Razorbacks Bring Vols Back To Reality

[JohnWardForever]

Tennessee lost to Arkansas on offense, defense, special teams and coaching. The look was much worse than the score westwords ... Exactly Marvin West. Tennessee, with two weeks to prepare, laid an egg and got completely outcoached. 14 points....... Danny White just raised ticked prices too......Rut Row. M.West: "Three weeks ago, Florida coach Billy Napier was booed as he left The Swamp. On Saturday, he received a rousing ovation. The Gators have won two in a row. Napier may get a raise."

 

[Alto1]

Tennessee lost to Arkansas on offense, defense, special teams and coaching. The look was much worse than the score westwords ... Exactly Marvin West. Tennessee, with two weeks to prepare, laid an egg and got completely outcoached. 14 points....... Danny White just raised ticked prices too......Rut Row. M.West: "Three weeks ago, Florida coach Billy Napier was booed as he left The Swamp. On Saturday, he received a rousing ovation. The Gators have won two in a row. Napier may get a raise."

That’s ^ the extremely disappointing part.
No excuse for it, period…….

 

[Volizona]

I

Tennessee lost to Arkansas on offense, defense, special teams and coaching. The look was much worse than the score westwords ... Exactly Marvin West. Tennessee, with two weeks to prepare, laid an egg and got completely outcoached. 14 points....... Danny White just raised ticked prices too......Rut Row. M.West: "Three weeks ago, Florida coach Billy Napier was booed as he left The Swamp. On Saturday, he received a rousing ovation. The Gators have won two in a row. Napier may get a raise."

The defense wasn’t perfect, but I think they did their job for the most part. They made several critical 4th down stops and 19 points should be enough to overcome. We also let them score on the final series to prevent them from running out the clock. The problem was 100% offense and I blame CJH the most due to the horrible play calling. You can’t tell me an offense genius can’t come up with more creative ways to help a struggling QB / Oline get rid of the ball quicker and mix things up a bit. Runnning the ball up the middle on 3rd and long was basically giving up and not trying.

 

[JohnWardForever]

I

The defense wasn’t perfect, but I think they did their job for the most part. They made several critical 4th down stops and 19 points should be enough to overcome. We also let them score on the final series to prevent them from running out the clock. The problem was 100% offense and I blame CJH the most due to the horrible play calling. You can’t tell me an offense genius can’t come up with more creative ways to help a struggling QB / Oline get rid of the ball quicker and mix things up a bit. Runnning the ball up the middle on 3rd and long was basically giving up and not trying.

Absolutely agree. That was on Heuple. 2 weeks to come up with a game plan and that's IT? So dang disappointed in Josh. Guess he thought The Vols could just go to Ark and Cruise to a W and get ready for Uf.... 2 explosive plays and one of 'em at the end of the game.

 

[ReelfootVol]

The defense is the only thing keeping us in the game, with the exception of the cupcakes.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I

The defense wasn’t perfect, but I think they did their job for the most part. They made several critical 4th down stops and 19 points should be enough to overcome. We also let them score on the final series to prevent them from running out the clock. The problem was 100% offense and I blame CJH the most due to the horrible play calling. You can’t tell me an offense genius can’t come up with more creative ways to help a struggling QB / Oline get rid of the ball quicker and mix things up a bit. Runnning the ball up the middle on 3rd and long was basically giving up and not trying.

They also allowed a 2nd string qb that posed no deep threat, march right down the field and score on them when we needed a stop the most. Maybe they were gassed at that point, but that was the ballgame.

I also place a huge amount of blame on our special teams play Saturday. Squirrel White continues to show that he has no business fielding punts, and that roughing the punter penalty was so bone-headedly stupid!

We were offensively inept on Saturday but let's not pretend that we didn't screw this game up in so many other ways. We were beat mentally as much as we were physically. If we just play mistake-free, 14 points actually wouldve been enough to win. This game was a huge red flag to me in so many ways, at the feet of so many people. But of course, it all starts with our head coach!

 

[Chad F]

Losses happen. But with two weeks to prepare we looked terrible. Our offensive line, a unit that should have been a strength for this team, looks mediocre - again. Defense kept us in it. Sheesh. That is tough to understand that we had to “keep in the game” against a team we should have beaten by 10+ points. Oh well.

Incredibly disappointing. Smells like South Carolina in 2022: a big favorite coming in to the game; lots of opportunity to build a greater upward trajectory as a program . . . annnnd we choke like a bunch of junior high school punks. Yeah, we didn’t get blown out like in 2022, but we (as usual) helped an opposing coach off the hot seat and made the other team’s back-up QB into a hero. It’s what we do.

