The 2 stats we have to fix to beat UGA

#1
DD4ME

DD4ME

Zoo Keeper
Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
68,513
Likes
192,211
#1
Last year UGA sacked Hooker five times and Milton once. This was basically double their sack per game average on the season. That pressure lead to bad throws by Hooker. It also hobbled our run game to 55 yards.

They did this with pressure from mainly just their defensive front. Leaving their backend for great coverage and they did cover us well. Giving Hooker one of his few INT's.

Some positives for UT on both fronts are that last year UGA ranked top 10 in sacks per game. This year 116th.
Also their best pass rusher Nolan Smith is now out for this game.

Our oline has played a lot better this year, but go check the stats too. SEC wide sack rankings are down at the same time our line is better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Woodrow Call, Vol8188, worthlesswanderer and 7 others
#3
#3
I agree the pressure on Hooker changed the game considerably last year. Ga chose to cover early in the game last year and Tennessee scored easily on them (first TD they allowed all season in the first qtr I believe). I do think they changed to a heavy blitz package after Tennessee scored so easily and that was where the pressure got to HH before he could get the ball released. The big hit that Ga returned for a TD & put HH out was by a DB or LB.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Remy and DD4ME
#4
#4
DD4ME said:
Last year UGA sacked Hooker five times and Milton once. This was basically double their sack per game average on the season. That pressure lead to bad throws by Hooker. It also hobbled our run game to 55 yards.

They did this with pressure from mainly just their defensive front. Leaving their backend for great coverage and they did cover us well. Giving Hooker one of his few INT's.

Some positives for UT on both fronts are that last year UGA ranked top 10 in sacks per game. This year 116th.
Also their best pass rusher Nolan Smith is now out for this game.

Our oline has played a lot better this year, but go check the stats too. SEC wide sack rankings are down at the same time our line is better.
Click to expand...
We need our best performance as a team. Need the OL/DL to play like they did vs Bama but better. Need Hooker to be flawless. Need Tillman to be in pre-injury form and for Hyatt to be his usual big play self. Need the DB's to play the ball and be physical like they did vs UK. Need special teams to be spot on and no turnovers/penalties. Need zero turnovers and and avoid stupid penalties. Yeah...gotta be darn near perfect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vettefool, SAPPER 5, Tennessee Cowboy and 2 others
#5
#5
Final stat of interest. We faced 4 foes with top 15 sack rankings last year. This year the only likely playoff team in the top 15 is Michigan.
 
#6
#6
When UT played LSU, Bama, and UK... in the back of my mind I wondered if it would be the team with the magic decoder ring that figured out how to slow UT's O.

I watched their UF game again yesterday then part of their Mizzou game. The key to both sides of the ball seems to be to stop their run game. If you make them one dimensional on O it seems to throw everything else they want to do off kilter. They can't win field position. They can't sell play action. They can't get their TE's loose as easily.

Another thing Mizzou did was pressure the passer. So the game to me hinges the most on UT's D front vs UGA's OL. I believe UT will find a way to generate some points. I think the OL is much better at handling the pass rush this year. I also think HH and the receivers are able to execute a quick game to protect the OL at times.

Smart seems to agree with Pruitt's philosophy of play.... maybe even Stoops like in some ways- Emphasis on D. Bully the opponent with your OL. Power run game and relatively safe passing game.

Still UGA will be on par with Bama talent wise and is probably a little better on D. I'm not convinced they're as good as Bama on O considering schedules but they've still put up lots of points.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stephen Gray, ursaminotaur, youcancallmeAl and 4 others
#8
#8
The key to the game will be forcing Stetson to beat us. If UGA runs the ball with success, then they will control the game. Put the game in Stetson’s hands and force him to throw to his WRs.

The Vols DBs will need to play like they did against Kentucky. If that happens, then Stetson will lose the game. They’ve gotten away with starting him because he hasn’t been forced to carry the team. If we force them to rely on him to look for the explosive plays from his WRs, then they will lose. Take the TEs out of the game plan and force him to throw deep.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BLUTickbusdriver, VAVol85, ursaminotaur and 3 others
#10
#10
The key to this game is scoring points. We have to pressure GA into playing OUR game not their game of ground and pound. I think a track meet gives us the best chance of winning, a 28-24 slugfest I think we lose.
 
#12
#12
The key is for Tennessee to keep doing what it’s been doing, which is playing disciplined(low penalties) and playing turnover free. If the Vols can do those two things on the road, I like their chances.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WillisWG
#13
#13
Hooker has had a LOT of time to throw in just about every game this year. Our offensive line play, our pass protection--and how we respond tactically if Georgia is blitzing frequently---will be a huge factor in this game. I think we'd be smart to throw some short stuff early.
 
#14
#14
sjt18 said:
@DD4ME What was the 2nd stat UT needs to fix?
Click to expand...
Sorry did not frame the second part well, but rushing. We need to keep Hooker clean and get the RB's into the second level. We die with our run game. UGA held us to our lowest rushing total last year.

The bright spot here is Alabama held us to a similarly low number rushing last year, but we had a 280% rushing increase against them this year. They were also the best pass rush team last year and this, but significantly lower year over year. Securing 80% less sacks per game than last year.

