The Blueprint for Competing with OU and UGA...

[PagingDrVol]

...was just provided to the Vols by Arkansas State. The difference in talent and experience between these teams and UT is about the same, give or take a few %, as that between UT and OU. Yet, Arky State was within two scores in the 4th quarter today.

What was the recipe? Arky State played with a nothing to lose attitude, limited UT's chances on offense by eking out drives on 3rd down, and above all, played defense with a priority on not giving up the big play. They faked a punt, went for it on 4th when there was a decent chance, and kept the ball in their best players' hands. The game was closer than the score might indicate.

If UT hits some first down passes for 4-6 yards, make a few 3rd and 4's, and takes appropriate risks, it won't get embarrassed. Unfortunately, most of UT's rushing yards will have to be after contact (in the offensive backfield), so the best strategy may be to pass on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

I still think UT gets 1 or 0 offensive touchdowns due to the complete lack of running game we will see, but if UT gets a defensive score and a special teams score, this game could be within 21 in the 3rd quarter, and then with a little luck, UT might be able to put a scare in the Sooners. I'm picking 34-3, OU, but Arky State showed UT how to make it more interesting than that...

 

[Carl Pickens]

Bear Bryant back from the dead......

 

[IN Jed]

So you're not buying the vanilla playbook excuse?

 

[9296potsguy]

So we need UGA and OU to play all their freshmen basically.

 

[DresdenVol]

If we play like we did vs USU then I think we have a shot at an upset. Defense has to be lights out good and the running game has to be more physical and get to the second level more than once or twice a game. I also would love to see blocking improve on punt return. Have we yet to return a punt for any yardage? I can only recall fair catches or touchbacks..

 

[JohnMarxism]

We gone whip both they azzez

 

[Power T-Rev]

I think if we had a somewhat experienced OL and DL we could compete with OU, but I think that is a weakness that will be exploited. I'm still pulling for an upset though!

 

[VOLfrombama]

AR st dline had their way with our oline until the end of the game. Im hoping a light went off.

 

[checkerboards09]

AR st dline had their way with our oline until the end of the game. Im hoping a light went off.

I think we just need to pick up the blitz better. The same things happened last week with USU. We need an extra blocker back there.

 

[JC61]

everyone is beating on us losing to OU....it very well may happen.

I am not a rose (orange) colored glasses guy...but if we play our best and compete for 60 mins I think it will be closer than most think. Mighty big ifs, but as in an earlier post....Appalachian State beat Michigan and they were not close to being in the same league

if our guys don't play their best...not lights out...just their best...it will be ugly, but if they play their best....I think it will be closer than most think.

 

[jacksonretriever]

I also would love to see blocking improve on punt return. Have we yet to return a punt for any yardage? I can only recall fair catches or touchbacks..

Jacob Carter had a nice return on a punt today. It's the only return I recall seeing this year.

 

[Sandvol]

AR st dline had their way with our oline until the end of the game. Im hoping a light went off.

I don't agree with that. We pass blocked pretty well even with all their stunts and blitzes. And, our rush blocking wasn't that bad in that we averaged 3.7ypc even including the sacks and lost yardage plays. You're seeing a glass half empty.

 

[cwbytruckers]

Coach Jones texted me a couple weeks ago. He said the OL and DL would only go at 75% pace to feed a false since of security in the rest of the nation. Come Saturday night. Tennessee drops the hammer on primetime and the Sooner Boomers. 38-13

 

[VOLfrombama]

I don't agree with that. We pass blocked pretty well even with all their stunts and blitzes. And, our rush blocking wasn't that bad in that we averaged 3.7ypc even including the sacks and lost yardage plays. You're seeing a glass half empty.

They got to Worley quite a bit and were able to stuff the run, specifically in the first half. It wasnt until the last couple drives in the 4th Q that we were able to run the football effectively. We lived off the pass in the first half.

 

[omghulkhands]

Floyd for UGA looks unstoppable. Line gonna have trouble there.

 

[wilrob75]

You make a good point, op. There is no doubt that we'll have to pull out all the stops.

 

[KBVol]

Blueprint?.....3 more years of Top 5 recruiting classes.

 

[DaddyChad]

There will be some scheme things they can do to slow down the defensive pressure some but ultimately we don't have the experience or depth to match up with OU. Every year there is a handful of teams good enough to be considered National Title contenders, OU is one of them. Keeping the score close with a lot of true freshmen starting would be a positive for this program.

UGA looks very good but we came very close to beating a better UGA QB last year, that is of course with several injuries to key players on their squad. I'm still not convinced that UGA will be an impossible game for this team. OU may very well be the best team we play this year as Bama to me personally looks to be down compared to their usual dominance.

 

[IPleadInsanity]

We need to figure out how to run the football, smashmouth style. This read option delay thing is not fooling anyone.

 

[rickyyrs]

Tennessee is a young team. They had a big win for them last week. You can see why they wouldn't play the same way today. But we won today. They were probably looking past Arky St to the Oklahoma game. The Sooners are number 4 in the nation. I hope we stay in the game with them. But just remember they will come to Knoxville and pay back will be so sweet. Butch is getting this team better every year. Recruits get on board while you can.

 

[DownTheField]

The blueprint?

PEDs for the entire OL should work wonders.

 

[UTK]

...was just provided to the Vols by Arkansas State. The difference in talent and experience between these teams and UT is about the same, give or take a few %, as that between UT and OU. Yet, Arky State was within two scores in the 4th quarter today.

What was the recipe? Arky State played with a nothing to lose attitude, limited UT's chances on offense by eking out drives on 3rd down, and above all, played defense with a priority on not giving up the big play. They faked a punt, went for it on 4th when there was a decent chance, and kept the ball in their best players' hands. The game was closer than the score might indicate.

If UT hits some first down passes for 4-6 yards, make a few 3rd and 4's, and takes appropriate risks, it won't get embarrassed. Unfortunately, most of UT's rushing yards will have to be after contact (in the offensive backfield), so the best strategy may be to pass on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

I still think UT gets 1 or 0 offensive touchdowns due to the complete lack of running game we will see, but if UT gets a defensive score and a special teams score, this game could be within 21 in the 3rd quarter, and then with a little luck, UT might be able to put a scare in the Sooners. I'm picking 34-3, OU, but Arky State showed UT how to make it more interesting than that...

34-3 ? Seriously? No. We probably won win but let's be real. We keep it within 20.