Offense:
QB:Ferguson
RB: Lane
WR (3): North, Howard, Pearson
TE/FB: Croom (I would move him to TE, but if not then I'll say Helm)
OL (5): Blair, Jackson, Crowder, Wiesman, Kerbyson
Defense:
DE (2): Vereen, J. Williams
DT (2): O'Brien, Saulsberry
LB (2-3): *4-3* Maggitt, Johnson, Reeves-Maybin *Nickel* Maggitt, Reeves-Maybin
CB (2-3): Sutton, Coleman, *Nickel* Payne
S (2): Randolph, McNeil
Special Teams:
K: Medley
P: Darr
KR: Young
PR: Wharton
Team Schedule
Aug 30: Utah State (Knoxville)
Game Plan: Utah State had a good season last year and fielded a pretty good defense. According to my research and watching them play some last year, they run an aggressive 4-3 defense. On offense I am still going to line up and try to punch them in the mouth with the run game. I am going to implement some screens to counteract their blitz tendencies while still taking shots down field early and often to create some explosive plays with our big wide receivers. Defensively, I'm going to mostly play a Nickel defense to counteract their spread offense. I will play a lot of cover 2 man and throw in a good dosage of blitzes from Maggitt and a few safety blitzes to try to disrupt their spread attack.
Sept 6: Arkansas State (Knoxville)
Game Plan: Not up-to-date on everything Arkansas State but I am going to use a similar game plan as the Utah State game. Play big boy smashmouth football against a smaller team while still taking several shots downfield with talented wide receivers. Running a base Nickel as I'm pretty sure they run the spread too.
Sept 13: Oklahoma (Norman)
Game Plan: On the road in what will surely be a huge test for RS Fr QB Riley Ferguson, I plan on trying to ground and poiund with Lane and Hurd, taking pressure off of Ferguson and mainly letting him throw safe throws to get him in rhythm and confident. Don't wanna try to get in a barn burner with these guys. keep it under 35 points, control the clock, try to get to the fourth quarter within 10 points and see if we can't sneak one out on the road. Variation of 4-3 and Nickel seeing as how Oklahoma likes to run a lot of spread but still will line up under center sometimes as well. Try to put pressure on Trevor Knight and get in his head early.
Sept 27: Georgia (Athens)
Game Plan: Another road test for Ferguson. Similar game plan offensively, except I may be more agressive in the passing game against a defense in it's first year under a new coordinator. Defensively, stack the box and make Mason beat you with his arm. Don't let the Gurley-Marshall show run free i.e. 2012.
Oct 4: Florida (Knoxville)
Game Plan: 9 years w/o a win against UF, the fans are amped, and this is a good chance to beat them at home when they're down. Overall conservative game plan, however trying to push the pace and get aggressive after any big plays. Stack the box and don't let Taylor beat you. come after their quarterback whether it be Driskell or somebody else. Make them beat you with the passing game.
Oct 11: Chattanooga (Knoxville)
Game Plan: Tune up for Ole Miss. Work on some of the aspects of our offense and defense that need refining. Even if it's not pretty, fix the kinks and get out of this one injury free. Play lots of freshmen.
Oct 18: Ole Miss (Oxford)
Game Plan: Offensively, a balanced attack. Avoiding many deep quarterback drops to gameplan agianst Nkemdiche and throwing away from Tony Conner's general direction. Defensively, Nickel to counter the spread. Sutton on Treadwell. All game.
October 25: Alabama (Knoxville)
Game Plan: Up-tempo spread. That's the only chance against a Saban-led team. With Clinton-Dix and Sunseri gone, I'm gonna take some shots down field and test their young safeties. Screens, jet sweeps, lots of misdirection, qb takes on reads. Defensively, stack box and don't let Yeldon and Drake beat you. Make whoever is quarterback beat you with his arm. Sutton on Cooper. All game.
Nov 1: South Carolina (Columbia)
Game Plan: As is the tendency with road games, I'm not gonna put too much pressure on Ferguson to win the game on his own. If he turns out to be a stud in his first year then perhaps by this time I let him loose and let him throw it around 35-40 times. Otherwise, a good balanced attack on USCe, with a lot of lane and hurd. Defensively, keying in on Davis and Byrd. Don't let those two beat you and you have a good chance for the upset.
Nov 15: Kentucky (Knoxville)
Game Plan: Offensively, I'm gonna put the pressure on kentucky and try to get up early. Get them on their heels on the road. Take a lot of shots downfield with North, Pearson and Malone and hopefully Croom and Helm. Defensively, mostly nickle and dime with Reeves-Maybin playing a lot of spy.
Nov 22: Missouri (Knoxville)
Game Plan: Offensively, I'm going to be agressive once again in this game. However, I don't want it to turn into a barn burner. Take some shots downfield, yet try to get this one to the 4th within 7 points and under 35. Spy on Mauk. Sutton on DGB. All game.
Nov 29: Vanderbilt (Nashville)
Game Plan: Do what we should have done last year, be more agressive and get Pig the ball at least 10 times. Put up points on a team that probably won't score much. Defensively 4-3 and Nickel variations, lots of blitzing, and getting revenge in a good ole fashioned beat down.
