Alabama vs. Tennessee

[BamasBack12]

Well, somebody asked if there were any Bama fans who wanted to talk about the game instead of just talking trash. I am ready to discuss the game with anyone who would like to. I certainly don't want to discuss the Ole Miss game seeing as how it won't be much more than a scrimmage. I am curious as to why Vol fans are so confident about this game. So let's hear it.

 

[BLKBRD]

False confidence from beating up on an under-manned, NCAA shafted team for the last couple of years? :dunno:

 

[Jasongivm6]

Originally posted by BamasBack12@Oct 11, 2005 12:22 PM
Well, somebody asked if there were any Bama fans who wanted to talk about the game instead of just talking trash.  I am ready to discuss the game with anyone who would like to.  I certainly don't want to discuss the Ole Miss game seeing as how it won't be much more than a scrimmage.  I am curious as to why Vol fans are so confident about this game.  So let's hear it.

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We just have that sense of calm during Alabama week.

And because Shula's beaten 1 good team since he became your coach. You've beaten Florida...........and Utah State, South Florida, Kentucky, Miss. State, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Western Carolina, MTSU, Arkansas and South Carolina.....those are ALL the teams he has beaten.....He has lost to Minnesota, Hawaii and Northern Illinois, along with LSU, Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, etc., etc., etc..

We like your attitude, don't get me wrong. It's exactly the same as Vanderbilt's attitude at the beginning of the year.

But 1 good win in 2 1/2 years doesn't put Tennessee fans on a pedastal. We've had more than 1 good win here during that same time.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I think we know that UT has athletes and they have underachieved BIG TIME so far. There is always the chance that this team will gel. If Bama has to play 4 quarters against the UT team that played the 2nd half of the LSU game then I think UT has a legit chance to win. It is reasonable for Bama fans to scoff at that and argue that if we are capable of that level of play why didn't we do it against UF or UGA, but we all know that this is a game where UT is going to be mad and highly motivated. Either the whole season is going down the toilet fot UT or they give 110%.

 

[LadyinOrange]

Bamasback, we KNOW Alabama is good this year and that so far we aren't. BUT, knowing what is on the line with this game, I doubt you can expect to see the same Tennesee team that lost to Georgia. We have two weeks to get ready and I am believing that our team WANTS to get better and will do everything they can to improve before they step on that field.

 

[LadyinOrange]

I just hope the OFFICIALS are unbiased and don't screw this game up.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Originally posted by LadyinOrange@Oct 11, 2005 12:40 PM
I just hope the OFFICIALS are unbiased and don't screw this game up.

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I don't think we would have won the UGA game with better officiating but they did screw us. I think that when you play an undefeated conference opponent at this point in the season you sometimes have to beat the opponent and the officials. It's sad but true.

 

[OWB]

Originally posted by BLKBRD@Oct 11, 2005 1:25 PM
False confidence from beating up on an under-manned, NCAA shafted team for the last couple of years?  :dunno:

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Couple of years? That's an understatement.

 

[BamasBack12]

The problem with Shula only winning 1 big game in the past 2 and a half years is that this is the first year he's had a team that can win big games. In 2003, he took over the team about 90 days before the season started, and didn't get to coach a spring. He was breaking in 2 new coordinators and a new QB. He had no chance. Last year, his team was as good if not better than this year's team. Then Brodie went down, then our #2 QB, then our #1 tailback, then our #1 fullback, then our #2 tailback. With scholarship sanctions, it's kind of rough when you lose that much talent. He never had a shot and still kept the big games close because of the defense. This year, though, is this year. This year Bama is undefeated, #6 in the country, and mawled the #5 Gators. This year UT is 3-2 and struggled heavily with UAB at home. This year Bama is the better team and gets the Vols at Bryant-Denny where the crowd will be in a frenzy knowing that Bama can win. So basically, you gave me no reason why the Vols should win THIS YEAR. That's really what I was looking for.

 

[JennVols]

We have given you PLENTY of reasons why we think the VOLS can beat Bama, you are just avoiding them!

 

[Jasongivm6]

Originally posted by BamasBack12@Oct 11, 2005 12:43 PM
The problem with Shula only winning 1 big game in the past 2 and a half years is that this is the first year he's had a team that can win big games.  In 2003, he took over the team about 90 days before the season started, and didn't get to coach a spring.  He was breaking in 2 new coordinators and a new QB.  He had no chance.  Last year, his team was as good if not better than this year's team.  Then Brodie went down, then our #2 QB, then our #1 tailback, then our #1 fullback, then our #2 tailback.  With scholarship sanctions, it's kind of rough when you lose that much talent.  He never had a shot and still kept the big games close because of the defense.  This year, though, is this year.  This year Bama is undefeated, #6 in the country, and mawled the #5 Gators.  This year UT is 3-2 and struggled heavily with UAB at home.  This year Bama is the better team and gets the Vols at Bryant-Denny where the crowd will be in a frenzy knowing that Bama can win.  So basically, you gave me no reason why the Vols should win THIS YEAR.  That's really what I was looking for.

