OneManGang
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,931
- Likes
- 8,945
Tennessee vs The Maxims vs Mississippi
It would seem that since the opener against UNLV with the throwback jerseys, a trend has been set for this season. Each game seems to have its throwback elements calling to mind previous seasons and old Vol stars.
Saturdays game at Ole Miss was no different. This game was a throwback to the Casey Clausen era. Time after time during the last four seasons, the Vols would sprint out to an early lead and be on the verge of blowing a lesser opponent out of the stadium only to go into a funk for the next two quarters before pulling the game out with fourth-quarter heroics.
Tennessee took the opening kickoff, marched smartly down the greensward of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and scored. Then they capitalized on a gutsy fourth-and-ten fake punt call to go up 14-0. The Rebels were on the ropes and it certainly looked like the Vol faithful could turn out the lights early.
Not so fast. Ole Miss scratched their way back into the game and after Erik Ainge threw an interception on one of those %@#!!$#$ing bubble screens, the Vols found themselves down 17-14 early in the fourth quarter. Ainge reacted to this turn of events in a way that will stand Tennessee in good stead for years to come. He simply came out on the very next series and and led a nine-play 83-yard drive that settled the Rebels hash. All that remained to do was make a defensive stand, call a couple of runs by Riggs, intercept a desperation heave by Ole Miss, then sing Rocky Top and find a hotel room.
So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
Ole Miss does not really know how to win big games against a heavily favored opponent. Tennessee knows how to win games on the road against a fired-up opponent who smells blood in the water. Therein lies the difference.
2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way SCORE!
Tennessee created its own break with the above mentioned fake punt. However, they did NOT capitalize on several Rebel miscues afterward. Ole Miss two touchdowns both came off Tennessee turnovers, to wit: a muffed punt and the interception in the fourth quarter.
3. If at first the game or the breaks go against you, dont let up PUT ON MORE STEAM!
After the Rebels go ahead score, UTs coaches went down the bench getting players up and back into the game. THATS how you win these kinds of games.
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.
Ainge still managed to avoid being sacked but did hurry some throws and should have given up at least two more interceptions.
5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.
Tennessees defense flexed a lot Saturday but stepped up when it was called for. Blocking was MUCH better than the stats would suggest as most of Riggs' 118 rushing yards came against an eight-man defensive front.
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
Tennessees kickoff coverage was much improved. However, Hefneys dropped punt resulted in an Ole Miss touchdown. Colquitt seemed to be a little off his normal punting prowess but got it done when necessary.
7. Carry the fight to Mississippi and keep it there for sixty minutes.
More like about 10 minutes on the offensive side but the UT defensive unit went the distance. It was enough.
Id like to close by revisiting (OK, call it a throwback" if you must!
what was stated under the first Maxim. Vince Lombardi was absolutely right, winning is a state of mind. Teams learn how to win games, even when the chips are down. In the SEC, teams like Florida, Auburn, LSU, Georgia and Tennessee know how to do this and it shows in their records and their championships. Teams in the lower tiers of the SEC simply dont know how to get it done.
It shows.
MAXOMG
© 2004 One Man Gang
It would seem that since the opener against UNLV with the throwback jerseys, a trend has been set for this season. Each game seems to have its throwback elements calling to mind previous seasons and old Vol stars.
Saturdays game at Ole Miss was no different. This game was a throwback to the Casey Clausen era. Time after time during the last four seasons, the Vols would sprint out to an early lead and be on the verge of blowing a lesser opponent out of the stadium only to go into a funk for the next two quarters before pulling the game out with fourth-quarter heroics.
Tennessee took the opening kickoff, marched smartly down the greensward of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and scored. Then they capitalized on a gutsy fourth-and-ten fake punt call to go up 14-0. The Rebels were on the ropes and it certainly looked like the Vol faithful could turn out the lights early.
Not so fast. Ole Miss scratched their way back into the game and after Erik Ainge threw an interception on one of those %@#!!$#$ing bubble screens, the Vols found themselves down 17-14 early in the fourth quarter. Ainge reacted to this turn of events in a way that will stand Tennessee in good stead for years to come. He simply came out on the very next series and and led a nine-play 83-yard drive that settled the Rebels hash. All that remained to do was make a defensive stand, call a couple of runs by Riggs, intercept a desperation heave by Ole Miss, then sing Rocky Top and find a hotel room.
So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
Ole Miss does not really know how to win big games against a heavily favored opponent. Tennessee knows how to win games on the road against a fired-up opponent who smells blood in the water. Therein lies the difference.
2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way SCORE!
Tennessee created its own break with the above mentioned fake punt. However, they did NOT capitalize on several Rebel miscues afterward. Ole Miss two touchdowns both came off Tennessee turnovers, to wit: a muffed punt and the interception in the fourth quarter.
3. If at first the game or the breaks go against you, dont let up PUT ON MORE STEAM!
After the Rebels go ahead score, UTs coaches went down the bench getting players up and back into the game. THATS how you win these kinds of games.
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.
Ainge still managed to avoid being sacked but did hurry some throws and should have given up at least two more interceptions.
5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.
Tennessees defense flexed a lot Saturday but stepped up when it was called for. Blocking was MUCH better than the stats would suggest as most of Riggs' 118 rushing yards came against an eight-man defensive front.
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
Tennessees kickoff coverage was much improved. However, Hefneys dropped punt resulted in an Ole Miss touchdown. Colquitt seemed to be a little off his normal punting prowess but got it done when necessary.
7. Carry the fight to Mississippi and keep it there for sixty minutes.
More like about 10 minutes on the offensive side but the UT defensive unit went the distance. It was enough.
Id like to close by revisiting (OK, call it a throwback" if you must!
what was stated under the first Maxim. Vince Lombardi was absolutely right, winning is a state of mind. Teams learn how to win games, even when the chips are down. In the SEC, teams like Florida, Auburn, LSU, Georgia and Tennessee know how to do this and it shows in their records and their championships. Teams in the lower tiers of the SEC simply dont know how to get it done. It shows.
MAXOMG
© 2004 One Man Gang
