Am I the only one that is questioning our playcalling?

[NationofVols]

I think most everyone has been praising Cutcliffe, and rightfully so. But the 2nd half/mainly 4th quarter of the Florida game, and today.....were awfully familiar and not in a good way.

Is there a need to throw 20 outpatterns no more than 5 yards deep?

Is there a reason to not even try to establish the run to begin the game or in the 2nd half?

Is there a reason why, although they have all 11 guys playing "up" to not take at least a few shots downfield? Ainge had good protection for alot of the day and despite him having an off day for hell, they took all of maybe 2-3 shots downfield and one of them was the first play of the game.

Why has it taken until the 4th quarter of the 7th game against Bama to realize that throwing out of the backfield with the talent that we have back there, is probably a smart idea?

Where is this tight end involvement? Other than said 3-5 yard outpatterns to a tight end that is about as fast as I am?



Perhaps I'm just nitpicking. Plays have been made when they've needed to be made for the most part and there is no doubt how much things have changed, but it's as if a few things are becoming the "norm" or "obvious" I suppose. I'm taking nothing away from Alabama and the defense they played, but nevertheless.

 

[OWB]

On the post game show, they said that Cutcliffe said that he didn't make the calls to put the Vols in a favorable position and that it was his fault and he took full responsibility.

 

[sjt18]

UT was leading the SEC in total offense and probably still is. They are averaging about 33 ppg including today. They've lost one game by one point to a very good UF team. UT is in the top 10 in yards per attempt in the NCAA. They are 70 or worse in rushing average.

Bama was 16th in the nation in passing defense allowing 159 ypg coming in. Ainge almost doubled them up even though they played 3 deep quite a bit to prevent the long passes and seams.

I would love to see them run better. I would love to see one of the TE's prove that they can catch the ball down the middle.

I am very sure however that if the backs or TE's were proving themselves to be equal or better options than the guys who are getting the ball... Cut would find a way to get it to them.

 

[NationofVols]

all of those stats are nice and pretty, but they didn't do alot for us when we got conservative against Florida or needed to break the stalemate today when Bama basically knew what we were going to do. Our offense is great, like i said, it's been obviously much better. But at some point, things get predictable and you need to adapt.

OWB, unfortunately, although I was in the traffic for an hour before I even got out of Neyland's shadow, I could barely pick up the post-game show. Strange I know....hahaha

I live just outside of Nashville and it took me almost 4 hours to get home with only 1 short stop.

 

[WA_Vol]

I think most everyone has been praising Cutcliffe, and rightfully so. But the 2nd half/mainly 4th quarter of the Florida game, and today.....were awfully familiar and not in a good way.

I think normally those plays would have worked. Ainge made a couple of bad decisions and didn't throw the ball as well as he had the last couple of games.

Alabama did a lot of different things on defense Ainge/UT wasn't expecting too.

 

[sickemsmokey10]

I don't really question the play calling, it just seems our guys didn't make the plays

 

[sjt18]

all of those stats are nice and pretty, but they didn't do alot for us when we got conservative against Florida

I think one of the lessons learned by that game was if you can't run... don't. UT lost by one to a very good UF team. I hate it. They had opportunities to win and you could pick it apart alot of different ways.

The biggest problem in the UF game wasn't the play calling... it was that Frogg got beaten badly on most plays. The line overall didn't play great but Frogg in particular was just run over. The line has been much better since McNeil took over.

or needed to break the stalemate today when Bama basically knew what we were going to do.

They knew more or less... and when UT executed properly they still couldn't stop them. UT stopped themselves for the most part. Bama was playing a "bend don't break type of scheme" against the pass and loading up on the run. Hats off to them. UT dropped some passes and gave up some INT's... and they got some good breaks on officiating/spots.

Our offense is great, like i said, it's been obviously much better. But at some point, things get predictable and you need to adapt.

I actually love what they're doing. Execute then add... execute then add... execute then add.

Like you, I wish they could find something good in the running game but so far they haven't. I have also been disappointed that they haven't been a better screen team.

 

[hmanvolfan]

I would love to see one of the TE's prove that they can catch the ball down the middle.

That my friends, in my opinion, will be a key to the Volunteer success this and every year. Setting up the run with the pass or vice versa can be accomidated with the ability to find the tight end in the middle to confound the opponents defense.

 

[tvolsfan]

Ainge just didn't have as much time yesterday as in other games. Need to be ready to face a big rush against LSU though.

 

[Orange Indy Vol]

4th and 1, line stacked with everyone including the coaching staff and waterboys.... Hey let's run it on a sneak, they'll never know what hit them

 

[Lexvol]

On the post game show, they said that Cutcliffe said that he didn't make the calls to put the Vols in a favorable position and that it was his fault and he took full responsibility.

Let Cut take the heat, but this one is on Ainge. Bama did bring some pressure, but it was the DBs that had Ainge confounded. He was overthrowing or underthrowing receivers for the entire first half.

 

[GAVol]

4th and 1, line stacked with everyone including the coaching staff and waterboys.... Hey let's run it on a sneak, they'll never know what hit them

That was all on Ainge IMO. He's got to get out of that play even if it means calling another timeout.

 

[iluvcooter]

It is hard to find anyone open in the middle when there are 7 white jerseys in there. Once again, our coaching staff took inventory and made the necessary adjustments at the half. Cutcliffe got Ainge settled down and went with the high percentage passes on the outside--where they were giving us ground. Tough decisions in that game and ultimately they did what needed to be done. I don't like the QB sneak, never have, but is it usually good for positive yardage and that's all we needed.

