OneManGang
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Tennessee vs The Maxims vs Auburn
Well, we cant say we werent warned. Two weeks ago, after the thrilling victory over Florida, your humble scribe had this to say:
Tennessee is by no means a contender for the National Championship at this point. With two young quarterbacks and a defense that is still somewhat suspect, there is room for a great deal of improvement. At some point this season the wheels will come off.
Hmmm Nice job of combining TWO understatements in one paragraph!
The wheels came off Saturday night against Auburn and Cadillac and the boys cruised by a stranded hulk sitting in Neyland Stadium disguised as the 2004 Vols. Apparently, the Tigers studied last weeks game film against Louisiana Tech and crafted their game plan accordingly. It wasnt the overall offensive numbers for Auburn, it was their timing and effectiveness. Auburn racked up 400 yards of total offense. OK, not too shabby, but then Florida rang up 421, the big difference was UTs offensive production. Auburn strangled Tennessee, holding the Vols to 107 fewer yards (293 vs 403) than they had against Florida.
Worse yet, Tennessees tag-team quarterbacks went out Saturday night a played just like the true freshmen they are. Passes that for the last three weeks have been perfect, were consistently five or so yards behind, above or in front of Tennessee receivers.
So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
SIX turnovers: one fumble and FIVE interceptions, would seem to pretty well cover this. Ah, but theres more! The assembled Volunteer faithful were treated to a host of Tennessee mistakes including a partially blocked punt, a disastrous pooch kickoff, and an illegal block penalty called against Tennessee (Tennessee was the KICKING TEAM Coach Phil, for crissakes, can you EXPLAIN THAT?), and wide open Tiger receivers romping all over Shields-Watkins Field.
2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way SCORE!
Whatever.
3. If at first the game or the breaks go against you, dont let up PUT ON MORE STEAM!
Well, Tennessee didnt run up the white flag as has happened too many times in recent years. That having been said, surrender would have been redundant.
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.
Colquitt had a punt partially blocked and Vol quarterbacks were running for their lives all night.
5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.
COVER? COVER!? Great day, at certain points during Saturdays proceedings, Vol fans were simply happy to see Orange shirts in the same shot on the JumboTron as some Tiger receiver scampering for yet another long gain. Tennessee may, at some point, stop a slant pattern across the middle. Maybe the TV at the nursing home will be tuned to the game and Ill get to see it.
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
Yes, it is, and no, we didnt.
7. Carry the fight to Auburn and keep it there for sixty minutes.
When a gospel singing group performing at halftime shows more spirit and motivation than Tennessees defense, things are NOT going well.
In May of 1942, General Joseph W. (Vinegar Joe) Stilwell walked out of the Burmese jungle after a particularly bitter defeat at the hands of the Japanese. The general met with some reporters and summed up the thoughts of many Volunteer fans as they streamed out of Neyland Stadium Saturday night. I will paraphrase him to reflect this:
I claim we got one Hell of a beating. We got run out of Neyland Stadium and it is humiliating as Hell. I think we ought to find out what caused it, go back and retake it.
As I said last week, Fix it. Fix it NOW!!!
MAXOMG
© 2004 One Man Gang
Well, we cant say we werent warned. Two weeks ago, after the thrilling victory over Florida, your humble scribe had this to say:
Tennessee is by no means a contender for the National Championship at this point. With two young quarterbacks and a defense that is still somewhat suspect, there is room for a great deal of improvement. At some point this season the wheels will come off.
Hmmm Nice job of combining TWO understatements in one paragraph!
The wheels came off Saturday night against Auburn and Cadillac and the boys cruised by a stranded hulk sitting in Neyland Stadium disguised as the 2004 Vols. Apparently, the Tigers studied last weeks game film against Louisiana Tech and crafted their game plan accordingly. It wasnt the overall offensive numbers for Auburn, it was their timing and effectiveness. Auburn racked up 400 yards of total offense. OK, not too shabby, but then Florida rang up 421, the big difference was UTs offensive production. Auburn strangled Tennessee, holding the Vols to 107 fewer yards (293 vs 403) than they had against Florida.
Worse yet, Tennessees tag-team quarterbacks went out Saturday night a played just like the true freshmen they are. Passes that for the last three weeks have been perfect, were consistently five or so yards behind, above or in front of Tennessee receivers.
So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
SIX turnovers: one fumble and FIVE interceptions, would seem to pretty well cover this. Ah, but theres more! The assembled Volunteer faithful were treated to a host of Tennessee mistakes including a partially blocked punt, a disastrous pooch kickoff, and an illegal block penalty called against Tennessee (Tennessee was the KICKING TEAM Coach Phil, for crissakes, can you EXPLAIN THAT?), and wide open Tiger receivers romping all over Shields-Watkins Field.
2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way SCORE!
Whatever.
3. If at first the game or the breaks go against you, dont let up PUT ON MORE STEAM!
Well, Tennessee didnt run up the white flag as has happened too many times in recent years. That having been said, surrender would have been redundant.
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.
Colquitt had a punt partially blocked and Vol quarterbacks were running for their lives all night.
5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.
COVER? COVER!? Great day, at certain points during Saturdays proceedings, Vol fans were simply happy to see Orange shirts in the same shot on the JumboTron as some Tiger receiver scampering for yet another long gain. Tennessee may, at some point, stop a slant pattern across the middle. Maybe the TV at the nursing home will be tuned to the game and Ill get to see it.
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
Yes, it is, and no, we didnt.
7. Carry the fight to Auburn and keep it there for sixty minutes.
When a gospel singing group performing at halftime shows more spirit and motivation than Tennessees defense, things are NOT going well.
In May of 1942, General Joseph W. (Vinegar Joe) Stilwell walked out of the Burmese jungle after a particularly bitter defeat at the hands of the Japanese. The general met with some reporters and summed up the thoughts of many Volunteer fans as they streamed out of Neyland Stadium Saturday night. I will paraphrase him to reflect this:
I claim we got one Hell of a beating. We got run out of Neyland Stadium and it is humiliating as Hell. I think we ought to find out what caused it, go back and retake it.
As I said last week, Fix it. Fix it NOW!!!
MAXOMG
© 2004 One Man Gang
