Why playing in Athens may not matter (as much)

[Gandalf]

Was thinking about how much difference it makes to play a home game vs away. Certainly, it has mattered for Alabama in Neyland. I am convinced they made so many mistakes because they couldnt hear themselves in the huddle or at the LOS. The bookies even bake 3 points or so into the game for the home team.

This is the knock I hear a good number say against us - that we have had all these wins at home but we will not be so great on the road. I think its also why people believe somehow that we havent really been tested yet. Yes but when you beat Florida, when you beat LSU, when you beat Alabubba, you need a win against a top team on the road. It's always something. At some point though they, and we fans too, will run out of excuses. This Saturday will be the last wall of resistance.

So that got me thinking. How much advantage does the home team still have in a raucous stadium like we will no doubt be in on Saturday - when the visiting team doesn't actually huddle? When they get their signals by looking at huge flags on the sidelines?

Sure, they have the benefit of not having the loudness when THEY are in the huddle nor do they have the pressure of so many people there just lusting for your destruction (and its a real, palpable thing) so there is that in their favor.

But for Heupel's offense, I think the way that they call it may take away at least a portion of the advantage of noise. Granted, I know we do a LOT of quick adjustments on the line but our guys are used to lining up and doing things so fast all of that has to be pre-set mostly but I don't know.

Does the no huddle remove the or reduce the home team's advantage when we play on the road? Maybe the true football minds here can better elucidate.

 

[Prayivm3rcy]

Well you have to think at our pace it should make it extremely difficult for the defense to communicate if they can't hear either

 

[SmokeMSJ]

Kirby out here begging for help 6 days before the game…
Till I see it with my own eyes..
No one can stop this offense.

 

[VolnGermany]

After Saturday, I have a weird confidence in this team, a gut instinct.

WGWTFA.

 

[Teezy]

Was thinking about how much difference it makes to play a home game vs away. Certainly, it has mattered for Alabama in Neyland. I am convinced they made so many mistakes because they couldnt hear themselves in the huddle or at the LOS. The bookies even bake 3 points or so into the game for the home team.

This is the knock I hear a good number say against us - that we have had all these wins at home but we will not be so great on the road. I think its also why people believe somehow that we havent really been tested yet. Yes but when you beat Florida, when you beat LSU, when you beat Alabubba, you need a win against a top team on the road. It's always something. At some point though they, and we fans too, will run out of excuses. This Saturday will be the last wall of resistance.

So that got me thinking. How much advantage does the home team still have in a raucous stadium like we will no doubt be in on Saturday - when the visiting team doesn't actually huddle? When they get their signals by looking at huge flags on the sidelines?

Sure, they have the benefit of not having the loudness when THEY are in the huddle nor do they have the pressure of so many people there just lusting for your destruction (and its a real, palpable thing) so there is that in their favor.

But for Heupel's offense, I think the way that they call it may take away at least a portion of the advantage of noise. Granted, I know we do a LOT of quick adjustments on the line but our guys are used to lining up and doing things so fast all of that has to be pre-set mostly but I don't know.

Does the no huddle remove the or reduce the home team's advantage when we play on the road? Maybe the true football minds here can better elucidate.

Yes the fast pace tempo definitely helps us. If you think about when the crowd is the loudest is when there’s a stop for short gain or loss of yards, or when the QB is taking his time making adjustments. If we gain yards on 1st and 2nd down consistently and run tempo, we can really stifle the crowd due to them not having anything to cheer about or time to really get it going before the ball is snapped. On the other hand, if aren’t gaining yards consistently, problems could arise because that’s when we usually look toward the sidelines.

 

[lsanders2727]

Kirby out here begging for help 6 days before the game…
Till I see it with my own eyes..
No one can stop this offense.
View attachment 508488

Anyone who thinks Coach Heupel, who works in a stadium that holds almost 10,000 MORE people than Sanford Stadium, won't have his team ready for GA crowd noise must be supporting about a dozen Nigerian princes.

 

[Raebo]

The 3 point advantage is probably based on average scoring, average crowd size, style of play, players not traveling, etc.. A lot of factors go into it. I think UT playing at home is at least a 4 point home field advantage. JMO
Maybe Georgia will only have a 1 or 2 point home field advantage (probably 2 or 3 in reality). I would feel more confident if we we’re playing Georgia at home.

