London Vol
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GAME 5 – MISSISSIPPI ST
There are only two times when I find it really hard watching the Vols, firstly when playing Baseball against Vanderbilt because of that Commodore fan with the whistle (how I wish he would inhale just once) and secondly Football at Mississippi St with those awful cowbells (who the heck thought it was a good idea) so you can see I was not looking forward to this game as much as I would normally do, but never the less it was some night.
This was quite a season defining game, because on the schedule there are toughies GEO, ALA, FL and OKA, there are our usual victims KEN and VAN (I know they might be legit but its in Knoxville this season) and then there are the cupcake games. This means the ARK, SYU and MST outcomes will contribute broadly whether the season is regarded as a success or a failure. So, after already taking down SYU and ARK look in disarray, last night’s victory was very important. I said to my son before the game this could go anyway, and boy it certainly did. But for the mistakes, and there were many, Tennessee hung in there, gutted it out and got the "W".
QUARTERBACKS A
Last night Joey Aguilar`s stats were 335 yards 1 TD and 2 INT`s but when you consider there was something like 10 drops, the Matthews home run drop, the Brazzell TD ‘ticky- tack’ penalty, it could have been 500 yards, also both INT`s were partially the fault of Miles Kitselman, so this was some performance. Three months ago, the football world was having to learn how to spell his surname now it could possibly be printed on the Heisman Ballot. Winning at Mississippi St (whom I thought were a very decent team) just adds to his resume and last night Joey put this mistake ridden team on his back and pulled off the victory. Just to show his meteoric rise, this week he was predicted as a 3rd Draft Pick next April.
RUNNING BACKS C
The Josh Heupel system is often categorized incorrectly as a modern day version of the “fun and gun” but the truth is that the Running Game is more important than the Passing Game, and today you saw what can happen when the Running Game struggles. I felt that there was too much dancing around waiting for a gap when it was the type of day to hit the hole hard. Yet after such a frustrating 60 minutes “Mr Dependable” DeSean Bishop delivered in OT with that brilliant 25-yard run.
WIDE RECEIVERS B
I must admit that I was not very hopeful before the season for Chris Brazzell II but I was wrong. He was a beast again and clearly now a top WR, It is no surprise he is also shooting up the Draft Boards and a 1,000-yard season is quite achievable. Mike Matthews will have trouble sleeping after that dropped ‘walk in’ touch down but he then produced 118 yards to compensate. Braylon Staley, poor Braylon Staley, he had himself a sort of career day with dropping a 3rd down catch, slipping on a 3rd down pass, letting a punt run about 30 yards to the 1 yard line, missing a block that would have allowed Matthews a walk in TD and possibly worse than all of them dropped a punt after a brilliant three and out at the beginning of the game. But just like the rest of the team he fought through a season’s worth of adversity by delivering a game saving catch and forceful run on 4th down to move the sticks and keep the Vols in it. To still “stand and be counted” after all that happened is a sign this guy is going to have far more good days that bad on Rocky Top.
TIGHT ENDS C
Although snaring 4 catches Miles Kitselman also tipped two passes for INT`s. Admittedly the passes were high, but he needs to do better. Just as my mark was being penciled in on the low side Jack Van Dorselaer produced a great block to free Bishop for what turned out to be the game winning TD in OT.
OFFENSIVE LINE C
For the first time Aguilar was pressured this season and add that to the lack of holes for the Running Backs this indicates that this was not their best day this season. But finally, David Sanders came on for a cameo performance at the end and he looked every bit of a talent that people claim he is. Jesse Perry has done a great job so far this season but Sanders will improve the O`Line.
DEFENSIVE LINE A -
The DT`s especially Bryson Eason and Dom Bailey fought bravely again but the real strength is the DE`s, Caleb Herring left his mark not for the first time this season and Tyre West had two huge Sacks including the F/F which Joshua Josephs returned for a game changing TD, The D`Line did get some pressure on the QB and he looked rattled at times. and It wasn’t their fault for the problems in the Defense, there is more on this now.
LINEBACKERS D
Another really bad day at the office for the LB`s, and particularly Jeremiah Telander. I am sorry to ‘dump’ on him again but, after him proving that he is not quick enough in Pass Coverage, his tackles was poor and his choice of gap pressure seemed more wrong than right, this needs to be resolved. Arion Carter also had some bad moments, but he had many more good moments and the final tally was 17 tackles which shows how hard he played.
DEFENSIVE BACKS B -
Ty Redmond held up OK overall in my opinion as he continues to be targeted. Colton Hood is the third brilliant Portal addition (with Aguilar and Thomas) he is also starting to get some 1st round Draft Grades and that is two returns for 6 lovely points this season already. Boo laid the wood on their RB early on and seems to be improving weekly, but our second big weakness is the Safety’s and I am not sure how this can be rectified this season.
BIG MOMENT
There will be many suggestions what was the biggest moment why this was a “W” and not an “L” but I believe the main reason Tennessee won last night goes right back to April when Josh Huepel showed the ‘Drama in Pajamas’ the door marked “Exit” and the road was cleared (probably accidentally) for Joey Aguilar to arrive. Make no bones about it, Tennessee does not win last night with Iamaleava under Center.