 

[njvols]

If we played a clean game, we still probably win....but that doesn't seem to be in the scope of expectations. Penalty killing drives...UGH. This team not good behind the sticks.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

I

The defense wasn’t perfect, but I think they did their job for the most part. They made several critical 4th down stops and 19 points should be enough to overcome. We also let them score on the final series to prevent them from running out the clock. The problem was 100% offense and I blame CJH the most due to the horrible play calling. You can’t tell me an offense genius can’t come up with more creative ways to help a struggling QB / Oline get rid of the ball quicker and mix things up a bit. Runnning the ball up the middle on 3rd and long was basically giving up and not trying.

Yep. Defense was far from perfect but giving up 19 should be good enough to win. Not going to win many SEC games scoring 14

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

The passing game has been lackluster pretty much all year. Only one 300 yard passing game. Sorry but you can’t put ALL the blame on the OL.

 

[adam.vol]

They also allowed a 2nd string qb that posed no deep threat, march right down the field and score on them when we needed a stop the most. Maybe they were gassed at that point, but that was the ballgame.

I also place a huge amount of blame on our special teams play Saturday. Squirrel White continues to show that he has no business fielding punts, and that roughing the punter penalty was so bone-headedly stupid!

We were offensively inept on Saturday but let's not pretend that we didn't screw this game up in so many other ways. We were beat mentally as much as we were physically. If we just play mistake-free, 14 points actually wouldve been enough to win. This game was a huge red flag to me in so many ways, at the feet of so many people. But of course, it all starts with our head coach!

Did their 2nd string QB do anything besides hand off? They got moved by the flags and a fat guy ran for a few yards.

 

[Sarms58]

If we played a clean game, we still probably win....but that doesn't seem to be in the scope of expectations. Penalty killing drives...UGH. This team not good behind the sticks.

Yea, it seems like if we fail on first down we rarely convert on third down. First down penalties are especially hard to overcome.

Pretty sure all our opponents watched how we struggled against Oklahoma and will plan to take advantage of our weak OL - Arkansas certainly did. Not sure how you adjust play calling when the OL can’t give the play enough time for receivers to get open. I suspect we’ll try quicker routes but Nico will more often than not have to throw to covered receivers if he’s not throwing behind the line of scrimmage. It’s just difficult to run any offense or any type plays when the OL routinely gets man- handled. Post game their were comments from coaches/players that Arkansas’ shifting up front and walking extra guys into the box confused the OL as to blocking assignments. We’ll see how effective the adjustments made are this week against Florida - they have some big, talented guys up front.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Yea, it seems like if we fail on first down we rarely convert on third down. First down penalties are especially hard to overcome.

Pretty sure all our opponents watched how we struggled against Oklahoma and will plan to take advantage of our weak OL - Arkansas certainly did. Not sure how you adjust play calling when the OL can’t give the play enough time for receivers to get open. I suspect we’ll try quicker routes but Nico will more often than not have to throw to covered receivers if he’s not throwing behind the line of scrimmage. It’s just difficult to run any offense or any type plays when the OL routinely gets man- handled. Post game their were comments from coaches/players that Arkansas’ shifting up front and walking extra guys into the box confused the OL as to blocking assignments. We’ll see how effective the adjustments made are this week against Florida - they have some big, talented guys up front.

If plan A isn't working, you go to plan B. Heupel didn't have a plan B.

 

[CAVPUT]

That’s ^ the extremely disappointing part.
No excuse for it, period…….

I'd usually say "hopefully he'll learn" from a game like we had vs Arky. Unfortunately, it's become an annual thing so either his learning curve is crazy steep or he's just not that bothered by our annual stinker game. Usually that comes against UF. If history holds serve and we lose again to UF in yet another stinker of a game...well...I'd rather not think about the perception and damage to what our once ascending program would encounter. I never want to judge a coach until he has "his team" and that takes time to flip the roster. Well, this is year 4 and the staff and roster Heupel has built will be on full display next season. From that point forward, no Pruitt recruits and this becomes a fair picture to judge just what we have with this coach and his staff. Won't lie...I'm starting to become a bit concerned.

 

[CAVPUT]

The passing game has been lackluster pretty much all year. Only one 300 yard passing game. Sorry but you can’t put ALL the blame on the OL.

I have to think the pressure of expectations and being "the man" are weighing on Nico. In the bowl game, he came in and just played. The cupcakes were no real challenge and it was more like a 7 on 7 tournament. Now, however, it's the SEC grind. Way different game now and I think it's gotten in his head. He doesn't look comfortable and his lack of protection is a major cause of it. Regardless, this kid has changed. Not sure what the coaches are telling him or if they've limited him, but at some point, they just have to start letting him play the game. Run him sometimes. Roll him out sometimes. Just go fast and be who we are. The faster we go the less time he has to think. I wonder if this damned earpiece and communication also is a negative. Mistakes are a part of the game. Being so young, Nico will make his share but he'll learn. Get off the microphone. Call the play and let him run it. Spread the field and get back to being the UT offense for better or worse.

 

[Sarms58]

If plan A isn't working, you go to plan B. Heupel didn't have a plan B.