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Well, put it this way. If Bama were 5-0 with our schedule, and we were 3-2 with Bama's schedule, then yes....I'd say Bama would have the edge.

 

[orangetd88]

Originally posted by LadyinOrange@Oct 11, 2005 12:40 PM
I just hope the OFFICIALS are unbiased and don't screw this game up.

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The officicals have had nothing to do with us losing. When you jump offsides or have a false start, it's your own fault, not theirs.

 

[LadyinOrange]

Originally posted by orangetd88@Oct 11, 2005 12:51 PM
The officicals have had nothing to do with us losing.  When you jump offsides or have a false start, it's your own fault, not theirs.

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I wasn't directing my comment in regards to the Georgia game. I sincerely hope WHICHEVER team wins, wins fairly.

 

[volinbham]

Originally posted by BamasBack12@Oct 11, 2005 12:43 PM
The problem with Shula only winning 1 big game in the past 2 and a half years is that this is the first year he's had a team that can win big games.  In 2003, he took over the team about 90 days before the season started, and didn't get to coach a spring.  He was breaking in 2 new coordinators and a new QB.  He had no chance.  Last year, his team was as good if not better than this year's team.  Then Brodie went down, then our #2 QB, then our #1 tailback, then our #1 fullback, then our #2 tailback.  With scholarship sanctions, it's kind of rough when you lose that much talent.  He never had a shot and still kept the big games close because of the defense.  This year, though, is this year.  This year Bama is undefeated, #6 in the country, and mawled the #5 Gators.  This year UT is 3-2 and struggled heavily with UAB at home.  This year Bama is the better team and gets the Vols at Bryant-Denny where the crowd will be in a frenzy knowing that Bama can win.  So basically, you gave me no reason why the Vols should win THIS YEAR.  That's really what I was looking for.

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It's funny to me how you can say we're not giving reasons. All I hear from Bama fans for the last 2 years is how while UT was the better team, Bama should have won the last 2. Now you say Bama has the better team and UT will therefore lose. Pick one story and stick with it.

It's called a rivalry for a reason. Games can be traced to a few key plays. Prothro's catch against SMiss changed the game. You may have been in deep do do otherwise. There are probably about 5 plays that if they went the other way would have changed the outcome of both UT's losses.

I'm not making excuses just pointing out that when 2 teams are rivals and close in talent - the record goes out the window. Our D is as good as any you've faced. We've been through tougher games. We have an extra week to prepare and get healthy and lay in a game plan.

Oh yeah, UT has a history of coming off losses for road wins as underdogs. Bama hates UT so much that they may lose focus - be over emotional and tight. 10 out of 11 sounds pretty good to me. Think about how much Bama has to lose. You won't be able to blame this loss on injuries, the NCAA, etc. I'd be worried if I was you.

 

[BamasBack12]

Well I'm not worried. I admit that UT could win the game, but why be worried? UT comes to T-Town, yall can't score points and our defense is the best you'll face all year, our offense has proven that it can score plenty, and we've already proven that we can destroy quality opponents. Still yall say you have given me reasons why UT can win. No, no you haven't. What is ONE reason? Because yall have won in the past? That doesn't matter now. Because yall have a tougher schedule to this point in the season? So what? Is losing to UGA and UF going to help you beat us? I'm talking about a reason like, your offense is so inept it could only put up 17 on UAB at home while SMU put up 28 on the blazers home field. With our defense, you'll be lucky to score twice. How about the fact that with Jason Allen gone, your defense has lost its heart and soul. Not only was Allen your best corner and helped shut down the pass, he was also very good at coming up to the line and stuffing the run. Now that's gone and your secondary is average at best without him. All yall can talk about is 9 out of 10, which is true, but is last year's win going to help you this year? No. If you could simply give me ONE mismatch in this game that could help yall win, maybe we could talk about that. But yall are obviously stumped and can't think of how UT could possibly win this game, so you're reverting to past years results. Sad.

