Can Tennessee run the table in the SEC East?
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Comments » 42
shaymous writes:
Of course they can. Next 3 games at home and KY on the road, who have shown big weaknesses in their defense, and the offense. Pressure on the QB and they have a tough time moving the ball. So yes, we can run the table, and unlike most on here, I love my VOLS, win or lose.
DannyVol writes:
This is a season of "could" and "might" instead of "can" and "will". Not only does this apply to the Vols, but all of college football this year.
The only thing that's certain is that we will play four more games. In those games, we might have an advantage with three-out-of-four at home.
If we end up in Atlanta, it will be the most unlikely trip ever. Go Vols, Shock the World!!!
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Yes they can, but will they. Only Lou Holtz and Nostradamus know for sure.Or Beano Cook.bonzaivol
sstterry#205746 writes:
LOL @ bonzaivol!!!!
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
"A wonderful team win by our football team. It wasn’t pretty all the time, but it was a darn fine effort," said Fulmer. "A lesser team with a lesser spirit and a lesser will would have lost that game tonight."
No Smokey!
Coach is OK.
He thought it was 1997.
Down boy!
ClassicVol writes:
Of course they can, but the question is will they? Seems they only play decent as long as Phil's job is on the line and his back is against the wall.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Some, including myself, need a realism pill from time-to-time! What have anyone seen from Philapottamus to believe we could play 4 games to any potential we have? Ainge trying his heart out with fumblin' Foster 2.6 yd average! Hardesty and Coker (better backs) in doghouse. Every other playmaker but Berry injured. Linebackers feet in concrete, every back run's wide on us with ease! Oh well, I guess their pysche is shocked, I know mine sure is after the measly 100 points they let two average teams (Bama and Gators) lay on us! It would be epic (ala Appalachian St vs Mich) to even get to Atl to be crushed by LSU. I'm dreading the Vandy game more than Ky who seems to be unraveling and don't even think about McFadden and the Hogs! Some, just somehow, Go Vols!
atxvols writes:
A week ago I wrote (somewhat sarcastically) that the Vols would beat SC and then ULL, ARK and Vandy (all home games)...getting all our hopes up...then lay the egg in Lexington. Well, we are one step closer...
If we can commit to run the ball AND run it effectively, it will open up the passing game more. It will rest our weary defense and give our secondary time to improve. The path is there. The question is can we run through it...
For some reason I think we can cause its a whacky, whacky year and that would just add to it. GO VOLS.
john524#224897 writes:
The question should have been phrased "Will...." instead of "Can...." Obviously Tennessee can run the table, but I don't think that Tennessee will run the table.
callen825#321558 writes:
Did Edward Cayce or the Maya calendar predict wins? Mr Cayce was from KY, so he would have picked KY to beat the VOLS, of course. That is the only game that worries me, but lets not look past La Laf to Arkansas!
I hope Eric Berry stays healthy, and we need young men to step up, big time, to fill the injury voids. Watching from Ohio...
Dirtdobber writes:
The "Dinner" table!
The best thing about that game Saturday night was the Bruce Pearl interview.
Great coaching! We start getting defensive pressue rushing 4 Saturday night, and on cue, we rush 3? Way to make a 2nd team qb look like a heisman candidate!
The pre-game show is a joke! Can we not come up with any better questions than...What is turf toe?
As far as im concerned its Basketball Time in Tennessee!
volsrock writes:
We've shown no consistency but neither have any of the other teams in the East. Put all 6 names in a hat and pull one out, you've got just as good a chance of picking the winner that way. Tennessee has as good a chance to be there as the other teams, actually a little better since they are the only team guaranteed to get to Atlanta if they win out. I doubt they will win out but the crazy thing is they can lose again and still get there with a FL loss to SC and GA loss to AU. What a wild season. GO VOLS!!
