London Vol
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GAME 1 – Syracuse
Like in boxing you get a long build up to the event, there are lots of anticipation of what is going to happen finally you get a press conference and the weigh-in. Then at last the bell rings and you get to see what is real and what is hype. Yesterday we saw round 1 of 12 (hopefully more than 12 rounds this season), I actually thought Syracuse were competitive and a harder test than Virginia and NC State were, although the picture will become clearer for them in the next few weeks.
As for Tennessee, last night was intriguing because I have not known a new season with so many unanswered questions and then add that to David Sanders, Jermod McCoy and Daevin Hobbs were all not suited up. The bad news did not stop there our already thin Defensive Tackle group lost Jackson Moi for nearly all of the game. The night could have gone south but you needed to stop worrying Josh Heupel was on the case. whilst I think there is plenty of work to do, it was largely a very positive start. So here are my grades and what I believe what we have learned so far:
QUARTERBACKS A-
Through no fault of his own Joey Aguilar has found himself in the glare of the public spotlight, not only in Knoxville but nationally due to the quite grubby affair of ‘daddy’s boy with deep pockets in his pyjamas’. Add in the fact that Aguilar didn’t even have spring training to learn the playbook, he probably exceeded most people’s expectations. His stats of 247 yards 3 TDs and no INTs (note a certain Bruin had 136 yards 1 TD and 1 INT late last night) are very encouraging, but it is the way he keeps his eyes downfield which shows we have in our midst a brave warrior (there will be no running out of bounds on the last play with the game on the line, this season), I said in an article during the summer I thought, after watching his film, he was ‘gamer’ and he reinforced this opinion.
RUNNING BACKS A+
With the Offensive Line, this department was the stars (back to that unit in a minute) 246 yards with 6.2 y.p.c it was a sterling night stacked with impressive individual stats. Star Thomas (he was a revelation, and I think he will actually run for the most yards this season) with 92 yards at 7.7, DeSean Bishop (more tough yards) 82 yards at 7.5 and Peyton Lewis (who ran better that the stats suggest) 38 yards at 4.8.
WIDE RECEIVERS C+
A bit patchy here for me, Mike Matthews continues to not ‘take the reins’ of this department. The bar is set high for him but there were two drops (ok the second one was contested) that a premier receiver just does not make. I’m not giving up on him but with a stunning recruiting class on its way, this is the season to breakout. Braylon Staley was the least spoken about WR during the close season yet he was the best receiver. Chris Brazzell is another I’m not yet sold on. One minute good the next minute not so. If fact the only thing consistent is his inconsistency. I hope Travis Smith Jnr steps up this season and if he does then Brazzell could well land up riding the pine
TIGHT ENDS C-
A rather quiet day for a unit I have high hopes for, apart for the late TD for Miles Kitselman. Ethan Davis wiped out a TD off the scoreboard for a needless low block and had no catches. Must do better
OFFENSIVE LINE A+
Only Lance Heard actually started in the same position on the Offensive Line that was mooted only a few weeks ago, yet they gave up zero sacks and zero Quarterback hurries. In fact they kept Aguilar clean and upright all night, he is going to love this season behind this O Line. It is always important to give some credit to the O Line when Running backs post such gaudy numbers. A big call out to Jesse Perry who had to kick outside despite adding 50 llbs with the plan to be a Guard and yet did his job and also to Sam Pendleton, who apart from one high snap near the end allayed fears that we have a problem at Center.
DEFENSIVE LINE C
This might seem be a harsh grade after holding Syracuse to 103 yards at 2.3 y.p.c but the eye test seemed to say that we were out muscled up the middle (bigger tests to come) and in fact their main running back ran for 4 yards per pop. Without Hobbs and Moi, combined with Eason being banged up for most of the game, it was no surprise that they both struggled and were later gassed. Joshua Josephs was the best End although Ross had a big TFL
LINEBACKERS B
Arion Carter, Edwin Spillman and Jeremiah Telander all had big moments, but I wished they could have taken away some of those underneath and crossing routes that Syracuse were so successful with.
DEFENSIVE BACKS A+
Missing Ricky Gibson most the game, Boo Carter rarely visible and the preseason team MVP Jermod McCoy out, I feared the worst, especially as The Cuse were the No 1 team passing in the country last season, but some of the most encouraging things on the whole evening were found here. Colton Hood was really really impressive, I know his scoop and score was a highlight real moment but I was more impressed with the 3 Breakups added to the fact he was “sticky” all night. There was a lot of hype in the spring regarding Ty Redmond and this was well deserved. If McCoy does go to the Draft in the winter we have a great replacement here already. The good news continues, Edrees Farooq built on promising moments from last season with a very competent performance. Lastly Jalen McMurray often seemed to be around the action including a sack. Coach Martinez has earnt his pay this off season.
BIG MOMENT
Tennessee have predominantly been a running game for a few years now but the fear of the “long ball” by the Vols has often meant the Defenses play two deep safeties, this results in the front 7 becoming a front 6 or even 5 thus running becomes much easier. The book was out that Aguilar dd not have a rocket arm and if the opposition believe this they will start to creep up and “stack the box”. Even though there were a number of big moments the 73 yard bomb to Braylon Staley was the biggest for me. Not only did it reply to Syracuse who had just scored, but it also put on tape that our next 11, 12 or even 13 opponents will need to respect the “long bomb”
Please post our comments and opinions please.
