Why The Concern?

[VolFreakJosh]

36 point win over a Virginia team, Cooper Mays was out, and pretty much everyone expected us to win this game single handily.

Milton wasn’t Tom Brady out there but he was mostly efficient throwing the ball.

I’m not seeing the whole “sky is falling” by some of you.

 

[norrislakevol]

Yeah I don't get it. We covered the spread, Running backs look improved, WR's look just as good, and the O-Line looks fine. We also looked improved in defense. Kicking game is really the only area of concern right now, but that can be easily fixed.

 

[Evol]

Front seven looked nasty

 

[VolDaddy61]

36 point win over a Virginia team, Cooper Mays was out, and pretty much everyone expected us to win this game single handily.

Milton wasn’t Tom Brady out there but he was mostly efficient throwing the ball.

I’m not seeing the whole “sky is falling” by some of you.

Because there are some of this fanbase that have gone from hopeful to spoiled in two seasons.

 

[KeyVol14]

Every throw that Milton doesn't make will be scrutinized. He had one bad drive, no reason to panic. Keyton needs to get rid of the drops

 

[jwilliams]

We were definitely knocking some rust off, but I thought we looked good. My only real concern is the secondary.

 

[WillisWG]

Joe threw for ONLY 70% and YOU don't see the problem, come on man!

 

[rdk4121]

Without an easy drop by Keyton, Milton throws for at least 265 and 2 TDs. There was another Keyton drop as well, but it was certainly a tougher catch and a little high.

I thought Milton looked very solid. He went through progressions, escape pressure at times to pick up some yards.

Outside of that, the two biggest concerns for our team, O-Line and Secondary, looked really good. O-Line allowed just 1 sack, but outside of that was very good. Opened up massive holes against a pretty good defensive front from Virginia. The secondary had 5 passes defended and didn't allow any huge plays. Just 4.4 yards per pass, which would be elite. The front 7 looks fantastic honestly. Great pressure all game, great pursuit, 4 sacks and 11 TFLs. I think the defense could be really good this year.

 

[VolByBirth]

I guess it depends on what you think of UVA. If you think UVA is a joke of a team and our O sputtered at times then I can see why some feel we’ll struggle in the SEC. However, if you think UVA is a decent squad then UT is wildly improved in some key areas and I’m pumped about this year. I’ll choose the latter and drink my coffee with a smile this morning.

 

[Vol8188]

I think many have forgot that we didn’t start out elite last season either. The same way Milton was high on some throws, you got a lot of that early with Hooker too.

 

[Nerwen Aldarion]

Because overreacting online is a VolNation staple

 

[Pride85]

I guess it depends on what you think of UVA. If you think UVA is a joke of a team and our O sputtered at times then I can see why some feel we’ll struggle in the SEC. However, if you think UVA is a decent squad then UT is wildly improved in some key areas and I’m pumped about this year. I’ll choose the latter and drink my coffee with a smile this morning.

We have one more scrimmage next week with the related practices. Then we have the last week of prep before a very unimpressive Florida team to start off the SEC. I 100% agree with your assessment. I mean Georgia only scored 48 against UT Martin.

 

[Other_Guy]

A couple of things were uncharacteristic - the drop by Keyton and the fumble by Williams. A big one is going to happen and hopefully they got theirs out of the way in a blowout game.
Milton looked like he needed to calm down and then things got into sync. Great recovery by the offense. Perhaps that also was needed to help them say in the Florida game and those jitters are out of the way.
Thought the OL played better than expected and the front 7 was incredible.
Talk to me after a bad start against AP and I'll start worrying but these 1st games man you never know. I hate them lol

 

[Pride85]

I am still even confused by the massive concern some still have about the secondary. We only gave up 106 yards passing. Granted a lot that can be contributed to the great play by our front 7, but they barely broke 100 yards for the game. I really only saw one DB that still refuses to turn his head, Kamal Hadden, but even he had the presence of mind to sweep the ball out of the receivers hands to break up the catch.

 

[sami]

We won big, and no one got hurt - right there it's a resounding success. There are a lot of new parts, and to expect it to be seamless right out of the gate is incredibly unrealistic.

Milton was clearly jumpy early, and the overthrows reflected that, but once he settled in he was making solid decisions and going through his progressions well. Without the Keyton drops, his numbers look a hell of a lot better. This is clearly his team, and we'll only go as far as he takes us.

The O-Line looks fantastic, and getting Cooper back will only make it better. The RB's look terrific, and to be honest, as much as I like Small he needs to be third in the pecking order. Wright is a beast, and I think Heupel knows that he needs to get the ball in Sampson's hands as often as he can. That kid has an Alvin Kamara kind of look to him, and could be a huge difference maker.

Defensively, the front seven is nasty, and I love that Cheetah look on passing downs. we finally have some elite talent, with more coming in over the next couple of seasons. The secondary is a bit of a question mark, and it's clear that our defensive success will depend in large part on the front seven applying pressure, but I'm not sure that is unique to us in the college game now.

I hope the punting game is a work in progress that comes together soon, because those shanks aren't going to be as easy to recover from once we get to the meat of the schedule. The return game with Williams has game changing potential, and I'd rather see that fumble now where it's kind of a wake up call.