Southland writes:
Can they run the table is very differnet from will they run the table. CF only seems to get his team fired up when he is feeling the heat of being fired. another year with a bad bowl and worse performance in the bowl I will admit I got spoiled during the 90's and we are back to the football of the 70' and 80's minus the rare sec championship while the team with the best record was on probation
scttmcdonald#551862 writes:
It can happen. But no one can be discounted this season. That's right, not even Louisiana-Lafayette. We wouldnt be having this conversation had it not been for the 5 yard illegal motion penalty. UT Gave that game away, this win is a lucky one with stats like this:
""South Carolina outgained Tennessee 501-317 and held the ball for more than 36 minutes""
Kudos to GA for helping the Vols stay alive.
hosslarry#207324 writes:
Running the table would be very good, but frankly, I can't see it happening with Chavis in charge of the defense. If you were looking at him on the sideline during Saturday's game, it was obvious that he didn't have a clue as to what was happening in the 2nd half. UT should have lost that game based on the way they played or better yet were not coached. I don't particularly care for Spurrier but UT lucked out Saturday.
rootin4volz writes:
Just answer Yes and shut the heck up, you negative idiot-ding-dong-clowns!
vscebail#247785 writes:
You can't run the table if you can't run the ball --and for some reason, we can't. The same offensive line that protects Ainge so well couldn't punch a hole in a wet paper bag. And don't even think about handing the ball to Arian fumble-prone Foster! This is the worst all-around team that Tennessee has fielded in years (maybe even worse than 2005). Poor special teams, bad defense, and no running game. I am routing for the VOLS every step of the way, but realistically, I just don't know if we can do it with just a 5-20 yard passing game carrying the entire team.
SFOrange writes:
Don't see a "run" out of this team.
Honestly, if they did--is this the "best" team the SEC East can offer? Can you image the bloodbath in the Georgia Dome? Would that help recruiting?
How UT hung on in the 2nd half with SC is hard to repeat week after week. We'll drop 2 of next 3 SEC games and finish 4-4.
GreerVol22 writes:
No way Jose. Cajuns is a win, Hogs is a toss up, loss at the cats, and Vandy is also a toss up.
MajorVol writes:
The Vols can run the table if;
they stop letting the best receiver run loose in the secondary...bump him just a little for God's sake, stop the tailback from averaging 10 yards per carry, get some pressure on the QB and on offense 2 things...RUN the ball and every now and then stretch the field. The opposing defenses have figured out our short passing game. Saturday night sitting up in Section Z was brutal in the 2nd half. Thank God for our kickers!
estillspgsvol writes:
Yes we can, but it will not be easy with any of the remaining games that we have, and to all the fans who just want UT to lose so that Phil will lose his job. Do us all a favor and become Florida or Alabama fans, because if you don't believe in the cause, get the hell off the ship! Sure the coaching staff can be conservative at times, which even I don't care for, but understand that college football as a whole has changed. The players that we used to get are now going to school at South Florida, Central Florida, Rutgers, West Virginia, Southern Mississippi, because they want to be at a place that they can get on the field the quickest. It's all about playing time and getting to the next level for them. The NFL will find them no matter where they play at, so they don't have to play at the most prestigous schools, they just have to get the TV exposure and name in the press to accomplish that. So, now competition for recruits is as tough as it has ever been, and thus you are seeing thee results of that now in college football! Equality has arrived in college football, the schools like LSU,Texas,USC, and Florida do very well because of the talent base in their states being so large. So, GO VOLS, win, lose, or draw, this is one fan that will ride the wagon till the day he dies! Just remember fans, you might get what you pray for and be another Nebraska or Ole Miss!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
That defense is SOOOOO bad....and now Erik seems to be struggling. He was awful against USC.
Here's the danger: Ark can run; KY has Woodson, who can put the ball on a dime (and a good RB). Vandy has a really good defense.
UT CAN win out, but it will certainly be out of character for them. For someone to say 'sure they will, they are UT' is dissing some pretty good teams.
The SEC, east or west, is one tough conference this year. I think only Ole Miss is a cupcake game.
iowavol writes:
marc-ash, i like the way you think. What are the Vegas odds right now with Tennessee winning the East? Alabama the West? LSU is beatable - their offense is suspect. But, we made Alabama look a lot better than they are. Heck, if Wilson Parker were a little more accurate as a passer, they would have scored three more td's.