Not sure he didn’t…we didn’t block well enough for any plan to work

 

[VolBricks]

I

The defense wasn’t perfect, but I think they did their job for the most part. They made several critical 4th down stops and 19 points should be enough to overcome. We also let them score on the final series to prevent them from running out the clock. The problem was 100% offense and I blame CJH the most due to the horrible play calling. You can’t tell me an offense genius can’t come up with more creative ways to help a struggling QB / Oline get rid of the ball quicker and mix things up a bit. Runnning the ball up the middle on 3rd and long was basically giving up and not trying.

I think the play calling is very limited at this point. Heupel does not trust Nico right now, I do not know why, but he doesn't. This limits what we call on offense. Nico has not thrown for over 250 yds yet in his career at TN, would you have thought that 5 games in? The OL is the other limiting factor, we cannot push SEC opponents off the ball when we need to.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

This is what I have always like about his articles. He doesn't sugar coat anything when its bad but doesn't over react with crazy talk or sensational click bait. Just tells the facts. His kind of journalism is fading fast unfortunately.

 

[calban]

Reality Sucks, but it was FUN believing for a while. Arky just exposed our weaknesses and the Blueprint for beating our guys.

 

[CAVPUT]

Reality Sucks, but it was FUN believing for a while. Arky just exposed our weaknesses and the Blueprint for beating our guys.

Not so fast. Like I said, we're making things pretty damned easy for defenses. Look at how the coaches are calling the game. Heck, Heupel even went so far as to explain to Nico why he dialed things back in the OU game. Tells me even Nico knew things weren't as expected. Look, everyone knows Nico is young and bound to have a learning curve. The notion that you have to shelter him from every mistake along with keeping him injury free isn't helping his development. Much like the early season cupcakes did absolutely nothing to grow him as a player. Big part of why he's struggling now. Get back to the offense that drew him to choose UT and free him to just play the game. Shut down the microphone after the play call then give the wheel to Nico and the offense. This notion that you have to be in the perfect play every single snap and you've got to spend so much time "thinking for Nico" is just crippling him and the offense. Sure we've got injiuries to key players, but you go with backups and run the danged offense. If Heard and Campbell pull more lookout blocking schemes, sit their fannies and go with others. Maybe they won't be as "talented", but I'll take a lesser player who fights over what I saw from Heard in that video clip every single day. Just tell Nico we're gonna be UT from here on out. We know he's gonna make some mistakes, but that's the best way to learn IMO. Tell him he'll also make plays so it's a wash. Relax and just go be Nico and play like you've always done. If that means simplifying a bit, so be it. Cater the offense to what he does well and let him use his legs at his discretion. Take the bubble wrap off the kid and let him play. Stop coaching scared and playing scared.

 

[ftsandersvol]

We played 2 cupcakes, a low-tier ACC team, and a Big 12 team to get to 4-0. We played our first SEC team on the road and lost. We played poorly, and we lose at least one SEC road game a year that we should win. Right now there's no reason to panic.

 

[DiderotsGhost]

The defense wasn’t perfect, but I think they did their job for the most part. They made several critical 4th down stops and 19 points should be enough to overcome. We also let them score on the final series to prevent them from running out the clock. The problem was 100% offense and I blame CJH the most due to the horrible play calling. You can’t tell me an offense genius can’t come up with more creative ways to help a struggling QB / Oline get rid of the ball quicker and mix things up a bit. Runnning the ball up the middle on 3rd and long was basically giving up and not trying.

Exactly. Holding a good offense to 19 points on the road with several critical 3rd and 4th down stops was very good. And we're still #1 in defensive efficiency in the entire country.

It's offense that's sucked. And in this case, the time management at the end of the game was abysmal. That was one reason Nico had so few options at the end; tough to scramble when you're down below 15 seconds and it might end the game. Nico didn't play great, but the coaches didn't exactly make it easy for him either.

 

[Vol_in_NC_1999]

The defense is the only thing keeping us in the game, with the exception of the cupcakes.

We were so lucky it was only 3-0 at the half, when it could have been 14 or 17 easily. Our defense gave us the game, and we pissed it away.

 

[Vol737]

Exactly. Holding a good offense to 19 points on the road with several critical 3rd and 4th down stops was very good. And we're still #1 in defensive efficiency in the entire country.

It's offense that's sucked. And in this case, the time management at the end of the game was abysmal. That was one reason Nico had so few options at the end; tough to scramble when you're down below 15 seconds and it might end the game. Nico didn't play great, but the coaches didn't exactly make it easy for him either.

Very true. Look at the points OK State put up on Arky. And we score an abysmal two TD’s? Something is jacked up in our offense. How do you have such a vast departure from our offensive scheme in 2022? I just don’t get it.

 

[JRich]

I thought the defense played well enough to win, and special teams was ok except for the costly penalty at the end. I agree that offense, mainly QB play, and the play calling or lack of adjusting to the blitz were the reasons UT lost the game.