 

[wmcovol]

Ga crowd noise may impact Ga staff defensive adjustments more as Tennessee offensive

 

[JohnWardForever]

KIRBY seems a little Scared???? Wow. You know Heupel has shared that with the Team! LOL

 

[Boone&Crockett]

Death Valley didn't slow us down

 

[kiddiedoc]

Ga crowd noise may impact Ga staff defensive adjustments more as Tennessee offensive

I actually had this thought for the LSU game.

 

[YankeeVol]

Death Valley didn't slow us down

It wasn't loud for long lol

 

[kckempf]

Was thinking about how much difference it makes to play a home game vs away. Certainly, it has mattered for Alabama in Neyland. I am convinced they made so many mistakes because they couldnt hear themselves in the huddle or at the LOS. The bookies even bake 3 points or so into the game for the home team.

This is the knock I hear a good number say against us - that we have had all these wins at home but we will not be so great on the road. I think its also why people believe somehow that we havent really been tested yet. Yes but when you beat Florida, when you beat LSU, when you beat Alabubba, you need a win against a top team on the road. It's always something. At some point though they, and we fans too, will run out of excuses. This Saturday will be the last wall of resistance.

So that got me thinking. How much advantage does the home team still have in a raucous stadium like we will no doubt be in on Saturday - when the visiting team doesn't actually huddle? When they get their signals by looking at huge flags on the sidelines?

Sure, they have the benefit of not having the loudness when THEY are in the huddle nor do they have the pressure of so many people there just lusting for your destruction (and its a real, palpable thing) so there is that in their favor.

But for Heupel's offense, I think the way that they call it may take away at least a portion of the advantage of noise. Granted, I know we do a LOT of quick adjustments on the line but our guys are used to lining up and doing things so fast all of that has to be pre-set mostly but I don't know.

Does the no huddle remove the or reduce the home team's advantage when we play on the road? Maybe the true football minds here can better elucidate.

Heupel visibly urges the crowd to be quieter while we are on offense, so it’s reasonable to assume that we prefer Hooker’s voice to be heard. That said, we already used our noise specific strategies at Pitt and LSU. I expect Georgia to be louder than either of those but the same strategies will be part of our play.

 

[VolBricks]

Death Valley didn't slow us down

that was different, we came out and jumped on LSU and quieted the crowd early. I do not think GA fans will give up that easily unless we come out and have a 28-3 lead at then end of the 1st quarter.

 

[kckempf]

that was different, we came out and jumped on LSU and quieted the crowd early. I do not think GA fans will give up that easily unless we come out and have a 28-3 lead at then end of the 1st quarter.

I feel like 28-3 would not seem like a safe lead in Georgia.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Kirby out here begging for help 6 days before the game…
Till I see it with my own eyes..
No one can stop this offense.
View attachment 508488

Sound strategy.

 

[savannahfan]

Was thinking about how much difference it makes to play a home game vs away. Certainly, it has mattered for Alabama in Neyland. I am convinced they made so many mistakes because they couldnt hear themselves in the huddle or at the LOS. The bookies even bake 3 points or so into the game for the home team.

This is the knock I hear a good number say against us - that we have had all these wins at home but we will not be so great on the road. I think its also why people believe somehow that we havent really been tested yet. Yes but when you beat Florida, when you beat LSU, when you beat Alabubba, you need a win against a top team on the road. It's always something. At some point though they, and we fans too, will run out of excuses. This Saturday will be the last wall of resistance.

So that got me thinking. How much advantage does the home team still have in a raucous stadium like we will no doubt be in on Saturday - when the visiting team doesn't actually huddle? When they get their signals by looking at huge flags on the sidelines?

Sure, they have the benefit of not having the loudness when THEY are in the huddle nor do they have the pressure of so many people there just lusting for your destruction (and its a real, palpable thing) so there is that in their favor.

But for Heupel's offense, I think the way that they call it may take away at least a portion of the advantage of noise. Granted, I know we do a LOT of quick adjustments on the line but our guys are used to lining up and doing things so fast all of that has to be pre-set mostly but I don't know.

