Why you should be optimistic heading into Saturday

[Other_Guy]

Before we were saying that the team would have to play the game of their lives to even keep it interesting. Now, I'm not going to suggest it will be simply because "the Vols are playing better". I'm going to point out a few matchups that should provide some hope.

The trenches:
If you took out everyone except the lineman, I really don't see why UT doesn't win that battle on BOTH sides of the ball. Of course, so many other factors play into effect that hurts how well the lineman do, but I think UT could at least "break even" against them.

Ball security:
1 turnover in 2 games. Really impressed with Worley especially. Bama is one of the best in this category but I think UT could be just -1 in the TO ratio if they keep playing well. That's pretty good against Bama.

Special teams:
We know Palardy is the man, despite awful coverage yesterday. Field position was huge and Palardy (who said he didn't have his best game) helped with that. I call it a draw.

Coaching:
Rarely do you outcoach Saban, but Jones and Staff have done extremely well with this team the last 2 games. Regardless of the outcome, I think they coach another good game. That's important in close games, naturally.

Momentum:
Bama is going to show up ready to kick some butt, no doubt about it. However, UT is on the rise and getting better and more confident every week. Another nail biting loss could have been awful heading into this game, but that win has this team on a long awaited high. They believe.

Fanbase:
Bama fans suck.

Jones:
He gets it.

 

[govols105]

so basically your saying in a nut shell that we win...

 

[Other_Guy]

Again, Bama should win by 2 TDs at least (if they're as good as they claim), but we actually have some matchups that I'm excited about seeing instead of dreading.

 

[Other_Guy]

so basically your saying in a nut shell that we win...

No just pointing out favorable matchups lol

 

[wbailey7]

The odds certainly are not in our favor, but there's a reason we play the damn game. If you want to crown them, then crown their ass!

 

[AndyW]

Guaranteed Team 117 believes they can pull the upset. Who are we to doubt them?

They're going into this game with momentum and self confidence. Put the ball on the tee and lets see what we got!!!

 

[Tennessee_JED]

The odds certainly are not in our favor, but there's a reason we play the damn game. If you want to crown them, then crown their ass!

That rant by Dennis Green went through my head about a million times walking out of Neyland after the UGA game.

 

[volfan4evr]

Bama is coached to not beat themselves. We Have to do the same in order to have any chance

 

[calban]

The one reason I'm not optimistic is that Bama will put it all on Worley's shoulders.
I really doubt we run more than 50 yds in the whole game.
Worley's completion numbers could be in the 20% range even without any pics.

 

[Vol knight]

The one reason I'm not optimistic is that Bama will put it all on Worley's shoulders.
I really doubt we run more than 50 yds in the whole game.
Worley's completion numbers could be in the 20% range even without any pics.

I highly doubt bama will hold us to 50 yards rushing and 20% completion for Worley. If Arkansas can get 164 rushing yards, then I don't see how we can't have a decent running game.

 

[goooooovols]

I think we win!

 

[LandonVFL]

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I'm not expecting a win by any means, I just wanna see us compete and give bama a challenge. So far, this team has improved week to week so I wanna see more of the same. Don't lay down, play the full 60 minutes and who knows?

 

[Vols4us]

Some folks are expecting the Bama of the previous two seasons. This ain't them. Still an excellent team, but the odds are better now that our Vols have beaten a good SEC team. I look for 125 + yards rushing and 150+ yards passing. Special teams play to continue to be good.

 

[calban]

I highly doubt bama will hold us to 50 yards rushing and 20% completion for Worley. If Arkansas can get 164 rushing yards, then I don't see how we can't have a decent running game.

Yeah. That's an exaggeration, but you can bet Saban will put it on Worley.

 

[ScreaminVolHawkins]

The odds certainly are not in our favor, but there's a reason we play the damn game. If you want to crown them, then crown their ass!

they are who we thought they were! we had em where we wanted em, and we let them off the hook! lol:

 

[44DivePlay]

I am just as optimistic about our future as anyone and proud of our team and coaches but, so far, Bama, Oregon, and FSU have shown repeatedly they are on another level than anyone else.

I do think there could be some interesting matchups as well though and am looking forward to TN playing tough and laying it all on the line and surprising some with our d line play etc. Don't think we have the depth to sustain though. Will still be more exciting than it has been in a while I think. Go Vols!

 

[GlockVol]

At least we'll have some more optimistic threads this week than we would have if we had lost to SC. Then if we do win or even play them close, won't VN be an interesting place to be after the game and the next week. We might even have some VNers stroke out if we win. That's why they play the game as they say.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Vols have nothing to lose against Bama. Should play loose and have fun. Main thing is to not get any key injuries that will make it harder to win the competitive games.

 

[Other_Guy]

Guys I'm not suggesting we expect a close one or that we'll even win some of these battles. I'm saying if you look at these individual matchups seperately, there's plenty of optimism. Such as how the our OL and DL should have the advantage. When you add all of the other factors it might not matter much, but the fact UT is right there close with them in a few areas is a great sign. Texas A&M has Johnny Football and that's it. UT is much more favorable than them in other areas as a complete team.

 

[Coug]

I made a thread similar to this and got fewer likes.

All people want to do is argue against you when you root for UT over Bama.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Bama is coached to not beat themselves. We Have to do the same in order to have any chance

One thing we better do is block better during FG's. It seems to me, especially in the USCe game that people coming in off the edges get too darn close to the kicker too often. I've seen this in other games but didn't really pay attention until the winning FG against USCe. The speed Banana, I mean Bama has could end up in a blocked kick if we don't clean that blocking up.

Bama is going to come to play. They're home, it's Tennessee, they're wary because of our GA and SC games. Saban prepares well for everybody. Only TAMU with their freak QB threw him for a loop. Johnny improvises so much you can't really prepare for him, just try to contain him and eat his receivers hands if you can catch them. But we don't have a QB freak.

Not sure why he doesn't unless CBJ forbids it, but Justin should run the ball more. I've seen numerous times where his receivers are covered and no one is minding the midfield store 5-8 yards in front of him and he doesn't take off to get those yards. Maybe CBJ is really nervous about the prospect of losing JW and we having to play a valued freshman or a NP who isn't quite JW's equivalent. I don't know but hate seeing those yards ignored. I'm not the coach so. . . .

I think our Vols are going to come out with malicious intent. I think they will make Bama play some serious football and maybe create a bit of uncertainty among Bama fans for a while. I think Saban is going to walk off the field knowing the rivalry is returning to being a true rivalry again. That he won't be owning the SEC by either 2014 or 2015. In his sleep he dream and mutter about an orange sun rising.