Its time to think about Diego Pavia

[TennesseeRhett]

We are all giddy with excitement the way this weekend has gone. Win and we’re in, and that win need only come against little brother Vandy. In a sane year that would be a non issue.

But this is not a sane year. And Diego Pavia is the reason Vandy is not the Vandy of old. His ability to scramble, to delay, to turn broken plays into gains is Manziel-esque. He is an accurate passer with good vision on top of his scrambling ability, and he absolutely possesses the ability to derail our season hopes if we cannot find an answer for him.

We are the better of the two teams in terms of talent, size and speed. Carolina, who is not as good as us, went into Nashville last week and handled business against the dores. But in a season of chaos, I would be lying if this game against our old in state rival didn’t feel like a quintessential trap game.

The Vols need to come out focused and on a mission. No slow starts. Come hard after Pavia and spy him when you don’t. Step on their necks early and leave no hope that they can ruin our trip to the playoffs. Wouldn’t hurt to have the stands painted Big Orange either.

 

[Orange931]

This is not a “trap game”. It’s the last game of the season with everything on the line, this team will be ready.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

This is not a “trap game”. It’s the last game of the season with everything on the line, this team will be ready.

This team hasn’t been ready for a road game all season. Definitely reason to be a bit nervous.

 

[lilesrt]

If we win we deserve to be in. If we lose we don’t. Either way we get what we deserve.

 

[walkenvol]

Spy Pavia. Start fast and jump out to a 14 point lead. Run the ball down their throats to shorten the game.

Sound good?

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

Need to adopt the same mentality Marcus Freeman said he tried to instill in Notre Dame yesterday against Army’s option offense: violence. Don’t sit back on your heels and let them confuse you with motion. Attack, attack, attack. Run through blocks. Keep contain. Big test for our linebackers, but the big uglies up front can make it easier on them by winning the los.

 

[morristown vol]

If we can't get up and play our best for this game we don't deserve to be in the play-offs.
We'll be ready.

 

[Orange931]

This team hasn’t been ready for a road game all season. Definitely reason to be a bit nervous.

A day game in Nashville isn’t exactly a regular road test and I can guarantee you the team knows what’s at stake and will be ready to play.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

This team hasn’t been ready for a road game all season. Definitely reason to be a bit nervous.

And having his team "fired up and focused" does not appear to be a Heupel strength. You can bet that Vandy will play like this game is for a national title.

 

[OrangeTsar]

This team hasn’t been ready for a road game all season. Definitely reason to be a bit nervous.

Road game dominance are still the one thing preventing UT from entering the top Tier of college football.

 

[NighthawkVol]

We are all giddy with excitement the way this weekend has gone. Win and we’re in, and that win need only come against little brother Vandy. In a sane year that would be a non issue.

But this is not a sane year. And Diego Pavia is the reason Vandy is not the Vandy of old. His ability to scramble, to delay, to turn broken plays into gains is Manziel-esque. He is an accurate passer with good vision on top of his scrambling ability, and he absolutely possesses the ability to derail our season hopes if we cannot find an answer for him.

We are the better of the two teams in terms of talent, size and speed. Carolina, who is not as good as us, went into Nashville last week and handled business against the dores. But in a season of chaos, I would be lying if this game against our old in state rival didn’t feel like a quintessential trap game.

The Vols need to come out focused and on a mission. No slow starts. Come hard after Pavia and spy him when you don’t. Step on their necks early and leave no hope that they can ruin our trip to the playoffs. Wouldn’t hurt to have the stands painted Big Orange either.

Also, Vandy’s defense is no joke. They’re not dominant, but they’re solid.

 

[McDad]

I haven't looked at the stats but just by watching our defense against the run, it is not as stout compared to when we had Pili. Pavia will present some challenges for us. With that said, we have handled more athletic QBs very well this year so far. This will be a huge game for Vanderbilt. I hope our team will play with the emotion we expect with playoffs on the line.

 

[KTrain]

This team hasn’t been ready for a road game all season. Definitely reason to be a bit nervous.

We beat OU handily when they were full strength. Bama got blown out at OU when they had 5 WR on injured list. I think Bama would take the sound win we got in Oklahoma. If Vols cannot get up for last game of year vs a team that is Bowl eligible and beat Bama and took Texas to a 3 point game, we don't deserve the Playoffs plain and simple.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

And having his team "fired up and focused" does not appear to be a Heupel strength. You can bet that Vandy will play like this game is for a national title.

