Post Game observations:
1) Our offense could have solved Oklahoma's constant pass rush with a few quick slant plays. We should could have mixed it up by throwing slants to a sure-handed receiver from the slot position, and also throwing slants to a designated tight-end from a double tight-end formation. The 2 tight-end formation makes it even harder to defend, as it could come from either side.
These plays are Kryptonyte to an aggressive blitzing defense. I am sure that everyone is familiar with the Manning to Welker slants. Just when the defense adjusts to the slot receiver slants, Manning will run a quick slant to tight-end Julius Thomas or Jacob Tamme. A super-aggressive linebacker like Striker would have only seen the backs of our jerseys until he stopped blitzing on every play. But sometimes a defense is just too good to beat on a given day, like when Seattle solved Denver in the Superbowl. That may have been the case with Oklahoma and our young O-line, but we didn't even try to give them consequences for blitzing us.
These timing slant passes are thrown almost immediately after the snap, and the ball would have left Worley's hands before a defensive lineman ran past our Freshman tackle. Once a few of these quick slants gained 15-30 yards, the defense would have been forced to stay back and defend the zone behind them. They still would have blitzed, but only occasionally. On the plays when Oklahoma didn't blitz, Worley was doing a great job of avoiding the 3-man rush, and finding open receivers. The game would have been much closer with this adjustment alone.
No matter how you slice it, the failure to run quick slants cost Tennessee a real opportunity to win the game. I love Coach Jones, and hope he stays for many years to come, but CBJ and his staff must learn to make adjustments mid-game. Failing to make "Coaching 101" adjustments makes the coaching staff appear to be a liability. Running Back screens took too long to develop, Oklahoma was to fast and disciplined for reverses, jet sweeps, and bubble screens. It shouldn't have taken 4 quarters to figure that out.
2) We must immediately learn to be tougher at the wide-receiver position. Yes, we now have elite talent and speed, but our receivers aren't attacking the ball. There were several passes that our receivers could have caught if they would have dove or made a better effort.
Croom should have never allowed the endzone pass to be intercepted. It was a great play by the Oklahoma's CB, but Croom had the inside position. He could have turned his body, put himself between the ball and the defender, and easily made the TD catch.
I believe the referees should have penalized Oklahoma DBs for holding, pushing, and tugging downfield. But once the tone of the game was set by the referees, it was our WR's responsibility to make contested receptions. I can't remember a group of receivers dropping almost every contested pass in a game.
3) We must do something to shore up our broken levee of an O-Line. I know our O-Line is young and inexperienced, and I know that we have reinforcements on their way to Knoxville next year... but tonight proved that Team 118 can compete with most SEC foes this year if they fix this problem. But we won't be able to compete if we have O-linemen who can barely get a hand on a pass rusher. I don't know exactly what can be done, but the coaches need to figure it out. Watching the tape of this game on a loop is a good start.
4) Our future is bright. Instead of blaming the loss on our lack of talent and speed, we are actually talking about football and inexperience. This is a huge step in the process of re-building a national football power. Our skill positions are loaded with raw talent and speed. Jalen Hurd will be a stud. Our young defensive players are playing way better than advertised, and there are many more young players learning behind them on the depth chart. The difference between 2014 and next year will be even more significant because of all the experience the young players are gaining each game.
Now it is time for our coaches and players to learn how to succeed on a bigger stage. Tonight showed the young players the gap that still exists between Team 118 and a playoff-bid. But these young Vols seem to have narrowed that gap significantly. Go Vols!!
