Here is why the offense was terrible.

[UT-Rex]

It ran out of the tunnel.

Wait, was it on Our sidelines too ? Spying our playcalling perhaps ?

 

[UT-Rex]

It ran out of the tunnel.

GA hobnail boot, and now the hand ?

 

[TNbuc2]

The OL got whipped the whole game. Hooker was sacked 7 times that’s why they shut us down.

Got sacked a few times because he held the ball a little longer trying to make something happen. The OL is not carrying that blame alone here, Ga defense was very good, DB's will be playing on Sunday next year, An earlier poster suggested a safety valve receiver, I bet the staff will address this if the opportunity presents itself. That's why they get the big bucks.

 

[firestorm]

It’s very unsurprising that the Volunteers offense was abysmal because the Bulldogs defense played excellent.

The Bulldogs defense pressured Hooker 20 times, they sacked him 6 times, and they proved reliable because the Volunteers had to kick field goals.

 

[65YearsAVol]

Wait, was it on Our sidelines too ? Spying our playcalling perhaps ?

Could be.

 

[Smokey7]

We would have won in Knoxville I believe

 

[wNCeTNnGAVOL]

It’s all Kirk’s fault. He pick the Vols to win. Everyone knows that is the kiss of death. Now let’s move on and meet in playoffs.

 

[jimed1]

Two overthrown passes for touchdowns and we are tied.

This all day!

 

[sjt18]

This is all on Heupel. He knew this UGA defense would be aggressive and didn’t scheme in any plan to make them pay. Here are three successive screen shots. The tailback is doing nothing. He’s blocking, but he’s not in any route for an escape valve. If they had the TB scrape off to the right, look at the amount of green grass. It’s absurd. Never, not once, was UGA made to pay for their over aggressive play. This should have been schemed into the game plan.

He didn't? Blaming this on Heupel is stupid. Where would UT be right now without him? We'd be wringing our hands and arguing over how long a turnaround should take.

This team is NOT as talented position by position as UGA. They had to play pretty flawless football. That was UGA's "A" game. That wasn't even UT's "B" game.

I love Hooker. But he wouldn't let go of the ball. He's used to having deep receivers break open. He needed to give them a chance to make a play a few times and just wouldn't let it fly. He might have thrown another pick. On the other hand there were guys who broke open late that could have made a play.

But there is plenty of blame to go around. The penalties put the Vols behind the sticks too much. Everyone missed opportunities. But that's what happens when you play a good team. They pressure you. You pressure them. The game often comes down to the "breaks" which usually goes to the most aggressive team and/or the one that makes the fewest mistakes.

 

[sjt18]

Two overthrown passes for touchdowns and we are tied.

That's not counting the ones he didn't throw. There were a few times when you can catch a glimpse of a deep receiver breaking open or starting to right as Hooker either pulls the ball down or gives up on the play.

They pressured him and covered tighter than anyone else has. He didn't respond well. This isn't a blanket condemnation or anything of the sort. Without Hooker, UT isn't in the conversation. He just had a game that caused him to make mistakes and perhaps exposed some things he needs to fix.

 

[Advol]

Pretty simple, the Ol Ball Coach on ANY level would advise some OL Blocking Drills this week combined with Tacklin' Drills. Both Suxed in this game.

 

[Allvols1996]

He didn't? Blaming this on Heupel is stupid. Where would UT be right now without him? We'd be wringing our hands and arguing over how long a turnaround should take.

They’d likely be nowhere. Heupel deserves all the praise for what he’s done. 100%. That doesn’t absolve him of criticism for this game. They weren’t prepared. you should have read on in the thread where this was addressed multiple times.

This team is NOT as talented position by position as UGA. They had to play pretty flawless football. That was UGA's "A" game. That wasn't even UT's "B" game

.
Agree. Where did you get the idea that anyone was arguing UT has comparable talent? Still, they are starting a walk on at QB and their leading receiver was a 2 star.

I love Hooker. But he wouldn't let go of the ball. He's used to having deep receivers break open. He needed to give them a chance to make a play a few times and just wouldn't let it fly. He might have thrown another pick. On the other hand there were guys who broke open late that could have made a play.

So, it’s ok to critique Hooker, but not the coaching? Interesting. I don’t think coach did much to adjust and help his QB.

But there is plenty of blame to go around. The penalties put the Vols behind the sticks too much. Everyone missed opportunities. But that's what happens when you play a good team. They pressure you. You pressure them. The game often comes down to the "breaks" which usually goes to the most aggressive team and/or the one that makes the fewest mistakes.

Yes, plenty of blame and plenty of threads. This one was about why the offense was terrible.

 

[sjt18]

They’d likely be nowhere. Heupel deserves all the praise for what he’s done. 100%. That doesn’t absolve him of criticism for this game. They weren’t prepared. you should have read on in the thread where this was addressed multiple times.

I didn't say it did. I said it was stupid to blame him for it.

.

Agree. Where did you get the idea that anyone was arguing UT has comparable talent? Still, they are starting a walk on at QB and their leading receiver was a 2 star.

So, it’s ok to critique Hooker, but not the coaching? Interesting. I don’t think coach did much to adjust and help his QB.

So the QB doesn't let the ball go because the coverage is tighter than he's used to and the coach is supposed to... throw it for him? Love Hooker. I really do. But he missed a bunch of plays. Plays that were SCHEMED open but were simply covered tighter because UGA is a much better opponent.

 

[HalfullVol]

This is all on Heupel. He knew this UGA defense would be aggressive and didn’t scheme in any plan to make them pay. Here are three successive screen shots. The tailback is doing nothing. He’s blocking, but he’s not in any route for an escape valve. If they had the TB scrape off to the right, look at the amount of green grass. It’s absurd. Never, not once, was UGA made to pay for their over aggressive play. This should have been schemed into the game plan.

saving the screen game for the rematch

be better

 

[Utfreakinout86]

Here the thing I was extremely upset with this offense that I saw this weekend but the sky isn't falling on us.. yes we lost to the defending national Champs... however who would have thought preseason we would be a 1 lose team right now??

 

[Tnphil]

Several factors to this loss....Enough blame to go around from the staff to the players.....At times it looked like men among boys.

But....I read today that UGA has 25 five stars and UT has 2 five stars....And add the fact that UGA has over twice the 4 stars UT has. I'd say just those stats have a lot to do with it....I know some say that 'Stars don't matter'....But I really don't believe that.

 

[SouthKnoxVol70]

Maybe Josh Heupel wasn’t focused cause his mind was on something else … another job offer

 

[marcusluvsvols]

You're not watching film you're watching a narrow TV view

Answer me this, were you all time qb in the backyard games?

LmfreakinAo!!!

 

[ReelfootVol]

I am very disappointed. However, being 8 and 1 after nine games, with what we have endured for years, I am very thankful we have Josh Heupel as our coach. After all folks, he has almost raised the dead in a two year period of time !!! Be honest, how many of you would have thought we would be 8 and 1 after 9 games ? Especially with our schedule !

 

[Electric Orange]

What kind of bootleg DVD out of a trunk looking shot am I looking at?

 

[Other_Guy]

Remember when Hooker overthrew every deep pass, and the one decent one was covered so well it was picked?
I couldn't help but think, "dang Heup why didn't you call better plays?"

 

[krichunaka]

He didn't? Blaming this on Heupel is stupid. Where would UT be right now without him? We'd be wringing our hands and arguing over how long a turnaround should take.

This team is NOT as talented position by position as UGA. They had to play pretty flawless football. That was UGA's "A" game. That wasn't even UT's "B" game.

I love Hooker. But he wouldn't let go of the ball. He's used to having deep receivers break open. He needed to give them a chance to make a play a few times and just wouldn't let it fly. He might have thrown another pick. On the other hand there were guys who broke open late that could have made a play.

But there is plenty of blame to go around. The penalties put the Vols behind the sticks too much. Everyone missed opportunities. But that's what happens when you play a good team. They pressure you. You pressure them. The game often comes down to the "breaks" which usually goes to the most aggressive team and/or the one that makes the fewest mistakes.

Yours is a fair appraisal; and I agree.
And, I only played one season of college football (running back), so I’m not necessarily a fully-reliable source. However, the original post, though not well-illustrated, is correct. Yet he has been ridiculed to the extreme. Marino, Brady, Namath, Bradshaw, etc and most specifically, Joe Montana …made careers of utilizing the WHOLE field, and every available option. I think we called them “safety valves” or something similar when I played. Look to your inside, straight, then outside for leaks (missed blocks) or blitzes …then release to provide an outlet for the quarterback. *And I’m aware that this doesn’t always account for delayed blitzes, but the benefits most often outweigh the risks. For our particular offense this was routine. And, it’s common sense. I don’t know if that’s part of the U T offense, but I don’t know why it shouldn’t be.
Georgia was great on Saturday, and granted, Hendon Hooker didn’t play well. But there were several opportunities to gain huge yardage with a simple flair to the running back.

I really like reading your insightful posts.

 

[Pappy]

I literally can’t recall a RB screen all year. Has to be a philosophy thing. I visit the idea though, especially in a rematch. There is a lot of open space when you are blitzing and play man to man.

yeah, remember how successful Beldar was with screen pass plays?

 

[sjt18]

yeah, remember how successful Beldar was with screen pass plays?

I'm may be more on your side of this argument but this is a bad comparison. UT has an established deep threat. Almost every play also pressures the middle of the field.

Running a guy out to the flat isn't a bad idea. It is a choice of using that guy as an extra blocker to give you more time to look downfield vs having a safe outlet.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

SIAP: