Up The Middle

[WiseOlVol]

Nobody has run up the middle so effectively against us as last night.

After the first 6 or 7 gashes, you’d think Banks would adjust?

 

[Eastknox865]

In football you often have to give up something to take away what you really want. No explosive pass plays and only 14 points. Can't always have it all

 

[casual-observer]

In football you often have to give up something to take away what you really want. No explosive pass plays and only 14 points. Can't always have it all

This.

Coming into the game, Mississippi State was ranked something around 30th nationally in passing, averaging 255 yards and 14.6 points per game.

While their rushing numbers were up big and they seemed to plow off a lot of yards, they only managed 92 yards passing last night and zero points. And running the ball cost them a lot of precious time.

It was a good trade by Banks and company.

 

[volsfan24017]

Still under 20 points for the opponent. Do thst in Athens, watch out!

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Nobody has run up the middle so effectively against us as last night.

After the first 6 or 7 gashes, you’d think Banks would adjust?

Kentucky did the same. It's going to happen again. My take is we have a few guys who are overconfident and missing/ignoring their assignments. Wanting to get a sack, TFL, or other self-glorifying play. Get back to basics and being more humble, I think.

 

[ReelfootVol]

If we cannot stop the run game on State, we can forget attempting to stop it on Georgia...............just my opinion.

 

[MurphyVol]

Still under 20 points for the opponent. Do thst in Athens, watch out!

271 total yards too. I know it's Miss St, but offense hasn't been their problem this season

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

We are trying to win the scoreboard people, not the run game stats.. fret less...

 

[farmdogvol]

Just like the UK game the LBers were often out of position and did not play well. Carter and Tellander both played poorly for the 2nd week in a row.

 

[Memphisvol87]

We need 2 carters and experience. Pili was a great loss for us. Telender is talented and with experience will get better. Carter is a freak but still young. I also agree with poster about what we decided to attack. I hate we had a few gash plays but they scored 14 points. If we kick field goals instead of 2 turnovers in red zone game wasn’t close ever.

 

[UT97Vol]

As I mentioned last night I don’t understand the light box all night especially after it was clear they were just going to try to run the ball.

We continually only had five in the box and got gashed quite a bit. Only six in the box on that 4th and 1 in the first half. What was that??

 

[Brave Volunteer]

If we cannot stop the run game on State, we can forget attempting to stop it on Georgia...............just my opinion.

Georgia has one of the worst run games in the SEC this year. Mississippi State, despite their record, is actually pretty decent offensively stats wise.

 

[Stoerner Fumbles]

Nobody has run up the middle so effectively against us as last night.

After the first 6 or 7 gashes, you’d think Banks would adjust?

His biggest adjustment would be the purchase of a Time Machine so he could go back and heal Pilli.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Nobody has run up the middle so effectively against us as last night.

After the first 6 or 7 gashes, you’d think Banks would adjust?

You have to give credit to Miss State’s OL for opening up those running lanes. The defense still only allowed 14 points which is another solid performance for the good guys.

 

[volfan4evr]

I was watching this last night as well. I don't know much about football, but there was no middle linebacker during those runs. I was expecting a change after halftime, but they stuck with the same defense.

 

[FlyFishnVol]

Nobody has run up the middle so effectively against us as last night.

After the first 6 or 7 gashes, you’d think Banks would adjust?

I understand what you are saying, but MST OL has been playing well lately. Take the W and hope that Nico is ok.

 

[rocketskates]

Georgia has one of the worst run games in the SEC this year. Mississippi State, despite their record, is actually pretty decent offensively stats wise.

Agreed. They had 50ish yards rushing against Ole Miss. If our defense can hold up, and we make a few big plays on offense, I like our chances. Helps that Beck is a turnover machine lately as well.

 

[SamuraiVol74]

After I finished watching the game, I went back and looked at the stat lines because my immediate reaction was the same thing. The stat lines tell the tale.

