Who has the most important job on Saturday?

#1
VolinArizona

VolinArizona

not in Arizona anymore
Joined
Feb 16, 2006
Messages
21,301
Likes
1,641
#1
So, if you had to choose which coach has the toughest job on Saturday, who would you say? John Chavis or David Cutcliffe?
 
#2
#2
I do, being the luodest SOB in my section will be tough.

Seriously, I think it's Cut. No one really doubts the quality group Chavis put on the field last season but the O has a lot to prove. But, if Chavis' plan stops the run we'll win going away.
 
#3
#3
Cutcliffe 100%. Every aspect of the offense will be under a microscope this Saturday, and if there isn't some marked improvement we can all see and agree on, the hot water starts bubbling right after game #1. Not to mention, it's no slouch of a defense that we'll be lining up against. That is to say, we aren't taking the field against a UAB defense to start off with.... oh wait, let me rephrase that.
 
#4
#4
utvolpj said:
I do, being the luodest SOB in my section will be tough.

Seriously, I think it's Cut. No one really doubts the quality group Chavis put on the field last season but the O has a lot to prove. But, if Chavis' plan stops the run we'll win going away.
Click to expand...

That last line is exactly how I feel. It's a huge task, stopping Lynch and Forsett. However, I think we have the raw talent to do it. Our guys need to stay patient. When we do stuff them for no gain or a loss, our guys need to keep it that way by not celebrating too much, or being called for unnecessary roughness. We don't want huge plays negated, even moreso against a PAC 10 school.

I am confident in saying, if (HUGE IF) UT holds Cal to 120 or less yards rushing, we win by 10+.
 
#5
#5
Another vote for Cutcliffe.

He is facing a good defense and the pressure is on; the pressure has been on since his hiring in Jan, and its put up or shut up time. We'll see what kind of development he's been able to coax out of EA and whether the leaner meaner O-line pays dividends.

Run defense has been our forte under Chavis for a decade now. This won't be our best run stopping defense under his watch, but I bet its still top 20 nationally. Given the apparent mediocrity of Cal's QBs, their gameplan probably goes against our strength. That being said, there will be plenty of pressure on Chavis to shut down their rush, but I feel its less pressure than on Cut's shoulders.
 
#7
#7
I'm going to change the trend here and say that Chavis has the more important job this Saturday.

Cal's offense is being advertised as "high-powered" by pretty much every publication. They feel they have a couple of QBs who could start, a Heisman candidate at runningback (with a very capable young backup), and a couple of explosive receivers. I know their "D" is also getting talked up a lot, but I still feel the most important thing for Tennessee to do on Saturday is stop Lynch and the Cal's offense.

Tennessee will win this game if Chavis and his "D" can hold California to 10 points or less. Cutcliffe's "O" will put up enough points to win if Chavis can do this.

Yes, the offense has a lot to prove, but Tennessee's defense must play well enough to win this game. Chavis has to have a scheme to shut this "high-powered", overrated Pac-10 offense down.
 
#11
#11
Who said it's the beer man that SELLS the beer? It could be very well the beer man who is DRINKING the beer.
 
#12
#12
I think Cut. Chavis and the D proved last year they held together and even carried the entire team at times as well. This year, they have a gimme for that reason only. Cut is the new guy who the expectation is to completely wipe the slate clean and turn this offense completely around. Although most people's expectations won't be met, he will definitely be under the gun. Too many people will expect absolute perfection.

I guarantee it. If Ainge is sacked a few times, a snap is botched, play calling is awful, etc. the chorus of "Fire Cut" will begin immediately. I actually feel sorry for Cut for that reason. The mob is thirsty for blood. If they don't get perfection, they will turn quickly. Hopefully enough cooler heads will prevail on the talk shows and blogs to settle that down if it happens.
 
#13
#13
I hope everybody realizes that the offense didn't sink overnight and it won't be fixed overnight.
 
#18
#18
I think people realize that well enough. But is it too much to ask to that the offense can get out of it's own way enough that we don't have to burn timeouts because of personnel, communication, (_fill in the blank_) issues, and we make Cal's D stop us, instead of stopping ourselves with repeated false starts, holding, illegal formation penalties?

If the Tennessee offense goes out on the field and looks like it's not the first time they've ever strapped a helmet on, I'm gunna be pretty satisfied.
 
#19
#19
MrOrange said:
I think people realize that well enough. But is it too much to ask to that the offense can get out of it's own way enough that we don't have to burn timeouts because of personnel, communication, (_fill in the blank_) issues, and we make Cal's D stop us, instead of stopping ourselves with repeated false starts, holding, illegal formation penalties?

If the Tennessee offense goes out on the field and looks like it's not the first time they've ever strapped a helmet on, I'm gunna be pretty satisfied.
Click to expand...

Agreed!
 
#21
#21
Offense is more complicated then defense. More plays, formations, etc. Cutcliffe for sure.
 
#22
#22
i think Chavis has a harder job in that he has more inexperience on the field and he's facing what is apparently one of the best offenses in the country. that will be no easy task.

but who's under more pressure? Cut. the offense was so bad last year, no one expects the D to be that bad, maybe a drop off, but not as bad as our offense was last year, as it relates to beating oursleves. Cut has been tagged the savior of UT football for better or worse, and it's a bit unrealistic to think that the offense is going to put of 30+ points a game all of the sudden. But think some may be hoping/expecting that.

If we can just go out and execute, not make the stupid mistakes, it will automatically make us better. and that still may not translate in to a W saturday night. we'll be able to tell by watching this team on the feild if they've improved or not, win or lose.
 
#23
#23
One of my biggest sources of excitment is that Cut won't run that God awful freeze this year like Sanders has the last two years. That was about to drive me insane. But I suspect this being Ainge's year 3, surely he knows enough to make checks at the line all by his underperforming self, if need be.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top