My Thoughts on the Missouri Game, After Sleeping on it

[NighthawkVol]

Nice bounce-back win. I thought the team and the fans both responded well to the Georgia loss. For a noon kickoff against a 4-5 team, the crowd did a good job of creating a good environment. No, it wasn't the Florida or Alabama game (or even the Kentucky game), but the crowd still made life difficult for the Missouri offense, especially during the 3Q when Tennessee took control. Those noon kicks are tough for those of us who drive....had to leave Nashville at 6 am, park, and go directly into the stadium....no Vol Walk or band march or pregame radio show or any of these things that usually build up the energy. I think the same may be true of the team, and it took a bit to get rolling. But when they did, well, they did. Thoughts:

-I started banging the Dylan Sampson drum right after the Florida game. I think this offense can get to another gear with a dynamic RB and Sampson has that ability. I appreciate Small and Wright and what they've done, but those guys aren't game-breakers. Of course, we saw in the LSU game why Sampson hasn't been playing much. He has a learning curve. But man, it was nice to see what he did against Missouri at a point in the game when it mattered. Missouri had made a game of and Tennessee inserted Sampson. He got a nice run before the long Hyatt TD, and next possession, went on a drive that was ruthlessly efficient, led mostly by Sampson's running. Sampson has a burst and wiggle that the others don't have. He gets through the hole much quicker and makes guys miss with very little movement. And he has a lot of speed. He is a threat to go the distance at any time. He reminds me a little of Charlie Garner. The exciting things are: 1) if Heupel inserted him in that situation, he must be grasping things better in practice now to have earned that trust, meaning we should see him more going forward; 2) he'll get an extra "fall practice" for the postseason, which will really advance his development. He could be a real weapon for Tennessee in the postseason, providing a dynamic in the running that hasn't been there all year; and 3) What a weapon he will be in 2023. He should be the starter and probably a star. We'll finally have that star RB to counter the passing game, making things easier for the new starting QB. Speaking of which...

-I've also been banging the Joe Milton drum (for 2023, of course) for awhile. His arm is not human. The two deep balls he threw were both unbelievable. I'd say they were NFL throws, but I think most NFL QBs would be jealous of those throws. We can talk about "mop-up duty" all we want, but his issue before was that he couldn't hit open deep balls. Doesn't matter who the defense is...if the WR gets open and the QB makes the right read, you've done the hard part...now you just have to make the throw. Milton is doing that now. And his option run was also nice. I really think he'll be a stud next year. Especially with another year to learn under Heupel/Halzle. Look how much better Hooker got between last year and this.

-I think the secondary is still gradually improving at the CBs spots. Turnage looks like our best CB. He plays the ball really well. He and Slaughter both seem to understand zone coverage better than Hadden and Charles. That said, the Safety play left a lot to be desired in the 1st half. They buttoned it up in the 2nd, but that's an area of the team that has a chance to be better next year. I'd like to see Charles move back to Safety, where he is more natural, now that Turnage and Slaughter have taken the outside CB spots.

-The Defensive Line was able to get penetration and did a good job stopping the running game (as usual), but the let Cook make way too many plays with his feet. When they kept him in the pocket, the defense had success. When he was able to run (he is really fast), that's when Missouri hurt us. I think Banks may have adjusted in the 2nd half because it seemed like Tennessee decided to contain him and make him use his arm in the 2nd half and it worked. We continue to struggle against QBs who can run. But so do most teams, I guess.

-Special Teams were good. Nice to see McGrath drill the long FG. Dee Williams is electric as a PR. The block in the back call on his first return was garbage and he should have been credited with a long return. He'll break one for a TD at some point. Also, we had a chance to block 3 kicks of the edge (2 punts and 1 FG) and I'm not sure how we didn't. But hopefully, those become blocks in postseason games when it matters.

Looking forward, we should smoke South Carolina and Vanderbilt. I like that SC is a night game. Gives us a chance to go on the road in a decent environment and put on a show in prime time. As long as Tennessee takes care of business, I'm not too worried about the playoff. We'll get in. Michigan will get knocked out when they lose to Ohio State. TCU is awful. The nation saw that Saturday night when they finally tuned in. They may lose to Baylor or Iowa State even before facing KState. Also...no one seems to be talking about it, but Oregon's loss really helps things too. They were the only Pac 12 team that really had a chance to get in over Tennessee with 1-loss, and now they have 2. Things will work out.

On to Columbia, SC to beat the hell out of Carolina and their nerd coach!

 

[wtmvol]

Agree with most of what you said. But USC is still a threat from the Pac-12. They could potentially end the season with 3 straight wins over ranked teams (UCLA, Notre Dame, Oregon/Utah).

We keep saying TCU is awful, etc, but they keep finding ways to win games. We're running out of chances for them to blow one because I don't think Baylor or Iowa State are going to do it. I think Kansas St will beat them, but I thought Texas was going to beat them too.

 

[tennesseejoe]

when I lived in Nashville we left at 4 Am for an early game to make the vol walk band pregame .

