Vol Report
Here's five keys for the Vols' season-opener against UCLA tonight:
1. Run Wild: UT has been at its best in recent years when the run game has been a focal point on offense. A healthy dose of Arian Foster and Montario Hardesty will go a long way against the Bruins.
2. Pin 'Em Back: This time a year ago, UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft was playing in junior college. If UT's front can bring the heat, it could mean a few turnovers. And that usually means a win.
3. Play It Smart: Quarterback Jonathan Crompton has progressed well throughout fall camp, but the real test comes tonight. If Crompton can stay within himself and not force things, the Vols have enough playmakers to put up a lot of points.
4. Cover, Cover, Cover: UCLA return specialist Terrence Austin isn't Cal's DeSean Jackson or Florida's Brandon James, but he is capable of burning opponents. He has yet to score a TD despite a few long returns, and the Vols need to keep both from happening.
5. Set the Tone: UT's defense is still stinging a bit from big-time embarrassments against Cal, Florida and Alabama last year. There's no better way to distance themselves than to show how far they've come with a solid performance.
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Comments » 38
stlvol writes:
Do it baby!
FWBVol writes:
Pound the rock and rock the Bruins.
GO BIG ORANGE!!!
RTYAB!!!
orangebloodgmc writes:
I would pay for a recording of the game tomorrow. I expect our power to go out by early afternoon on Monday as Gustav passes by Baton Rouge. Maybe I can catch it on WLAC out of Nashville once it gets dark. You folks will have to provide a detailed account of what happens. Geaux Vawls!
threehundredbowler writes:
Vols win,I think.
TNfaninMS writes:
300- are you a Tennessee fan? If not then why are you posting on our board? Your negativity is not welcome here the night before the game! Even if you 'think' (and I use that term lightly)we are going to lose, you should believe that we will win no matter what. Enough said
BEAT THEM BRUINS!!!!!!GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!
Rockytop98 writes:
Lookin forward to an old "Tennessee Dog Whoopin" against the Bruins!! GO VOLS!!
DennisVols writes:
I feel good about this years team. I live in the N.Atlanta area and have come across so many fans just this past week who feel the same.
The lack of news stories concerning discipline (police issues) since earlier this year, lack of too many injuries, and just the way this team seems to be focused in getting UT back the respect we had during the 90's.
Nothing like a Monday night Primetome game during the 1st weekend of college football to not only show the Vol nation but the country we are worthy of getting that respect back.
orangecountry21 writes:
If we lose this game I am finding a rock to hide under until January
gillblog writes:
A little added pressure; so far every SEC team has dominated out-of-league opponents and Bama, UGA, and LSU have humiliated their's. Big Statement Time ! Vols need to keep it up. They CAN win big tonight IF they don't get reckless or complacent. No reason the Vols can't take a big early lead, but the danger is in the second half when Bruins just might start to get some momentum just at the time the Vols start to relax. This game is all, underline all, about coaching.
CoverOrange writes:
#1 and #4. Very well stated, Drew.
Will be watching special teams and holding my breath ready to explode with a "yeaaaaargh!"
txvolsfan writes:
orangeblood we will be praying for all in the way of the hurricane
GO VOLS
TXVOLSFAN
GerryOP writes:
orangebloodgmc, I'll get a copy for you. Do you want VHS or DVD?
Stay out of harms way and we'll all be praying....
OrangeMaelstrom writes:
Hey gillblog- You could argue that Miss State was humiliated themselves with that loss to La Tech, although that was a trap game, IMO. But, you do make a good point: LSU and Bama both played much better than I thought they would. And GA and UF looked about like they should have in their games. BTW, did Arkansas State actually beat Arkansas?
OrangeMaelstrom writes:
Having said that, I think UT will pull away from UCLA in the second half and end up winning by 17-20 points. I'm not worried so much about Crompton and Clawson as much as I am establishing a consistent running attack and the defense remembering how to tackle throughout the game. Barring a string of injuries or off-the-field problems, I really do feel like UT can win 10 games in the regular season. And I think everyone should be happy with that, given the brutality of the schedule and the overall depth of the SEC this year. I mean, even Kentucky looks good....well, on defense at least.
OrangeMaelstrom writes:
My bad, I see Arkansas barely hung on to beat Western Illinois, 28-24...ouch
gillblog writes:
OrangeMaelstrom, ditto that 'my bad'... I completely forgot the Miss State loss.
Lack of defensive fundementals ruined a number of potential wins last year. There will almost surely be a time this year when we all start questioning Chavis again (I seem to make a habit of it myself) but given the natural talent in his group it's hard to see any team on our schedule taking the game out of reach of the offense.
kwvolsfan writes:
Bluetick Coonhounds are a friendly breed, They are bred to be working hunting dogs, for aminals such as raccoons, opossums, bobcats and even larger prey like cougars and bears.