GO VOLS
Like in boxing you get a long build up to the event, there are lots of anticipation of what is going to happen finally you get a press conference and the weigh-in. Then at last the bell rings and you get to see what is real and what is hype. Yesterday we saw round 1 of 12 (hopefully more than 12 rounds this season), I actually thought Syracuse were competitive and a harder test than Virginia and NC State were, although the picture will become clearer for them in the next few weeks.
As for Tennessee, last night was intriguing because I have not known a new season with so many unanswered questions and then add that to David Sanders, Jermod McCoy and Daevin Hobbs were all not suited up. The bad news did not stop there our already thin Defensive Tackle group lost Jackson Moi for nearly all of the game. The night could have gone south but you needed to stop worrying Josh Heupel was on the case. whilst I think there is plenty of work to do, it was largely a very positive start. So here are my grades and what I believe what we have learned so far:
QUARTERBACKS A-
Through no fault of his own Joey Aguilar has found himself in the glare of the public spotlight, not only in Knoxville but nationally due to the quite grubby affair of ‘daddy’s boy with deep pockets in his pyjamas’. Add in the fact that Aguilar didn’t even have spring training to learn the playbook, he probably exceeded most people’s expectations. His stats of 247 yards 3 TDs and no INTs (note a certain Bruin had 136 yards 1 TD and 1 INT late last night) are very encouraging, but it is the way he keeps his eyes downfield which shows we have in our midst a brave warrior (there will be no running out of bounds on the last play with the game on the line, this season), I said in an article during the summer I thought, after watching his film, he was ‘gamer’ and he reinforced this opinion.
RUNNING BACKS A+
With the Offensive Line, this department was the stars (back to that unit in a minute) 246 yards with 6.2 y.p.c it was a sterling night stacked with impressive individual stats. Star Thomas (he was a revelation, and I think he will actually run for the most yards this season) with 92 yards at 7.7, DeSean Bishop (more tough yards) 82 yards at 7.5 and Peyton Lewis (who ran better that the stats suggest) 38 yards at 4.8.
WIDE RECEIVERS C+
A bit patchy here for me, Mike Matthews continues to not ‘take the reins’ of this department. The bar is set high for him but there were two drops (ok the second one was contested) that a premier receiver just does not make. I’m not giving up on him but with a stunning recruiting class on its way, this is the season to breakout. Braylon Staley was the least spoken about WR during the close season yet he was the best receiver. Chris Brazzell is another I’m not yet sold on. One minute good the next minute not so. If fact the only thing consistent is his inconsistency. I hope Travis Smith Jnr steps up this season and if he does then Brazzell could well land up riding the pine
TIGHT ENDS C-
A rather quiet day for a unit I have high hopes for, apart for the late TD for Miles Kitselman. Ethan Davis wiped out a TD off the scoreboard for a needless low block and had no catches. Must do better
OFFENSIVE LINE A+
Only Lance Heard actually started in the same position on the Offensive Line that was mooted only a few weeks ago, yet they gave up zero sacks and zero Quarterback hurries. In fact they kept Aguilar clean and upright all night, he is going to love this season behind this O Line. It is always important to give some credit to the O Line when Running backs post such gaudy numbers. A big call out to Jesse Perry who had to kick outside despite adding 50 llbs with the plan to be a Guard and yet did his job and also to Sam Pendleton, who apart from one high snap near the end allayed fears that we have a problem at Center.
DEFENSIVE LINE C
This might seem be a harsh grade after holding Syracuse to 103 yards at 2.3 y.p.c but the eye test seemed to say that we were out muscled up the middle (bigger tests to come) and in fact their main running back ran for 4 yards per pop. Without Hobbs and Moi, combined with Eason being banged up for most of the game, it was no surprise that they both struggled and were later gassed. Joshua Josephs was the best End although Ross had a big TFL
LINEBACKERS B
Arion Carter, Edwin Spillman and Jeremiah Telander all had big moments, but I wished they could have taken away some of those underneath and crossing routes that Syracuse were so successful with.
DEFENSIVE BACKS A+
Missing Ricky Gibson most the game, Boo Carter rarely visible and the preseason team MVP Jermod McCoy out, I feared the worst, especially as The Cuse were the No 1 team passing in the country last season, but some of the most encouraging things on the whole evening were found here. Colton Hood was really really impressive, I know his scoop and score was a highlight real moment but I was more impressed with the 3 Breakups added to the fact he was “sticky” all night. There was a lot of hype in the spring regarding Ty Redmond and this was well deserved. If McCoy does go to the Draft in the winter we have a great replacement here already. The good news continues, Edrees Farooq built on promising moments from last season with a very competent performance. Lastly Jalen McMurray often seemed to be around the action including a sack. Coach Martinez has earnt his pay this off season.
BIG MOMENT
Tennessee have predominantly been a running game for a few years now but the fear of the “long ball” by the Vols has often meant the Defenses play two deep safeties, this results in the front 7 becoming a front 6 or even 5 thus running becomes much easier. The book was out that Aguilar dd not have a rocket arm and if the opposition believe this they will start to creep up and “stack the box”. Even though there were a number of big moments the 73 yard bomb to Braylon Staley was the biggest for me. Not only did it reply to Syracuse who had just scored, but it also put on tape that our next 11, 12 or even 13 opponents will need to respect the “long bomb”
Please post our comments and opinions please.
GO VOLS
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