Im still not understanding the whole "we are too slow" slogan..

[BigOrangeCrush32]

Not sure if serious. I hope not

Yes serious...putting on extra muscle and weight will slow you down...maybe not everyone, but it can be a possibility...

 

[majic73]

Ainge reported today that our incoming LB recruits post better 40 times than most members of our current secondary.

Help is on the way .

 

[sjt18]

Why doesn't this defense blitz? I never understood why we didn't blitz McCarron at all. We just let him pick us apart for four quarters. Someone told me that we didn't because Bama was too balanced. So wouldn't try to blitz some since there so balanced? It doesn't make sense.

I can almost understand not blitzing on passing downs with Toney back there at nickel. OTOH, I really struggle to understand why there were no run blitzes vs Mizzou.

There were a couple of big plays by Mizzou but the pass D overall was MUCH better than the run D... yet everyone here wants to blame the problems on "speed" when speed wasn't the major problem. Mizzou lined up and ran over UT's front 7. They are the group that should be the foundation for this D. In spite of this, there were no adjustments to scheme or personnel that I could tell.

A Mizzou fan early in the game noticed that UT had succeeded when they passed... and said, "Just run the ----- ball!" Guess they heard him because they started running.... and running... and running. Same small set of plays... same results.

 

[sjt18]

Ainge reported today that our incoming LB recruits post better 40 times than most members of our current secondary.

Help is on the way .

I think I will believe it when I see it. MOST of the guys now starting "posted" good 40 times as recruits.

And again.... Mizzou didn't "outrun" UT's D. They ran over UT's D.

 

[sjt18]

On paper we still have more talent than about 90% of the teams in the country. On paper that's only good for 6th in the SEC. Given the coaching turnover, maybe how we have played this year is not so bad. The only less-talented team we have lost to (on paper!) is Mizzou.

On paper, Jones has won or shared 4 championships in 6 years. But the combined record of the teams he beat at Cincy was 132-164. He was 0-3 vs ranked teams at Cincy... he only played THREE.

I AM NOT saying that to suggest I believe Jones will fail or just to be negative. Coaches have to adjust to competition levels too.

I AM saying it to open the eyes of you who are so determined to insist that talent is the only problem and who would deny the talent that UT DOES HAVE.

This is NOT a roster incapable of being more competitive vs Bama and Oregon. This IS a roster with enough talent to beat Mizzou and that should have NEVER have been blown out 31-3.

And whatever you say about our overall level of talent, we are THIN at DB. The fact that we started a former walk-on - against I HAVE NOTHING and APPRECIATE THE EFFORT OF - but nonetheless a former walk-on speaks volumes.

Mizzou is thinner and starts a former walk on also.

And as I post elsewhere, WR is the one place Mizzou DOES have elite talent. The best in the SEC IMO.

With our DBs beat up, it was strength vs weakness.

Which would be a good point if MU had thrown for over 300 yds.... They didn't. UT's secondary held up well. Early on they forced 3 and outs then MU adjusted to running the ball alot more. Mauk was 12-25 for 163 yds. Without the big time bust... they limit the guy to pawltry 127 yds passing.

Instead, MU lined up and ran over UT's D. They didn't out run them... they ran over them.

I still think we could have performed better...this is not an excuse, but I am going to make an exception to saying we are as talented as Mizzou in this one matchup.

UT has more overall talent than Mizzou. Denying it won't change it. MU outcoached UT and outplayed UT... and flat out toughed UT.

I don't think anyone in the league matches up against their WRs outside of bammer and maybe UF...but hey! Uf got torched a bit to. So there you go.

UT didn't get torched by their WR's. I'm not sure why you keep dwelling on that as if saying it over and over will make it true. Mauk was under 50% and even with the bust... threw for only 163 yds.

But I guess I should thank you now for indirectly acknowledging the fact that MU did not beat UT on the strength of what should have been their only favorable matchup.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I think I will believe it when I see it. MOST of the guys now starting "posted" good 40 times as recruits.

And again.... Mizzou didn't "outrun" UT's D. They ran over UT's D.

Wrong again.

 

[sjt18]

WTF are you talking about l? Our defense has been 100 times better this season.

This D is NOT better than either D Wilcox coached at UT.

 

[DaddyChad]

WTF are you talking about l? Our defense has been 100 times better this season.

While I agree it would be hard to be close to as bad as last year. That defense was in the bottom of all programs in the nation and probably the worst defense historically to ever play for the Vols.

 

[DaddyChad]

This D is NOT better than either D Wilcox coached at UT.

I think he's saying improvement from Sunseri.

 

[sjt18]

Wrong again.

Ummm, nope.

And 40 times given for recruits are notoriously inaccurate so to even have this argument is pointless.

The ONLY reliable 40 times are laser timed.... and since they are seldom helpful to a recruit... they are usually avoided.

The other reliable measures are track and field times like 100m, hurdles, 200m, triple jump, high jump....

 

[sjt18]

I think he's saying improvement from Sunseri.

If they let them coach themselves.... they would have improved from that stupidity.

 

[oregonvol]

I think he's saying improvement from Sunseri.

This defense isn't that much better than Sunseri's was. It certainly looked as bad against Missouri as it did last year.

 

[oregonvol]

Ummm, nope.

And 40 times given for recruits are notoriously inaccurate so to even have this argument is pointless.

The ONLY reliable 40 times are laser timed.... and since they are seldom helpful to a recruit... they are usually avoided.

The other reliable measures are track and field times like 100m, hurdles, 200m, triple jump, high jump....

Yeah, pretty much any scout will tell you that high school 40 times are notoriously inaccurate.

