VolinArizona
not in Arizona anymore
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- Feb 16, 2006
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Let me preface this by saying any win over Alabama is a huge win. I'm proud of the team for showing guts in the 2nd half, and our defense played incredible.
Now, this game easily could have been a blowout. 1st, the straight up stats:
The Stats
Total yards - Alabama 211, Tennessee 359
--This kind of line would typically produce a 14-20 point win, if not more. Alabama benefited from a miracle 42 yard catch int he 3rd quarter, which actually makes the total yardage stat misleading. Easily could have held Alabama to less than 170 total yards. Should have held them to 6 points, but we had bad luck (and yes, it DOES exist in football).
3rd Down Efficiency - Alabama 3-15, Tennessee 6-15
--The more important of the two is Alabama's poor 3rd down efficiency. They couldn't keep drives going.
Turnovers - Alabama 0, Tennessee 3
--Turnovers are quite streaky. They sometimes indicate a good opportunistic defense, sometimes a poor offense, sometimes just variance or luck. If Tennessee keeps this to 1 or 0 turnovers, this game is NOT close at halftime, and the 2nd half is fun for us all.
The Drives
If you watched the broadcast of the game, you heard Verne and Todd mention at least 896 times that we had driven into Alabama's half of the field 8 times and had 9 points at one time. While this is important, you can't expect to score everytime you cross the 50. Here is where it really matters: inside the 35. We drove inside Alabama's 35 7 times for 16 points. We had an INT, turnover on downs, and a missed FG. That's at least 9 points, if not more.
Ainge also threw 2 interceptions in their half of the field, but those drives weren't in places where points were probable yet. However, this is the first time this season where Tennessee had trouble inside an opponent's 35.
Against Cal, we had 2 drives in Cal's 35 and had a TD and fumble from the practice squad.
Against Air Force, we had 7 drives in Air Force's 35 and had a FG, 5 TDs, and an INT.
Against Florida, we had 4 drives in Florida's 35 and had 2 FGs and 2 TDs.
Against Marshall, we had 5 in Marshall's 35 and had 1 missed FG, a made FG, and 3 TDs.
Against Memphis, we had 8 in their 35 and had 5 TDs, 2 FGs, and a turnover on downs at the 1.
Against Georgia, we had 7 drives in their 35 and had 6 TDs and a FG!
What's the point?
Do you think Alabama's defense is better than Florida's? Georgia's? Cal's? I don't. So what happened?
I hate to say it, but rust and bad luck. If any of you are disheartened that we didn't kill Alabama like we should have, don't worry. This game easily could have been 31-6.
Now, this game easily could have been a blowout. 1st, the straight up stats:
The Stats
Total yards - Alabama 211, Tennessee 359
--This kind of line would typically produce a 14-20 point win, if not more. Alabama benefited from a miracle 42 yard catch int he 3rd quarter, which actually makes the total yardage stat misleading. Easily could have held Alabama to less than 170 total yards. Should have held them to 6 points, but we had bad luck (and yes, it DOES exist in football).
3rd Down Efficiency - Alabama 3-15, Tennessee 6-15
--The more important of the two is Alabama's poor 3rd down efficiency. They couldn't keep drives going.
Turnovers - Alabama 0, Tennessee 3
--Turnovers are quite streaky. They sometimes indicate a good opportunistic defense, sometimes a poor offense, sometimes just variance or luck. If Tennessee keeps this to 1 or 0 turnovers, this game is NOT close at halftime, and the 2nd half is fun for us all.
The Drives
If you watched the broadcast of the game, you heard Verne and Todd mention at least 896 times that we had driven into Alabama's half of the field 8 times and had 9 points at one time. While this is important, you can't expect to score everytime you cross the 50. Here is where it really matters: inside the 35. We drove inside Alabama's 35 7 times for 16 points. We had an INT, turnover on downs, and a missed FG. That's at least 9 points, if not more.
Ainge also threw 2 interceptions in their half of the field, but those drives weren't in places where points were probable yet. However, this is the first time this season where Tennessee had trouble inside an opponent's 35.
Against Cal, we had 2 drives in Cal's 35 and had a TD and fumble from the practice squad.
Against Air Force, we had 7 drives in Air Force's 35 and had a FG, 5 TDs, and an INT.
Against Florida, we had 4 drives in Florida's 35 and had 2 FGs and 2 TDs.
Against Marshall, we had 5 in Marshall's 35 and had 1 missed FG, a made FG, and 3 TDs.
Against Memphis, we had 8 in their 35 and had 5 TDs, 2 FGs, and a turnover on downs at the 1.
Against Georgia, we had 7 drives in their 35 and had 6 TDs and a FG!
What's the point?
Do you think Alabama's defense is better than Florida's? Georgia's? Cal's? I don't. So what happened?
I hate to say it, but rust and bad luck. If any of you are disheartened that we didn't kill Alabama like we should have, don't worry. This game easily could have been 31-6.