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Agree with most of what you said. But USC is still a threat from the Pac-12. They could potentially end the season with 3 straight wins over ranked teams (UCLA, Notre Dame, Oregon/Utah).

We keep saying TCU is awful, etc, but they keep finding ways to win games. We're running out of chances for them to blow one because I don't think Baylor or Iowa State are going to do it. I think Kansas St will beat them, but I thought Texas was going to beat them too.

uscWest is a really weak one loss team. Fully expect ND and UCLA to spank them hard.

 

[jeff1vol]

Texas is atrocious. They'd lose to AT LEAST 2/3 of the SEC. They are going to REGRET joining the SEC. And so will OU, IMO. The Big 12 isn't even close.

 

[DynaLo]

Our secondary and linebacker groups... will somebody please add marathon games of bank shot only pool to their training schedules so these guys can get a hands on visual learning tool about correct angles.

Basic geometry doesn’t appear to be a viable option.

 

[wtmvol]

uscWest is a really weak one loss team. Fully expect ND and UCLA to spank them hard.

Here's hopin'!

 

[Fightmaker]

I haven’t been to a “big” game in that stadium since we beat Georgia a handful of years back, but this game was the loudest that I can remember. I was very impressed with the noon kickoff crowd.

 

[NighthawkVol]

uscWest is a really weak one loss team. Fully expect ND and UCLA to spank them hard.

And even if they don't, they don't have a pair of wins like Alabama or LSU and their loss to Utah is much worse than our loss to Georgia. Florida beat Utah.

 

[NighthawkVol]

I haven’t been to a “big” game in that stadium since we beat Georgia a handful of years back, but this game was the loudest that I can remember. I was very impressed with the noon kickoff crowd.

And it was the 4th loudest game, at best, this season. That should tell you what Neyland is like this season.

 

[Daniel_Lincolns_Foot]

My biggest gripe about the game was, again, in some situations, our tackling. That angle that Slaughter took on Missouri's first TD run was BRUTAL. I've never played football, but by the looks of it you just want to keep pressing the ball carrier towards the outside--knowing you have your guys behind you to defend the cut back. And Mccollough on that pass for their second TD? I mean, what the hell are we doing here, boys?

 

[utvolpj]

uscWest is a really weak one loss team. Fully expect ND and UCLA to spank them hard.

The ucla who just get spanked hard by lowly UofA at home?

 

[Fightmaker]

And it was the 4th loudest game, at best, this season. That should tell you what Neyland is like this season.

I did go to the Pitt game last year, but the noise was nothing like Mizzou this year. And the environment was miserable, everybody was wet and freezing, the concourse wasn’t moving….but that crowd brought it for the entire game. You couldn’t have gotten a better noon atmosphere.

 

[NighthawkVol]

The ucla who just get spanked hard by lowly UofA at home?

And Notre Dame lost to Marshall. I don't see how beating those two teams really gives USC a better resume. They don't play anybody.

 

[igotworms]

My biggest gripe about the game was, again, in some situations, our tackling. That angle that Slaughter took on Missouri's first TD run was BRUTAL. I've never played football, but by the looks of it you just want to keep pressing the ball carrier towards the outside--knowing you have your guys behind you to defend the cut back. And Mccollough on that pass for their second TD? I mean, what the hell are we doing here, boys?

1) he didn't Have Help behind
2) it wasn't a bad angle. He bit on a double move. That always looks bad, especially to people who never played and do t seem to understand things

 

[VAVol85]

Our secondary and linebacker groups... will somebody please add marathon games of bank shot only pool to their training schedules so these guys can get a hands on visual learning tool about correct angles.

Basic geometry doesn’t appear to be a viable option.

They really do take bad angles. They often take an over aggressive angle and miss or have to adjust and tackle late.

 

[Scot Harvath]

Everyone keeps saying TCU will lose a game, but they beat KSU by 10 pts this season, Baylor has 6-4 record and ISU is 4-6. Really going to take a big upset.
Here’s hoping they pick up some bad juju SOON.

 

[Palmetto_Exiled]

The ucla who just get spanked hard by lowly UofA at home?

Knocking Southern Cal out of the playoff would more than make up for that. It would be like Auburn knocking out Alabama. They'll definitely be up for this one.

 

[Daniel_Lincolns_Foot]

1) he didn't Have Help behind
2) it wasn't a bad angle. He bit on a double move. That always looks bad, especially to people who never played and do t seem to understand things

He definitely had help behind him-- McCollough and Walker were there if the runner had somehow cut back inside, but his momentum all but would have prevented that. And I think Slaughter was anticipating a move that never came, even slightly. It looked bad because it was bad.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Texas is atrocious. They'd lose to AT LEAST 2/3 of the SEC. They are going to REGRET joining the SEC. And so will OU, IMO. The Big 12 isn't even close.

