Vandy and Kentucky are not Auburn and Mizzou

[Rifleman]

I know a lot of folks have already written off these last two games as losses because of the poor defensive showings against Auburn and Mizzou, but I see no reason to fear Vandy or Kentucky.

If we slow their run games, we win, so what do their run games looks like in comparison to who we have played?

The FBS rushing ranks of the teams we have played:

3. Auburn - Big Loss
7. Oregon - Big Loss
16. Missouri - Big Loss
27. Alabama - Big Loss
31. South Carolina - Win
46. Western Kentucky - Win
57. Georgia - OT Loss
71. South Alabama - Win
87. Florida - Let a winnable game slip away.

Obviously Injuries took a toll of Georgia and Florida.

The FBS rushing ranks of the teams we have left:

75. Kentucky
94. Vanderbilt

These final two games are definitely not guaranteed victories, but I think we will beat Vandy in Neyland with an extra week to prepare. I especially think it will be a point of motivation if Vandy is favored.

Then, we will have a game which could be the last football game ever for a lot of seniors on both sides. If we win, we will get to play one more. Hopefully this serves as motivation and we can beat a team much more flawed than we are.

 

[vol-un-tear]

We finally get a break! GBO!!!

 

[jimallvol]

I'm still not geeting use to the idea of being happy to have a week off before we play Candy. Back in the day I would look at our schedule and automatically put a W beside ky & Vandy. Its amazing how far our talent level has really dropped when your worried about Candy. Man I hope and pray Butch gets it back to TN football

 

[SALAMANDER DRAKE]

Agree, after vandy beat us last year, and recently in the swamp, they are confident, as well they should be, but I can't wait to see what Butch has planned for them, with two weeks. Tough game, but a W.

 

[Rifleman]

I'm still not geeting use to the idea of being happy to have a week off before we play Candy. Back in the day I would look at our schedule and automatically put a W beside ky & Vandy. Its amazing how far our talent level has really dropped when your worried about Candy. Man I hope and pray Butch gets it back to TN football

Well, we always chalked these up as wins as fans, but the reality is that there were a lot of tough games in there.

From 1980 to Fulmer's last year we had 13 games which were within a TD or a loss against Vandy and 9 such games against Kentucky.

We have been the biggest game for those guys forever, so it is never easy.

Amazing things happen, like that 52-50 game against Kentucky in 2007.

 

[DERELICK_MY_VOLS]

It's on these senior offensive linemen....if they have any pride in them at all to make up for that lame excuse of a performance last year...to dominate that Vandy defensive line and let Neal have a career game against them. Take the pressure off of Dobbs to win with his arm.

As for the defense....they have to play inspired and mentally focused football the ENTIRE game. If they give up a big play put it behind them and move onto shutting them down the next 3 downs. The talent level is not better than what we have right now....they have to remember we're Tennessee and that Power T on the helmet will never take the back seat to any Vanderbilt squad ever again!!!! Keep those bums "Anchored Down" for their whole college career when it comes to playing the Tennessee Volunteers!!!!

GO VOLS!!!!

 

[SlyStone]

Vandy may not evoke fearfulness, but they're beating the Gators in Gainesville and the way our Defense is playing has my attention the next two weeks. So yeah, I'm real concern right now.

 

[DaddyChad]

A much depleted UF team beat themselves Saturday.

 

[BanditVol]

I know a lot of folks have already written off these last two games as losses because of the poor defensive showings against Auburn and Mizzou, but I see no reason to fear Vandy or Kentucky.

If we slow their run games, we win, so what do their run games looks like in comparison to who we have played?

The FBS rushing ranks of the teams we have played:

3. Auburn - Big Loss
7. Oregon - Big Loss
16. Missouri - Big Loss
27. Alabama - Big Loss
31. South Carolina - Win
46. Western Kentucky - Win
57. Georgia - OT Loss
71. South Alabama - Win
87. Florida - Let a winnable game slip away.

Obviously Injuries took a toll of Georgia and Florida.

The FBS rushing ranks of the teams we have left:

75. Kentucky
94. Vanderbilt

These final two games are definitely not guaranteed victories, but I think we will beat Vandy in Neyland with an extra week to prepare. I especially think it will be a point of motivation if Vandy is favored.

Then, we will have a game which could be the last football game ever for a lot of seniors on both sides. If we win, we will get to play one more. Hopefully this serves as motivation and we can beat a team much more flawed than we are.

In addition to an anemic rush attack, Vandy is 111th in the country in sacks allowed, at 3.3 per game.

As beat down as we are, our DL can still handle the likes of them. Especially with two weeks rest. :rock:

 

[BigOrangeLoyalist]

I think we smash Vandy in the mouth. Sutton will keep Matthews locked down, and I think they'll have absolutely no run game. Of course, we struggle even with a non-mobile QB, so containing him, plus keeping their other star WR Krause shut down, might pose a problem. I don't think they will be able to stop our run game, so hopefully Neal and Lane are on their game, and maybe the OLine will be motivated and do a decent job blocking. I'm not too worried about Vandy's pass defense... Florida beat themselves, and Dobbs / his receivers are progressing each week. I'm feeling really good about having the week off too. I honestly don't even think it's going to be close. Vols by two touchdowns.


Edit: For the record, I didn't go on any tangents saying that we'd upset Auburn or Mizzou. Again, I'm just feeling good about this one, and I think that Vols are the better team overall, and we are at home.