TNPilgrim writes:
Phil Fulmer will never again have the table set for him in the SEC East like it is now. With everyone else in the division stumbling, now is the time for him to get his coaching act together and take advantage of this opportunity to play for the SEC Championship. If he doesn't make it to Atlanta this year, he and the rest of his staff should be fired immediately after the KY game.
kini13#233353 writes:
I wonder if it will ever come to pass that you people will understand that these players are student athletes and not professionals, Has it ever occurred to anyone that they want to win more than the fans? All you fans EVER do is complain about everything and show out by booing the opposing teams. It us truly incredible. GO BIG ORANGE AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN - MOST OF US LOVE YOU REGARDLESS!!!!
asleep#212036 writes:
I agree with alcofc. The question was, "Can the Vols run the table?". Of course they CAN, but to which Vols team are you referring? The team that steamrolled Georgia? The team that sleepwalked a road win over an MSU team that has won at Auburn and Kentucky? That team could win out going away. The team that laid down at Cal, Florida, and Alabama would (and could) struggle to win any of the remaining SEC contests, not to mention being pushed harder than expected by La. Lafayette. So it's a trick question. Tell me which team will show up, and I'll tell you whether or not they can win. Go Vols!!!
dbartteach#646816 writes:
I certainly hope they can but the results this season would indicate they will not. There is way too much inconsistency. Look great one game (Georgia), awful one game (Florida) and both great and awful in the same game (South Carolina). Road games have been a huge problem. Given the fact that Kentucky is on the road, they have a good offense (normally), and they have the motivation to snap a 22 year losing streak, it will be extremely difficult to win in Lexington.
dbartteach#646816 writes:
The way things have been going this year,a 3 loss team may win the East.
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
Can but wont!
rootin4volz writes:
Face it...The East has become the West of yesteryear...It's a crowded field, and there are any number of scenarios that can play out. At least we are in control of our own destiny. And by the way, do you think that FLA fans are down there calling for Urbane Meyer's head with their 3 (count 'em...3...same as the Vols, only ours have NOT all come in the SEC) losses? And KenLucky? They've been just that...they don't scare me.
ElizabethtonvolnNC writes:
Can we not throw the ball down the damn middle of the field? We are supposed to have one of the best tight ends in the country, the offensive line is supposed to be so good at protection...put some of those speedy wide recievers in there and STRETCH the field so it opens up the middle for some 20-25 yard gains for Brown!! Or someone....ANYONE!!
Also, I watched the recievers for SC go untouched off the line of scrimmage, you might as well of handed them a cocktail and a napkin as they strolled by. HIT SOMEBODY!! Stop letting these guys run free. That is ANOTHER reason why we can't get to the quarterback.
asleep#212036 writes:
Well elizabethtonvolnNC,
They said after the Cal and Florida games that our secondary had to stop giving up the big play. They have succeeded. I don't know a QB in college who could throw the ball far enough to get behind our DB's. Saturday night they were playing 10 yards off the receivers on 3rd and 1? Are you kidding me? I could make that throw! If your DB's are inexperienced, let them play man and use their athleticism to its fullest instead of asking them to think their way through a complicated assignment zone. Further, it would be better, if they are going to give up a score anyway, to give up a big play and get off the field. This dink down the field kills time of possession and puts that much more stress of an already suspect defense. Go vols!!!
littletheyknow writes:
The Vols can run the table. When Tenn takes the field for the rest of the season they must want it more then the other team, its just that simple. If Tenn takes the field thinking someone is going to lay down and give it to them they will lose, but if they play every play as if its the last, watch out. Fulmer or someone better get these guy hungy and have every player understand this is it. Be ready to go when your number is called. Phil knows whats on line here and if he blows it he knows what all the vans will do. Nobody wants a non-BCS bowl, so he better get it done.
sgtvols writes:
i think we have now passed ole miss as the worst defense in the sec, anxious to see how we rank nationally. even bowden fired his son what has chavis got on Phat?
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
I think it’s odd that people act like we haven't even played in the SEC CG since '98. Yeah we screwed the pooch in '01 but Auburn was just a superior team in '04 (just three 3 years ago) as shown by their undefeated record.
CAN we do it? Sure.
