One of our potential Achilles Heel

#1
V

volbound1700

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2007
Messages
8,745
Likes
12,170
#1
I hope that I am not coming off as NegaVol but I thought it would be fun to discuss this point.

I have been wondering if Tennessee has had difficult maintaining larger leads at times.

It seems like our offense struggles more when we are up 2-3 scores. We have tend to allow opponents to get back into the games after watching several games.

Noteworthy games are Pittsburgh, Florida, and Alabama.

Interestingly, we really should have put Alabama away in the 2nd and 3rd Quarter. Alabama fans (and others) keep pointing out that if they got the FG or Gibbs caught the pass, they win. However, there were several critical plays in the 2nd and 3rd quarter that kept Alabama in the play and allowed them to make a run after being down 28-10 to get back into the game.

Some of this seems to be our defense but our offense tends to slow down a little when we get leads as well.

Now Kentucky may have been a great test to get over this hump.

I definitely hear a lot about Florida as well (especially from Georgia fans who are using transitive property with Florida right now).
 
#4
#4
volbound1700 said:
I hope that I am not coming off as NegaVol but I thought it would be fun to discuss this point.

I have been wondering if Tennessee has had difficult maintaining larger leads at times.

It seems like our offense struggles more when we are up 2-3 scores. We have tend to allow opponents to get back into the games after watching several games.

Noteworthy games are Pittsburgh, Florida, and Alabama.

Interestingly, we really should have put Alabama away in the 2nd and 3rd Quarter. Alabama fans (and others) keep pointing out that if they got the FG or Gibbs caught the pass, they win. However, there were several critical plays in the 2nd and 3rd quarter that kept Alabama in the play and allowed them to make a run after being down 28-10 to get back into the game.

Some of this seems to be our defense but our offense tends to slow down a little when we get leads as well.

Now Kentucky may have been a great test to get over this hump.

I definitely hear a lot about Florida as well (especially from Georgia fans who are using transitive property with Florida right now).
Click to expand...

I saw that as a problem last year but think it has dramatically improved this year and gets better week to week. Last night was a complete game from all parts of the team. The offense has also grown in terms of the run game and changing speeds to keep the defense off balance.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KoachKrab127, Arrested Devolopment, 87&91ALUM and 1 other person
#5
#5
CNCVol88 said:
So Pitt we started off slow and they played a good game.

We got Florida's Fast ball

Alabama, if you thought we were going to just put them away, I have ocean front property in Crossville to sell you
Click to expand...
At no point did I think that game wouldn’t be a butt clincher
 
#6
#6
UT played Pitt. UT beat Pitt. UT's staff took that game and made the team better.

UT played UF. UT beat UF. Part of winning that game was lessons learned from Pitt. UT's staff took that game and made the team better.

UT played Bama. UT beat Bama. Part of winning that game was lessons learned from every game leading up to that game especially Pitt, UF, and LSU. Both teams can say that they had opportunities to put the other away. Both are right. You had two great teams making plays, forcing mistakes, and overcoming to stay in the game. There is nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING negative about going toe to toe with the most talented team in CFB coached by one of the greatest coaches of all time... battling for 60 minutes... and coming out on top.

If there was a "hump" to get over... and I'm not convinced there was... it appears UT got over it in Baton Rouge. Bama is simply a great football team.

PS- I like LSU's chances this Saturday.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Element01, Proud Army Wife, TNbuc2 and 6 others
#7
#7
volbound1700 said:
I hope that I am not coming off as NegaVol but I thought it would be fun to discuss this point.

I have been wondering if Tennessee has had difficult maintaining larger leads at times.

It seems like our offense struggles more when we are up 2-3 scores. We have tend to allow opponents to get back into the games after watching several games.

Noteworthy games are Pittsburgh, Florida, and Alabama.

Interestingly, we really should have put Alabama away in the 2nd and 3rd Quarter. Alabama fans (and others) keep pointing out that if they got the FG or Gibbs caught the pass, they win. However, there were several critical plays in the 2nd and 3rd quarter that kept Alabama in the play and allowed them to make a run after being down 28-10 to get back into the game.

Some of this seems to be our defense but our offense tends to slow down a little when we get leads as well.

Now Kentucky may have been a great test to get over this hump.

I definitely hear a lot about Florida as well (especially from Georgia fans who are using transitive property with Florida right now).
Click to expand...
Sure looks like a "fun" time to me. Right after this exercise, I think I'll go prep for a colonoscopy for a capper.
 
  • Like
Reactions: S.C. OrangeMan and TnVol!
#9
#9
RockyTop140 said:
At no point did I think that game wouldn’t be a butt clincher
Click to expand...

They were down 21 points inside their 10 yard line 3rd and very long, like 17 yards. I thought they would get boat raced at that moment, but then they made the first down.
 
#10
#10
volbound1700 said:
I hope that I am not coming off as NegaVol but I thought it would be fun to discuss this point.

I have been wondering if Tennessee has had difficult maintaining larger leads at times.

It seems like our offense struggles more when we are up 2-3 scores. We have tend to allow opponents to get back into the games after watching several games.

Noteworthy games are Pittsburgh, Florida, and Alabama.

Interestingly, we really should have put Alabama away in the 2nd and 3rd Quarter. Alabama fans (and others) keep pointing out that if they got the FG or Gibbs caught the pass, they win. However, there were several critical plays in the 2nd and 3rd quarter that kept Alabama in the play and allowed them to make a run after being down 28-10 to get back into the game.

Some of this seems to be our defense but our offense tends to slow down a little when we get leads as well.