Okay, we now know Smokey's purpose....
What is a bruin?
bru·in [ br in ] (plural bru·ins) or Bruin [ br in ] (plural Bru·ins)
noun
Definition:
bear: used as a name for a bear in folklore, fables, and children's stories.
Smokey comes out of the tunnel, bites the bear in the fanny, Vols come out of the tunnel and spank the team....
As is foretold in the aminal kingdom, so it shall be on the football field.
GO BIG ORANGE...
pabashia#208095 writes:
Offense will be fine. Defense is the weak link. We're going to have to outscore everybody this season.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Here's #6:
Beware Screens, Middle Screens, Flares and Draws! With a makeshift O-Line, UCLA will want to sucker our quicker D-Line and LB's into backfield penetration. Our guys have to be disciplined enough to hold their gap responsibilities.
While much of UCLA’s Offense is inexperienced and untested, they are deep at WR with good talent. If we let Kahlil Bell get off it spells trouble. STOP THE RUN Chief! Let’s make them one-dimensional and then let the DB’s go nuts making “form” hits and tearing off heads.
I predict our Defense will rule and Craft is carried off the field unconscious in the First Quarter. We name our score in the locker room at Halftime.
We’re not playing W. Ill., La.–Monroe, Ga. Southern, Appy State, Tiger High, La Tech or Miami of Ohio. If Bama made a statement yesterday then we need to write a novel in Pasadena. I wish that Phillip had a recording of ANY Coach Cafego Vandy pre-game speech to fire our guys up!!!
I want to see our D-Line ripping those stupid looking gold helmets off of players with their heads still in 'em. I want to see our LB's de-cleating guys and quickly moving on to the next target with blood in their eyes. I want to see our DB's hitting UCLA WR's until they look like helio rotor blades spinning 6' off the ground.
I want to hit somebody right now!!!
Scorched Earth Policy at the Rose Bowl- NO quarter given to the enemy.
GO VOLS!!!
givehim6 writes:
5 good points, one thing to rembember about 1#{ We have a fullback to clear the way.
xvolx writes:
tenn.35 ucla 0
utkedu writes:
Prior to seeing the Vols play, it looks like it is going to be a very interesting year in the SEC. It is early, but....
- Florida and Georgia showed they have a lot of talent, but it is clear that there are some weaknesses. It still doesn't look like FL has much of a running game outside of their QB and GA certainly does not look like the best team in the country.
- Can Auburn have a passing game when they need one?
- Will Alabama look that good in an away game with their young players in a hostile crowd? Yeah this weekend was a neutral site, but the Bama crowd made it seem like a home game.
- Will the LSU, KY, and SC defense look that good against an SEC offense?
- Could Vandy upset someone this year?
- Is the bottom of the western division really that bad? - MS St and Arkansas looked terrible, but MS may have some talent.
Lastly, and most importantly, will Tennessee hand it to UCLA just like the rest of the major players in the conference did to their out of conference opponents this weekend? Here's a hint - YES!
Nearing the end of the first weekend of the season, this is shaping up to be one heck of a year in the SEC!
ccVOLS615 writes:
Ok so i think i have an idea for the spread offence,and i know im getting a little ahead of myself, but i might not be able to post much longer. So if anyone thinks this is a good idea please spread the word. Or if anyone knows of a rule that would prohibit this idea maybe they could shead some light on it for me. Here goes first i watched some of the florida game and a few others where the teams were running the spread. And while this idea doesnt include stoping the whole offence. I think it could stop one particular play that hurts everyone. The play where the QB hands the ball off to the RB or fakes the handoff and keeps the ball himself. Every time the QB does hand the ball off they run almost half heartedly to one side or the other always away from the RB but they dont run all out as they would if they had the ball, And eventually they all stop and look at the RB to see what happens to the guy with the ball. Once every one figures out that the QB didnt keep the ball they don't worry about him they all go after the RB. I suggest that just like with the option when the QB tosses the ball right before he gets hit and the deffense goes on and tackles him that we do the same thing to tebow every time he runs that play. Have a LB (G williams preferably) go and declete him take his head off and piledrive him to the ground..... Ball or not even if the LB knows he doesnt have the ball have one person (G.W) or any LB assigned to that play every time tebow hands off and then runs like he has the ball that one person doesnt worry about the man with the ball his job is to CRUSH the QB(Tebow) let the killer secondary tackle the RB. The QB's faking like he has the ball so if anyone thinks he has it and floors him there shouldn t be a problem with that. Since I notteiced that most of the time they dont run full speed and really stop looking in front of them but turn to watch the play. I'd say they would be perfact targets for decleting piledriving smashing bashing crushing or any other ing for that matter, And after a few of those smashings I think old urban meyer my think twice about running that play vary often. Or at least it would limit one of the hardest plays to stop. so let me know what everyone think's about that and if there's any rule that would prohibit doing such a thing.............18 hours till kickoff GO VOLS crush the bruins
utkedu writes:
ccVOLS615 - Your idea sounds good, but the problem that I perceive is in the spread offense, in the example you gave, the QB is just handing off the ball. From the standpoint of the rules, this is no different than any other handoff. Once the QB hands the ball off (whether from an eye formation, shot-gun, or any other formation), and starts to pull up, they are generally considered to be out of the play and the hit would likely lead to a 15 yard penalty. Not to mention, these days the QBs are protected more than ever.
With the option, the player is in the process of running the ball and the defense is expected to make an effort to tackle them, whether they are going to pitch the ball or not. That having been said, based on the first game, it looks like Florida may try to run more option this year and I think Tennessee is going to get more shots on Tebow than a lot of the experts are predicting (or at least I hope so).
ccVOLS615 writes:
I hear your logic VOLGRAD and thats what i wanted to know. What the rules where per say. But here's where i think this is not just a hand off after the hand off the QB makes a motion to run as if he still had the ball further more half the time he does keep the ball. So it's my assumption that he's not just standing there and handing the ball off then clearing out of the play he's continuing foward and acting like he still has the ball or keeping the ball and running with it. I would think that those to things would leave him open to being hit. You see RB getting hit all the time when it's thought that they have the ball and that's not a penalty. Also it's the intended trickary to the play that i think make it a differant situation then what the rules are for. I think the rules agaisnt hitting the QB is for when he's in the pocket acting like a QB but when he's in the feild acting like a RB with the ball i would hope he's fair game. I evan understand if there's a slide rule but he's not doing that he's just running into the feild of play as if he had the ball. If that draws a penalty than the rules are not right and weren't made with this style offence in mind. I think that would diffantly be taking advantage of the rules and someone needs to push the envolope and see what happens if they do call a penalty then maybe it would draw attention to the situation and get some rules changed. If your going to let the QB run into the feild and act like he has the ball so that some defenders will chase him but then say they can't hit him cause he's the QB that isn't right. FAGMEYER is taking advantage of the rules and someone needs to make him pay. Thanks for replying the debate goes on........15 and a half hours left GO VOLS
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Ladies and gentleman of UCLA. I would like to introduce you to my good friend, "Behind the woodshed" and his cousin "AAAAHHHHHH!!!"
voltime writes:
The time has come, Go VOLS!!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
I think if they stick to Neyland's maxims they'll be fine - especially the first one (recall 1st play from scrimmage -v- Cal). Go Vols!
seaplane#216536 writes:
It has to start with long kick-offs and good coverage. It was so disappointing last year watching the other team start from our 45 or even at mid field. That wore out the defense with them trying to prevent points on the board.
stlvol writes:
Watermelon Head, I'm glad we have Coach Fulmer. Coach, keep taking the moral high road and lead and inspire by your example. And Fulmer bashers - may I ask a question I've asked on postings before - tell me how much more YOU want to win than Coach Fulmer does?
Vols 32
Bruins 13
threehundredbowler writes:
tnfaninms,not being neg.Just playing with those that are.As for being a fan,well sir,you just don't know .When you have been around the program,been a season ticket holder for 37 years and spend the amount of money that I have donating,then you might know what a fan is.Until you do,I suggest you just stfu.
cpa writes:
If any of you all want to purchase tickets to the UT/Vandy football game in Nashville on Nov. 22 , you will need to go the the Vanderbilt web site to purchase single game football tickets. They went on sale today and nothing is available on the ticketmaster web site. The tickets are $52 each - their highest ticket price. It is not hard to set up an account there and they will mail tickets to you at no charge or you can pick up at Will Call. http://vucommodores.cstv.com/tickets/...
Go Vols!
orangebloodgmc writes:
Thank you folks for all the prayers and good wishes. So far we got past 10 a.m. and still got power, but worst winds not here yet. FWB, we're letting you guys sit this one out.
But I don't mean to jack the thread. I hope the Vols Clawfense tonight shows a good mix of run&pass, and unpredictably so. I hope Foster, Hardesty and Creer all get some carries (and maybe Poole will get a turn next week). Geaux Vawls!
GerryOP writes:
obgmc, not sure whether the KNS email-forwarding is working today. I am set up to burn you a DVD.
Be safe and be well..
orangebloodgmc writes:
A dvd would be great, Gerry. Thanks for thinking about us. Geaux Vawls!
threehundredbowler writes:
GerryOP,that is mighty good of you to help a fellow poster.I am willing to do the same for anyone.No charge of course.
GerryOP writes:
300, any time. Glad to help. We may have differing opinions ... but ... we are ALL Vol fans.
If any of you in the path of Gustav are still online, be safe and be well. Our prayers....
VolFanInAtl writes:
go vols!!!
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