Right on time its Georgia week. Tennessee faces another SEC border rival. Before the season started Auburn would have seemed a more likely win for Tennessee. But it’s the Bulldogs who have struggled.
You may be wondering if Georgia is struggling at 3-2, how bad are the Vols limping into Saturday at 2-3?
Well, in looking at the 17 major NCAA team’s statistical categories, Georgia is better in five. Namely Net Punting, Kickoff Returns, Passing Efficiency, Sacks, and Sacks allowed. That leaves all other major offense and defensive categories favoring the Vols and they are at home.
Even the ever important turnover margin falls in the Vols favor (92nd nationally to Georgia’s 115th). One point concerning Tennessee’s lack of turnovers is they have had an extremely poor ratio of fumbles caused (14) versus fumbles recovered (5). That’s roughly recovering one in three.
So the big question becomes, will Tennessee continue the positive trends while fixing the negative ones? For Big Orange fans, this is a huge question.
Certain aspects have become erratic to the point that hardly anyone dares wax hopeful with expectation. For some reason, this week just feels different. It’s not so much the statistical feel of things as something else.
That something else may turn out to be determination and discipline. Tennessee is dead serious about coming together, building up and buying in. We saw an example of this earlier this week with the dismissal of Brandon Warren.
You do not get the feeling that this decision divides the team in anyway. If anything it will serve to bring them closer. The player’s attitudes are good. You could hear it in their interviews.
While fans can fret over a possible decommit here or there. The coaching staff is working on top of the class players all over the place. Not to worry. Really losing a game does not make a recruit stay away (See Sunday, September 13, 2009).
So the talk of nine wins, eight wins has melted into a more realistic view. Still the 2009 Vols can deliver in a large way.
Becoming bowl eligible, having another top notch recruiting class, and staying on track for a big jump on a solid foundation in the near future is reasonable.
It’s not sexy. But it’s much needed and reinforces the programs direction. So what can Orange do for you? How about a solid conference win Saturday!