Now Kentucky may have been a great test to get over this hump.

I definitely hear a lot about Florida as well (especially from Georgia fans who are using transitive property with Florida right now).
Click to expand...
You forgetting that Alabama is a good offensive team that never gives up during a game. They " kept coming back" because they have talent and good coaching and well motivated. And it's not a reasonable comparison to compare a Bama win to a Kentucky win---they are not the same. Kentucky is way over rated and Bama is not.
 
  • Like
Reactions: volbound1700
#11
#11
volfeeva said:
You forgetting that Alabama is a good offensive team that never gives up during a game. They " kept coming back" because they have talent and good coaching and well motivated. And it's not a reasonable comparison to compare a Bama win to a Kentucky win---they are not the same. Kentucky is way over rated and Bama is not.
Click to expand...

True but we had them down and it took a some luck to survive Alabama (miss FG and drop pass by Gibbs).

It hasn't hurt us yet but we don't want to play around if we get a multi-score lead on Georgia and let them back into the game.
 
#13
#13
Florida was desperate and gambled every opportunity and somehow got most of them. If Napier didn’t that game is a blow out. Bama is just good. They have too much talent to ever count them out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Arrested Devolopment
#14
#14
volbound1700 said:
True but we had them down and it took a some luck to survive Alabama (miss FG and drop pass by Gibbs).

It hasn't hurt us yet but we don't want to play around if we get a multi-score lead on Georgia and let them back into the game.
Click to expand...
Just for giggles, try and remember the last team that beat Bama by more than 10- 14 pts?
 
#15
#15
complacent. all great offensive minds get that way at times! sometimes scoring seems way too easy
 
#16
#16
volfeeva said:
Just for giggles, try and remember the last team that beat Bama by more than 10- 14 pts?
Click to expand...

I get what your saying but it is kind of like Basketball. When you don't put games away, you play with fire. The best way to lose in March Madness is to not hold onto or pull away with leads for example.

I am going to quote Zombieland, the term "double tap" has a meaning.

We had a sizable lead on Alabama but failed to maintain it. Fortunately, we came back when the things got rough and Alabama missed a FG and some key plays at the end of the game to allow us to win an instant classic.

This maybe a none argument but it is always nice to put away teams once they are down.
 
#17
#17
volbound1700 said:
I hope that I am not coming off as NegaVol but I thought it would be fun to discuss this point.

I have been wondering if Tennessee has had difficult maintaining larger leads at times.

It seems like our offense struggles more when we are up 2-3 scores. We have tend to allow opponents to get back into the games after watching several games.

Noteworthy games are Pittsburgh, Florida, and Alabama.

Interestingly, we really should have put Alabama away in the 2nd and 3rd Quarter. Alabama fans (and others) keep pointing out that if they got the FG or Gibbs caught the pass, they win. However, there were several critical plays in the 2nd and 3rd quarter that kept Alabama in the play and allowed them to make a run after being down 28-10 to get back into the game.

Some of this seems to be our defense but our offense tends to slow down a little when we get leads as well.

Now Kentucky may have been a great test to get over this hump.

I definitely hear a lot about Florida as well (especially from Georgia fans who are using transitive property with Florida right now).
Click to expand...
The Georgia game will be a close one..
Advantage Tennessee. 😁
 
  • Like
Reactions: volbound1700
#18
#18
One of our major weaknesses is having siiity fans that say that they’re VOLS but whine an complain about being the best damn team in the country.
 
#19
#19
volbound1700 said:
I hope that I am not coming off as NegaVol but I thought it would be fun to discuss this point.

I have been wondering if Tennessee has had difficult maintaining larger leads at times.

It seems like our offense struggles more when we are up 2-3 scores. We have tend to allow opponents to get back into the games after watching several games.

Noteworthy games are Pittsburgh, Florida, and Alabama.

Interestingly, we really should have put Alabama away in the 2nd and 3rd Quarter. Alabama fans (and others) keep pointing out that if they got the FG or Gibbs caught the pass, they win. However, there were several critical plays in the 2nd and 3rd quarter that kept Alabama in the play and allowed them to make a run after being down 28-10 to get back into the game.

Some of this seems to be our defense but our offense tends to slow down a little when we get leads as well.

Now Kentucky may have been a great test to get over this hump.

I definitely hear a lot about Florida as well (especially from Georgia fans who are using transitive property with Florida right now).
Click to expand...

Sometimes the other team will make plays on both sides of the ball as they have elite athletes, too, along with good coaching, esp the SEC. Also, a team down by two scores feels a sense of urgency and able to bounce back. It happens frequently in the NFL and especially basketball. Teams may see a 15 point lead evaporate as the other team makes a run. Such is life in sports.
 
#20
#20
We had defensive problems in the flats and with tackling on first contact last week. That's not negative - just data. In 40 years plus of watching UT games, I've never felt this confident in a UT coaching staff's ability to take data in and make adjustments. Seriously. It's earth shatteringly different than anything we've had before - including all of the 80s... and 90s.

It looks like Heupel may have even rested the Defense a little with the game strategy against Kentucky - and possibly held out what the Offense would look like with both Hyatt and Tillman at full rotation. He also got a look at what in-game rest does for the D-line. Georgia's O-Line will be a much more formidable opponent, but we've never had better chances, and that is far more than we've had since I was eating turkey and cheese sandwiches in Presidential Cafeteria 8 or 9 times a day.

Win, lose, or .. . well..win or lose, this is a very special team of student athletes with a world-class coaching staff. It's amazing to be proud to be a Vol again.

... You can bet they are working covering passes in the flats and tackling this week.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top