LargeOrange1
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True, but we were our own worst enemy. We left a lot of points off the board. Execution wasn't great. I do believe Pruitt wasn't so much trying to run up the score as he was working in experience. The stats tell a different story. I don't care who you are, holding any team to only 134 total yards and a shut out is pretty damn good. Not to mention winning the time of possession battle, which is what we need to do if we are to pull any upsets this season.We couldn't blow UTEP out. It will be a close game.
I think it’s a close game no matter what.
Whoever gets a lead will play not to screw it up and won’t pull away.
Whoever is behind won’t go crazy and get out of character because they know the other team won’t be able to put the hammer down.
The only way, IMO, this gets ugly is one team decides to hand the game over.
Both teams are capable of that.
But, I seriously doubt Florida or Tennessee even have the mindset of pouring it on. They’ll be so damn glad to be ahead they won’t know what to do.
typically i would agree. but we really don't know what Pruitt would do up by 14 in the 3rd qtr.I think it’s a close game no matter what.
Whoever gets a lead will play not to screw it up and won’t pull away.
Whoever is behind won’t go crazy and get out of character because they know the other team won’t be able to put the hammer down.
The only way, IMO, this gets ugly is one team decides to hand the game over.
Both teams are capable of that.
But, I seriously doubt Florida or Tennessee even have the mindset of pouring it on. They’ll be so damn glad to be ahead they won’t know what to do.
agree with all this, except for one thing, and it's really just an "if". if we aren't good on 1st down, it'll be hard to put drives together. that start against WVU was killer. we have to avoid that kind of start. i think if i have a choice, i'd put FL on the field first, and see if our defense can't generate a little momentum before the offense gets out there.One way to analyze the upcoming game is to compare weaknesses:
Florida's inability to stop the run, combined with our potent, 4-headed running attack, spells real trouble for the Gators. After the 1st quarter (when we know by experience many run plays will be stopped at the LoS or earlier because of ineffective blocking), we should be able to do two key things with this advantage: dominate time of possession --> shorten the game (so it will be fairly low-scoring), and get into the red zone. Once we are in the red zone, the question is whether we have enough balance in our attack to score (and enough discipline in our players to avoid devastating penalties). Given all that, we're not gonna score 40+ points, and I doubt we score 30+. But we might score enough to win, because...
- Florida weaknesses: inability to stop the run, indecision at QB, inconsistent OL.
- Tennessee weaknesses: inconsistent OL (start horrific, get better as the game goes on), young/inexperienced DBs.
Florida's indecisive and inaccurate QB play will likely offset our inexperienced defensive backfield. Sure, some FL receivers will get wide open. Then Franks will often miss them. Don't get me wrong, Florida will complete some passes, and will get chunk yards from time to time off our DBs. But, thanks to Feleipe's errant arm, not enough to score routinely.
I think this is going to be a relatively close game, either way. Say within 3-7 points. And the result will probably be in the 20s, like 27-24 or 28-21. I do like our chances of coming out on top. Our weaknesses simply don't hurt us as much as theirs cripple them.
Go Vols!
could be entirely wrong, but I think it will be close, either way. The X factor, to me, is special teams and turn overs. If either team sacrifices a back breaker punt return or more than one turn over, it's going to be hard to overcome w/ the seemingly equally "average" offenses on both sides.1. We blow UF out
2. UF wins a close game
Let me explain. I believe if we want to win, we have to jump up early and rattle the Gators. Basically we need to do what we’ve struggled with all season....Start fast. I truly believe if the Vols are up up multiple scores by halftime, the Gators are done. They don’t have the makeup of a team to be able to come back in that type of game. Luckily, I do think the Vols have some stuff up their sleve in order to jump up early and never look back.
However if we fail to execute the plan, I don’t see UF straight up blowing us out as a possibility. They’re just not good enough to come into an opposing stadium and do that. But. If it remains close into the 4th, I hate our chances. I don’t think our team will have the confidence to make the plays down the stretch unfortunately and UF will squeeze it out. Everytime this game has been down to the wire as of late, UT has always failed to get it done.
Thoughts?
agree with all this, except for one thing, and it's really just an "if". if we aren't good on 1st down, it'll be hard to put drives together. that start against WVU was killer. we have to avoid that kind of start. i think if i have a choice, i'd put FL on the field first, and see if our defense can't generate a little momentum before the offense gets out there.
good 1st down offense leads to 3rd down conversions. that'll be something to keep an eye on. cause i do agree with you, we're gonna want to possess the ball and take opportunistic shots. i'd like to see us with a decided TOP advantage.
defensively, we really need to be able to stop the run. i agree with you about Franks. the kid has a live arm as we all know, but he's not been overly accurate, and could be apt to make some mistakes. and i think they look at our defense and think they probably can run the ball, and not have to put the game in Franks' hands. so if we're choosing something to take away...then i choose to take away Scarlett and Perine.
lss, i think both teams come in with relatively similar philosophies on how they can best win. we'll see who can actually do it.
I don't see us being able to move the ball consistently. Our O line just doesn't seem to be enough to create lanes and protect JG.
As a result, I don't see us scoring enough to win a blowout.
In fact, I'm concerned about UF's defense putting Franks in easy scoring situations.
Remember people, it's Florida.
Come on man, look at the statsWe couldn't blow UTEP out. It will be a close game.
could be. i'm sure they believe there's match ups that favor them against our DB's. and their probably are, given the youth we have playing at CB. it's gonna be interesting. i'm still not convinced they totatlly trust Franks to put a game on his shoulders, on the road in the SEC. part of me hopes they do though, like you.I think you're right on all counts. Let's just add one more level of psychological complexity: Mullen sees himself as The QB Whisperer.
You know that gif in the Make Fun of Florida thread, where Mullen is dancing in front of Franks, even pokes him in the belly to get him to watch? That's Mullen trying to get inside his QB's head, calm him down, make him lighten up. In other words, that is a prime example of Mullen "QB whispering."
He prides himself on that skill set; it's largely the thing that has gotten him to the Head Coach position at a top football program.
And I think he's gonna keep pushing it, pushing that "strength."
Which means we probably WON'T see both teams come into Neyland with the same game plan (control the clock, keep the offense on the field, run and run and run again). Not with The QB Whisperer calling shots on one sideline. We're going to see him try to win using Franks' arm. Mullen won't be able to help himself (I hope).
And that is more an advantage for us than it is for them.
Mullen may be able to find great success at Florida, given his strengths. But it's not going to be with Franks as his QB. And it's not going to be leaning on the run game.
Which gives us a leg up this Saturday.
UT just doesn’t have what it takes to pull out a close W yet. So my only hope is it’s been 21-0 in a blink of an eye in favor of UT. Then again UF jumped up 21-0 in 2016 and we saw how that went. But UT certainly doesn’t have the tools to come back like they did in 2016.
If it’s close, I will just be waiting for that back breaking play. But seriously UF is due an absolute beat down at some point in this series.
Whoever gets a lead will play not to screw it up and won’t pull away.
Whoever is behind won’t go crazy and get out of character because they know the other team won’t be able to put the hammer down.
The only way, IMO, this gets ugly is one team decides to hand the game over.
agreed.How do you know Fla. has the ability to "hold on" to win a close one. This statement works both ways....
Looking back at past games tells you nothing about these two teams. This a new day for both. No way to tell how things will play out by looking back.