UT vs. Cal

[allvol@15]

tell Marshawn Lynch to bring it... my boy justin harrel will be there to greet him

 

[WA_Vol]

Unless your gonna win the BCS championship i dont see this game being that important.

Anymore, the only way an SEC team gets a BCS bid is to win the SEC championship.

I'm not worried about losing to Cal, i'm worried about losing to Ga and Florida. Those 2 games are the ones that make or break the season.

 

[jakez4ut]

Unless your gonna win the BCS championship i dont see this game being that important.

Anymore, the only way an SEC team gets a BCS bid is to win the SEC championship.

I'm not worried about losing to Cal, i'm worried about losing to Ga and Florida. Those 2 games are the ones that make or break the season.

good points.

 

[tclowers23]

Unless your gonna win the BCS championship i dont see this game being that important.

Anymore, the only way an SEC team gets a BCS bid is to win the SEC championship.

I'm not worried about losing to Cal, i'm worried about losing to Ga and Florida. Those 2 games are the ones that make or break the season.

Don't stop dreamin', my friend. Just because we had one bad season doesn't mean we're out of the BCS Championship race. I still think Tennessee has the potential to be in the BCS Championship race every year... and for that to happen, we might want to start winning right from the beginning. UT vs. Cal is a big game for us... as is every other game of the season.

 

[allvol]

Just remember this.... as bad as the Vols were rated (in NCAA IA) in passing offense last season...... Cal was rated even worse. Offensively, Cal is a one trick pony. If the Vols defense can stop the Cal rushing attack, it could be a good day for the Vols.

 

[milohimself]

Just remember this.... as bad as the Vols were rated (in NCAA IA) in passing offense last season...... Cal was rated even worse. Offensively, Cal is a one trick pony. If the Vols defense can stop the Cal rushing attack, it could be a good day for the Vols.

But, just as we're hoping will happen, Cal's quarterbacks will come back better and one year wiser. If our QB's are going to do so, there's no reason their's cant, especially with a guy there like Jeff Tedford.

 

[GAVol]

But, just as we're hoping will happen, Cal's quarterbacks will come back better and one year wiser. If our QB's are going to do so, there's no reason their's cant, especially with a guy there like Jeff Tedford.

Uh, I think conventional wisdom on QB progression flew out the window last year. :banghead:

 

[tclowers23]

Uh, I think conventional wisdom on QB progression flew out the window last year. :banghead:

Haha... yeah... it's not safe to assume.

 

[VolinArizona]

Uh, I think conventional wisdom on QB progression flew out the window last year. :banghead:

Last year's QB situation was anything but conventional, though.

 

[milohimself]

Uh, I think conventional wisdom on QB progression flew out the window last year. :banghead:

Alls I'm saying is that if people are expecting betterment out of our QB's, then there's no reason they shouldn't expect the same from Cal.

 

[vols3131]

I think Cal qb's will be better this season but I also think UT's passing game will be much improved. As someone said before the key to winning this game will be to stop Cal from running the football. If it is close at the end of 3 quarters and Cal has pounded the ball the whole game UT could be in trouble. But if UT can put some points on the board early and make Cal play from behind it will take them out of their element of running the football and force them to try and throw the ball on possibly the best secondary in the SEC this year. If that happens I think the mighty vols will leave 1-0 with alot of confidence in their back pockets.

 

[WA_Vol]

UT DL coach is the best postion coach on the team. He will have them ready. The LB's are young but very good. I like the matchup with Cal. Cal being a one-dimensional team on offense, the secondary can cheat a lot to stop the run.

The problem is whether or not UT's offense will turn around and will put some points on the board. I hope Foster runs the ball 30 times and UT doesn't put a lot of pressure on Ainge to throw the ball a lot, that seems to be a problem for him. I hope UT can win running the ball and playing good defense.

I'm afraid everyone is going to do the same as last year, play man to man defense on the outside and focus their LB's and Safeties on stopping UT's running game. That's going to be a real challenge for Ainge. If he doesn't step up, its going to be another long season I'm afraid.

 

[tclowers23]

I'm afraid everyone is going to do the same as last year, play man to man defense on the outside and focus their LB's and Safeties on stopping UT's running game. That's going to be a real challenge for Ainge. If he doesn't step up, its going to be another long season I'm afraid.