My questions involve putting our starting RB's back to return kick-offs. I cringed earlier in the game when they were back to return, and I blew a gasket when Cocker went down! Ainge showed he has some speed when he tracked down that DB after the INT. Maybe we could use him a little more in the run offense. Maybe not, just a thought.

 

[kcvols1]

4th and 1, line stacked with everyone including the coaching staff and waterboys.... Hey let's run it on a sneak, they'll never know what hit them

I can't believe I am saying this, but I think the CBS guys were right on in their comments after this play. Ainge needs to come to the line, notice they have 17 hats crowding the line, and check out of the play. You can't really put that one on the coaches, b/c Ainge is the one on the field.

BTW, does anyone else wonder why we never see the wobbly stork naked bootleg on inches plays? Peyton was great on those against Vandy, Bama, and a couple others. Maybe Ainge can't sell the RB fake as well.

 

[kcvols1]

My questions involve putting our starting RB's back to return kick-offs. I cringed earlier in the game when they were back to return, and I blew a gasket when Cocker went down! Ainge showed he has some speed when he tracked down that DB after the INT. Maybe we could use him a little more in the run offense. Maybe not, just a thought.

I questioned that myself after Coker was limping off the field. Bottom line though is that you have to put your playmakers in a position to make plays. The most adept players on the team at carrying the ball in traffic are the RB's. Makes sense that you should use them on returns.

That said, it looks like Hefney took a big step today. I wonder if we might see him start to return KO's as well.

 

[GAVol]

I can't believe I am saying this, but I think the CBS guys were right on in their comments after this play. Ainge needs to come to the line, notice they have 17 hats crowding the line, and check out of the play. You can't really put that one on the coaches, b/c Ainge is the one on the field.

BTW, does anyone else wonder why we never see the wobbly stork naked bootleg on inches plays? Peyton was great on those against Vandy, Bama, and a couple others. Maybe Ainge can't sell the RB fake as well.

To me, one of the calls of the game was the 3rd and short playaction pass to Arian Foster on the TD drive. It was a great call against a defense that you knew was going to sell out to the run.

 

[cibai]

On the int, you could se ainge start running the other way right after he trew it. He ducked his head and just started running the other way.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

On the int, you could se ainge start running the other way right after he trew it. He ducked his head and just started running the other way.

Asked what he thought as Castille took off, Ainge said, "No way I'm gonna catch him. But I'm gonna try … I knew I was going to go as hard as I could."

 

[volfan2024]

It seemed to me we had trouble figuring their defense out, once we did,(keep passes short) we did okay.Credit to their defensive coordinator though.

 

[#10_Ainge_#10]

I don't really question the play calling, it just seems our guys didn't make the plays

I agree with that, I don't know how many drops we had yesterday, wasn't that many but more than we've gotten used to this year.... I don't know if it was our receivers just weren't focused or if it was just good coverage...Maybe a little bit of both.....Coach Cut done what he was brought here to do, improve the offense....Bama played stout yesterday and we knew coming into this game they would because they always do....For some of the people complaining about how bad the play calling was yesterday, I'd just be glad we come out of Neyland with a win and still in the hunt for the SEC East

 

[KSVOL]

4th and 1, line stacked with everyone including the coaching staff and waterboys.... Hey let's run it on a sneak, they'll never know what hit them

That was easily the worst call. I wonder if Ainge had the authority to check off to another play when he saw how they were stacked in the middle to defense the qb sneak. What a great time to fake the run and throw one down the field.

 

[volinbham]

I don't think we tried running enough to conclude the running game wouldn't work. Otherwise, I'd say it was a combo of a good scheme by Bama and some execution problems on our end.

Our line did protect Ainge well.

 

[allvol123]

It is hard to criticize Cut after seeing the turnaround this offense has made. But I get aggravated anytime I see Foster running a sweep. I think that would be the worst option for Foster, especially against SEC defenses. I prefer to see him running between the tackles, that is his strength.

 

[VolinArizona]

Bama was 16th in the nation in passing defense allowing 159 ypg coming in.

I looked into this on Wednesday, and the average rank of passing offenses Alabama played before us was #72, so their pass D wasn't as good as the stat speaks for.

 

[Lexvol]

I've been laying in the weeds on this topic for the most part anyway and have to get a few things off of my chest.

There are plenty who disagree with me, but I for one am pleased to see this offense come out in the shotgun and spread the ball around. For these reasons.

1. It shows a sense of urgency. UT played from behind for a large part of the game.

2. With fewer offensive snaps due to the clock rules every the offense must take advantage of every play.

3. It shows that CPF and the staff are willing to evolve (to some extent anyway). They learned from the minus 11 rushing yards from Florida. If they had taken the same approach in the Florida game it is quite possible this team is undefeated right now.

4. This offensive line is no more than a servicable run blocking unit. It is obvious to me that the OL is a young unit overall. Ainge is most comfortable from the shotgun. When your feature backs are averaging three yards a carry it is hard to make the case that they can run consistently.

5. The play makers on this team are obviously the WRs. Throwing to Foster out of the backfield is simply the icing on the cake. You saw what happened in the first half when Cut took the reigns off of EA. Shotgun and quick throws are the strength of this offense. Ainge is not the playmaker. He simply delivers the football. So let the WR's carry this offense.

Everyone is saying UT must run the ball to keep defenses honest. I ask who has stopped the four and five wide formations to this point in the season (other than possibly Florida).