Does Tennessee get exposed this weekend?

#76
#76
red55 said:
LSU is ranked #5 nationally against the pass and #7 nationally against the run. I wouldn't bet the house on passing for big yardage on LSU.

But people are ripping off big punt and kick returns on LSU. Hard to figure, LSU plays a lot of starters on special teams.
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lets go Hef
 
#77
#77
After a little thought, I think that UT may move the ball a bit. I hate to state the obvious, but the redzone will tell the tale of this ballgame. Field goals aren't going to cut it.
 
#78
#78
Gee Wheez, the way you guys are talking why go to the game!! If I didn't we had a chance I wouldn"t drive 300 miles to Knoxville. LSU has to have weaknesses or they would be undefeated like Ohio State. Is this a totally new secondary from the one that we shredded in the second half last year?

Who has LSU beaten worth a flip?
 
#79
#79
Anyone else see Miles' press conference on CSTV?

He's worried about the Vols quick passing game. He mentioned it several times.

To answer the original question, No. The Vols won't be "exposed" this weekend. They aren't pretenders that have somehow stumbled into a season where their only loss was by 1 early in the season to one of the best teams in the country.

That isn't the relevant question for this weekend though. That question is: "What LSU team will show up? The one with the best talent in the nation or the one whose discipline and consistency breakdown under the pressure of a good opponent.

The Vols are as good as Florida and are playing better than Auburn has played since the first game against Wazzou.

This is a great test for the Vols but LSU really hasn't played a team that throws as well as UT. The only team that comes close is UF. They've proven they can shut down a run game... but as we all know, UT doesn't run it this year anyway.

Defensively, Russell has a great arm but his decision making is suspect at times and he doesn't have good quickness. They've run it no better than UT.

If Ainge/Crompton start out well, don't throw picks, and get up by a score or two... LSU will collapse if they hold true to form. In fact, they'll break down if the game is close late.

OTOH, if they play to potential there isn't a team in the country (bar none) that compares man-to-man in pure talent.

I'd love to say that the Vols could dictate this game... but I don't think they can. They have to be opportunistic like Auburn and UF were.
 
#80
#80
I hope Ainge's ankle holds up and he doesn't have to leave the game if so then we should all worry, playing at home doesn't seem to benefit us.
 
#81
#81
red55 said:
LSU is ranked #5 nationally against the pass and #7 nationally against the run. I wouldn't bet the house on passing for big yardage on LSU.
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Lets examine the competition this year for LSU………

Louisiana Lafayette (4-3) W
Arizona (3-5) W
Auburn (8-1) L
Tulane (3-5) W
Mississippi State (2-7) W
Florida (7-1) L
Kentucky (4-4) W
Fresno State (1-6) W

Stats can be very misleading. Your comments about #5 pass defense and #7 run defense are greatly reduced after examining the opponents records. LSU’s only win against a team with a winning record comes from the Sun Belt Conference. (enough said)

South Carolina was boastful regarding their highly ranked pass defense too. Erik Ainge lit them up for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
 
#82
#82
Wasn't UGA the #1 D when UT arrived in Athens? Hadn't they beaten similar teams?

That said, LSU was very competitive against two conference elites. They should've beaten both of them but they don't execute consistently and are mistake prone against elite teams.
 
#83
#83
LSU is a bit better on offense than UGA...and UGAs D has been the unit that has been exposed thus far this year.

i don't think the UGA/LSU comparison is a good one at this point. LSU has yet to lose a game they weren't supposed to, or at least a game that it wasn't inconceivable they'd lose, can't say the same for UGA.
 
#84
#84
I'm pretty concerned about this game too... I hate that our odds of winning depend so much on mental mistakes by our opposition.

I think we'll have to play our best game of the season to win this one.
 
#85
#85
f1ip said:
Stats can be very misleading. Your comments about #5 pass defense and #7 run defense are greatly reduced after examining the opponents records.
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If you say so. LSU has also played two top-10 teams on the road.

f1ip said:
LSU’s only win against a team with a winning record comes from the Sun Belt Conference.
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LSU has played 4 teams with losing records--Tennessee has played 3 teams with losing records. LSU is 0-2 versus top-10 teams--Tennessee is 1-1.

Everybody has played some cupcakes and some contenders this far into the season, amigo. You suggest that because LSU has blown away the teams it was supposed to beat at home but lost competitive games on the road to teams that were supposed to beat them, then LSU cannnot beat a winning team. I say that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

f1ip said:
South Carolina was boastful regarding their highly ranked pass defense too. Erik Ainge lit them up for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
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LSU Total D is #1 -- Carolina is #37
LSU Scoring D is #2 -- Carolina is #22
LSU passing D is #5 -- Carolina is #20
LSU rushing D is #7 -- Carolina is #67

Highly-ranked? I think that the LSU defense will be a little better than South Carolina. So will the offense. But LSU is mediocre at best on special teams. I don't worry about Ainge beating us. I worry about some redshirt freshman headhunter that nobody has ever heard of causing fumbles on punt returns.
 
#86
#86
Youve beaten ONE team with a winning record, that team being from the sun belt. Weve beaten four teams with winning records, three from the sec and the other your current pac-10 leader.

Its funny you brag about stats padded against teams with losing records. How impressive.
 