:bow:

Meachem, Smith, Swain, and Briscoe will all have their chance to show that they can beat someone one-on-one, and Ainge will have plenty of opportunities to make the big play in the passing game. There will hopefully be major improvement in that area. I mean, last year it seemed as though we could never make the big play with one-on-one matchups.

 

[kptvol]

Cal was missing its top QB Nate Longshore for much of last year. His backup Josh Ayoob was a big disappointment. Longshore will be back next year, which means the passing game might be up to snuff. It might be shellshock for him, though. His first game back, he'll get to be knocked around by our defense, not some Pac-10 pansies.

 

[VolinArizona]

One thing I haven't heard a ton about: How good is Cal's Oline?

Obviously, with their running game, they are pretty solid. I remember they had an OL go in the middle rounds in the draft, so thats good for UT. If their pass protection has some leaks, then Ayoob or whoever starts is going to get pounded.

 

[milohimself]

One thing I haven't heard a ton about: How good is Cal's Oline?

Obviously, with their running game, they are pretty solid. I remember they had an OL go in the middle rounds in the draft, so thats good for UT. If their pass protection has some leaks, then Ayoob or whoever starts is going to get pounded.

Last year Cal's offensive line was among the best in the nation, but they lost some key players. They will still be very good but not great.

 

[maza91104]

Last year Cal's offensive line was among the best in the nation, but they lost some key players. They will still be very good but not great.

First of all, how great is it that the UT and Cal scheduled this game!?! Gotta love these great non-conference match-ups.

I am so tired of hearing SEC fans bitch about how great their conference is and how lousy the Pac-10 is...the fact is (and you can look this up), when was the last time a great SEC team beat a great Pac-10 team? In the past five years, I watched USC walk into Auburn and slap them around, saw Oregon St almost defeat LSU (i mean c'mon&#33 and saw an Arizona St. team (which finished in the middle of the Pac-10) almost beat LSU as well!!! I am not aware of any other match-ups, but feel free to enlighten me.

The SEC is great football, very competitive from top to bottom (I admit the Pac-10 is top heavy), and I love watching it every saturday. But, i am tired of all the media crap about how great the defense is in the SEC, and how bad it is in the Pac-10. You look up all the Pac-10-SEC games in the past couple of years and you'll see how easily the mediocre teams in the Pac-10 can score on the SEC. I'm ecstatic that we finally get to see a good team from the Pac-10 play a good team from the SEC. It's time to stop bitching and recognize that great football is played on the west coast, as well as the south.

Now, i'm impressed with some of the knowledge you guys are dropping about Cal. Our QB sucked ass last year, i can't lie. You were highly over-rated and had a mediocre team (what's with the Clauson kid turning his back on UT!!&#33...both are supposed to be much better. Everyone out here is so excited to watch the Pac-10 drop 40 points on the SEC. UT doesn't have a terribly impressive offense, and Cal is going to have a very good defense next year, so that will be an interesting match-up. Our O-line is definately depleted and that is a question mark, but, we have two RB's who are stellar and are going to give you fits. Longshore is totally green, and frankly, there is a good chance you will rattle him...just keep in mind, that Auburn game was Leinart's first game as well.

 

[VolinArizona]

First of all, how great is it that the UT and Cal scheduled this game!?! Gotta love these great non-conference match-ups.

I am so tired of hearing SEC fans bitch about how great their conference is and how lousy the Pac-10 is...the fact is (and you can look this up), when was the last time a great SEC team beat a great Pac-10 team? In the past five years, I watched USC walk into Auburn and slap them around, saw Oregon St almost defeat LSU (i mean c'mon&#33 and saw an Arizona St. team (which finished in the middle of the Pac-10) almost beat LSU as well!!! I am not aware of any other match-ups, but feel free to enlighten me.

The SEC is great football, very competitive from top to bottom (I admit the Pac-10 is top heavy), and I love watching it every saturday. But, i am tired of all the media crap about how great the defense is in the SEC, and how bad it is in the Pac-10. You look up all the Pac-10-SEC games in the past couple of years and you'll see how easily the mediocre teams in the Pac-10 can score on the SEC. I'm ecstatic that we finally get to see a good team from the Pac-10 play a good team from the SEC. It's time to stop bitching and recognize that great football is played on the west coast, as well as the south.