Vandy will come out on absolute fire. I expect a dogfight. If we play well maybe we pull away a bit in the second half. But given our road woes, I don’t expect it.

Vandy has the chance to come out Saturday and attempt what may be the biggest upset of the season, given the rivalry and the playoff implications for us. We’re gonna get their best.

 

[CNCVol88]

This team hasn’t been ready for a road game all season. Definitely reason to be a bit nervous.

It will be the majority Tennessee fans in their dump. It'll be at most more like a neutral site game.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

How is Vandy’s defense against the run? I only saw highlights of their loss to LSU but was encouraged that each one was a gashing rush for a TD

 

[EastTNVol6240]

It will be the majority Tennessee fans in their dump. It'll be at most more like a neutral site game.

Given their success this year, I would expect to see more Vandy fans. IMO the road games he have struggled in haven’t been due to fans or noise. We’ve never really looked lost or struggled to get plays in, etc.

We just simply haven’t performed great after traveling period.

 

[CNCVol88]

Given their success this year, I would expect to see more Vandy fans. IMO the road games he have struggled in haven’t been due to fans or noise. We’ve never really looked lost or struggled to get plays in, etc.

We just simply haven’t performed great after traveling period.

More maybe. Which is why I said at worst neutral site. We looked fine in Charlotte and that's a longer drive than down i40 to Nashville

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Given their success this year, I would expect to see more Vandy fans. IMO the road games he have struggled in haven’t been due to fans or noise. We’ve never really looked lost or struggled to get plays in, etc.

We just simply haven’t performed great after traveling period.

You're right. I expect a couple hundred more Vandy fans to be there Saturday than there normally are.

 

[NighthawkVol]

More maybe. Which is why I said at worst neutral site. We looked fine in Charlotte and that's a longer drive than down i40 to Nashville

It’ll be a home game for Tennessee.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

More maybe. Which is why I said at worst neutral site. We looked fine in Charlotte and that's a longer drive than down i40 to Nashville

Maybe so. I’m just trying to let myself down easy. Haha. This stinks of SC 2022.

 

[CNCVol88]

Maybe so. I’m just trying to let myself down easy. Haha. This stinks of SC 2022.

No it doesn't. Vandy doesn't have Connor stallions giving them information

 

[JMSqb11]

We are all giddy with excitement the way this weekend has gone. Win and we’re in, and that win need only come against little brother Vandy. In a sane year that would be a non issue.

But this is not a sane year. And Diego Pavia is the reason Vandy is not the Vandy of old. His ability to scramble, to delay, to turn broken plays into gains is Manziel-esque. He is an accurate passer with good vision on top of his scrambling ability, and he absolutely possesses the ability to derail our season hopes if we cannot find an answer for him.

We are the better of the two teams in terms of talent, size and speed. Carolina, who is not as good as us, went into Nashville last week and handled business against the dores. But in a season of chaos, I would be lying if this game against our old in state rival didn’t feel like a quintessential trap game.

The Vols need to come out focused and on a mission. No slow starts. Come hard after Pavia and spy him when you don’t. Step on their necks early and leave no hope that they can ruin our trip to the playoffs. Wouldn’t hurt to have the stands painted Big Orange either.

He will throw 2-3 interceptions. Guy is going to flop vs our defense

 

[FLVOL_79]

This is not a “trap game”. It’s the last game of the season with everything on the line, this team will be ready.

To be fair..this team has hardly looked "ready" when starting most SEC games this year..

That being said this probably isn't a game that I can turn off by the end of the third quarter if I wanted to without worrying but UT should win.

 

[Sarms58]

Pavia is their leading rusher accounting for 43% of their rushing yardage. Contain him and get him to the ground like Oklahoma did with Milroe last night and the Vandy offense will be about as productive as Bama’s was last night. He’s completing 60% of his passes with 16 TDs to only 3 interceptions but I’m willing to put our corners in tight man coverage to give the front seven more time to get to him…may give up some big pass plays but overall I think we can make him very uncomfortable and scrambling for his life. We just need to not lose containment.