Hurry Up No More

[plumbervol]

You want to see improved defensive play, we need better linebacker play. It seems to me every team in college football needs a good rotation of down defensive linemen. With the spread being used all across college football every team also needs linebackers who can cover tight ends and rb and slot backs in pass coverage. They also need linebackers that can rush the passer and contain the outside with speed plus the size to support the down linemen in the run game. I guess college football has evolved to need less guys with knuckles in the dirt and more upright who can run laterally. Just my opinion but the reason Levis who was slow was able to break down the rush and gain 47 yards rushing was UT's lack of linebacker depth. Hooker is twice the athlete that Levis is and he only rushed for 41 yards due to KY's linebacker play. With the hurry up offenses defenses cant substitute fresh big down linemen as easily as they use to. Thus the need for more versatile linebackers

 

[usagary]

Defense needs to start stopping opponent on 3rd down. Hurry up would then be a plus.

Agree. Kentucky was lucky to convert that many 3rd downs. They miss on a couple of those and we win by about 20.

 

[vavolfan6]

As long as our offense is outscoring the other team, I'm happy!

If the defense wants to rest they need to be better at stopping teams on 3rd down.

Plus, part of the reason our offense has success is because we are able to catch teams off guard and out of formation. Why take away this edge?

 

[VolnGermany]

Man, I can't believe anyone is questioning our coaching, especially on the offense, after that game.

 

[tbones0711]

Anyone calling this a gimmicky offense needs to watch more teams across college and NFL. This is a modern offense. Do we go faster than most? Yes, but the hurry up offense is far from gimmicky at this point.

It puts pressure on defenses and creates huge mis-matches when defenses are forced to cover the super-wide spread. DB's "HAVE" to make open field tackles against our speedy receivers. Kentucky was supposed to have a good defense and you see what happened. No way would a decent coach back-off once this style is learned and it's not optimal at this point because Hooker is just an average runner and doesn't look to run,imo. Now if Holiday had Hooker's passing ability that would be awesome.

As for defense we lost a lot at LBer........to'oto'o, crouch, and petersen. Just Banks had a little game experience entering this season. We lost the transfer Mitchell early in the season also. I think Willis and Joseph will do well with some S/C mixed with live reps. Currently Beasley is a weak link and teams are gonna pick on him and his back-up Page. We'll get better there in time but need to keep putting points on the board. If we get to 7 wins this season that's amazing imo considering the circumstances.

 

[ptclaus98]

I don't think(that's a lie, I know) y'all understand, the speed is the reason it works. If this offense slows down, it becomes easier to defend, as it's not complex at all.

 

[tbones0711]

We didn't come close to pressuring the QB until very late in the game.

I've been saying its our #1 need.

Byron Young is really our only one and he's still learning.

We've got others that we'll likely redshirt that have a good upsde,imho.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

I do enjoy seeing Tennessee’s offense move the ball and score points. It’s been way too long since we’ve had such a prolific offense. But I’m quickly souring on the hurry up offense because as we all know, it puts too much pressure on the defense. No defense can hold up if they have to play 45+ minutes every game. I’m thinking if Coach Huepel is such an offensive genius he should not have to rely on a gimmicky offense to score points. If Tennessee played a more typical offense using a reasonable amount of play clock the defense might be more rested and have a chance to stop somebody. Having to rely on outscoring your opponent game after game is fools errand IMO. GBO!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Knowing what you know or should know about our team, that was funny. Tell me another one.

Don't take it personally, I'm drunk. The elixir of a combination of excitement we reached five wins, the nail-biting nature of the game, and the massive dose of dopamine as a result. Then there's the fact I just a plain off the wall fragmented brain person to begin with. But seriously, man, don't try to think of ways to second guess Heupel's coaching. You'll get an inoperable brain injury. But your post was funny-hahahaha, heh,heh, heh. Oh, my sides and facial muscles hurt.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

We couldn’t stop Kentucky even when we were fresh at the start of the game coming off a bye week. The hurry up offense would certainly skew the game in the other teams favor some, but not if we could actually stop them on 3rd down. It was so one sided tonight because our defense just sucked the whole game

Not sure, but I think the announcer once or twice mentioned our defense setup repeatedly left at least one KY WR unaccounted for. That's why Levis had so much passing yardage. I suspect Banks wanted to generate at least an effort to pressure the QB. Otherwise, things would get even more ugly than they did.