All in all, as good as anyone realistic could hope for in week one.

 

[Volador]

NCAAF is a business. We had a goal to win the game and we did. Convincingly. We were not at the top of the highlight reels, which is GREAT. There is no talk of a TN player for Heisman - let some other team deal with that 24/7 DISTRACTION. We are barely in the conversation of games this weekend outside of Knoxville, and that is AWESOME! Gators and Cocks sucked - F*****G BRILLIANT. Joe Milton is human - not SUPERMAN. From what I have read, we suffered NO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES! We have another scrimmage this weekend to work on our inefficiencies from yesterday - GREAT SCHEDULING!

Our first game jitters are over, and I am not talking about player jitters, but rather for those of us who clamor for the days when Tennessee Football was a shiny beacon on a hill, not an SEC doormat.

I would be thrilled if a week from now nothing has changed about our team and our destiny. Stay under the radar against sub par teams. Enjoy the big wins but, remember that this is a business and never take our eyes off the apple (again). (oh, did you by chance hear the USC Jr. Lost?????!!!)

Go Big Orange!!

 

[sami]

I am still even confused by the massive concern some still have about the secondary. We only gave up 106 yards passing. Granted a lot that can be contributed to the great play by our front 7, but they barely broke 100 yards for the game. I really only saw one DB that still refuses to turn his head, Kamal Hadden, but even he had the presence of mind to sweep the ball out of the receivers hands to break up the catch.

The coaches are clearly teaching that method. I'm not a huge fan, but really any method has it's good and bad points. Turning your head can sometimes lose where the receiver is and result in bad interference penalties, but it also results in picks, which this method will not.

 

[Scot Harvath]

We go from whoa is me, BVS to oh my God we won but didn’t play a perfect game. Lol

 

[Volfan2012]

Hearing a lot about the offensive line and yet we rushed for 5.5 yards per carry and 287 yards overall. The Viriginia front four were said the be the elite part of the team and highly regarded. Virginia had only one QB sack and it was caused more by holding the ball to long. We didn't seem to be clicking on offense in the first half yet put up 302 yards. Overall for game one I thought we looked really good.

 

[butchna]

Every throw that Milton doesn't make will be scrutinized. He had one bad drive, no reason to panic. Keyton needs to get rid of the drops

He had ONE? It was nowhere near Hyatt level dropsies from two seasons ago.

 

[butchna]

Hearing a lot about the offensive line and yet we rushed for 5.5 yards per carry and 287 yards overall. The Viriginia front four were said the be the elite part of the team and highly regarded. Virginia had only one QB sack and it was caused more by holding the ball to long. We didn't seem to be clicking on offense in the first half yet put up 302 yards. Overall for game one I thought we looked really good.

#Concerned

 

[patrick]

36 point win over a Virginia team, Cooper Mays was out, and pretty much everyone expected us to win this game single handily.

Milton wasn’t Tom Brady out there but he was mostly efficient throwing the ball.

I’m not seeing the whole “sky is falling” by some of you.

I agree - Vols covered - ran the ball well - and Milton although not great played a pretty good game. RK dropped touchdown pass was a real ooof.

Defense played well and looked much faster than they have exhibited in several years.

Certainly areas for improvement but what more can you ask for in an opening game? Vols did what they needed to do.

 

[butchna]

We won big, and no one got hurt - right there it's a resounding success. There are a lot of new parts, and to expect it to be seamless right out of the gate is incredibly unrealistic.

Milton was clearly jumpy early, and the overthrows reflected that, but once he settled in he was making solid decisions and going through his progressions well. Without the Keyton drops, his numbers look a hell of a lot better. This is clearly his team, and we'll only go as far as he takes us.

The O-Line looks fantastic, and getting Cade back will only make it better. The RB's look terrific, and to be honest, as much as I like Small he needs to be third in the pecking order. Wright is a beast, and I think Heupel knows that he needs to get the ball in Sampson's hands as often as he can. That kid has an Alvin Kamara kind of look to him, and could be a huge difference maker.

Defensively, the front seven is nasty, and I love that Cheetah look on passing downs. we finally have some elite talent, with more coming in over the next couple of seasons. The secondary is a bit of a question mark, and it's clear that our defensive success will depend in large part on the front seven applying pressure, but I'm not sure that is unique to us in the college game now.

I hope the punting game is a work in progress that comes together soon, because those shanks aren't going to be as easy to recover from once we get to the meat of the schedule. The return game with Williams has game changing potential, and I'd rather see that fumble now where it's kind of a wake up call.

All in all, as good as anyone realistic could hope for in week one.

Cade?

 

[GrayWaterCanine]

36 point win over a Virginia team, Cooper Mays was out, and pretty much everyone expected us to win this game single handily.

Milton wasn’t Tom Brady out there but he was mostly efficient throwing the ball.

I’m not seeing the whole “sky is falling” by some of you.

Can you expand on the concept of winning single handedly?

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

I thought we looked darn good. D has improved significantly IMO. Joe was efficient and had no picks (could have had a couple though). Ran the ball really well averaging 5.5 yards per carry.