 

[Lexvol]

Originally posted by BamasBack12@Oct 11, 2005 3:44 PM
Well I'm not worried.  I admit that UT could win the game, but why be worried?  UT comes to T-Town, yall can't score points and our defense is the best you'll face all year, our offense has proven that it can score plenty, and we've already proven that we can destroy quality opponents.  Still yall say you have given me reasons why UT can win.  No, no you haven't.  What is ONE reason?  Because yall have won in the past?  That doesn't matter now.  Because yall have a tougher schedule to this point in the season?  So what?  Is losing to UGA and UF going to help you beat us?  I'm talking about a reason like, your offense is so inept it could only put up 17 on UAB at home while SMU put up 28 on the blazers home field.  With our defense, you'll be lucky to score twice.  How about the fact that with Jason Allen gone, your defense has lost its heart and soul.  Not only was Allen your best corner and helped shut down the pass, he was also very good at coming up to the line and stuffing the run.  Now that's gone and your secondary is average at best without him.  All yall can talk about is 9 out of 10, which is true, but is last year's win going to help you this year?  No.  If you could simply give me ONE mismatch in this game that could help yall win, maybe we could talk about that.  But yall are obviously stumped and can't think of how UT could possibly win this game, so you're reverting to past years results.  Sad.

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Our defense will be the best that you face all year, but I agree that UT will not light up the score board. I think the first team to 20 points wins the game.

It might be Bama, but we will have to wait and see.

 

[utvolpj]

Originally posted by BamasBack12@Oct 11, 2005 3:44 PM
Well I'm not worried.  I admit that UT could win the game, but why be worried?  UT comes to T-Town, yall can't score points and our defense is the best you'll face all year, our offense has proven that it can score plenty, and we've already proven that we can destroy quality opponents.  Still yall say you have given me reasons why UT can win.  No, no you haven't.  What is ONE reason?  Because yall have won in the past?  That doesn't matter now.  Because yall have a tougher schedule to this point in the season?  So what?  Is losing to UGA and UF going to help you beat us?  I'm talking about a reason like, your offense is so inept it could only put up 17 on UAB at home while SMU put up 28 on the blazers home field.  With our defense, you'll be lucky to score twice.  How about the fact that with Jason Allen gone, your defense has lost its heart and soul.  Not only was Allen your best corner and helped shut down the pass, he was also very good at coming up to the line and stuffing the run.  Now that's gone and your secondary is average at best without him.  All yall can talk about is 9 out of 10, which is true, but is last year's win going to help you this year?  No.  If you could simply give me ONE mismatch in this game that could help yall win, maybe we could talk about that.  But yall are obviously stumped and can't think of how UT could possibly win this game, so you're reverting to past years results.  Sad.

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You seem to forget that the UT defense is also the best bama will face all year. Our d-line will stop the run and force Croyle to throw quickly. He is not mobile and will be sacked like every other QB this year. The difference comes from the mobility. The other QB's who have fared well against UT have been able to avoid the rush, Croyle can't. Jason Allen was the heart of the secondary, but not the offense. Remember, in '98 UT won with Al Wilson (the true heart of the D) on the sideline. It can be done. I think Jesse and Parys have a lot let to say about how the defense performs. You do remember that bama only put up 24 against a Hog team that had just given up 70.

As for our offense, who knows? That's the only question mark for UT. I hope CPF goes out and challenges their manhood and they step up. When they decide to show up, and they have for only one quarter this year, it could be good. If past years have shown, it's still Bama/UT so all this means very little.

You also might want to check your sig before talking trash about living in the past.

 

[BamasBack12]

I think the first team to 20 would win this game also. Here's my point. UT scored 17 vs. UAB at home. They scored 7 vs. UF. They scored 14 vs. UGA at home while 7 of those came off of a pick that was taken back to the 1 yard line, and the other 7 came on the last play of the game with UGA's reserves in. That, by the way, wasn't a TD anyway. That guy just didn't get into the end zone, but it really doesn't matter. So we've established that UT can't score points. Now, Bama has the best defense in the SEC, yes, it is better than your's. Bama held mighty UF to 3 points. How on God's green earth will UT score points against this Bama defense, on the road, with a crazy amount of crowd noise. Not to mention Clausen is totally banged up and Ainge is just plain bad. Brodie and our offense can score points. They have scored a combined 92 points in the last 3 games. Croyle is better than Clausen and Ainge, Darby is better than the overrated Riggs, our WR's are as good or better than yall's even without Prothro...the difference is our QB can get them the ball. Now, that is quite a few reasons why UT will not get to 20 points and UA will. Any responses?