 

[DougVol]

Love the offense but the defense couldn't tackle to save their lives tonight. If we could have gotten out of the first have with a few stops defensively this wouldn't have been a game.

After a bye, the tackling is always first to rear it’s head.

 

[PalmettoStateVol]

I do enjoy seeing Tennessee’s offense move the ball and score points. It’s been way too long since we’ve had such a prolific offense. But I’m quickly souring on the hurry up offense because as we all know, it puts too much pressure on the defense. No defense can hold up if they have to play 45+ minutes every game. I’m thinking if Coach Huepel is such an offensive genius he should not have to rely on a gimmicky offense to score points. If Tennessee played a more typical offense using a reasonable amount of play clock the defense might be more rested and have a chance to stop somebody. Having to rely on outscoring your opponent game after game is fools errand IMO. GBO!

It comes down to talent, football IQ and depth. This defense refuses to give up I will give them that, but it is absolute trash. We just don't have the Johnny's and Joe's on that side of the ball to compete with top level teams in the SEC....or any conference for that matter.

 

[sechamp2012]

And our linebackers are awful, and we can't tackle, Kentucky did not punt the entire game and we still won.

This D needs a mobile fast agile LB to spy the QB in certain down & distance situations. The QB on multiple teams has caused this D to stay on the field forever. Levis is nothing special with his feet but last night he hurt the Vols on 3rd down a lot.

 

[901 Orange]

It puts pressure on defenses and creates huge mis-matches when defenses are forced to cover the super-wide spread. DB's "HAVE" to make open field tackles against our speedy receivers. Kentucky was supposed to have a good defense and you see what happened. No way would a decent coach back-off once this style is learned and it's not optimal at this point because Hooker is just an average runner and doesn't look to run,imo. Now if Holiday had Hooker's passing ability that would be awesome.

As for defense we lost a lot at LBer........to'oto'o, crouch, and petersen. Just Banks had a little game experience entering this season. We lost the transfer Mitchell early in the season also. I think Willis and Joseph will do well with some S/C mixed with live reps. Currently Beasley is a weak link and teams are gonna pick on him and his back-up Page. We'll get better there in time but need to keep putting points on the board. If we get to 7 wins this season that's amazing imo considering the circumstances.

Well we only gotta beat South Alabama & Vandy. I think 7 wins is in the bag. 8 if we get a good bowl game matchup.

 

[Pickinhick]

So, help me out, I am confused. People want us to take longer to score so our defense can rest? I thought that scoring as quickly as possible was a good thing???

 

[GVol1966]

I think we won

I know we won. So as responding to the OP , it’s a terrible idea to slow down the offense when it’s scoring points, enabling a win despite a d that’s stopping no one

 

[FïreBall]

I agree with OP.. I mean when we score on one play.. We need to throw a slower pass and need a receiver thar runs a 82.4 40.. Gotta score slower!

 

[Herman Hickman]

A more conventional approach doesn't get us to this point. It would have left us overly-reliant on a defense lacking depth and talent to get the job done. It gets us on the outside looking in when the post-season arrives.

Considering the potential for NCAA punishments on the horizon, Tennessee football needed something to overcome that negative.

Heupel's approach to the game on offense gave us that opportunity.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

It puts pressure on defenses and creates huge mis-matches when defenses are forced to cover the super-wide spread. DB's "HAVE" to make open field tackles against our speedy receivers. Kentucky was supposed to have a good defense and you see what happened. No way would a decent coach back-off once this style is learned and it's not optimal at this point because Hooker is just an average runner and doesn't look to run,imo. Now if Holiday had Hooker's passing ability that would be awesome.

As for defense we lost a lot at LBer........to'oto'o, crouch, and petersen. Just Banks had a little game experience entering this season. We lost the transfer Mitchell early in the season also. I think Willis and Joseph will do well with some S/C mixed with live reps. Currently Beasley is a weak link and teams are gonna pick on him and his back-up Page. We'll get better there in time but need to keep putting points on the board. If we get to 7 wins this season that's amazing imo considering the circumstances.

