Bama playing 8th straight week with no open date

#1
knox73

knox73

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#1
Bama has just played 2 tight games with A&M and Arkansas. The game with Tennessee is their 8th straight. That is tough on any team. Yes the Vols are weak at some critical offensive skill positions but may have enough firepower to give the Tide a real game.
 
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#3
#3
knox73 said:
Bama has just played 2 tight games with A&M and Arkansas. The game with Tennessee is their 8th straight. That is tough on any team. Yes the Vols are weak at some critical offensive skill positions but may have enough firepower to give the Tide a real game.
Click to expand...

You’re not wrong about that being a tough stretch on any team, so I’m glad for that and any other small things that help our chances.

Personally, I think it’s gonna be challenging to win and think the line favoriting Alabama is fair, but they are definitely potentially beatable if either:

1. Our passing game continues to be what we’ve seen so far, we play great defense, special teams, run the ball well, avoid turnovers, clean up our penalties, and have some breaks go our way (basically we continue playing as we have but with fewer penalties and maybe some turnovers can be generated).

For this scenario to have a chance we need Alabama to continue struggling themselves as they have most of the year. To win in this scenario where we still struggle in passing means we have to continue doing well in the areas we have, clean up some stuff, and Bama can’t suddenly put together a total team performance themselves either.

I don’t like counting on this because even if the elephants have been shaky to this point they still have tons of talent in all areas and are coached by Saban, who has repeatedly turned things around after having early struggles and being written off.

Add to that they have the home field advantage and should be very motivated to beat us after last year. Basically, if our team is what we have seen so far we need some help and I’m not at all sure we will get it, but it’s certainly not impossible.

2. We put together a complete game where Milton and company play their best game since Clemson, the passing game is suddenly rolling, and our other areas stay strong.

In this scenario we could beat them straight up even if they are playing well also. It’s gonna mean seeing something we haven’t yet, something we hoped for that hasn’t materialized.

If we win I’ll take it no matter how it happens, but if it doesn’t I don’t think we should be shocked.
 
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#5
#5
This team looked much different last week than any Tennessee team since Heupel got here. The defense played lights outs, and they ran the ball at will against the Aggies. I think this gives them more than a chance against Alabama. I said against Florida, Tennessee’s biggest problem was more mental than physical. I think the same is true with Alabama. GBO!
 
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#6
#6
robcovol said:
This team looked much different last week than any Tennessee team since Heupel got here. The defense played lights outs, and they ran the ball at will against the Aggies. I think this gives them more than a chance against Alabama. I said against Florida, Tennessee’s biggest problem was more mental than physical. I think the same is true with Alabama. GBO!
Click to expand...

Not having Coop and another offensive tackle for the Florida game really hurt us. Same with starting a young guy at middle linebacker. Of course, there were a handful of zebra calls that hurt as well.
 
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#7
#7
I think you have to play pissed off on the road and limit mistakes. Can't let them bully you all over the yard like we let Florida do in the first half of the game. Some of that was coaching some of it was passive attittude, maybe lack of leadership... Can't play that way on the road or it won't end well.
 
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#8
#8
robcovol said:
This team looked much different last week than any Tennessee team since Heupel got here. The defense played lights outs, and they ran the ball at will against the Aggies. I think this gives them more than a chance against Alabama. I said against Florida, Tennessee’s biggest problem was more mental than physical. I think the same is true with Alabama. GBO!
Click to expand...

Problem vs floruda? MAYS out. Period ....
 
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#11
#11
knox73 said:
Bama has just played 2 tight games with A&M and Arkansas. The game with Tennessee is their 8th straight. That is tough on any team. Yes the Vols are weak at some critical offensive skill positions but may have enough firepower to give the Tide a real game.
Click to expand...
BIG WORD!!!
 
#12
#12
It will be tough; but its a winnable game for sure. I could be wrong, but I don't see our offense having a field day. I think our best bet is another nasty, ugly game much like last Saturday.
 
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#13
#13
Do they have any key injuries? Have to imagine that they’re nicked up considering this is their 8th straight game
 
#15
#15
Alabama's QB has been criticized, but he's high in NCAA passer ratings, I heard yesterday, and he is very athletic and very mobile and will
give our defense more problems than the a&M qb. This alabama team does not seem as talented as they've been in the past--and the same could be said of last year's bama team, there's been bit of a talent falloff in tuscaloosa---but we'll have to play very well to win. It will be tough, especially if they shut down our run game, which will be a point of emphasis for them, for sure.
 
#20
#20
robcovol said:
This team looked much different last week than any Tennessee team since Heupel got here. The defense played lights outs, and they ran the ball at will against the Aggies. I think this gives them more than a chance against Alabama. I said against Florida, Tennessee’s biggest problem was more mental than physical. I think the same is true with Alabama. GBO!
Click to expand...

Heupel's ability to adapt furthers my opinion that he's the best pure coach that Tennessee has had in my lifetime (Major was the first Tennessee coach I watched in person).

And it brings back bad memories of Butch Jones trying to run read option with Justin Worley among other examples of not adapting to the roster he was so fortunate to have.
 
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#23
#23
knox73 said:
Bama has just played 2 tight games with A&M and Arkansas. The game with Tennessee is their 8th straight. That is tough on any team. Yes the Vols are weak at some critical offensive skill positions but may have enough firepower to give the Tide a real game.
Click to expand...
and 5th straight SEC game
 
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