voladdiction
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2011
- Messages
- 186
- Likes
- 18
We have one game under our belt, so we know very little about our team (though we are speculating like crazy). But I like to reflect on what we thought we knew after the first game in the past few seasons and whether those panned out as true.
Here's my take (to the best of my memory).
Please add yours.
2010 - Tennessee crushed UT-Martin 50-0.
Initial thoughts on offense: I remember thinking that it took a long time for our offense to get going. Was wondering if Matt Simms was the guy to make our offense go. I also remember Raijon Neal making a great run near the end of the game, when he was put in for mop-up duty. I thought "this guy has 'IT'".
Upon further reflection: Correct. Simms was not the guy. Need I explain? (BTW, I have mad respect for Simms for taking the hits he did). As for Neal? I was wrong. I don't remember him doing much else in 2010. And he certainly hasn't proved (yet!) that he has "IT".
Initial thoughts on defense: All I remember was thinking that we were a disciplined team and that Austin Johnson was going to be a great linebacker.
Upon further reflection: Our defense was pretty soft - especially in the 2nd half. And Johnson didn't make the splash I thought he would.
2011 - Tennessee curb-stomped Montana.
Initial thoughts on offense: Wow! Our passing game is sick! Hunter and Rogers look unstoppable. Bray can thread the needle. But then again, it's Montana. Let's wait and see. (Of course, the next game, vs. Butch Jones' Cincinnati, only heightened my expectations for our passing game). BUT... our running game? WTH???? How come we can't blow Montana off the line? Why can't Poole pick up the short yards when needed. Too many freshman?
Upon further reflection: The loss of Justin Hunter - and then the loss of Tyler Bray (vs Georgia) - utterly decimated our passing game. We were never the same. Expectations crushed. As for our running game? Initial impressions proved to be correct. We sucked. Plain and simple.
Initial thoughts on defense: The only thing I remember was a pick-6.
Upon further reflection: We may have ranked in the top 30 on defense that year, but it was a defense that was largely forgettable (2nd half play folded like a lawn chair when it mattered - i.e. Alabama and LSU, most memorably)
2012: Tennessee took NC State to the proverbial woodshed
Initial thoughts on offense: Running game? Improved. Not impressive. Passing game? COR-DAR-RELLE PATTERSON!! Unbelievable display of talent. I thought, "Not even Alabama can stop us!" And this was after the let-down of kicking Da'Rick off the team. Even Zach Rogers played lights out against NC State.
Upon further reflection: We put up some great numbers on offense, but we lacked the chutzpah and execution to get it done when it counted (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, etc...)
Initial thoughts on defense: Some big plays (4 picks and a sack causing a fumble for a safety by Maggit). That was nice. And some big hits (notably, Brewer de-cleating some dude). Maybe Sunseri brings that aggressive play we've been hoping for? BUT...man, there were some blown coverages and players out of position. Hope this doesn't mean what I think it means.
Upon further reflection: It was worse than I possibly could have imagined.
The moral of this story: I have no idea what kind of team we are going to have this year until we play a few games. The only thing I will "put in the bank" is "no penalties", which I think is remarkable, given it's all new coaches and new systems. I hope my words don't come back to haunt me....
Here's my take (to the best of my memory).
Please add yours.
2010 - Tennessee crushed UT-Martin 50-0.
Initial thoughts on offense: I remember thinking that it took a long time for our offense to get going. Was wondering if Matt Simms was the guy to make our offense go. I also remember Raijon Neal making a great run near the end of the game, when he was put in for mop-up duty. I thought "this guy has 'IT'".
Upon further reflection: Correct. Simms was not the guy. Need I explain? (BTW, I have mad respect for Simms for taking the hits he did). As for Neal? I was wrong. I don't remember him doing much else in 2010. And he certainly hasn't proved (yet!) that he has "IT".
Initial thoughts on defense: All I remember was thinking that we were a disciplined team and that Austin Johnson was going to be a great linebacker.
Upon further reflection: Our defense was pretty soft - especially in the 2nd half. And Johnson didn't make the splash I thought he would.
2011 - Tennessee curb-stomped Montana.
Initial thoughts on offense: Wow! Our passing game is sick! Hunter and Rogers look unstoppable. Bray can thread the needle. But then again, it's Montana. Let's wait and see. (Of course, the next game, vs. Butch Jones' Cincinnati, only heightened my expectations for our passing game). BUT... our running game? WTH???? How come we can't blow Montana off the line? Why can't Poole pick up the short yards when needed. Too many freshman?
Upon further reflection: The loss of Justin Hunter - and then the loss of Tyler Bray (vs Georgia) - utterly decimated our passing game. We were never the same. Expectations crushed. As for our running game? Initial impressions proved to be correct. We sucked. Plain and simple.
Initial thoughts on defense: The only thing I remember was a pick-6.
Upon further reflection: We may have ranked in the top 30 on defense that year, but it was a defense that was largely forgettable (2nd half play folded like a lawn chair when it mattered - i.e. Alabama and LSU, most memorably)
2012: Tennessee took NC State to the proverbial woodshed
Initial thoughts on offense: Running game? Improved. Not impressive. Passing game? COR-DAR-RELLE PATTERSON!! Unbelievable display of talent. I thought, "Not even Alabama can stop us!" And this was after the let-down of kicking Da'Rick off the team. Even Zach Rogers played lights out against NC State.
Upon further reflection: We put up some great numbers on offense, but we lacked the chutzpah and execution to get it done when it counted (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, etc...)
Initial thoughts on defense: Some big plays (4 picks and a sack causing a fumble for a safety by Maggit). That was nice. And some big hits (notably, Brewer de-cleating some dude). Maybe Sunseri brings that aggressive play we've been hoping for? BUT...man, there were some blown coverages and players out of position. Hope this doesn't mean what I think it means.
Upon further reflection: It was worse than I possibly could have imagined.
The moral of this story: I have no idea what kind of team we are going to have this year until we play a few games. The only thing I will "put in the bank" is "no penalties", which I think is remarkable, given it's all new coaches and new systems. I hope my words don't come back to haunt me....