 

[dan4vols]

Brodie Croyle is a fine QB, I saw his mechanics in the Florida game and hes very good. Quicker release and better ball velocity than I thought he had. And I dont even see the mullet ''do'' on him some see. I think he has heavy feet though, and tends to flush out of the pocket too early. The Vols front 7 are better at stopping the run and pass rushing than the gators. I think Mr Croyle may find that its much harder to hit the look in slant on his back, and without Prothro we can cover 1-1 even in zone. If the Vols show up to play some ball, it may be Alabama that has the bad day :twocents:

 

[BamasBack12]

Originally posted by utvolpj@Oct 11, 2005 4:00 PM
You seem to forget that the UT defense is also the best bama will face all year.  Our d-line will stop the run and force Croyle to throw quickly.  He is not mobile and will be sacked like every other QB this year.  The difference comes from the mobility.  The other QB's who have fared well against UT have been able to avoid the rush,  Croyle can't.  Jason Allen was the heart of the secondary, but not the offense.  Remember, in '98 UT won with Al Wilson (the true heart of the D) on the sideline.  It can be done.  I think Jesse and Parys have a lot let to say about how the defense performs.  You do remember that bama only put up 24 against a Hog team that had just given up 70.

As for our offense, who knows?  That's the only question mark for UT.  I hope CPF goes out and challenges their manhood and they step up.  When they decide to show up, and they have for only one quarter this year, it could be good.  If past years have shown, it's still Bama/UT so all this means very little.

You also might want to check your sig before talking trash about living in the past.

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I'm not living in the past. I'm not talking about the past, that's my signature, it's what the PA announcer says before and after each Bama win and it gets the home crowd pumped up. Yall keep talking about the past like it's going to help yall beat us in 2 weeks. As for your example of Bama only putting up 24 against a Hog team that had given up 70 the week before...great example. Remember who that "other" team was? It was USC. So nice try. I'm starting to hear a lot of the same things from yall as we did from the UF fans. The defense will shut Darby down and force Croyle to throw quickly. That UF D shut Riggs down but Darby ran for over 100 against it. And Croyle already throws the ball quickly, lots of three step drops and ridiculously quick strikes. Just look at the UF game and the TD to Brown. Also, you wanna talk about a defense who will be able to get to the QB and cause sacks? Clausen already can't run and now is banged up so he's in for a long day. Ainge is bad at both passing and running. Our d-line is going to be in their faces all day, our ends are two of the best in the SEC. Mark Anderson, remember that name, will have a big day. Not to mention bringing the blitzes from off the corners and up the middle with Roach and Ryans, both NFL draft picks next year. Joe Kines is a defensive mastermind. I've never seen a QB so confused and out of his game as Chris Leak was against us. And face it, Clausen and Ainge ain't Chris Leak. What else ya got?

 

[utvolpj]

You talk about the UT/UF game but your comments lead me to believe you only looked at the box score. Yes, our offense was bad but the game was lost on special teams. Riggs ran for 86 and then they quit running the ball. Most of us will agree that UT abandoned the running game too quickly. Bama only put up 121 rushing against UF's defense Leak threw for 179 against UT and 187 against bama. Stats can be used any way you want but you seem to disagree that UT can shut down the running game. UF ran for 139 against bama and 68 against UT.

You also discount the loss of Prothro yet point to the loss of Jason Allen. Sadly, bama's offense lost their key playmaker when he went down. JA has been a big part of our defense but Prothro saved the game vs. S. Miss.

I think it's a much closer game than Tide fans want to admit.

 

[BamasBack12]

Originally posted by utvolpj@Oct 11, 2005 4:49 PM
You talk about the UT/UF game but your comments lead me to believe you only looked at the box score.  Yes, our offense was bad but the game was lost on special teams.  Riggs ran for 86 and then they quit running the ball.  Most of us will agree that UT abandoned the running game too quickly. Bama only put up 121 rushing against UF's defense Leak threw for 179 against UT and 187 against bama.  Stats can be used any way you want but you seem to disagree that UT can shut down the running game.  UF ran for 139 against bama and 68 against UT.

You also discount the loss of Prothro yet point to the loss of Jason Allen.  Sadly, bama's offense lost their key playmaker when he went down.  JA has been a big part of our defense but Prothro saved the game vs. S. Miss.

I think it's a much closer game than Tide fans want to admit.