That said, I can't believe that all of our 4 star recruits got to be 4 stars without looking fast on the field. It's a very odd proposition that Missouri somehow got all these 3 star players that no one noticed played much faster than all of the 4 stars we got. It makes a bit more sense if coaching, the system, the playcalls, the gameplan, etc. has something to do with it.

 

[sjt18]

Guys. I know and understand why it is attractive to blame everything on talent or speed or something like that. It is far more uncomfortable to consider that coaching might be at issue too. But remember, Jancek has a history in the SEC. That along with the "measureables" of many of UT's players keeps me from just buying the "no talent" excuse.

 

[hndog609]

MO has the #3 rush D in the SEC. In fact a whole 7.5ypg behind AL. They are dead last in pass D however at 279ypg.

So, strength vs weakness we roll in with a Fr making his first start on the road and basically need him to engineer points with his arm. Bad juju.

 

[sjt18]

I'm not complaining about a loss because a Fr QB made mistakes. I AM complaining about a D that was flat run over by a less talented team. I AM complaining that the staff was not prepared for their run game and had absolutely no answers for it from a scheme or playcalling standpoint.

 

[volfan411]

I can almost understand not blitzing on passing downs with Toney back there at nickel. OTOH, I really struggle to understand why there were no run blitzes vs Mizzou.

There were a couple of big plays by Mizzou but the pass D overall was MUCH better than the run D... yet everyone here wants to blame the problems on "speed" when speed wasn't the major problem. Mizzou lined up and ran over UT's front 7. They are the group that should be the foundation for this D. In spite of this, there were no adjustments to scheme or personnel that I could tell.

A Mizzou fan early in the game noticed that UT had succeeded when they passed... and said, "Just run the ----- ball!" Guess they heard him because they started running.... and running... and running. Same small set of plays... same results.

I think the lack of depth in the front 7 is really starting to take its toll. The suspension of Mo Couch was huge to our d-line and probably lack of quality depth is a part of the limited blitz packages we are seeing. The defense has just been on the field to much this season.

 

[volfan411]

I'm not complaining about a loss because a Fr QB made mistakes. I AM complaining about a D that was flat run over by a less talented team. I AM complaining that the staff was not prepared for their run game and had absolutely no answers for it from a scheme or playcalling standpoint.

I agree with you to a point but I am not sure how you adjust scheme when you are being outright man handled. When we did blitz the QB would break contaiment and have huge gains.

I know you have said and I agree with you I just do not think we can judge Jancek on this season.

 

[volfan411]

Ummm, nope.

And 40 times given for recruits are notoriously inaccurate so to even have this argument is pointless.

The ONLY reliable 40 times are laser timed.... and since they are seldom helpful to a recruit... they are usually avoided.

The other reliable measures are track and field times like 100m, hurdles, 200m, triple jump, high jump....

I think you have to agree that the DB's we have are not at the level of the top 6 teams in the SEC right now but to say they are slow is inaccurate.

Florida has a much faster defense that UT and Missouri racked a lot of yards against them.

 

[gnm53108]

This defense isn't that much better than Sunseri's was. It certainly looked as bad against Missouri as it did last year.

Yes it did.

 

[sjt18]

I think you have to agree that the DB's we have are not at the level of the top 6 teams in the SEC right now but to say they are slow is inaccurate.

I'd like to see 4 like Sutton too. But some folks want to act as if their physical ability keeps the DC from scheming successfully. I would point those people back to Wilcox who did more with less in his 1st season at UT.

Florida has a much faster defense that UT and Missouri racked a lot of yards against them.

And once again.... that would be a great point if MU outran UT's D. They didn't. They ran over UT's D.

 

[volfan411]

This defense isn't that much better than Sunseri's was. It certainly looked as bad against Missouri as it did last year.

Gave up 51 last season and 31 this season I would say that is improvement and last season the D had an offense to help them out and keep them off the field. So I would think we seen improvement although not the amount most would like.

I cannot remember how many they gave up in the overtimes in that game.

 

[sjt18]

It certainly looked as bad against Missouri as it did last year.

Yep. Last year's D allowed fewer pts in regulation and allowed fewer yards even including the OT's... and Franklin played.

 

[therealitytheory]

We may have speed issues in the D backfield, but surely no one would argue that these guys tackle better than last years group (who led the free world in giving up rushing plays over 40 yds).

We'll need our CBs and safties to step up in run support this Saturday or it'll be a long day.

 

[B-17 Pilot]

Ok people, so it seems to be a consensus that our D and some of our Offense are too slow and that's a huge reason why we get pummeled against good, solid opponents. So, tell me..why is Mizzou soooooo fast. They recruit 3, 4 and 5 star talent just like we have the past 5 years. Hell, I don't even know if they have had a top 10 recruiting class in years! Why are they sooooo fast and we soooooo slow?

Byron Moore....4 star Juco top DB that chose us over Miami, FL. Would he have been fast if he went to Miami? Why is he so slow? Justin Coleman....5 star stud recruit when came in. Why is he getting blazed so badly on every freakin play?! Brian Randolph...another 4 star recruit. Slow! Why are these guys slow while every other team's players are sooooo fast? I don't get it lol

I feel the main problem with lack of speed centers around the D-Line. I can't recite their actual speeds in the 40 but in looking at our games against Missouri, Georgia and Alabama, our lineman are indeed slow - pusuit angles or not! Linebackers might be in the same boat. Vol recruiting this year is outstanding. . .and they ARE addressing the speed issue! I remember well the days of Jackie Walker and Steve Kiner (1968-1970) their speed was outstanding and they played with a reckless abandon that speed allows you to do! It will happen in Neyland - and very soon. Go Vols!