They were willing to give up the middle rushing lanes to cutoff the outside passing. They had 2 RBs that averaged 6.3YPC and almost all of that was up the gut. Their QB had a QBR of like 26 and only threw for 90-something yards. I really believe Banks and company were willing to sacrifice what they would give up in the run down the middle to shut everything else down and it worked. It looked uglier than it really was I believe. I was also critical of the D-Line not getting to the QB, but the two plays by Eason and Jenkins were huge at critical times during the game. So I feel my criticism was not correct specific to the D-Line.

On offense, I very much hate the play calling as it reminds me of scared little Bitch Jones football, but it continues to post up wins (except for Arkansas). I was very surprised at how Gaston Moore looked. He obviously should know this offense having spent his entire collegiate career in it. I hope the injuries sustained get healed up and I would love to see a Georgia whipping. Go Vols!

 

[Dr H Lecter]

It seemed every time we went to a three man line, we’d get gashed up the middle. Blocking 5 on 3 will do that. But, defensively, overall, no complaint.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Nobody has run up the middle so effectively against us as last night.

After the first 6 or 7 gashes, you’d think Banks would adjust?

Well, we did not have anyone lined up inside their tackles. I could have made yardage against them last night. We were not lined up correctly a lot last night and the defense players on the field didn't seem too know where to line up because they were pointing and yelling at each other as the ball was bing snapped.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

After I finished watching the game, I went back and looked at the stat lines because my immediate reaction was the same thing. The stat lines tell the tale.

They were willing to give up the middle rushing lanes to cutoff the outside passing. They had 2 RBs that averaged 6.3YPC and almost all of that was up the gut. Their QB had a QBR of like 26 and only threw for 90-something yards. I really believe Banks and company were willing to sacrifice what they would give up in the run down the middle to shut everything else down and it worked. It looked uglier than it really was I believe. I was also critical of the D-Line not getting to the QB, but the two plays by Eason and Jenkins were huge at critical times during the game. So I feel my criticism was not correct specific to the D-Line.

On offense, I very much hate the play calling as it reminds me of scared little Bitch Jones football, but it continues to post up wins (except for Arkansas). I was very surprised at how Gaston Moore looked. He obviously should know this offense having spent his entire collegiate career in it. I hope the injuries sustained get healed up and I would love to see a Georgia whipping. Go Vols!

We struggled mightily in the red zone last night. To me, that's an indictment on the Oline's lack of physicality. We got routinely whipped up front until the 4th quarter. I don't know if we made some kind of adjustment or if MSU's defense finally got tired, but I thought MSU out physicaled us for most of the game and I thought the same thing last week against KY.. I was stunned to see that Sampson had 150 yards rushing. I dont know how.

 

[Golfprovol]

Nobody has run up the middle so effectively against us as last night.

After the first 6 or 7 gashes, you’d think Banks would adjust?

Or maybe hhe did but they just executed...sometimes you have to give credit to the other team for doing something right

 

[Cartervol]

Missing the linebacker that went down. We were clearly more worried about them passing the ball..

 

[SoMissVol]

In football you often have to give up something to take away what you really want. No explosive pass plays and only 14 points. Can't always have it all

This.

Coming into the game, Mississippi State was ranked something around 30th nationally in passing, averaging 255 yards and 14.6 points per game.

While their rushing numbers were up big and they seemed to plow off a lot of yards, they only managed 92 yards passing last night and zero points. And running the ball cost them a lot of precious time.

It was a good trade by Banks and company.

People who understand. I love y’all, VolNation, but the frustration with one of the best defenses in the country is unwarranted. Banks did EXACTLY what he wanted last night.

 

[kckempf]

As I mentioned last night I don’t understand the light box all night especially after it was clear they were just going to try to run the ball.

We continually only had five in the box and got gashed quite a bit. Only six in the box on that 4th and 1 in the first half. What was that??

The light box frustrated me but it was clearly intentional. Leach's offense automatically checks to a run against a light box, so we were discouraging their passing offense. We had confidence that even with a light box we could get enough negative plays to cause their drives to fail, which is exactly what happened. When they did pass, it was obvious passing downs and they faced insurmountable pressure. It looked like bad run defense but it was great defensive strategy. Only Texas held them to fewer points, and we held them to fewer yards.