More observations from an absentee...

[DowntownVol]

(1) I think Lexvol already rather eloquently covered this, but it bears repeating: when you can win a game against a good (but admittedly not great) team when ALL the breaks go against you - penalties, turnovers, officiating - you have a VERY good football team on your hands.

(2) We will not beat Arkansas (scariest team left on the schedule, IMO - in fact, I fear the Evil Genius and Co. more than LSU at this point) or LSU without rushing for more than 100 yards. If Coker is seriously injured, Foster's going to have to step it up. I respectfully disagree with Lexvol on the whole "I'm cool with running four wide from the shotgun all year" thing - against decent to good defenses, you HAVE to run the ball to keep the defense honest. Even if you're getting stuffed a bit in the first half.. running the ball always gets easier late in the game. Throwing all the time negates the clock-burning luxuries of playing with a lead, also. (when you have one, which we didn't today, obviously.) I certainly don't want a 2:1 ratio of passes to runs vs. the Hawgs and Bayou Bengals.

(3) If it's gotten to the point where we have to use running backs to return punts and kickoffs, so be it. That was the best return game we've had in a while, and most importantly, no fumbles. I don't blame CPF for rolling the dice on the possibility of injuries - isn't that why we have 3 tailbacks who can start? Which reminds me: where was Hardesty in this game?

(4) Okay, so Ainge had a bad first half. He's fine. Let's not get our collective panties in a wad about this. If he doesn't make the play on the interception return, we probably lose 17-16. He looked sharp and poised on the game-winning drive. Would you have rather him have a spectacular first half, then choke in the clutch? No.

(5) I hate to bring this up, but the more wins we rack up, the more blowing the lead vs. Florida pi**es me off.

You guys are the best. Always good to read posts from knowledgeable, classy fellow Big Orange fans. I'll try to hang out here more often.

GO VOLS!

dtv

 

[kptvol]

Our RBs were involved with kickoff returns, which remained horrendous. The punt return game was the area that improved. That returner was Heffney, a CB. Also, Hardesty did play. He had at least one carry for 10 yards.

 

[NationofVols]

Yeah, seemingly there is someone on our team beyond a few of our most important players, that would return kicks with some sort of consistency.

I also agree that Ainge is just fine. He went 17-25 in the 2nd half. He was off today and Bama only got 3 points off of his 3 ints. They just had no interest in throwing much more than those short outpatterns that Bama ate up most of the day.

 

[tidwell]

Hardesty had the one carry kpt mentioned, then another one, very next play I believe, where he was stuffed for a 2 or 3 yard loss.

 

[sjt18]

LSU is by far the best team left on the schedule. Every other team left on UT's schedule would have to play over their heads, hope for breaks, and have UT play poorly to get a win over the Vols.

Bama's defense is better than Arkansas. Arkansas has improved all season but IMO they caught Auburn looking ahead to UF and haven't been all that impressive otherwise. Ole Miss has played well but today isn't the first game they've blown up after getting on a slide. UK dogged them bad as did Mizzou and Wake Forest.

 

[WA_Vol]

I agree UT didn't get a lot of breaks, but Alabama is horrible on offense. Anyone else would have put up more then 13 pts on UT's defense. Georgia is a lot worse then anyone thought as well. I'm not getting a warm fuzzy going into LSU or Arkansas.

Having Swain injured is hurting the offense a lot. He's no deep threat, everyone plays him tight and takes him out of the offense. You double team Meachem, you really only left with B. Smith as a target.

I really hated to see Coker go out injured. He kept the LB's honest. with his speed they couldnt afford to forget about him.

 

[Volfan381]

I'm not worried about Ainge or our receivers (though I hope Swain can get healthy for the LSU game). I am, however, worried about our running game. We can not rely so much on our passing game in the future. We can't become a 1-dimensional offense.

 

[sjt18]

I agree UT didn't get a lot of breaks, but Alabama is horrible on offense.

Bama came in averaging well over 300 ypg on offense and averaging about 24 ppg. They actually performed better against UF than UT or Auburn did.

Anyone else would have put up more then 13 pts on UT's defense.

Based on what? Bama came in averaging well over 200 ypg passing and with the SEC's third best runner.

Georgia is a lot worse then anyone thought as well.

UGA is talented but unsettled at QB. They'll probably get better from here on out with Stafford at QB. Joe T simply wasn't an SEC caliber talent.

I'm not getting a warm fuzzy going into LSU or Arkansas.

LSU I agree. They have a dual personality team. One messes up all over the field. The other is dominating.

Arkansas was statistically dominated by Bama. The only way they won was that Bama's kicker missed 3 mid-range FG's and a PAT in OT. They beat Ole Miss 38-3 which sounds impressive until you take a look at Miss this year. They've inexplicably played well against some teams and blown up against teams that weren't as good. Bama had more yardage and almost as many offensive points against them as Ark did. Ole Miss just played better offense that game. Mizzou and WF also blew them out. Lowly Memphis had more yardage against Ole Miss than Ark.

Arkansas has one good win against an Auburn team that was overlooking them to UF.

Having Swain injured is hurting the offense a lot.

Swain's injury is difficult to overcome, heal, or play through. Someone else is going to have to step up. Briscoe may be better than you now expect with more reps.

I'm honestly not too high on Taylor. I haven't seen him do too much this year.

BTW, Foster looked good as a receiver. He might be that other target if Swain continues to be hampered.

 

[hmanvolfan]

Our team weathered the storm against our biggest rival. Therefore, the Razorbacks, Cocks and Bengals are in trouble. Screw all of them schools, we're rolling down the road and only need someone to beat the Gators. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Volfan381]

Our team weathered the storm against our biggest rival. Therefore, the Razorbacks, Cocks and Bengals are in trouble. Screw all of them schools, we're rolling down the road and only need someone to beat the Gators. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like where your head's at hmanvolfan.

 

[OWB]

Briscoe may be better than you now expect with more reps.

I'm with you on this one.

 

[Lexvol]

(2) We will not beat Arkansas (scariest team left on the schedule, IMO - in fact, I fear the Evil Genius and Co. more than LSU at this point) or LSU without rushing for more than 100 yards. If Coker is seriously injured, Foster's going to have to step it up. I respectfully disagree with Lexvol on the whole "I'm cool with running four wide from the shotgun all year" thing - against decent to good defenses, you HAVE to run the ball to keep the defense honest. Even if you're getting stuffed a bit in the first half.. running the ball always gets easier late in the game. Throwing all the time negates the clock-burning luxuries of playing with a lead, also. (when you have one, which we didn't today, obviously.) I certainly don't want a 2:1 ratio of passes to runs vs. the Hawgs and Bayou Bengals.


(5) I hate to bring this up, but the more wins we rack up, the more blowing the lead vs. Florida pi**es me off.

You guys are the best. Always good to read posts from knowledgeable, classy fellow Big Orange fans. I'll try to hang out here more often.

GO VOLS!

dtv

I would like to see them use the pass to set up the run out of the shotgun. Ainge looked so much more comfortable spreading the ball around.

Number five continues to haunt me as well, but I think Cut is a different coordinator now than he was before that game.