Does the no huddle remove the or reduce the home team's advantage when we play on the road? Maybe the true football minds here can better elucidate.

Another thought... With the things we do, a defense must communicate adjustments. (case in point - described confusion by defensives when we go fast because they don't have time to make adjustments to what we are starting to do) Now, if the fans are being really loud trying to disrupt us, will this not have the same effect on the defense? Or maybe more so, as they are spread further apart. Just wondering....

 

[ACvol3]

Cade Mays said that with our style offense, the crowd doesn’t have time to build their noise up, and it’s basically a non factor to the offense.

 

[savannahfan]

Heupel visibly urges the crowd to be quieter while we are on offense, so it’s reasonable to assume that we prefer Hooker’s voice to be heard. That said, we already used our noise specific strategies at Pitt and LSU. I expect Georgia to be louder than either of those but the same strategies will be part of our play.

I sorta doubt this. That is until we had LSU buried.

 

[Tman44]

that was different, we came out and jumped on LSU and quieted the crowd early. I do not think GA fans will give up that easily unless we come out and have a 28-3 lead at then end of the 1st quarter.

I feel like 28-3 would not seem like a safe lead in Georgia.

We will be playing the Georgia Bulldogs, not the Atlanta Falcons. The new leader for the Heisman race, HH, frankly looks better than Tom Brady does right now too.

I'm in Georgia and I'm hearing it from everyone. I have a strange calm about this game. I have seen nothing from the UGA football team that scares me in the least bit.

 

[Ref4Life]

Was thinking about how much difference it makes to play a home game vs away. Certainly, it has mattered for Alabama in Neyland. I am convinced they made so many mistakes because they couldnt hear themselves in the huddle or at the LOS. The bookies even bake 3 points or so into the game for the home team.

This is the knock I hear a good number say against us - that we have had all these wins at home but we will not be so great on the road. I think its also why people believe somehow that we havent really been tested yet. Yes but when you beat Florida, when you beat LSU, when you beat Alabubba, you need a win against a top team on the road. It's always something. At some point though they, and we fans too, will run out of excuses. This Saturday will be the last wall of resistance.

So that got me thinking. How much advantage does the home team still have in a raucous stadium like we will no doubt be in on Saturday - when the visiting team doesn't actually huddle? When they get their signals by looking at huge flags on the sidelines?

Sure, they have the benefit of not having the loudness when THEY are in the huddle nor do they have the pressure of so many people there just lusting for your destruction (and its a real, palpable thing) so there is that in their favor.

But for Heupel's offense, I think the way that they call it may take away at least a portion of the advantage of noise. Granted, I know we do a LOT of quick adjustments on the line but our guys are used to lining up and doing things so fast all of that has to be pre-set mostly but I don't know.

Does the no huddle remove the or reduce the home team's advantage when we play on the road? Maybe the true football minds here can better elucidate.

I think the biggest advantage is that the crowd can’t yell constantly! They have to catch their breath too lol.
Once the offense starts stringing together plays and moving the ball at the pace we move it is very discouraging for the fans. I am nervous and honestly feel like OSU, Ga and Bama are the 3 best teams in football. Of course we have to play 2-3 and possibly could have to play 5 games against top 3 teams to win a Championship and no other team in the country has to do that

 

[kckempf]

I sorta doubt this. That is until we had LSU buried.

LSU has louder fans usually but they didn’t sell out our game, they were not coming in with a lot of energy (morning game, to boot), and we had double the crowd of a typical visiting team. I don’t expect us to have a big crowd in Georgia, but the Georgia fans will be quiet if we go up big early.

 

[wmcovol]

KIRBY seems a little Scared???? Wow. You know Heupel has shared that with the Team! LOL

He saw how stressed Diddy Nick was.

 

[markus]

LSU has louder fans usually but they didn’t sell out our game, they were not coming in with a lot of energy (morning game, to boot), and we had double the crowd of a typical visiting team. I don’t expect us to have a big crowd in Georgia, but the Georgia fans will be quiet if we go up big early.

we travel well

 

[wmcovol]

I actually had this thought for the LSU game.

I was at LSU and it was a very lame crowd from the band entrance to late 3rd Qtr when all Tigars left