I'll bet Arch Manning can't get there soon enough for them. Their QB wouldn't even make the practice squad in many places

 

[Voltopia]

I've also been banging the Joe Milton drum (for 2023, of course) for awhile. His arm is not human. The two deep balls he threw were both unbelievable. I'd say they were NFL throws, but I think most NFL QBs would be jealous of those throws. We can talk about "mop-up duty" all we want, but his issue before was that he couldn't hit open deep balls. Doesn't matter who the defense is...if the WR gets open and the QB makes the right read, you've done the hard part...now you just have to make the throw. Milton is doing that now. And his option run was also nice. I really think he'll be a stud next year. Especially with another year to learn under Heupel/Halzle. Look how much better Hooker got between last year and this.

I dig your post but I don't agree with this assessment. The issue was always his touch touch on his passes (and to a degree, decision making beforehand).

Do you recall what the announcers said on Milton's very first pass in the Missouri game? They talked about how it was a rocket and thrown very hard - for a horizontal pass that was about 7 or 8 yards. And it was thrown super hard. That's Milton's MO. He's done that since his first appearance, not just at Tennessee, but in his first year at Michigan. Here's a quote from a receiver that played with him at Michigan when he was there -

“Joe Milton’s arm is very strong,” Black said. “That’s what I’ll say – he’s got a rocket, man. It’s kind of hard to catch from him sometimes. He has to take a little bit off at times, he just doesn’t know how strong his arm is sometimes. He’s really good.”

Again, same tendency, four years into his development. Everyone always raves about his rocket arm, which is true, but rocket deep passes alone aren't enough. He's got to have more control over his throws, so he's not firing rockets every play that either go over the receiver's heads on deeper routes or hitting them like bullets every time on under routes.

I'm not hating on Milton either when I say that, or at least, that's not my intent. I hope he's taken steps forward and can do these things now. He's gotta have more finesse on his throws, and he's got to be able to read pre-snap well enough to know where to throw 'em, especially under pressure. That's all it is.

 

[chuck0303]

Texas is atrocious. They'd lose to AT LEAST 2/3 of the SEC. They are going to REGRET joining the SEC. And so will OU, IMO. The Big 12 isn't even close.

Their recruiting will probably pick up joining the SEC and so will OK.

 

[KeyVol14]

Agree with most of what you said. But USC is still a threat from the Pac-12. They could potentially end the season with 3 straight wins over ranked teams (UCLA, Notre Dame, Oregon/Utah).

We keep saying TCU is awful, etc, but they keep finding ways to win games. We're running out of chances for them to blow one because I don't think Baylor or Iowa State are going to do it. I think Kansas St will beat them, but I thought Texas was going to beat them too.

They’re going to slip up I think. If Texas had even the slightest pulse on Offense last weekend TCU would have probably lost.

 

[CSVol]

I'll bet Arch Manning can't get there soon enough for them. Their QB wouldn't even make the practice squad in many places

Ewers brains and ba...uh...guts are in that haircut. Kid's got no heart

 

[NighthawkVol]

I dig your post but I don't agree with this assessment. The issue was always his touch touch on his passes (and to a degree, decision making beforehand).

Do you recall what the announcers said on Milton's very first pass in the Missouri game? They talked about how it was a rocket and thrown very hard - for a horizontal pass that was about 7 or 8 yards. And it was thrown super hard. That's Milton's MO. He's done that since his first appearance, not just at Tennessee, but in his first year at Michigan. Here's a quote from a receiver that played with him at Michigan when he was there -

“Joe Milton’s arm is very strong,” Black said. “That’s what I’ll say – he’s got a rocket, man. It’s kind of hard to catch from him sometimes. He has to take a little bit off at times, he just doesn’t know how strong his arm is sometimes. He’s really good.”

Again, same tendency, four years into his development. Everyone always raves about his rocket arm, which is true, but rocket deep passes alone aren't enough. He's got to have more control over his throws, so he's not firing rockets every play that either go over the receiver's heads on deeper routes or hitting them like bullets every time on under routes.

I'm not hating on Milton either when I say that, or at least, that's not my intent. I hope he's taken steps forward and can do these things now. He's gotta have more finesse on his throws, and he's got to be able to read pre-snap well enough to know where to throw 'em, especially under pressure. That's all it is.

Point me to where his decision-making was an issue. I'll give you that he lost track of time at the end of Ole Miss. But as far as reading the defense and throwing to the right guy, that hasn't been an issue. He simply overthrew open guys. He's not doing that now.

As for the touch/arm strength thing, he's now hitting those deep passes. Whether they're thrown with touch or not, he's completing them. Some guys with great arms just throw that way. Go back and watch clips of Heath Shuler throwing the deep or intermediate ball. Always on a rope. Very little trajectory. It's not ideal, but if he's completing them, it's not a deal-breaker.

I think too many are letting his first 2 games at UT cloud their judgment as if 1) having only been on campus for a few weeks wasn't an inhibitor at that time, and 2) he hasn't improved a lot in the time since.

I think y'all are going to love what you see from Milton next year after he's had another off-season to get better under the best QB coach in America. Unless you don't like completions that are thrown real hard.