We didn't lose much when we lost Peterson. It appears that many of the players we lost by transferring are players who may have been the center of the recruiting violations and it is best that those guys are gone. This will result in a more favorable ruling by the NCAA and will help recruiting in the future.

 

[farmdogvol]

The designed QB draws have hurt us because our DT tend to lose gap integrity. Ole Miss and UK both had the center out to pick off Banks. This defense needs a thumper at safety like EB to come up and hit the QB.

 

[Birdie]

It's funny that at this point in the transition of college football to an offensive game it is still lost on so many.

I loved the 90's too. POUND THE ROCK was the mantra with play action passing over the top and elite defense. Worked at TN, worked at Bama, worked at USC. It was effective and TN did as good as anyone.

Football is essentially war games. That style is now equivalent of British infantry lining up in rows while the Continental army is hiding in bushes and trees with guerilla warfare tactics.

Rule changes to the game force faster paced offenses. That is the strategic advantage credited under the rules now. Even Saban is smart enough to understand that good offense is now more important. Just the way of the modern game, thus the offense is no longer considered "gimmicky". It's not 2005 anymore.

Lastly, historically Heupel runs the ball A LOT. He's playing to what he's got.. that would also be considered a positive thing as well. See Butch Jones and Jeremy Pruitt if one disagrees

 

[Birdie]

We didn't lose much when we lost Peterson. It appears that many of the players we lost by transferring are players who may have been the center of the recruiting violations and it is best that those guys are gone. This will result in a more favorable ruling by the NCAA and will help recruiting in the future.

NCAA will probably never even rule on anything. SEC runs college football now

 

[DougVol]

A more conventional approach doesn't get us to this point. It would have left us overly-reliant on a defense lacking depth and talent to get the job done. It gets us on the outside looking in when the post-season arrives.

Considering the potential for NCAA punishments on the horizon, Tennessee football needed something to overcome that negative.

Heupel's approach to the game on offense gave us that opportunity.

It’s 24-0 Kentucky in the first quarter with Pruitt.

 

[BornAVol1963]

Love the offense but the defense couldn't tackle to save their lives tonight. If we could have gotten out of the first have with a few stops defensively this wouldn't have been a game.

I love our offense too, but I believe our linebackers need to be bigger, faster and more athletic. Not taking anything away from the linebackers we have now, but really they are oversized safeties. Ky's rbs exposed that fact.

 

[Herman Hickman]

[Just some alterations, but Waylon Jennings' "Don't think Hank done it this way" works just fine in this case.]

Lord, it's the same old tune, two runs and a draw
Where do we take it from here?
Wide receiver quick outs and a pick six freefall
It's been the same way for years
We need a change

… Somebody told me, when I came to Knoxville
Son, you finally got it made
General Neyland made it here and we're sure that you will
But I don't think Bob done it this way
No, I don't think Bob done it this way

… Fifteen years as a coach, scoring 45 a game
Speedin' my offense all day
Tell me one more time just so's I'll understand
Are your sure Bob done it this way?
Did the General really do it this way?

… Lord, I've seen the world, with an 85 man squad
Looking at the back side of me
Running my plays and one of his now and then
But I don't think Bob done 'em this way
I don't think Bob done it this way
Take it home

 

[callingallvols]

I do enjoy seeing Tennessee’s offense move the ball and score points. It’s been way too long since we’ve had such a prolific offense. But I’m quickly souring on the hurry up offense because as we all know, it puts too much pressure on the defense. No defense can hold up if they have to play 45+ minutes every game. I’m thinking if Coach Huepel is such an offensive genius he should not have to rely on a gimmicky offense to score points. If Tennessee played a more typical offense using a reasonable amount of play clock the defense might be more rested and have a chance to stop somebody. Having to rely on outscoring your opponent game after game is fools errand IMO. GBO!

A short pass to WR that turns into a 75 yard touchdown is usually not the norm in this offense. The potential problem is if we go 3 and out on several possessions in a row. He can’t help it if KY can’t tackle. I’ll take 1 play touchdown plays to methodically marching down the anytime. This offense is not built for these long time consuming drives. We need more depth on defense. He has got to get quality depth on defense.