London Vol
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2015
- Messages
- 986
- Likes
- 8,289
GAME 7 – ALABAMA 21 OCT 2023
I looked around my room after the game to see if there was a wasp flying around as I felt I had been badly stung, then I realized the culprit didn’t have yellow and black stripes but black and white strips.
I normally don’t like to blame the refs even though sometimes the calls against the Vols do seem baffling, but last night, I just can’t to justice to any game report without mentioning the following, imitating the snap, double calling a fair catch, Milton short on a sneak when he was clearly over the line and there was NO evidence to overturn it, Lally’s phantom PI which extended a 3rd down, and a 76 second snap late in the fourth quarter. Yet Alabama`s suffered only penalty (false start) whilst our pass rush was held many times and the no call on the headlock on Baron for instance was inexplainable without entering the world of conspiracy. Look, I’m not going there and overall I still think in a fair called game we would have still maybe lost but all I ask is for a fair game.
QUARTERBACKS B+
I was proud of Joe Milton last night, his throwing (28-41-271-2-0) was pretty accurate but the rushing was the revelation (15-93 with 34 losses, netting 59) but the nature of his runs was the brutal finishing of them. For those who keep wishing Nico to be under centre (ah, the good old Monday morning quarterback who can do no wrong), well,l from the little I have seen of him and his skinny frame he would have not survived the punishment Milton took. I thought Milton was a true leader last night and with the run option going forward, I now think that Kentucky and Georgia (because we are at home) are winnable games whereas I still think Missouri might be our South Carolina 2022.
RUNNING BACKS D
If you remove Milton’s runs the three headed monster had a combined a total of only 74 yards on 23 carries which is 3.2 ypc. These figures do not really reflect how the Running backs did as the holes were not there last night and that reflects how much the O Line got overpowered for the first time this season.
WIDE RECEIVERS C-
Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton need to be graded separately from Donte Thornton. Squirrel 111 yards and Keyton 71 both stepped up to the plate and each had highlight real catches, whereas Thornton dropped another easy catch as he took his eyes off the ball as he was anticipating contact. Time to move on from Thornton and try to develop Nimrod and Webb. One other note about the Wide Receivers, they just don’t seem to get separation like last year’s crop did. Did we under appreciate the OC, Alex Golesh or were Hyatt and Tillman that good, I don’t know but the lack of separation has been a problem all season.
TIGHT ENDS B+
McCallan Castles had another decent game culminating with a lovely TD late on (who said Milton has no touch). Although I thought Warren miss timed his jump in the endzone which meant the Vols had to settle for another 3 in the Red Zone.
OFFENSIVE LINE D-
As mentioned the O Line were second best for most of the night, creating little running lanes and they also need to take a big chunk of the blame for the blindside hit on Milton resulting in the scoop and run TD which sealed the game. Worrying to see Mincey gingerly limp off but overall, it showed the difference in class between Alabama and Tennessee in the ‘trench’
DEFENSIVE LINE B+
Given my opening statement. The D Line were excellent, recording 4 sacks and a strip fumble whilst holding Alabama to 3.3 ypc. Pearce added to his already bulging resume, but I would like to mention Joshua Josephs. Most years he would be a standout Defensive End but with Pearce’s play, he has only gotten limited snaps to impress, as a back-up we have real quality here. The Tackles were also great, and Norman Lott continues to shine as our best Portal addition.
LINEBACKERS B-
The Linebackers were solid. Beasley has improved his tackling this year and despite being a little undersized I hope he gets drafted next year. Elijah Herring has been a pleasant surprise this season. He was primarily a depth player but with the unfortunate injury to Pili, he has been thrust into action far earlier, but he is certainly holding his own. Now can he develop into the next Daniel Bituli?
DEFENSIVE BACKS C
I noticed how long Milroe held on to the ball in the1st half and that is a tell tale sign that the Secondary has got good coverage. I think Hadden’s injury was important (I thought the reverse earlier this season) although Slaughter was not poor, and he played an important role in McCullough’s INT,
I thought the two safeties were our weakest link. Walker, for the first time I thought struggled and McCullough again was responsible for a number of coverage breakdowns.
Overall, after we played so well in the 1st half, I felt the 2 plays immediately after half time was the real reason why we lost, if only we could have started Q3 like the 1st half then we might have pulled away to an historic victory and I wouldn’t have been stung.