Now, i'm impressed with some of the knowledge you guys are dropping about Cal. Our QB sucked ass last year, i can't lie. You were highly over-rated and had a mediocre team (what's with the Clauson kid turning his back on UT!!&#33...both are supposed to be much better. Everyone out here is so excited to watch the Pac-10 drop 40 points on the SEC. UT doesn't have a terribly impressive offense, and Cal is going to have a very good defense next year, so that will be an interesting match-up. Our O-line is definately depleted and that is a question mark, but, we have two RB's who are stellar and are going to give you fits. Longshore is totally green, and frankly, there is a good chance you will rattle him...just keep in mind, that Auburn game was Leinart's first game as well.

Welcome to the boards!

A couple things:

Almost beating a team is nothing. Yes, ASU showed great talent last year holding close with LSU. However, Mississippi State would beat Washington so badly, it'd be hard to watch

UT didn't lose to having a mediocre team, but because of mediocre coaching.

It's going to be an amazing game that I think will be close into the last 5 minutes.

 

[milohimself]

I know almost beating a team doesn't mean much, but the only reason LSU beat Oregon State and Arizona State were complete special teams miracles. In the '04 season, Alexis Serna crapped out on 3 PAT's. How many times do you see a Groza-winner miss three PAT's in one game? Then in '05, LSU blocks a field goal and punt on back-to-back drives to take the lead. I always say you make your own breaks, but these two games are pretty extreme casses. Missing three PAT's is bad enough in and of itself, and Arizona State put up a staggering 560 yards of offense on LSU's supposedly dominant defense. Those are what I cal freak occurances.

In '04, after Oregon State lost to LSU in overtime, LSU finished 2nd in the SEC West with a 6-2 conference record and Oregon State finished 4th in the Pac-10 with a 5-3 conference record. Then in 2005, after LSU's brush with ASU, LSU went on to the SEC Championship with a 7-1 conference record while ASU finished just fifth in the Pac-10 with a 5-3 conference record.

And I beg to differ. I firmly believe that Washington would take Mississippi State to school, pants them, take their lunch money, steal their milk and make the Bulldogs do their homework.

Welcome Cal Fan. Until now it seems I was the only Pac-10 fan on the board. I'm a fan of Tennessee, but not the SEC. It'd be nice to have some reinforcements. And I have to disagree with you on the conferences... I think the Pac-10 is highly competitive. In the Pac-10, you've got USC, other really good teams in Oregon, Cal, Arizona State, UCLA, and the rest of the bunch. Even lowly Stanford, Washington and Washington State all put up great fights. In the SEC you've got LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida who are all very good (maybe Alabama and South Carolina) but then jack squat below that. Ole Miss, MSU, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are four of the worst five or six teams in all BCS conferences IMO and Arkansas is not that good either.

All in all, looking forward to the Cal @ Tennessee game. Should be great. I am rooting for Tennessee first and foremost, and while I'd be bummed with a Tennessee loss, I could also take it in part as a big win for the Pac-10. But. Go Vols.

 

[OWB]

Uh oh, Pacman found a buddy.

Welcome to the board Cal fan.

 

[GAVol]

I am rooting for Tennessee first and foremost, and while I'd be bummed with a Tennessee loss, I could also take it in part as a big win for the Pac-10. But. Go Vols.

I'm having visions of Milo watching the game in a tear away Ainge jersey with a Pac-10 t-shirt underneath. I'll take that though. The fact that a guy from Oregon has ANY allegiance whatsoever to the Vols is a good start.

 

[OWB]

I'm having visions of Milo watching the game in a tear away Ainge jersey with a Pac-10 t-shirt underneath. I'll take that though. The fact that a guy from Oregon has ANY allegiance whatsoever to the Vols is a good start.

He could do better.

 

[hatvol96]

First of all, how great is it that the UT and Cal scheduled this game!?! Gotta love these great non-conference match-ups.

I am so tired of hearing SEC fans bitch about how great their conference is and how lousy the Pac-10 is...the fact is (and you can look this up), when was the last time a great SEC team beat a great Pac-10 team? In the past five years, I watched USC walk into Auburn and slap them around, saw Oregon St almost defeat LSU (i mean c'mon&#33 and saw an Arizona St. team (which finished in the middle of the Pac-10) almost beat LSU as well!!! I am not aware of any other match-ups, but feel free to enlighten me.

