we are playing so badly against 3 cupcake teams. Yes, I know that App State and V-Tech are better than cupcakes blah blah blah - but please dont tell me how good Ohio is. This is not another complaint filled, sky is falling thread - this is me trying to understand with all the talent we supposedly have and considering how well we played late last year (longest winning streak in quite awhile), why does it look like we are actually WORSE after having an entire off-season and returning most of the same team? Granted, our OC is questionable but our DC is supposedly one of the best in the league.

Our QB still cant throw, our receivers still cant catch the ball, our Oline is almost non-existant, our Dline has Jumper wandering around in the middle looking lost each play. We are getting injured all over the place, penalty flags are dropping like flies. Can someone with some football knowledge help me understand? Likke an actual analysis. The logic just does not compute...

What the hell have we been doing the last 9 months to make us play worse than we did last year?

Lifecycle of a Volfan watching a game:
:eek:hmy: :blink: :unsure: :angry: :censored: :ermm: :no: :cray: :dunno: :hmm: :mega_shok:
Click to expand...

Dude how many of these threads are necessary? Is it cool if we get the two teams together and play the game and see what happens? Or should we start a change.org petition to forfeit all the games until Vanderbilt and Kentucky?
 
#73
#73
moodizzzzzzzzle said:
Dude how many of these threads are necessary? Is it cool if we get the two teams together and play the game and see what happens? Or should we start a change.org petition to forfeit all the games until Vanderbilt and Kentucky?
Click to expand...

THey will (or should) stop when we dominate a good SEC team. That description probably does not apply to Florida today but if we completely destroy them this week I will gladly take it :D
 
#74
#74
We're soooooo bad that only 14 of 128 teams were ranked ahead of us going into our game Saturday.

Is it UT is so bad or is it the play hasn't lived up to "your" expectations?

BIG difference ya know
 
#75
#75
I am going to take a slightly different view. I think the Dobbs and the Oline are playing tight. They are afraid of losing and not having fun.
 
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