I'm encouraged by the OU game

#1
Stevorino

Stevorino

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#1
Never happy to have a loss, but I was encouraged how we played against top-tier competition. Few thoughts:

1) O-Line is going to be the story of our season. The rest of our team is good enough to compete toe for toe with anyone in the east. If they can improve each week - I really like our chances to upset some teams later in the season.

2) Hurd - wow! Real deal.

3) Poor Worley. That kid is a champ. What a great performance. When that endzone pass to Croom went right through Croom's hands, my stomach dropped for Worley. What a beautiful, beautiful pass after such a long night.

4) Defense = sick. This is one of the best defenses in the SEC East, easy.

5) Playcalling - pretty good IMO. Considering how much of a handicap our O-Line presents the coaches, I can't believe we were still in this game pretty late. Had Croom caught that TD pass and no INT run back shortly thereafter, we are still scrapping for a W in the 4th quarter. Pretty incredible for a team of freshmen vs #4.

6) Butch has definitely changed the culture. They hung tough and played for four quarters, something we haven't seen a UT team do in a long time.
 
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#2
#2
6) Butch has definitely changed the culture. They hung tough and played for four quarters, something we haven't seen a UT team do in a long time.

If this was CDD team, they would have quit when Oklahoma scored early in the 3rd quarter! Game would have been a massive blowout!
 
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#3
#3
MrBiggles said:
6) Butch has definitely changed the culture. They hung tough and played for four quarters, something we haven't seen a UT team do in a long time.

If this was CDD team, they would have quit when Oklahoma scored early in the 3rd quarter! Game would have been a massive blowout!
Click to expand...

^^^^^

This x 1000

During the Dooley-era, I was honestly scared to watch games. When those teams would get hit in the mouth, they'd pack up and go home. So glad to see some grit and persistence!
 
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#5
#5
Blocked a FG late in 4th Qtr. Shows this team didn't quit. Down 31-10 they could have just gone through the motions. However, I guess CBJ would have kicked some azz if that happened..
 
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#6
#6
We struggled against Oregon's and Bammer's 2nd team last year, and we kept OU's best players on the field late, even risking further injury to their All-American Zach Sanchez. this is a very different football team in the last 5 years and things are looking up
 
#7
#7
Stevorino said:
Never happy to have a loss, but I was encouraged how we played against top-tier competition. Few thoughts:

1) O-Line is going to be the story of our season. The rest of our team is good enough to compete toe for toe with anyone in the east. If they can improve each week - I really like our chances to upset some teams later in the season.

2) Hurd - wow! Real deal.

3) Poor Worley. That kid is a champ. What a great performance. When that endzone pass to Croom went right through Croom's hands, my stomach dropped for Worley. What a beautiful, beautiful pass after such a long night.

4) Defense = sick. This is one of the best defenses in the SEC East, easy.

5) Playcalling - pretty good IMO. Considering how much of a handicap our O-Line presents the coaches, I can't believe we were still in this game pretty late. Had Croom caught that TD pass and no INT run back shortly thereafter, we are still scrapping for a W in the 4th quarter. Pretty incredible for a team of freshmen vs #4.

6) Butch has definitely changed the culture. They hung tough and played for four quarters, something we haven't seen a UT team do in a long time.
Click to expand...

Croom really needs to step his game up. He should dominate with his size and he seems to have "hands of stone."
 
#8
#8
I hope KM & Tuttle plants Knight like spring corn in the ground next year at home!! Playback are a *****
 
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#9
#9
If you take away the 6 sacks, we averaged 5 yards per carry. Not bad in this game.
 
#11
#11
That Croom play was bad. Perfect pass hit Croom right in the hands and bounced to Sánchez. We had 3 chances inside the 20 and only got 3 points. With everything that went wrong we still had a chance late 3rd quarter.

2nd Half D played great.This is best team we will play this year and were a few mistakes away from having a lead late. Our line will get better as season goes along
 
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#12
#12
Although I thought OU was better, the gap was not as wide as the scoreboard indicated. UT probably has the best or near best D in the East so lets see what happens, either way even thought it was a lose, they fought the whole way. What I saw as the clear weakness during week #1 is more noticeable now i.e. OL.

I think Bama is the best in the West, not sure about this East thing yet.... its going to be interesting.
 
#13
#13
Anyone that watched the game last night should be encouraged by what they saw from the Vols last night.
 
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#16
#16
FLVOL69 said:
We gonna whoop some gator ass too, three ****ing o/t to beat Kentucky in the swamp!
Click to expand...

I think we can play and can beat FL. I would not take away too much from the 3 OT win against KY. Look at the beating South Carolina took from Texas A&M then turn around and beat what should be the best Team in the SEC East, GA.
 
#17
#17
Gramps said:
I think we can play and can beat FL. I would not take away too much from the 3 OT win against KY. Look at the beating South Carolina took from Texas A&M then turn around and beat what should be the best Team in the SEC East, GA.
Click to expand...

We can definitely hang with anyone.

This team needs to get better every week, and I think they will.
 
#18
#18
Gramps said:
I think we can play and can beat FL. I would not take away too much from the 3 OT win against KY. Look at the beating South Carolina took from Texas A&M then turn around and beat what should be the best Team in the SEC East, GA.
Click to expand...

It was Kentucky gramps.. South Carolina had to win that game. Georgia looks beatable as well.
 
#19
#19
I'm not encouraged by last night. Was it an improvement over last years embarrassment at Eugene? Yes, then again it couldn't get much worse than that could it?

What last night told us was what we already know, Butch Jones will not win big here without making major staff changes. Bajakian and Jancek are not quality coordinators.
 
#20
#20
jkleno said:
Croom really needs to step his game up. He should dominate with his size and he seems to have "hands of stone."
Click to expand...

It's amazing how the flip happened between Croom and Josh Smith. Everyone thought Croom was going to be a beast this year and Smith would continue from his woes of last season. But it's almost like they've traded places.

I want Croom to be as big a threat at receiver as North and Pig. Just needs to put in some serious effort.
 
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