The SEC is great football, very competitive from top to bottom (I admit the Pac-10 is top heavy), and I love watching it every saturday. But, i am tired of all the media crap about how great the defense is in the SEC, and how bad it is in the Pac-10. You look up all the Pac-10-SEC games in the past couple of years and you'll see how easily the mediocre teams in the Pac-10 can score on the SEC. I'm ecstatic that we finally get to see a good team from the Pac-10 play a good team from the SEC. It's time to stop bitching and recognize that great football is played on the west coast, as well as the south.

Now, i'm impressed with some of the knowledge you guys are dropping about Cal. Our QB sucked ass last year, i can't lie. You were highly over-rated and had a mediocre team (what's with the Clauson kid turning his back on UT!!&#33...both are supposed to be much better. Everyone out here is so excited to watch the Pac-10 drop 40 points on the SEC. UT doesn't have a terribly impressive offense, and Cal is going to have a very good defense next year, so that will be an interesting match-up. Our O-line is definately depleted and that is a question mark, but, we have two RB's who are stellar and are going to give you fits. Longshore is totally green, and frankly, there is a good chance you will rattle him...just keep in mind, that Auburn game was Leinart's first game as well.

That's tough to do because, with the exception of USC, there haven't been any great PAC 10 teams since Don James left Washington.

 

[hatvol96]

I know almost beating a team doesn't mean much, but the only reason LSU beat Oregon State and Arizona State were complete special teams miracles. In the '04 season, Alexis Serna crapped out on 3 PAT's. How many times do you see a Groza-winner miss three PAT's in one game? Then in '05, LSU blocks a field goal and punt on back-to-back drives to take the lead. I always say you make your own breaks, but these two games are pretty extreme casses. Missing three PAT's is bad enough in and of itself, and Arizona State put up a staggering 560 yards of offense on LSU's supposedly dominant defense. Those are what I cal freak occurances.

In '04, after Oregon State lost to LSU in overtime, LSU finished 2nd in the SEC West with a 6-2 conference record and Oregon State finished 4th in the Pac-10 with a 5-3 conference record. Then in 2005, after LSU's brush with ASU, LSU went on to the SEC Championship with a 7-1 conference record while ASU finished just fifth in the Pac-10 with a 5-3 conference record.

And I beg to differ. I firmly believe that Washington would take Mississippi State to school, pants them, take their lunch money, steal their milk and make the Bulldogs do their homework.

Welcome Cal Fan. Until now it seems I was the only Pac-10 fan on the board. I'm a fan of Tennessee, but not the SEC. It'd be nice to have some reinforcements. And I have to disagree with you on the conferences... I think the Pac-10 is highly competitive. In the Pac-10, you've got USC, other really good teams in Oregon, Cal, Arizona State, UCLA, and the rest of the bunch. Even lowly Stanford, Washington and Washington State all put up great fights. In the SEC you've got LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida who are all very good (maybe Alabama and South Carolina) but then jack squat below that. Ole Miss, MSU, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are four of the worst five or six teams in all BCS conferences IMO and Arkansas is not that good either.

All in all, looking forward to the Cal @ Tennessee game. Should be great. I am rooting for Tennessee first and foremost, and while I'd be bummed with a Tennessee loss, I could also take it in part as a big win for the Pac-10. But. Go Vols.

Milo, you constantly make the assertion about the bottom of the SEC being four of the 5 or 6 worst teams in BCS conferences. Have you forgotten the little lesson I gave you about the Kentucky-Indiana series? Has Baylor left the Big 12? Did Illinois suddenly get better? If you firmly believe Washington would beat anyone soundly, I'd like to make some wagers with you. Also, have you forgotten the Big East still has a BCS bid? West Virginia is good, Louisville is competitive, the rest of that league is laughable. Exactly how many games did Syracuse win last year? Was that Pitt I saw lose to Ohio?

 

[IBleedOrange]

Milo, you constantly make the assertion about the bottom of the SEC being four of the 5 or 6 worst teams in BCS conferences. Have you forgotten the little lesson I gave you about the Kentucky-Indiana series? Has Baylor left the Big 12? Did Illinois suddenly get better? If you firmly believe Washington would beat anyone soundly, I'd like to make some wagers with you. Also, have you forgotten the Big East still has a BCS bid? West Virginia is good, Louisville is competitive, the rest of that league is laughable. Exactly how many games did Syracuse win last year? Was that Pitt I saw lose to Ohio?

it doesn't happen very often but i completely agree with hatvol on this one