If Ainge was healthy we would be 9-1

[allvol]

I think we would have won LSU and Arky with Ainge. Crompton looked like a deer in the headlights last night. It was kinda sad to watch Arky continually level him.

Ainge is real smart and knows all his progressions and can make decisions ALOT quicker than J.C.

How do we only give up 6 or 7 sacks all season and then play the Hogs and get blasted at the line every freaking play??

Wholeheartedly agreed. Although it was tough on the defense, they shut down Arkansas in the 2nd half. With Ainge, the Vols are the SEC's best offense. I think the game becomes a shootout.... which creates a situation where Arkansas throws more and makes more mistakes. Without Ainge, the Vols offense is averaging just 15.5 points per game and more 3-and-outs in the last 2 games than the rest of the season combined.

 

[GVF]

Simply put, in my mind anyway, we got handled by a very, very good Arky team on a mission, and they weren't going to let us have the spoils. Arkansas is very underrated IMO. I hate a Vol loss as much as anyone, but our team got took behind the shed. Not just any one player. Down Cromp all you want, but how well do you expect a young QB to throw and make decisions when he spent his Saturday night viewing the stars. No QB could have corrected that onslaught. Maybe make some plays to slow it down, but that was also a heck of a DB on Meach all night. Our downfield threat was snuffed out. Until they adjusted to shorter outs and crosses in the second half, we didn't have time to do anything. Props to Coker for trying to do it with a major league brace on his leg. Too bad our healthy ones didn't put forth that effort. McFadden proved he was a player.

 

[GVF]

Wholeheartedly agreed. Although it was tough on the defense, they shut down Arkansas in the 2nd half. With Ainge, the Vols are the SEC's best offense. I think the game becomes a shootout.... which creates a situation where Arkansas throws more and makes more mistakes. Without Ainge, the Vols offense is averaging just 15.5 points per game and more 3-and-outs in the last 2 games than the rest of the season combined.

Agreed to a certain extent. We certainly would have had better chances to close the gap, or even take the lead with the veteran EA. But, coker was still playing banged up, and was our only hope at a ground game. The other TB's don't know what running is. We still got a can full took to us, but with EA, I would have held out for a possible late victory. EA's injury must be pretty suspect. He looked ready to go in, but they never sent him. I know he'd have done it if the coaches green lighted him at any point during the game. With Vandy and KY on the horizon, I wonder if EA is week to week and how much we'll see him in those 2 games. I'm sure JC will get some more time in those 2 games to get him some positive experience into the off-season.

 

[volfanbill]

EA's injury must be pretty suspect. He looked ready to go in, but they never sent him. I know he'd have done it if the coaches green lighted him at any point during the game.QUOTE]

The fact that he finished the game in the boot says a lot. Remember, Fulmer said two weeks ago that Ainge will lie to him about how healthy he is because he wants in that bad. While Crompton looked awful, I'm almost 100% positive they did the right thing by not putting EA in the game Sat night.

 

[GVF]

EA's injury must be pretty suspect. He looked ready to go in, but they never sent him. I know he'd have done it if the coaches green lighted him at any point during the game.QUOTE]

The fact that he finished the game in the boot says a lot. Remember, Fulmer said two weeks ago that Ainge will lie to him about how healthy he is because he wants in that bad. While Crompton looked awful, I'm almost 100% positive they did the right thing by not putting EA in the game Sat night.

I'm sure it was the right thing. If they thought he could go, they'd never have left Crompton to the wolves.

 

[hohenfelsvol]

As frustrating as it was to watch Crompton will learn from this.

Not sure we would have won that game with or without Ainge. Razorbacks looked good. It would have though been much closer.

 

[ruslt]

I hope Ainge is ready for the next two games. Vandy and Kentucky are not the gimmies they have been in the past. I hope that the coaches are more willing to get crompton some playing time if we are ahead by 14 or more points in the future. The only way you get better in game situations is to play in the games. Ainge wasn't the QB his freshman year he is now.