GO VOLS
There are only two times when I find it really hard watching the Vols, firstly when playing Baseball against Vanderbilt because of that Commodore fan with the whistle (how I wish he would inhale just once) and secondly Football at Mississippi St with those awful cowbells (who the heck thought it was a good idea) so you can see I was not looking forward to this game as much as I would normally do, but never the less it was some night.
This was quite a season defining game, because on the schedule there are toughies GEO, ALA, FL and OKA, there are our usual victims KEN and VAN (I know they might be legit but its in Knoxville this season) and then there are the cupcake games. This means the ARK, SYU and MST outcomes will contribute broadly whether the season is regarded as a success or a failure. So, after already taking down SYU and ARK look in disarray, last night’s victory was very important. I said to my son before the game this could go anyway, and boy it certainly did. But for the mistakes, and there were many, Tennessee hung in there, gutted it out and got the "W".
QUARTERBACKS A
Last night Joey Aguilar`s stats were 335 yards 1 TD and 2 INT`s but when you consider there was something like 10 drops, the Matthews home run drop, the Brazzell TD ‘ticky- tack’ penalty, it could have been 500 yards, also both INT`s were partially the fault of Miles Kitselman, so this was some performance. Three months ago, the football world was having to learn how to spell his surname now it could possibly be printed on the Heisman Ballot. Winning at Mississippi St (whom I thought were a very decent team) just adds to his resume and last night Joey put this mistake ridden team on his back and pulled off the victory. Just to show his meteoric rise, this week he was predicted as a 3rd Draft Pick next April.
RUNNING BACKS C
The Josh Heupel system is often categorized incorrectly as a modern day version of the “fun and gun” but the truth is that the Running Game is more important than the Passing Game, and today you saw what can happen when the Running Game struggles. I felt that there was too much dancing around waiting for a gap when it was the type of day to hit the hole hard. Yet after such a frustrating 60 minutes “Mr Dependable” DeSean Bishop delivered in OT with that brilliant 25-yard run.
WIDE RECEIVERS B
I must admit that I was not very hopeful before the season for Chris Brazzell II but I was wrong. He was a beast again and clearly now a top WR, It is no surprise he is also shooting up the Draft Boards and a 1,000-yard season is quite achievable. Mike Matthews will have trouble sleeping after that dropped ‘walk in’ touch down but he then produced 118 yards to compensate. Braylon Staley, poor Braylon Staley, he had himself a sort of career day with dropping a 3rd down catch, slipping on a 3rd down pass, letting a punt run about 30 yards to the 1 yard line, missing a block that would have allowed Matthews a walk in TD and possibly worse than all of them dropped a punt after a brilliant three and out at the beginning of the game. But just like the rest of the team he fought through a season’s worth of adversity by delivering a game saving catch and forceful run on 4th down to move the sticks and keep the Vols in it. To still “stand and be counted” after all that happened is a sign this guy is going to have far more good days that bad on Rocky Top.
TIGHT ENDS C
Although snaring 4 catches Miles Kitselman also tipped two passes for INT`s. Admittedly the passes were high, but he needs to do better. Just as my mark was being penciled in on the low side Jack Van Dorselaer produced a great block to free Bishop for what turned out to be the game winning TD in OT.
OFFENSIVE LINE C
For the first time Aguilar was pressured this season and add that to the lack of holes for the Running Backs this indicates that this was not their best day this season. But finally, David Sanders came on for a cameo performance at the end and he looked every bit of a talent that people claim he is. Jesse Perry has done a great job so far this season but Sanders will improve the O`Line.
DEFENSIVE LINE A -
The DT`s especially Bryson Eason and Dom Bailey fought bravely again but the real strength is the DE`s, Caleb Herring left his mark not for the first time this season and Tyre West had two huge Sacks including the F/F which Joshua Josephs returned for a game changing TD, The D`Line did get some pressure on the QB and he looked rattled at times. and It wasn’t their fault for the problems in the Defense, there is more on this now.
LINEBACKERS D
Another really bad day at the office for the LB`s, and particularly Jeremiah Telander. I am sorry to ‘dump’ on him again but, after him proving that he is not quick enough in Pass Coverage, his tackles was poor and his choice of gap pressure seemed more wrong than right, this needs to be resolved. Arion Carter also had some bad moments, but he had many more good moments and the final tally was 17 tackles which shows how hard he played.
DEFENSIVE BACKS B -
Ty Redmond held up OK overall in my opinion as he continues to be targeted. Colton Hood is the third brilliant Portal addition (with Aguilar and Thomas) he is also starting to get some 1st round Draft Grades and that is two returns for 6 lovely points this season already. Boo laid the wood on their RB early on and seems to be improving weekly, but our second big weakness is the Safety’s and I am not sure how this can be rectified this season.
BIG MOMENT
There will be many suggestions what was the biggest moment why this was a “W” and not an “L” but I believe the main reason Tennessee won last night goes right back to April when Josh Huepel showed the ‘Drama in Pajamas’ the door marked “Exit” and the road was cleared (probably accidentally) for Joey Aguilar to arrive. Make no bones about it, Tennessee does not win last night with Iamaleava under Center.
GO VOLS
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