I may be wrong, but I thinks this is one of the strongest correlations to our winning. Teams that sack 3+ times per game we struggle against. If you think about it all our success hinges on early down success. Once we are behind the chains our offense becomes more predictable and teams can tee up on Hooker.
 
  • Like
Reactions: all_volz, youcancallmeAl, Arrested Devolopment and 2 others
#15
#15
knoxville7 said:
The key is for Tennessee to keep doing what it’s been doing, which is playing disciplined(low penalties) and playing turnover free. If the Vols can do those two things on the road, I like their chances.
Click to expand...
UGA has a decided edge on us in penalties. This will be one of the most disciplined teams we will play all year. We actually have a fair amount of penalties partially due to this whole blocking scheme we use which I am not knowledgeable enough to speak on.
 
  • Like
Reactions: WillisWG
#16
#16
DD4ME said:
Sorry did not frame the second part well, but rushing. We need to keep Hooker clean and get the RB's into the second level. We die with our run game. UGA held us to our lowest rushing total last year.

The bright spot here is Alabama held us to a similarly low number rushing last year, but we had a 280% rushing increase against them this year. They were also the best pass rush team last year and this, but significantly lower year over year. Securing 80% less sacks per game than last year.

I may be wrong, but I thinks this is one of the strongest correlations to our winning. Teams that sack 3+ times per game we struggle against. If you think about it all our success hinges on early down success. Once we are behind the chains our offense becomes more predictable and teams can tee up on Hooker.
Click to expand...
Can't question your logic. But watching what worked for Mizzou and UF at times... I think UT's D front has to take control of the game. UGA likes to control the game with their run game. They've won with Bennett throwing it a lot but that's not what they like to do. They haven't played anyone who could force their hand by blunting their run game while also pressuring their D.


One advantage maybe few are talking about is that they really haven't played anyone who truly challenged them. They've "created" challenges with Kent State and Mizzou and the 2nd half of the UF game. But they haven't played anyone the quality of Bama or LSU. Having been challenged that way should be to UT's favor.
 
  • Like
Reactions: walkenvol, McDad, youcancallmeAl and 2 others
#17
#17
sjt18 said:
When UT played LSU, Bama, and UK... in the back of my mind I wondered if it would be the team with the magic decoder ring that figured out how to slow UT's O.

I watched their UF game again yesterday then part of their Mizzou game. The key to both sides of the ball seems to be to stop their run game. If you make them one dimensional on O it seems to throw everything else they want to do off kilter. They can't win field position. They can't sell play action. They can't get their TE's loose as easily.

Another thing Mizzou did was pressure the passer. So the game to me hinges the most on UT's D front vs UGA's OL. I believe UT will find a way to generate some points. I think the OL is much better at handling the pass rush this year. I also think HH and the receivers are able to execute a quick game to protect the OL at times.

Smart seems to agree with Pruitt's philosophy of play.... maybe even Stoops like in some ways- Emphasis on D. Bully the opponent with your OL. Power run game and relatively safe passing game.

Still UGA will be on par with Bama talent wise and is probably a little better on D. I'm not convinced they're as good as Bama on O considering schedules but they've still put up lots of points.
Click to expand...
I agree. I absolutely believe they are not as good on offense, but their tight end is a monster and love him or hate him Stetson is a gamer. It will he beauty vs brawn in this matchup. I am not confident in a win, but with Smith out and our D improving I would be a lot more nervous as a UGA fan. They have a lot of pressure on them like Bama did and it killed Bama. They stopped being the hunter last year and started being the hunted. We are trained snipers at this point.
 
  • Like
Reactions: McDad and sjt18
#18
#18
sjt18 said:
Can't question your logic. But watching what worked for Mizzou and UF at times... I think UT's D front has to take control of the game. UGA likes to control the game with their run game. They've won with Bennett throwing it a lot but that's not what they like to do. They haven't played anyone who could force their hand by blunting their run game while also pressuring their D.


One advantage maybe few are talking about is that they really haven't played anyone who truly challenged them. They've "created" challenges with Kent State and Mizzou and the 2nd half of the UF game. But they haven't played anyone the quality of Bama or LSU. Having been challenged that way should be to UT's favor.
Click to expand...
I do not discount the defensive side IF they stifle Hooker like Pitt did. We could win with your style also. I believe that our best recipe is with offense as it was against Bama, and is it likely would be against OSU. Our greatest strength is our explosiveness.
 
#19
#19
Key will be to keep the scoring train rolling. UGA doesn't have the horses to keep up. Put 35 points or more on them and we will be in Atlanta on Dec 3rd.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DD4ME
#20
#20
DD4ME said:
Last year UGA sacked Hooker five times and Milton once. This was basically double their sack per game average on the season. That pressure lead to bad throws by Hooker. It also hobbled our run game to 55 yards.

They did this with pressure from mainly just their defensive front. Leaving their backend for great coverage and they did cover us well. Giving Hooker one of his few INT's.

Some positives for UT on both fronts are that last year UGA ranked top 10 in sacks per game. This year 116th.
Also their best pass rusher Nolan Smith is now out for this game.

Our oline has played a lot better this year, but go check the stats too. SEC wide sack rankings are down at the same time our line is better.
Click to expand...
My son-in-law is a UGA grad....even he admits huge concern about this game. UGA lost a ton of talent to the NFL....we got this.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: DD4ME
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top