GO VOLS
I looked around my room after the game to see if there was a wasp flying around as I felt I had been badly stung, then I realized the culprit didn’t have yellow and black stripes but black and white strips.
I normally don’t like to blame the refs even though sometimes the calls against the Vols do seem baffling, but last night, I just can’t to justice to any game report without mentioning the following, imitating the snap, double calling a fair catch, Milton short on a sneak when he was clearly over the line and there was NO evidence to overturn it, Lally’s phantom PI which extended a 3rd down, and a 76 second snap late in the fourth quarter. Yet Alabama`s suffered only penalty (false start) whilst our pass rush was held many times and the no call on the headlock on Baron for instance was inexplainable without entering the world of conspiracy. Look, I’m not going there and overall I still think in a fair called game we would have still maybe lost but all I ask is for a fair game.
QUARTERBACKS B+
I was proud of Joe Milton last night, his throwing (28-41-271-2-0) was pretty accurate but the rushing was the revelation (15-93 with 34 losses, netting 59) but the nature of his runs was the brutal finishing of them. For those who keep wishing Nico to be under centre (ah, the good old Monday morning quarterback who can do no wrong), well,l from the little I have seen of him and his skinny frame he would have not survived the punishment Milton took. I thought Milton was a true leader last night and with the run option going forward, I now think that Kentucky and Georgia (because we are at home) are winnable games whereas I still think Missouri might be our South Carolina 2022.
RUNNING BACKS D
If you remove Milton’s runs the three headed monster had a combined a total of only 74 yards on 23 carries which is 3.2 ypc. These figures do not really reflect how the Running backs did as the holes were not there last night and that reflects how much the O Line got overpowered for the first time this season.
WIDE RECEIVERS C-
Squirrel White and Ramel Keyton need to be graded separately from Donte Thornton. Squirrel 111 yards and Keyton 71 both stepped up to the plate and each had highlight real catches, whereas Thornton dropped another easy catch as he took his eyes off the ball as he was anticipating contact. Time to move on from Thornton and try to develop Nimrod and Webb. One other note about the Wide Receivers, they just don’t seem to get separation like last year’s crop did. Did we under appreciate the OC, Alex Golesh or were Hyatt and Tillman that good, I don’t know but the lack of separation has been a problem all season.
TIGHT ENDS B+
McCallan Castles had another decent game culminating with a lovely TD late on (who said Milton has no touch). Although I thought Warren miss timed his jump in the endzone which meant the Vols had to settle for another 3 in the Red Zone.
OFFENSIVE LINE D-
As mentioned the O Line were second best for most of the night, creating little running lanes and they also need to take a big chunk of the blame for the blindside hit on Milton resulting in the scoop and run TD which sealed the game. Worrying to see Mincey gingerly limp off but overall, it showed the difference in class between Alabama and Tennessee in the ‘trench’
DEFENSIVE LINE B+
Given my opening statement. The D Line were excellent, recording 4 sacks and a strip fumble whilst holding Alabama to 3.3 ypc. Pearce added to his already bulging resume, but I would like to mention Joshua Josephs. Most years he would be a standout Defensive End but with Pearce’s play, he has only gotten limited snaps to impress, as a back-up we have real quality here. The Tackles were also great, and Norman Lott continues to shine as our best Portal addition.
LINEBACKERS B-
The Linebackers were solid. Beasley has improved his tackling this year and despite being a little undersized I hope he gets drafted next year. Elijah Herring has been a pleasant surprise this season. He was primarily a depth player but with the unfortunate injury to Pili, he has been thrust into action far earlier, but he is certainly holding his own. Now can he develop into the next Daniel Bituli?
DEFENSIVE BACKS C
I noticed how long Milroe held on to the ball in the1st half and that is a tell tale sign that the Secondary has got good coverage. I think Hadden’s injury was important (I thought the reverse earlier this season) although Slaughter was not poor, and he played an important role in McCullough’s INT,
I thought the two safeties were our weakest link. Walker, for the first time I thought struggled and McCullough again was responsible for a number of coverage breakdowns.
Overall, after we played so well in the 1st half, I felt the 2 plays immediately after half time was the real reason why we lost, if only we could have started Q3 like the 1st half then we might have pulled away to an historic victory and I wouldn’t have been stung.
GO VOLS
Last edited:
