Posted by nicksjuzunk on September 12, 2007 at 12:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Love Mitchell's attitude but I hope he doesn't give Florida any more incentive in this game! We better bring the wood though!!

Posted by thevol on September 12, 2007 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I can't wait to see Rogan play. He is a very unexpected contributer as a freshman but seems very exciting. I really thought Mckenzie was going to be a player, hopefully he picks it up soon. The future defensive backfield looks very exciting. Maybe Vinson finds a home there too. Go Big Orange!

Posted by DaveVol on September 12, 2007 at 12:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Does anyone know Roger's 40 time?

Posted by mingledorff on September 12, 2007 at 12:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

4.41 at the Nike camp in high school. I'm sure he has gotten a little faster.

Posted by smith7206 on September 12, 2007 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just hope that they remember rule #1 when defending the option: Hit the QB. Teboy seems pretty tuff but anybody will get tired of being hit after 10 or 12 good bell ringers :)

Posted by snafu14u on September 12, 2007 at 1:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Talk is talk. I haven't seen it yet. Saturday would be a great day to start the walk.bonzaivol

Posted by tnmantravel on September 12, 2007 at 2:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

bring it Vols, bring it.......
nothing would be better than beating the gators in gainsville

Posted by ThaiVolFan on September 12, 2007 at 5:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, here we go. The beginning Urban's spread offense against SEC defenses. Last year was not the real deal with Leak as the starter. This is the first year that we will all see if a QB can stay healthy and complete a season running the spread option in the SEC. This weekend would be a great time to shut this type of offense down at it's inception. We need to T-Bone Tebow many times throughout the afternoon. Mark my words, we will have plenty of opportunities to really pound Tebow. The question is are we fierce enough on D to really hurt this guy?( I don't mean trying to intentionaly injure him) I mean PHYSICALLY ROCK HIS WORLD enough to take the momentum from their offense and let the air out of the swamp and put fear into Tebow's heart when it comes to running against our D. Or are we going to be too off balanced and out of position to make the game altering, coach scaring, teeth shattering tackles on the QB? This will be, in my mind, the main key to winning the game. But it is also remains a main question mark as well. The bottom line is this. We must be more physical than Tebow and start a trend for the defenses in the SEC, MAKING Tebow ONE BIG GRASS STAIN ALL SEASON LONG! And sending the "Urban Legend" back to the drawing board. Go Vols. 41-33. Upset in the Swamp.

Posted by RocketVol on September 12, 2007 at 6:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is it just me, or does this site, our players, and Fulmer seem to sit around and talk about Tennessee's weaknesses, plans on defense, and mouth off to provide locker room fodder. This journalism and Fulmer's management of information is terrible.

Posted by threehundredbowler on September 12, 2007 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thrive on hitting the QB? How many times have they hit the QB this year or last year?If the past two games are an indicator,we are in deep trouble.I hope this is the breakout game we have been looking for.GO VOLS.

Posted by drmike on September 12, 2007 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tebow, if you survive the x-man's hat-watch 0ut. around the corner is a patented robert ayres WWF body slam. Sunshine, you're the best white receiver i can remember since the infamous craig faulkner. Britton, i wish you all the luck in your return. don't let the fact that friday night my mighty admirals will beat the holy heck out of your belegered bulldogs get you that down. once again, GO VOLS!!! DROWN THEM GATORS!

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

florida's o-line is one of the team strengths. if pounding tebow consumes tenn's mindset, it would be a mistake. hit him when you have a chance. fine. going out of your way to pound him would take focus away from the speedier more dangerous weapons florida has. in addition, tebow is a tank. tebow is the 4th strongest player florida has. i know that sounds like a lie, because he's a qb, but that's is what coaches have said. he is a 240lb tank. it's like saying pound jamal lewis. tebow is built like a tank. someone may get hurt trying to tackle him.

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

florida's o-line is one of the team strengths. if pounding tebow consumes tenn's mindset, it would be a mistake. hit him when you have a chance. fine. going out of your way to pound him would take focus away from the speedier more dangerous weapons florida has. in addition, tebow is a tank. tebow is the 4th strongest player florida has. i know that sounds like a lie, because he's a qb, but that's is what coaches have said. he is a 240lb tank. it's like saying pound jamal lewis. tebow is built like a tank. someone may get hurt trying to tackle him.

Posted by TNvolunteer on September 12, 2007 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well guys...it's time to start the Dennis Rogan for Heisman Campaign for 2010....The Gators did it for Tebow last year and everyone thinks he a football god now, so why not for Dennis Rogan!

GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by DSaVol on September 12, 2007 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Bring it..."???? The way this defense has played to date, should ANYBODY be talking smack?? Sounds like some guys trying to talk themselves into it! Just shut up and play!

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

DSaVol,

You hit the nail right on the head. Just play the game. Don't antagonize a team that already has the potential to blow us out. We will have to have a GREAT gameplan to beat them and a team that is focussed enough to execute it. Is this a negative statement? Hardly. Truth is truth. Yes...we can win. Yes...I sure hope we do win. But it is the sign of an undisciplined, poorly coached team that antagonizes an opponent that has the potential to blow us out of the stadium. Just play the game and show us that we can win at least ONE big game and not follow our recent pattern of laying (close doesn't count in wins and losses) down for every team that can beat us and DOES IT.

Posted by TommyJack on September 12, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

X. Mitchell: Sometimes you get what you wish for...

Posted by orangebloodgmc on September 12, 2007 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

TheVol, yeah I like Rogan who from what few glimpses we have seen, strikes me as a tough hungry ball player, like Mark Jones was a ball player, as in "just put me on the field somewhere, Coach!"

And Britton has a nagging injury? He must have been in my kitchen this morning.

Posted by txsvol on September 12, 2007 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

RocketVol, You are right about the incessant 'crap' coming from this site. I'd prefer some kind of objective analysis from the 'journalists.' Until this site became a free site, I could depend upon certain posters for information. For example, DSaVol would be a consistent negative, but his take would be interesting and backed by facts. Somebody like 99gator would never be here, but his take is right: It would be a mistake to try to pound Tebow, just be ready for unloading if the chance is there. I think the key to beating Florida is to keep the ball away from Meyer's offense. That means long, time consuming drives, with the OL blocking well, and the running backs chewing up chunks of yardage, and a reliable passing game that keeps the Gator defense off balance. Of course, our special teams have to be special, and our defense needs to create turnovers. But, there are too many posters these days to do more than just scan. Go Vols! SAVol

Posted by Phowell23 on September 12, 2007 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Come on guys Mitchell is just pumped for this game. The media antagonizes these young men to comment because if they didn't say anything the writers would have no quotes to put in the paper. Sports writers are just doing their job and the football players are pumped to play Florida. It's not like Mitchell held a press conference to single Tebow out. Go VOLS!

Posted by bustervols on September 12, 2007 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope Mitchell puts the bone in T-Bow-ned!

Posted by sjt18 on September 12, 2007 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, if UT is going to be successful then they'll have to put pressure on Tebow and hit him. UT's defense isn't designed to sit and react. That probably wouldn't work against UF even if they were (witness tOSU).

UT needs penetration between the tackles to disrupt the misdirection. Many moons ago in HS we played against alot of teams that ran the option. One was QB's by Jimmy Streater's younger brother. The key to stopping it was to always cover assignments and force the issue early. If he made it to the defender he was optioning off of... your goose was cooked.

Posted by waterskier3 on September 12, 2007 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

my guess after urban watches our secondary play they will go pro style on offense and start picking us apart.. why not all you have to do is watch the last three games and see we can't rush the passer, stop the run or cover anyone..... I'm not a negative person but this is the worse i've seen our defense play since.....the early 90's.... even in 2005 it was the offense that sucked not the D.... on the positive I heard that 3 of fla best players are suppose to sit out sat because of injuries... that might even us up....

go vols!!!!!!!

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

txsvol,

My best guess is that everyone posting here from Vol Country WISHES that Tennessee would return to its glory days. However, fantasy is all that many of the "positive" posters here post. If you went back over the last 5 BIG GAMES that we played I will guarantee that all the rah rah postings were there and we LOST. We have a problem. It will not spontaneously cure itself. We can't hide our heads in the sand. I SUPPORT Tennessee football. Always have, always will. But I can see the problems and want to see a change. Just to review: LAST FIVE BIG GAMES:

LSU - 06 - Lost
Florida - 06 - Lost
Arkansas - 06 - Lost
Penn State - 07 - Lost
Cal - 07 - Lost

If we lose this game????

Where has "fantasy" thinking gotten us? Off track. I hope we win...but it sure won't happen if we keep doing what we've been doing and simply fantasize that things will change. According to Einstein that is a sign of insanity. Be enthusiastic, but realistic. Maybe there is an assistant coach as disloyal as Phil Fulmer was who will secretly negotiate a change without our knowledge.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

DSaVol- agree- southern miss didnt have much trouble in the first half...

in regard to the option- in years past the person covering the qb... why does he wait and see if the qb is going to pitch it before making contact? Why not just knock the h_ll out of the qb whether he pitches it or not? ususally he will just stand and wait to see if he pitching it- if he does that player is out of position to make a play on the running back anyway...HIT THE DANG QB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ainge and the offense is our only hope for Sat.- Lets dont get conservative- lets spread it out and throw it- let that open up the run! and most importantly...NO MORE MUSTANG on defense!

Go Vols- Drain the Swamp!

Posted by thevol on September 12, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Georgia- 06 -win, Alabama - 06 - win, those weren't big games? I know it's only a couple of games but when your backing your negativity with stats, then be honest.
Dsa- Maybe he shouldn't be talking to the media like this but it is the right attitude to have. Bring it and whoop there ass. Go Big Orange!

Posted by sjt18 on September 12, 2007 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff, Why do you leave out Bama, USCe, and UGA? Why is it a big game to you only if UT loses? Also, you can't cross seasons like that with any merit. Last year's teams doesn't play for UT anymore. Further, two of those games were lost to the conference runner up and a BCS winner with a backup making his first start at QB. That's not an excuse... it is a REASON.

You may THINK you're being "realistic" but until you look at both sides of the issue... or maybe all 4 sides then you're just being negative. UT has strengths and weaknesses... but guess what, so does UF and every other team UT plays.

What do you mean keep doing what they're doing? Folks like you said they'd never run the no huddle... they've run it exclusively... that UT wouldn't play Freshmen, they have... wouldn't replace seniors with underclassmen... they have.

Here's a note to compare to your selective pickings: Mark Richt has now lost 4 out of the last 5 to the SEC East... and I didn't have to ignore anything to make that look bad.

Posted by sjt18 on September 12, 2007 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My old HS coach used to say "When the ship is sinking the rats are the first to go"... I don't know what jumps ship before it starts to sink.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

thevol- Georgia? Alabama? you got to be kidding me- those teams arent worth a crap! Get real...Vandy beat Georgia last year.

The vols havent done jack squat for the last several years! Lets face when the defense is good, the offense gets ultra conservative- when defense is bad offense is good! New motto should be Play to Win instead of playing not to lose!

Posted by ElizabethtonvolnNC on September 12, 2007 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't go under estimanting how strong Tebow is! Did you see the clip on ESP-EWE? The guy is a tank! If he wasn't a quarterback he would be a great linebacker. I agree with taking our shots when we can and not being overzealous in our pursuit to hit the guy. We must focus on assingment football. GO VOLS!

Posted by sjt18 on September 12, 2007 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dirtdobber, You and I have agreed on some things so I hope you won't be too offended but that is exactly the kind of stuff I was talking about. It is a big game only if UT loses.

Had UT lost to UGA or Bama... is there any doubt that wouldn't have been listed as a "big game"? You KNOW it would have.

Posted by sjt18 on September 12, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW, I'm not suggesting that those losses or the general deficiencies in big games are acceptable... but neither is selective history.

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

thevol,

Help me understand how constructive criticism is viewed as negativity? And...for the record, Georgia and Alabama combined for an unimpressive 11 - 10 record overall in '06 and a pathetic 6 - 10 in the SEC. Big games???? I guess...as a matter of fact...every game could be considered a big game for one reason or another. The ones listed abaove were SIGNIFICANT big games and we lost. By the way, is pointing out that we lost being "negative"? It just seems to me like a reality check to help us to the point where real change becomes possible. It seems strange to argue with people who are for the same team...just not looking through the same rose (or orange) colored glasses. Let's just WIN THE BIG GAME. That would be defending National Champion Florida IN THE SWAMP.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18- you are correct. You make good points.

I use to be the norman vincent peale ut fan, but after being let down year after year its become a reality that Im not sure if the Vols will get back to prominence under the current regime. Too much old school thinking.

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18,

This is not arguing or negativity, but trying to compare Alabama as a big game with Cal (10 - 3 '06), LSU (11 -2, 6 - 2 SEC '06), Florida (13 - 1, 7 - 1 SEC National Champions '06 and Penn State (Poor record 9 - 4 but Bowl Game) isn't apples to apples. My thinking is that we are trying to contend;

# 1 - For the SEC East Division Crown

# 2 - For the outright SEC Title

# 3 - For the National Championship

If I am right, then let's look at the real teams that stand in our way and come up with a way to beat them...because with the exception of Georgia last year we didn't win those games and have started out '07 the same way. Since I was a youngster (1950's) my Mother has asked me every year how Tennessee will do and every year...including this one I said, "National Champions". We should have won many more BIG GAMES with the talent we've had year in and year out under Fulmer. I want to see Tennessee win as much as you or anyone else. However, quantifiable failure has dogged us. That isn't negativity. That is reality.

Posted by grvol on September 12, 2007 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Considering the pathetic and poor job Vols did last year stopping 4-7 Air Force's running QB, I suggest Mitchell shut his mouth. It could get very embarassing Saturday if Chavis brings the same plan to stop Tebow and their spread option. The plan against Air Force was "wait, read, back pedal and get eat."

Posted by sjt18 on September 12, 2007 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I didn't say it was apples to apples. I said it was a big game.

I agree with much of the rest of what you said except for the last two or three statements.

UT HAS lost too many of the games that must be won to get to a championship. If you had included the few bright spots, I'd have been on board with you.

I think UT needs to continue to make progress or else make the staff changes before next season. Hopefully they will surprise alot of you since this weekend is a big crossroads for this team.

They'll either start to prove that the changes made after 2005 are enough or they're not.

Posted by wewhite on September 12, 2007 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey, Fulmer! What are you using to decide the starting lineup? Tarot cards? Dice rolls? The thickness of the coats on wooly worms this season? Romeo Crennel, the coach of the NFL's Cleveland Browns has admited to flipping a coin to decide some of his starters. Maybe that's the way to go.

Posted by Mr_Brownstone on September 12, 2007 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't get me wrong. I hope to h*ll we win, and hurt until the following week when we lose, quadruple for Fla and Bama, but we have trouble beating Florida when we're on our A game and they are on their C or D game, (i.e. Zook era), so I'd like to share in the confidence, but history is telling me otherwise.

Posted by govolsfan on September 12, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No more flare passes. I hate watching us run those with 0 to negative yard gains. Lets bring our big boy pants to Gainsville and play to win. I hope we shine, but should we falter, I dont want to hear the coaching staff say we "need to relearn our fundamentals". That erks me every year.

I think grvol makes a good point, we rarely play good against option teams (Air Force, K state, Nebraska). Attack Tebow with vengence big orange D!

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18,

I think we're basically in sync. We're both passionate about Tennessee success, just expressing it a little differently. Just like you I want us to win this weekend and get back on a track for some kind ongoing success! We have the raw materials. Now let's see them deliver the goods! Go Vols!

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol,

Just curious about, "We've never had that". Under Fulmer...you're right. In history? You're wrong. In the very least you would have to include the Coach with whom our stadium is named as at least one...if I heard what you said correctly...who was in his time...THE BEST. There are others who sure did a great job year and year out, so maybe I just misread what you meant.

Posted by jcvet on September 12, 2007 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hope they stop the option better than they did last yr. against AF. If not Mitchell will be in a track meet looking at Tebow's butt.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Unfortunately Tebow appears to be a class act. Hard to say anything bad about the guy!

However, since its football- i believe if he runs the option, UT should red dog his but, and if he runs the option that player only assignment should be to tackling him as hard as legally possible! if we do that, it could cause him to make a bad toss and Berry could pick it up and take to da house!

I dont care how conservative or bad of coach Fulmer is- Im drinkng orange cool-aid this week- Drain the swamp and Kick em in the Vols!

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol

Yup. General Neyland! He WAS the man. I am old, but not that old! Coach Majors was an incredible coach who proved it under incredible circumstances at Iowa State, Pittsburgh and even at UT. In the end he had some problems that he wasn't given a fair chance under the circumstances to overcome. Coach Fulmer did him in and inherited his great players. It hurt Majors beyond description to be humiliated by his great love (UT) and know his trusted assistant stabbed him in the back. He never recovered as the coach that he once was. We had a few other very good coaches, but Coach Neyland was a Coach for the ages! Keep the faith and let's get Volunteer football back where it should be!

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff- well put!

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dirtdobber,

Thanks and keep up the great posts! I loved your "Norman Vincent Peale UT fan" analogy! I can relate. I hope we can get back there one day soon! Keep the faith and make a difference!

Posted by Basketball_Jones on September 12, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our past shows that we don't handle mobile QB's well. Even back in the glory day of Manning and Company I remember Nebraska running all over us in the Orange Bowl. Last year's Penn St QB had wheels and we struggled. I hope I am wrong but I think Florida has us thinking alot more about what they are going to do than what we are going to do.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

heels_fan_23- if you remember that orange bowl game you mentioned- the first half of the game UT shut Nebraska down- we put 9 in the box- and held them to 78 yards of offense in the firt half(most of those yard were from a long pass they completed) In the second half- it was like someone flipped a switch, the second half the Vols came out with that 4 man front with linebackers about 5 yards off the ball- when the game was over Nebraska and ran up about 780 yards of offense in the 2nd half!(not to disimilar to Paul Crue in the "Longest Yard" trying to throw the game)

I wonder why they went away from the 9 men in the box in that game? I believe that may been the beginning of the Mustang Package.

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i meant to write this earlier in regard to pounding tebow. in the first two games, you can tell he has obviously been coached to avoid contact. to my surprise, he has had several plays where he has taken off out of the pocket gotten all the yards he could and went out of bounds. maybe the thought was, no sense taking a hit in a game of little consequence. but, nonetheless he has not tried to take on safeties and linebackers by lowering his pads this year. we will see if he is careful this week or plays with reckless abandon.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator- i will bet you he will try and knock someones block off! Not a gator fan- but unless the Vols put 9 or 10 in the box no chance in hell of stopping UF offense.

We will get you in basketball this year though!

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i actually went on this site to see what the "enemy" was thinking. i know what florida people are thinking. i was told by someone that lots of folks in big orange country were already giving up on football this year and looking forward to basketball. that amazes me only because everyone knew that at cal and at florida early would be trouble. i have said this before. do not be surprised if tenn loses and still wins the division

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol,

Whoah! That is cool! That is a Tennessee treasure! Keep it. Ya' know it's funny that you mention John Ward. It doesn't seem the same AT ALL without him and someone made a great post at one of the other stories where they mentioned that we haven't been winning the big games since he left and the writer wondered if it was related. It was a great post and does make one wonder! John Ward brought a lot of enthusiasm and Vol fans still perk up to the sound of his voice. Keep that shirt safe and sound and keep the Spirit of Tennessee football alive!

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator,

I don't think anyone really gave up...although it is depressing. There was such great anticipation for this team this year. They may pull off a good season and Florida would be a great first step. However, even going to Wikipedia you'll see Tennessee football listed as one of the most storied programs in the Country. We want that level of success back. That seems to mean change. Yes we've made some adjustments...but CHANGE in leadership is what is needed. The current coach is getting more benefit of the doubt by the Athletic Department than Legendary Coach John Majors who was very successful at multiple schools and whose playing career is unparralled by current coaching staff almost anywhere.

Posted by hueypilot on September 12, 2007 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We seem to have a tough time with assignment football, which really shows up when you defend the option. The end must hit the qb and make him pitch it. AFter that it's up to the lb and secondary to come up and make the play. Bryant said the wishbone was the best passing offense ever designed because the qb always has man coverage. He proved that many times when Todd or Rutledge would complete 6 of 9 for 150 and two td's. We can't let Tebow curl up into a hasty pocket and throw. He is the key and we have to keep him off balance by hitting him as soon as we can on every play. Not dirty football and not trying to hurt him by going at his knees. Just good old fundamental defense. The ends and tackles should play every play Tebow runs with the ball like Tebow was their man in the Tennessee drill.

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i know about tenn's history and tradition,but have always thought it is a tougher job than most believe. the recruiting bases in florida, alabama, georgia, and louisiana are bigger than tenn. it is easier for those programs to recruit than tenn. tenn has to get talent from everyone else's backyard. the fact that georgia, lsu, auburn are better than they were in 2000 has made things tougher for tenn in recruiting. and now bama has saban

Posted by jawjavol on September 12, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt118,

please do not try and mislead the fans regarding UGA. They have a losing streak against all five SEC East teams that is oh fer five over the past year. It's great to bleed orange in Atlanta!!!!

They looked bad Saturday!!!

Posted by gotvols on September 12, 2007 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You have got to be kidding me. We have not shown that we can stop anybody. The only chance we have of stopping Tebow is if he mistakes our guys as traffic barrels. We have to score and score often and hope they turn the ball over. Reminds me of other shoot-out games.

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hueypilot

regarding assignment football. i will predict that florida pulls ou a trick play like tenn did last year. fayson and ingram are wr's that were high school qb's. do not be surprised to see a reverse, with one of those two throwing the ball. caldwell (injured) was a high school qb too

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the gaines injury... how good was he? and what kind of chaos does that create with tenn's secondary situation. also, what wr's should i watch out for in the carl pickens, willie gault, donte stallworth, kelley washington, robert meacham mold.

Posted by gotvols on September 12, 2007 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The gaines injury is not that significant. Teams have so many targets on this D that somebody will have to just step up their play to compensate.

Posted by invisiblekid on September 12, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This may be slightly off topic in terms of Tim Tebow on the field, but I found this quite interesting regarding his off the field activities. Nothing too bad, but some of the comments folowing the photo are a little on the "adult" side.

http://journorock.blogspot.com/2007/0...

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator- dont believe any of the wide receivers are in the meachem category yet,but all seem to be catching the ball well- not many drops- the best speed is the transfer from FSU, Oneal, I dont believe he's caught a pass this year though.

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

one of the things that i have wondered is the whole no-huddle thing. a lot of people think tenn will go back to traditional 3 yards and a cloud of dust to attack a supposed florida weakness and keep its own defense off the field. but, would that conflict with the new direction they were supposedly going. do you abandon a philosophy after two games or will they pound the ball from the no huddle. how effective would communication be with inexperienced wr's in gainesville. it didn't seem like a problem at cal, but i saw a lot of plays were made by the backs. are the best playmakers foster and coker?

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator -wow- you know the vols well. Thats what Im afraid of them doing is scrapping the only thing that has worked this year...the passing game, which in turn has opened up the running game- coker hasnt done anything yet due to suspension for weed...foster looked great so far- doesnt have break away speed like Coker.

Noise seemed to be bad at Cal game(obviously not the swamp)but they handled it ok- in fact the offense almost had a perfect game.

Im not a gambler- but the spread is 8- i feel that FLorida could blow them out, but UT offense has been a whole lot better this year than last- so im leaving that bet alone.

Posted by invisiblekid on September 12, 2007 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, Gaines is a redshirt SR who, until this season, had played in 24 games over 3 years and recorded 10 tackles. He had nearly as many tackles against Cal as he had his entire career. He hasn't exactly proven to be a difference maker over his career. Last week after Gaines was injured, they brought Parrish back in at safety and moved Berry to CB. Assuming this will be the case this weekend as well. Parrish is a similar story to Gaines, he's been around awhile but hasn't shown much. We signed two JUCO guys, Willigham and McKenzie, to shore up the secondary and it looked like Parrish and Gaines were just keeping the seats warm. However, with some of the recent comments about moving Vinson from WR to CB to provide depth along with Rogan, who was a RB in high school, it makes me wonder if the JUCO guys are going to contribute or take up space on the roster. It's a shame we can't start Berry at 3 positions in the secondary because he looks to be our best player along with Hefney who made 2nd team SEC last year.

Posted by Dirtdobber on September 12, 2007 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jwraymond1- dang...that comment about Tebow hurt!

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i wrote in another thread, and i still believe this, that both defenses will play better than most fans expect. there will be offense and scoring don't get me wrong. but the score will not be 48-41 or something like that. i think a lot of the negativity about ut's defense comes from the cal game. well, cal has a hack of an offensive team. i think florida has the potential to be very good offensively, but no one really knows yet. all the pieces are there, but have not played anyone yet. as for the florida d, they are at home. false starts, miscommunications, delay of games, the inability to audible, can cause an otherwise promising drive to stall. young players play better at home. i think there will be more defense than most expect from both teams.

Posted by invisiblekid on September 12, 2007 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, reagarding the 3 yards and cloud of dust and WR comments, I think it would be a huge mistake for the Vols to try pounding the ball the entire game. I mentioned this last night in another thread that we have a distinct size advantage up front and should have better success running up the middle. That being said, I don't think we have the overwhelming talent up front to "impose our will" and turn into Nebraska.

Foster is a solid running back but isn't the fastest guy on the field and Coker will still be shaking off the rust and munchies from his suspension. Hardesty doesn't seem to have the field vision to make the right reads while running and always seems to be fighting some injury. A wildcard may be the freshman Creer. I thought he was impressive for the most part against SM but is like most freshmen in potential mistakes.

As far as the WR's go, they haven't put anyone on the field yet who has shown they can stretch a defense. Rogers and Taylor has shown they'll catch anything that comes their way but I am unsure if they have the ability to make any Meachem-like plays.

I expect to see more of the same this weekend, a balanced offense relying on the short and intermediate passes with slightly more emphasis on the running game. Who knows, I could be totally off base though.

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

here's something i think we all can agree on. does the sec have the worst refs of any conference by far. one thing you know in an sec game there will be one or two calls that screw somebody. i am jealous watching games from other leagues that don't have to deal with the garbage from the refs like the sec.

Posted by sjt18 on September 12, 2007 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No. Pac10 officials are many times worse. Oddly, I'd probably complain least about the ACC officials.

Posted by sjt18 on September 12, 2007 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The no huddle is premised on the idea that the sooner you get Ainge to the line of scrimmage with a play, the better his opportunity to read the D and make the right changes.

He will not stay in a run if the D is set for it. I am fairly certain there were a few plays where he changed the call at the line twice after the opposing D made an adjustment. All the hubbub about the run game is just that. They said the same things before Cal and still came out winging the ball when Cal loaded the box.

Posted by txsvol on September 12, 2007 at 5:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, You and I agree on most of what you have posted (except for our allegiance to different teams). Tebow is bigger than most of the people trying to hit him, so I'd expect him to give out more punishment than he takes, unless it is from a DE or LB with a full head of steam who catches him just right. To my fellow Vol fan posters, the first rule: Always respect the opponent. Back in the time I was walking the Hill, we had an All-American LB named Steve Kiner, who was asked about Ole Miss' horses, and he replied that we had the horses--Ole Miss had the mules! Then Peyton's old man Archie and his mule-team laid a 38-0 whipping on our Tennessee horses. Everytime I hear one of our players boasting, I remember Steve. (Luckily I didn't pay the $500 scalpers wanted for two tickets to the Jackson, MS game. That, and the long, painful ride back to Knoxville would have made it even more memorable!) I don't drink orange kool-aid, but we can have a very good team and finish 8-4 or 9-3. The SEC is the best football-playing conference around. (BTW, the Aggies are howling about the OT win against Fresno State. Put Coach Fran on the watch list for endangered coaches.) Go Vols! Beat the Gators! SAVol

Posted by tngeoff on September 12, 2007 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

txsvol,

Man...you're as old as me! That was CRAZY. Steve Kiner, for those Vol fans who may not know, finished 7th in the Heisman voting...as a linebacker! Unheard of back then. Also, Vol fans wore, "Archie who?" buttons. Big mistake...as I mentioned about comments by todays team...they can make you pay. Even at Cal this year a few comments blew up in ourt face. The story about Kiner had a few different depictions. The lead in question was, "I hear they have a lot of horses down there in Mississippi." Then Kiner said either (depending on the reporting source, "Hee Haw! Them ain't horses...thems mules!" or..."Some people go down the farm and they don't know the difference between a hors and a mule". Oops would be a massive understatement. Anyway...back then we were known as linbacker U. Then there was how Jack Reynolds got his nickname, "Hacksaw", but I'll let someone else tell that one! By the way...we were ranked number 3 in the country at that time and a story in Sports Illustrated also preceeded that game. Ohio State (sickening) was ranked number 1 and the story was, "So who's Ohio State" and gave us what was probably the best coverage we've ever had in SI.

Posted by thevol on September 12, 2007 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All I know Tngeoff is that California and Arkansas will NEVER be as big of games as Alabama and Georgia in my book. I agree with your goals and these are the teams we have to get through every year to achieve those goals.

99 gator- you've made me rethink my position on Gaytor fans, I thought I hated them ALL. Good posts all day. Are you sure you're not a closet Vol fan? Go Big Orange!

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the vol

thanks. as i wrote earlier, i know what florida folks are thinking. just wanted to see things from the other side. i don't believe in going to another school's forum and talking smack. what's the point? i'm surprised no one has told me to take a hike yet. but, the way i figure it if i sound like an idiot, it is a reflection on me and florida and would only make me and florida look bad. besides...

1. if you do want to get up in someone's face be man enough to do it in person

and

2. i don't (please don't kill me) consider tennessee a true rival and as such don't really hate tennessee. i want to win. the game has a great deal of significance as to who may go to atlanta. but, florida did not play tenn yearly until 1990. i grew up hating auburn, georgia and fsu. if florida loses to tenn, i don't have to go to work and hear it from anyone and if i do it's georgia and fsu people. fortunately, florida owns georgia to the point where no one dare open their mouth. and fsu is pitiful right now. i don't know maybe after a few more years. certainly, tennessee has been florida's main stumbling block to the sec champ game since divisional play.

Posted by IPOrange on September 12, 2007 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hating Florida was more fun when Spurrier was there.

99gator, you have some good comments to add to the mix. I hope you begin to rethink point #2 after Saturday, though. UT 34, FL 31. GO VOLS!

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

don't misunderstand either. when i wrote i did not consider tenn a true rival, i did not mean competitively.

but, i figure i may be wrong...

tenn would rather beat bama than florida. i know florida being in the same division makes the florida game more important. but, i'm talking pure hate here. i always thought tenn/auburn was once a big rivalry too

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the last post i wrote is worded poorly. i meant to say...

i do not consider tenn a true rival, but they are a competitive peer

i may be wrong about who tenn hates more bama, florida, auburn, etc.

hope this makes sense

Posted by IPOrange on September 12, 2007 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The TN/Bama rivalry goes way back, but the Vols have had their number for the most part over the last few years. The hatred kind of simmers when you are beating them most of the time. Florida, on the other hand, seems to have found a way to come out with a victory on a regular basis. Couple that with Spurrier's past comments when he was there and that may explain why we become so rabid during TN/Florida week.

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i guess you may have a point on this one. a few chords of rocky top might get the competitive juices flowing.

Posted by 99gator on September 12, 2007 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the shame of divisional play is that it killed certain rivalries. florida-auburn was huge and now they play twice every six years. a lot of people don't understand how big that rivalry used to be. florida has played only georgia more times than auburn

Posted by IPOrange on September 12, 2007 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree. Another comment on the Vol/Gator rivalry - if you ever need reminding of how important a win over Florida is to the big orange fans, just go back and watch the Vol victory at Neyland Stadium a few years ago when the goal posts came down.

Posted by Vol55 on September 12, 2007 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Give Xavier a break. He's probably gotten tired of all of the negativity coming from Vol fans AND his school mates who love to mention how the defense needs to step up. He knows that he doesn't need to hear it repeatedly...especially from people who are supposed to be supporting him and his team mates. Maybe he thought showing some confidence would give the team a boost and restore some confidence of Tennessee Fans. Big Ant and Arian are our flag football coaches and if there were any better a time for them to be "walking the walk" that would be it. But they don't. They know what they need to do...and I can tell you right now, Big Ant HATES to lose, so I know he's going to be stepping up on the O-line. These guys are my schoolmates and friends, and I couldn't imagine the amount of pressure they come under. Bt we have got to remember that these guys are still young guys, they're practically teenagers. Besides, they can't be doing or saying anything worse than the guys at florida. I love Vols and can't wait to cheer them on in the stands in florida on Saturday.

Posted by Vol55 on September 13, 2007 at 1:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I meant to say "talk the talk" or whatever but you get what I mean. They hardly ever trash talk opponents.

Posted by BuckFama on September 13, 2007 at 2:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Beware, Xavier.

Remember: Tim Tebow makes even Chuck Norris sh!t his pants.

Posted by invisiblekid on September 13, 2007 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WRONG Buck, the ONLY time Chuck Norris s**ts his pants is when he looks in a mirror before breakfast. BTW, the Chuck Norris roundhouse kick is the preferred method of execution in 16 states.

Posted by BuckFama on September 14, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm not the smartest guy in the world, 'kid, but I do know that Tim Tebow can't finish a 'color by numbers' because his markers are filled with the blood of Chuck Norris, and Chuck's blood is dark red.

Posted by invisiblekid on September 14, 2007 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nice one Buck, only problem is Chuck Norris doesn't have time to bleed. He also uses tabasco sauce for eyedrops and napalm to cure his heartburn.

Posted by BuckFama on September 15, 2007 at 1:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Chuck and Tim ... a duo for the ages!

I bet that THEY could cover well on punt returns...