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Bama only put up 121 rushing yards, but Brodie threw for around 220 with 3 TD's. I don't think Clausen or Ainge touched those numbers. Leak threw for 187, 8 more yards than against UT, but threw 2 picks against us and no TD's. UF ran for 139 against us, a huge chunk of that on a fake punt, and 68 against UT. Ok, but the stat that matters most...UF scored 16 against UT and only 3 against Bama. Another meaningful stat...UT 7 vs. UA 31...points vs. UF. Prothro is a big loss for Bama and I'm not discounting it. However, WR is the one place we can afford to lose a player. We still have Hall and Brown who both have multi-TD games this year so far. We also have Matt Caddell who has big play ability and was considered the best out of the soph. class receiving bunch (Hall,Brown,Caddell,Knight). Ezekial Knight is our most physical and gifted receiver and will get a lot more playing time now that Pro is gone. If he can just learn to hold on to the ball, he'll be great. Special teams wise, Pro will be missed more. But DJ Hall has great speed and figures to return punts pretty effectively. He and Brandon Brooks will return kicks. Brooks is a lightning quick playmaker, a very tiny player who cuts and slashes. He took a kick back for 6 vs. Auburn but then Pro took over because he was simply better. Jason Allen will be missed more than Prothro. Allen was the best corner on a defense where the other corners aren't very good. Allen was also a great run stopper on top of being a shut down corner. With Allen gone it is likely Bama will pick on his replacement, throwing his way a lot. UT can't do that to Prothro's replacement seeing as how he'll be on offense. Alabama will have an easier time replacing their fallen star than will UT.

 

[Chattownsfinest]

As much as some people on here dont want to admit it he actually makes some really good points. But then again you make some assumptions that you shouldnt and some of the things you say fall short. Yes Bama is def. the better team right now, and yes they "should" win this game. But that is why this is a rivarly, and exactly why we will win this game.

Georgia had 2 weeks to prepare, while we were playing our 3rd game in 13 days, 2 of them against top 10 opponents. Lets see your bama team played a SC team that got blown out 48-3 by Auburn and a 2-3 Arkansas team ,so yes schedule is a factor believe it or not. Georgia also played some creampuffs and they had two weeks to focus on how to use a very good defense to stop an offense that has been stopping itself.

Now we are the ones with two weeks to prepare, Chavis will come up with some defensive schemes to get to Croyle, and disrupt his passing time, not to mention stuff Darby. We will spend a good time focusing on special teams, so it wont be a liability like it has been the past games. Our offense will use this time to get some cohesiveness, and I think Ainge will be taking a lot more snaps as he will be playing most of the game. CJ Fayton will have time to get healthy, and so will some of the other banged up players. Even with the loss of Allen, we still have a great defense and one of the best defensive fronts in the nation. Jonathan Wade almost had two picks for TD's the last two games so he will step up in Allen's absence. As long as we dont start Fellows who cant cover or tackle, our secondary will be fine. The fact is our defense was tired against GA because once again our offense wasnt getting it done and they had to keep coming on the field. Starting all those drives from in the 10 yard line didnt help either, and neither did losing our best player on defense. But this team handles adversity well, as shown in the LSU game. The loss of our emotional leader, will only further motivate this team, not to mention that Bama has to win this game to stay in the championship hunt, and we have nothing to lose. I think you will see some intensity that we havent seen this season. Also or whatever reason Tennessee has been a better road team for a while, and we seem to play better at a hostile stadium.

If you saw the GA game we finally got to put our starting offensive line out for the first time this season. When healthy that is one of the best if not the best in the SEC. The problem is these guys havent played together so they dont have a feel for what they want to do as a group. It showed because on at least 2 plays Gandy mishandled the snap which added to our offensive woes. I think that once these guys get some practice time and some game experience our running game will become more potent.


cont..

 

[volinbham]

This discussion is useless because you continue to discount any advantage we have - best D you will face, best D front four that will put more pressure on Croyle than he has faced this year. Best rushing defense you will face. Tougher rushing yards and more pressure on the QB.

Now you will tell me how none of this matters.

Our offense has moved the ball but failed to capitalize. The point? Our offense has potential - Riggs and receivers are as good or better than yours. QB not as good but can be effective.

Again, you will say this doesn't matter so what's the point?

Bottomline, UT has as much overall talent albeit in different positions; has shown resilency after losses and the ability to focus for road games in hostile environments (you can call that history but it's also indicative of game preparation by the current staff); has an extra week to prepare; has pride riding on the game.

Read carefully - these are the same type of reasons you spout for Bama winning.

 

[SUPERVOL33]

Although Bama did soundly beat Fla, They are the same team that led the might MTSU Blue Raiders 9-7 at half. They also trailed Southern Miss at half and were it not for that lucky miracle catch before the half they were in trouble. They also needed a score late to beat an awful Arkansas team. Also an Arkansas team that ran the ball all over them. So if this Bama team that played those 3 gems shows up instead of the 1 team that beat Florida, look for the Vols to be pretty happy when the clock reads 00:00!! imp: