?? How did Mizzou stop our run game? What defensive formations did they use?

[EastTNVol423]

We are still behind in talent on this football team. In many of the areas where we have really good talent, we lack experience. We have starting to recruit players who raise our future talent to where we can actually compete with the Georgias and Alabamas, but those players will have to gain the experience need to perform at championship levels. It’s coming and I can hardly wait.

Mizzou does NOT have more talent than us right now. Team just didn't show

 

[BlinghamptonVol]

something, something, Jeremy Banks, something, Michigan stole our signs, something, something.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Mizzou does NOT have more talent than us right now. Team just didn't show

There are positions where I would select their starters over ours. Some on offense and some on defense.

 

[Cartervol]

Stacked the box. Teams know we pretty much run on first down about 90 percent of the time. So they just cheat guys toward the LOS.. Every team we've lost too and even A&M did the same thing. Plenty of film on this offense at this point for teams to break down. It's up to your OC and sometimes making a check at the line to keep them guessing. We seem to run scripted sets of plays and when it works great, when it doesn't you get what you saw. Should of been some easy dumps to TE's and RB's behind their rush and we just don't do it.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

We couldn’t block a hungover hooker walking the Las Vegas strip at 4am. That’s how

 

[17Vols]

Certainly doesn’t help when we have starters on the O-line out. Maybe I missed him, but I never saw Campbell in the lineup, did he play?

 

[Adam Sandler]

Fix the OL talent issue and consider replacing CWM if we have a better option and we good to go.

 

[JRich]

They had better players on the field.

 

[JRich]

Stacked the box. Teams know we pretty much run on first down about 90 percent of the time. So they just cheat guys toward the LOS.. Every team we've lost too and even A&M did the same thing. Plenty of film on this offense at this point for teams to break down. It's up to your OC and sometimes making a check at the line to keep them guessing. We seem to run scripted sets of plays and when it works great, when it doesn't you get what you saw. Should of been some easy dumps to TE's and RB's behind their rush and we just don't do it.

I think a lot of this is Joe's cognitive ability.

 

[njvols]

This is an excellent Missouri team with all-SEC level quarterback, wr, and running back. They would be a tough matchup for anybody. Regardless of recruiting rankings, the premiere players for Missouri are light years better than their counterparts at Tennessee as SEC ballplayers right now. Hooker and Hyatt might have shown up as 3/4 star players on paper but they were the best in the SEC in 2022. Right now in basketball, Knecht and Gainey look as good as any SEC transfers regardless of player rankings or if they were from smaller schools - just like the Mizzou running back who tore Georgia and Tennessee up in 2 consecutive weeks. A great team needs high quality players at key positions who have skill, heart and toughness - the Vols lack that in 2023 and an 8-4 season is not that bad given their squad overall.

This team was closer to a 6-6 team than 10-2 but there may be younger players on the team now that in 2024 may step back up the SEC ladder - we will see. Give Missouri credit for having a special season and good luck to them as they are a fun, well coached team to watch. Likewise give the Vols credit if they can play a competitive game vs. Georgia and win a bowl game for a ninth win. Fans need to quit relying on armchair recruiting analysts and use the eye test to see determine if you have an above average football team or not.

Good overview. Couldn't agree more on the Knecht and Gainey analogy. That being said, they are elevating partly b/c of a superior quality depth chart. You take a guy like Squirrel and everyone loves him...he's a great player and competitor...but if he's the by far best WR we have, it doesn't work in JH offense. We need stacked quality depth at WR like BBall Vols do...guys who consistently get into space and make contested catches. We do have some good young guys.

 

[Cartervol]

I think a lot of this is Joe's cognitive ability.

Yeah.. I'd say that's the case with a lot of it. It's frustrating to know Heupel already knew that would be the case and went with it anyway. I would of found me a portal option for this year to at least have another guy.. Whether he was any better or not just another option.

 

[JRich]

Mizzou does NOT have more talent than us right now. Team just didn't show

I beg to differ. They have a better QB and better WR's. They are better at LB and the secondary. I can pull specifics, but you watched the game.

They have several players predicted to get drafted, especially on defense. Not to mention their RB lead the league in rushing BEFORE he had a career day versus UT, a testament to their offensive line.

 

[37620VOL]

They were loading the box and playing aggressively, which I wish our D would get back to. The most interesting stat I've seen is that while Jalen Wright averaged 3.3 yards per carry, he averaged 3.5 after contact. Every run they were getting a piece of him in the backfield.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

They were loading the box and playing aggressively, which I wish our D would get back to. The most interesting stat I've seen is that while Jalen Wright averaged 3.3 yards per carry, he averaged 3.5 after contact. Every run they were getting a piece of him in the backfield.

When they load the box, you make adjustments to make them change to something else. Our offense simply did not come football. On the other hand, the defense did not come to play. The left side of our defense gave up most of the yards and made very few plays. That has been the case most of the season. Looking forward to the offseason and the recruiting class. We will be better than we are this year.

 

[37620VOL]

When they load the box, you make adjustments to make them change to something else. Our offense simply did not come football. On the other hand, the defense did not come to play. The left side of our defense gave up most of the yards and made very few plays. That has been the case most of the season. Looking forward to the offseason and the recruiting class. We will be better than we are this year.

Yeah, #44 and #20 played the worst games I've seen them play.

 

[90 Vol]

We are still behind in talent on this football team. In many of the areas where we have really good talent, we lack experience. We have starting to recruit players who raise our future talent to where we can actually compete with the Georgias and Alabamas, but those players will have to gain the experience need to perform at championship levels. It’s coming and I can hardly wait.

We’re not behind Missouri on talent.

 

[utvols74]

Called a Tite alignment. Two 4i's and 0 tech. Same thing Bama ran. Not good for running inside zone. Perfect for running Trap, Iso, Counter Trey, Buck Sweep.

And this has been my complaint all season. Not running the plays you mention as being "perfect" all season. Do we need to do this against inferior teams to win? No, smash-mouth will do just fine. Can we practice on them a little? Probably. I know CJH can scheme these plays in his sleep - but why not run them? The only answer I can think of is the QB. The playbook is limited for some reason. Hence - 8-4 or 9-4 (hopefully).

 

[OrangeTsar]

One thing that Missouri did to stop the run was they concentrated three of their down linemen on blocking/flooding the inside running lanes. Danielson commented on it in the first half.

And that is where you have to have the vertical passing game across the middle standing by. Ours was non existent when needed

 

[pimo1]

Some facts/figures on our team talent:

* We have 2 5* and 33 4* players, good for #16 in total composite team talent.

* We aren't playing either 5* right now (Bru and Nico) and 15 of our 33 4*s are Freshmen and most aren't seeing the field.

We are vastly -VASTLY- outperforming even going 8-4. Here is who we've played this year:

* Virginia - 66

* Florida - 15

* USC - 22

* A&M - 4

* Bama - 1

* Kentucky - 31

* Mizzou - 25

* UGA - 2

* Vandy - 58

Even with the injured and youth, we have 821 points. To give context, Bama has 1,015 and UGA has 977.

The gap between us (821) and Bama (1015) is the same as us and Illinois, Kansas, Memphis and Virginia. The gap between us and UGA is about the same as us and Cinci.

We've struggled on the road against motivated teams with comparable or better talent. Point is, we're moving in the right direction. In Year 1 we took 2 steps forward and 1 back. Year 2 was 3 steps forward and 1 back and now we're back at about 2/1.


Most on here, at least the reasonables, predicted 8-4 this year unless Milton suddenly because a different QB. We knew the OL would be rough. We knew we were losing a ton of talent at WR. We also lost Bru, our best LB and now another WR. I think, overall, going 8-4 is about the best job that even the best coaching staffs would be able to get out of this crew with our current talent/depth.


I do think Martinez needs to find another job. I'm not thrilled with Banks but can understand how the D played because the O just completely sucked at their end of the bargain.

Don't forget we lost our best Cover corner also. But I agree 100% people are freaking out for nothing. Am I disappointed we likely end up 8-4? Sure but not surprised or panicked. IF we were struggling to miss a bowl it would be one thing but this team is fine and progressing.

Look at the last 15 years. This is the strongest 3 consecutive years we have had since the Fulmer years and folks are talking about firing people after one bad game? The past 3 weeks folks were raving about the defense now we wanna fire folks again. First off the defense didn't so much lose this game as it was some really wonky turnovers by our offense which rarely turns the ball over that really changed the game. We beat the brakes off Missou the past 2 years... they wanted this game and they took it in their house. It happens in the SEC. We have 3 more games. This season isn't over. Winning the SECE or making the playoffs was never a realistic hope for this team a NYE bowl was our cap and we missed out on that but, unless it all falls apart and we lose to candy its not like we are going to the music city bowl or repping mayo.

On the bright side, because of injuries we likely only lose Keyton from the WR corps and get Bru and Thornton back next year. We will be deep at WR next year and the Oline should be improved.

 

[B81]

We had 2 critical turnovers on drives that would have yielded points, and got nothing on Mizus 1 turnover. Cant do that on the road.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Don't forget we lost our best Cover corner also. But I agree 100% people are freaking out for nothing. Am I disappointed we likely end up 8-4? Sure but not surprised or panicked. IF we were struggling to miss a bowl it would be one thing but this team is fine and progressing.

Look at the last 15 years. This is the strongest 3 consecutive years we have had since the Fulmer years and folks are talking about firing people after one bad game? The past 3 weeks folks were raving about the defense now we wanna fire folks again. First off the defense didn't so much lose this game as it was some really wonky turnovers by our offense which rarely turns the ball over that really changed the game. We beat the brakes off Missou the past 2 years... they wanted this game and they took it in their house. It happens in the SEC. We have 3 more games. This season isn't over. Winning the SECE or making the playoffs was never a realistic hope for this team a NYE bowl was our cap and we missed out on that but, unless it all falls apart and we lose to candy its not like we are going to the music city bowl or repping mayo.

On the bright side, because of injuries we likely only lose Keyton from the WR corps and get Bru and Thornton back next year. We will be deep at WR next year and the Oline should be improved.

I wouldn’t say people are „freaking out for no reason“. I don’t believe the sky is falling but there have now been three road games under this staff in which this team has inexplicably Just not showed up ready to play football. We have to get that sorted out. I hope it is still a personnel issue on the roster; but I hope you can understand why people are nervous about this

 

[CAVPUT]

Mizzou does NOT have more talent than us right now. Team just didn't show

Well, they do have more talent at the most critical position....QB. Having said that, Mizzou has more "want to" in their game than we did....a lot more.

 

[chvy1986]

Some facts/figures on our team talent:

* We have 2 5* and 33 4* players, good for #16 in total composite team talent.

* We aren't playing either 5* right now (Bru and Nico) and 15 of our 33 4*s are Freshmen and most aren't seeing the field.

We are vastly -VASTLY- outperforming even going 8-4. Here is who we've played this year:

* Virginia - 66

* Florida - 15

* USC - 22

* A&M - 4

* Bama - 1

* Kentucky - 31

* Mizzou - 25

* UGA - 2

* Vandy - 58

Even with the injured and youth, we have 821 points. To give context, Bama has 1,015 and UGA has 977.

The gap between us (821) and Bama (1015) is the same as us and Illinois, Kansas, Memphis and Virginia. The gap between us and UGA is about the same as us and Cinci.

We've struggled on the road against motivated teams with comparable or better talent. Point is, we're moving in the right direction. In Year 1 we took 2 steps forward and 1 back. Year 2 was 3 steps forward and 1 back and now we're back at about 2/1.


Most on here, at least the reasonables, predicted 8-4 this year unless Milton suddenly because a different QB. We knew the OL would be rough. We knew we were losing a ton of talent at WR. We also lost Bru, our best LB and now another WR. I think, overall, going 8-4 is about the best job that even the best coaching staffs would be able to get out of this crew with our current talent/depth.


I do think Martinez needs to find another job. I'm not thrilled with Banks but can understand how the D played because the O just completely sucked at their end of the bargain.

The truth is, a vast majority of our "fair weather fans" don't understand the facts in this post or simply don't want to accept them. It's easier to blame Milton, CJH or CWM than to accept the fact that we aren't going to beat everyone we play. Any reasonable person would look at this as a transition year and know that 8-4 is still a great job by the coaches. Next year should be better

 

[pimo1]

I wouldn’t say people are „freaking out for no reason“. I don’t believe the sky is falling but there have now been three road games under this staff in which this team has inexplicably Just not showed up ready to play football. We have to get that sorted out. I hope it is still a personnel issue on the roster; but I hope you can understand why people are nervous about this

Have you read the forums? People are for sure beyond just freaking out its full-on mattress-burning mode for a lot. We have 3 l's with 2 games to go in a season where 8-4 was a reasonable expectation.. why would someone need to be concerned about us meeting realistic expectations? If we were sitting at 5 losses searching hard to get bowl eligible that's cause for concern because in years past that's been the norm. IF we beat Vandy and win our bowl game we are fine... recruiting is great and we are steadily building up talent. It takes time to put out a dumpster fire.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I tried to tell people last week that Missouri was legit on both lines of scrimmage, especially the DL. I had watched several of their games. A lot of our fans do this thing where they just look at a team's uniform and assume they can't be really good based on them not being good in the 90's or whatever. I didn't think we'd get beat like we did but the people that think how they played on the LOS was some kind of fluke aren't in touch with reality. It was clearly going to be a challenge, and one which we proved not to be ready for.