If we were able to do it in '04 with two freshmen QBs and the runt of the Clausen clan then we CAN do it this year with a porous defense and an efficient offense.
And BTW, whenever someone starts their criticism of the coaching staff by calling Fulmer (or any of the other coaches) a variety of names, make fat jokes, or any degree of degrading remarks they instantly lose any credibility no matter how accurate, well thought out, or constructed the rest of said criticism may be.
james#216392 writes:
Everyone is cutting Chavis for the defense- (and they are bad,) but injuries and issues off the field has caused this problem. For years Chavis' defense is what won the games at Tennessee. Chavis hasn't gotten stupid all of a sudden. He is a hard worker but the players are the ones who have to respond. You would think a player who has been burned a few times would wise up but they haven't. If Cutcliffe would get the offense going, the defense might look better. They lived on the field the second half.
Hoss44 writes:
You guys are true blue haters, your lives must be miserable to spew this much negativity. As the great Tom Osborne once said "some people base their self esteem on how our football team does, and that's just sad." UT will win out and go to the SEC title game.
99gator writes:
for what it's worth....from an outsider...
i keep reading stuff from "true" fans and stuff from "haters"
when arguing about the status of the coach it's the future of the program you should be concerned about not one season. as a gator, this season does not concern me too much because i have a positive outlook on the future. if i thought this was as good as it would get, hell yes, i would be worried.
watching games this season... you can not honestly say that what you have seen from tenn is not concerning. that 2nd half against south carolina was god awful. the defense is not very good and that's known, but where was the offense. where was the offense against bama?
so, to ridicule "hater" fans for being alarmed at poor play... which has occurred for a few years. there is no reason to think things will be different next year, or 2009, etc. again, think about how positively you all look at the state of the basketball program. for those of you who did not watch the carolina game on tv and were in the stands, you should have seen the camera shots of vol fans and players in the 2nd half. it is amazing tenn won. no one, and i mean, no one believed tenn was going to end up winning that game in stadium or on the sideline. it was a frustrated, bewildered and defeated crowd. yet, tenn won. but, i have not seen that look on a tenn fans face in a long time.
but, yes, as a "true" fan, you should enjoy every victory you get. but, don't beat up on people who see the obvious.
99gator writes:
and if it's a talent problem... remember who is responsible for the talent.
jhenson#377512 writes:
99gator...All my in-laws went to Florida (until the 90's I never heard a peep from them about football...lol !) so I can't stand your team; however, you just made one of the most astute observations I've ever read on this site. I'm amazed at how "true fans" can be so blinded by their loyalty that they fail to observe the obvious, and castigate anyone who dares suggest that for the long term good of the program, we perhaps should go a different direction. You hit the nail on the head. Even if somehow Tennessee manages to back-door their way into the SEC championship, you as a Florida fan,should have no worries. It's fairly obvious to anyone who has watched football the last few years that there is a world of difference between where Tennessee is headed long term versus where Florida is headed.
Having said that. I sincerely hope we do indeed back-door our way all the way to Atlanta. I'd like to actually use my SEC tix this year.
Go Vols!
asleep#212036 writes:
99gator,
I don't necessarily think it is a talent problem. I think it is a loyalty problem. I believe Fulmer understands the issues, I just don't think he is willing to take the painful steps required to solve them. I think we all agree at some level (from mild observation to spewing venom!) that our defense is at best poorly coached and at worst, poorly schemed as well. It would also be fair to say that in any successful business, when people aren't getting it done, it is their supervisor's responsibility to change the behavior or replace that person. I don't think it is reasonable to try and change behavior in this application so the only option is termination. But Fulmer is loyal to a fault on a personal level. The only way he will fire Chavis/Slade is if his boss, AD Mike Hamilton, gives him no choice. I think it is unfortunate that Fulmer would need a threat to do what is best for the program but he's old school, and that's all about personal loyalty. Spurrier would have fired Chavis after the Florida game and that's why he's the Ball Coach and Fulmer is, well....not. Go Vols!!!
missrvrvol writes:
Is this a joke. With our defense and Foster's timely fumbles, we will not win anything but a trip to Shreveport.
And we are already a Nebraska on our way to becoming an Ole Miss!
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