What a game....what a game indeed.

[jakez4ut]

i've watched the game twice now....and watching last night, probably didn't lend itself to my best analytical thoughts of the game...because i remember clearly stating at 24-7 that Fulmer should be flogged in public....how quickly things change, right?

But, after watching it again this morning...here's a few things good and bad that we, uh, I, take away from the Vols this season...

1. Coaching. Offensively, it's great. Defensively, it's not terrible, but i do question why we weren't blitzing Joe T more in the 1st half? The offensive scheme has been great. they don't play tight, they don't get hurried...tempo is great, and the play calling has been wonderful

the one painfully bad...Special teams. inexcusable to give up 2 returns for TD's in one game. coverage was good 4 times, and pathetically terrible twice. wait, coverage was good 5 times...the blocked punt was cool...

2. Offensive Line. They are much better now than they were against Florida, who after watching since the UT game, is the best front 7 in the SEC btw. But the offensive line last night played about the best i've seen in quite sometime. we got big runs when needed and contained the two big boys from UGA all game long. 1 sack on ainge is incredible. great job up front.

2. WR's, QB's, RB's...this whole group as gotten so much better. 3rd downs dont' scare 'em. 17 pt defecits on the road in the SEC dont' scare 'em. All American D Lineman and DB's don't scare 'em. And i think it's safe to say, that after 6 games, we might in fact be doing the scaring now....

3. Defensive line. got a long way to go here. it's just the truth. The front seven came out in the 2nd half and played great, and did most of the 2nd half...they were much improved from the 1st half, i know that much....but we have yet to show that we can stop the run with our guys up front consistently. too many tackes on RB's and FB's by the secondary.

I thought the secondary did an outstanding job.

4. Special teams...i've already addressed it, but this is still the biggest weakness on this team. this coaching by comittee thing just doesn't seem to be working imo. this has to get fixed...

5. intangibles. This team, and i can't say this enough, does not wilt when things go bad for them. they go out with the same demeanor each time, and they respond. Again, down 24-7 on the road....and not only to come back but wind up coming from 17 down to win by 18...that's a 35 point swing!!!!! resiliant this bunch is, and that shows me that there is a lot of heart, determination and good coaching going on. The team last year has no shot at winning that game...this is a completely different TN team. and they have taken the personality of it's coaches, especially offensively with Cutcliffe.

But at the end of the day...51-33 TN. What a game, i celebrated til the wee hours.... Go Vols...Beat Bama!!!!!

 

[Lexvol]

Good post Jake. I think we need some better blitz schemes. We rarely come off of the corner unblocked. Because no one on UT's d line demands a double team, the LBs are getting stuffed too easily on their stunts up the middle.

 

[dan4vols]

totally agree with both posts.

 

[volinbham]

Seems like we got burned with blitzes a couple of times early - when they called a run play. I can think of one in particular on UGA's first drive where we sent a blitz up the middle and they ran to the outside for a very good gain.

 

[OrangePappy]

Nice post, well thought out. I would give not so special teams to Trooper or Kurt Roper. I would even consider Shawn Whitten since he played for Beamer.

 

[volmanjr]

I wish we could draft Ga's fullback, one that can block, run and catch.

 

[VOLracerx]

I gotta say that it was nice to actully see some emotion from the staff; they looked like they were having fun...for the first time in a long time.

 

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

did ya;ll see when they gave fulmer the victory shower he ran up and hugged his players. yes i agree there is a lot of heart on that team.:thumbsup:

 

[General Jack]

The emotions were great...

One other negative... we continue to get burned on 3 and longs. Seems like thats been our nemesis for years and years.

 

[TravisHenryCBlockedMe]

Defensive line. got a long way to go here

I think they arent playing all that bad. Its just that without Harrell we are undersized. If you are starting a DT that weighs 278, youre small. And our linebackers arent all that big either.