#87
#87
red55 said:
If you say so. LSU has also played two top-10 teams on the road.

LSU has played 4 teams with losing records--Tennessee has played 3 teams with losing records. LSU is 0-2 versus top-10 teams--Tennessee is 1-1.

Everybody has played some cupcakes and some contenders this far into the season, amigo. You suggest that because LSU has blown away the teams it was supposed to beat at home but lost competitive games on the road to teams that were supposed to beat them, then LSU cannnot beat a winning team. I say that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

LSU Total D is #1 -- Carolina is #37
LSU Scoring D is #2 -- Carolina is #22
LSU passing D is #5 -- Carolina is #20
LSU rushing D is #7 -- Carolina is #67

Highly-ranked? I think that the LSU defense will be a little better than South Carolina. So will the offense. But LSU is mediocre at best on special teams. I don't worry about Ainge beating us. I worry about some redshirt freshman headhunter that nobody has ever heard of causing fumbles on punt returns.
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USC was 8th in pass defense before we played them. They were giving up 147 yards per game. Ainge put up 254.
 
#88
#88
TravisHenryCBlockedMe said:
Youve beaten ONE team with a winning record, that team being from the sun belt. Weve beaten four teams with winning records, three from the sec and the other your current pac-10 leader.

Its funny you brag about stats padded against teams with losing records. How impressive.
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I hear you but what you need to realize is the Tigers haven't had an opportunity to play more SEC games. We lost to Florida in Gainesville (5 turnovers- one as a fumble on a quarterback sneak from the one yard line)lot's of miscues lost that game, not talent -- you lost to Florida at home -- We lost at Auburn by 4 and they beat Florida at home. I could care less about our stats against pansies, what does it matter. I know we gave up 7 to Auburn at their place and we turned the ball over 5 times at Florida and they scored 23. I'm not coming here talking smack, but I believe LSU will win the game. Basically, LSU's back is against the wall, they've had two weeks to plan and the team is too talented to have 2 losses. Maybe I have my purple and gold glasses on, but I have a hard time believing they'll have their third loss this weekend.

As for as all the people that think J. Russell isn't very good, I find that amusing. Good Luck this weekend, I'm excited about the game... People can say what they want to about LSU's schedule, but when you look at it at the end of the year, you'll think it's pretty tough --- On the road at Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and Arkansas. If we come out 2-2 on those, I'm okay -- Unfortunately, we are 0-2 right now, so this is a must win for the Tigers - oh and Miles too :)

Oh, as for as exposing Tennessee, I don't know, but I do believe LSU will show the people watching the game why they are the highest rated 2 loss team.
 
#89
#89
As posted in another thread, the Bengals record in Neyland is 1-11-1 for history sakes. Buck up Volunteer cowboys, for we shall vanquish the Tigers from the Red Stick.
 
#90
#90
LSU has rope a doped the lightweights on their sked but with the Big Boys they have taken it on the chin. I predict another disappointing afternoon for LSU and a long sad plane ride back to Red Stick.....
 
#91
#91
1. LSU is very talented, and there defense is super good. Let's get that straight before we start picking apart their schedule and stats and all of that. They played well against FL and AUB, two good teams.

2. I'm not sure their defense is any more talented than FL's. With Marcus Thomas, the FL D line is just as good. FL's LBs are better. Wash in the secondary; but LSU safeties are good.

3. The LSU people are proud of their talent, but I think they are getting a little carried with it. We've had defenses more talented than that 3 or 4 times in the last 10 years. But this one is right up there.

4. Even if EA is healthy, I think we will really struggle to score on them. We'll need some big plays from the WRs and special teams.

5. We pass block pretty well, and our backs are good in pass protection. Remember, FL got pressure because of scheme, it wasn't a strict whipping. EA will have enough time as long as he can read what they are doing.

The LSU people might not want to hear this -- but it's my opinion -- TN's best hope is that Russell plays like he usually does in big games and Les Miles is still coaching this Saturday. Russell is capable, but he's not a real smart player. Miles...dunno about him. Weird or something.
 
#92
#92
We are used to facing good defenses. If EA can play, or if JC's near-total year of practice pays off (and he's as good as advertised), I think we will fare well in the passing game. We will struggle up front on the run, but what's new?

What we DO have right now is a confident team down the stretch. If we can get some turnovers and play well on special teams, I think this may be a 20-17-ish game going into the 4th quarter. Given last year's fold by Miles and our performances late in games this year, who doesn't like our chances?
 
#93
#93
I'm seein' Coach Miles with another "deer in the headlights" reaction in a crucial situation... :devilsmoke:
 
#96
#96
Liper said:
The LSU people might not want to hear this -- but it's my opinion -- TN's best hope is that Russell plays like he usually does in big games and Les Miles is still coaching this Saturday. Russell is capable, but he's not a real smart player. Miles...dunno about him. Weird or something.
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Les is not very articulate in front of the cameras, for damn sure. But slow talkin' does not always indicate slow thinkin', amigo.

hmanvolfan said:
I'm seein' Coach Miles with another "deer in the headlights" reaction in a crucial situation...
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Yeah, we hear that a lot, but it ain't based on much evidence. Got some examples?

Russell is 20-4 as a starter. Miles is 17-4 in the SEC, winning the West Division in his first year. I think we'll keep these guys.
 
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