Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom said he was proud of his players' efforts Saturday night, it was just a matter of which team made the big plays.
Croom left Neyland Stadium tipping his hat to Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and the Vols after they made those plays to beat his Bulldogs 34-3 Saturday night.
"That's a talented football team,'' Croom said. "In some areas they are not as strong as they usually are, but in some areas they are stronger than they usually are.
"Their kids played hard, fought and made the plays they needed to make.''
Croom said he felt good about the way Mississippi State moved the ball on its opening drive, but the sprained knee that starting QB Tyson Lee suffered at the 9:11 mark of the first quarter disrupted the team's rhythm.
"No question, that injury shook him up a little bit,'' Croom said. "And we saw some things (from Tennessee) we don't normally see.
"They blitzed two guys in one gap, and they were bringing a lot of wholesale blitzes.''
Lee, who finished 12-of-23 passing for 114 yards with three interceptions, missed one series before returning to the game in a knee brace.
He was sacked five times.
Croom said Lee's knee brace led to some adjustments, but Lee said he didn't think it affected his mobility.
"They just did a great job of disguising what they were bringing (blitzes),'' Lee said. "Their secondary was great; their back seven disguised coverages and made great plays.''
Mississippi State offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey said once the Bulldogs fell behind by more than one score, UT defensive coordinator John Chavis got more aggressive.
"They got us behind in the second half, and on early downs we weren't able to run the ball much and a couple of times (versus blitz) we missed the hots (receivers),'' McCorvey said.
"Early on, we were able to move the ball. But then we didn't handle some things up front.''
Croom indicated the "Tampa Two'' defense led to a pair of interceptions in the second half.
McCorvey explained how the coverage disrupted the Bulldogs' pass attack.
"It's a two-deep zone with the mike (middle linebacker) running straight down the middle,'' said McCorvey, who saw UT middle linebacker Ellix Wilson in position to tip two passes that resulted in interceptions.
Added Croom: "It was a guessing game; we couldn't get a pattern on what he (defensive coordinator John Chavis) was doing.''
The UT defense's momentum led to the Vols' offense awakening for 139 yards rushing.
"Their guys were jumping around and the crowd got into it,'' Bulldogs middle linebacker Dominic Douglas said. "We didn't hear much in the first half, but a play here, a play there and their intensity changed.''
Douglas said the offensive line struck him as big in stature compared with other lines State has faced.
"They are real big, but not as fast as other lines we've played,'' he said. "Just big and physical.''
Been There, Done That: McCorvey was on Gene Stallings' coaching staff when Alabama fans got restless, leading to Stallings leaving the program after the 1996 season.
So what does McCorvey think about the criticism the UT coaching staff - of which he was a part of from 1999-2003 - has been taking?
"I'll just say this: I worked with these guys, and I know what kind of coaches and people they are,'' McCorvey said. "You look around and a lot of top programs are struggling, top SEC schools, and defenses are stronger and they are dominating (in the SEC).
"Sometimes when you're down you need to get the right personnel in there. Tennessee has a new offense, and it's a good offense, and sometimes you just need to get the personnel in there to fit it.''
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Comments » 24
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
First?
leepevey writes:
The Terminator has two ways to get you fired. One- He beats you or Two- You beat him and he tells everyone how great your team is. It's still great to have a win.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
The Wizard of Chavis showed some stuff tonight! Well done. The key here is to get ahead so the defense can cut loose.
Don't tell anyone... but bama can be beaten.
Inquisitor writes:
Why does Chavis need to wait til the Vols get a lead to be aggressive with the D? Shouldn't he be aggressive from the get go? I guarantee Bama will be aggressive on both sides of the ball, especially in the first half. Chavis needs to stay in the press box from now on - maybe he was more aggressive because he was up there.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Maybe Majors is right for Christ's sake? It is the defense which makes Fulmer tick! And since 2001(when the Manning people all left, you know the ones that signed while he was at UT), the only other thing it would have, could have been would be Chavis' sitting upstairs? That happened in '01. Could that have been that big a difference? Will Bama see it next week? Will this , is this an X Factor? Will somebody please get down to the bottom of this? Hey and will you Fulmer haters please send John Adams a month's supply of Big Orange underwear to match his Roll Tide undies you sent him last year. And remember, you Fulmer lovers, no man can serve two masters.
fedupvol writes:
I agree with this poster! 4-8 season still in tact.....or maybe even 5-7 with some luck against dores or cats...either way another PATHETIC season due in "large" part to COACHING! Let's see, it has taken 7 games now before anything has finally been figured out???? Maybe???
txvolsfan writes:
I'm VERY disappointed in this season also but you can bet your sweet ARSE I'll be raising the roof next Sat. if we can somehow ruin a perfect season for Satan and his Crimson Tideybowls!!!
GO VOLS
LET'S BEAT THE ODDS AND TAKE THEM DOWN
The last few weeks Al. has looked avg. against avg. teams.
Their offense is doing just enough to win and with our defense that can be dangerous. Granted we will have to score on defense because their defense is stout. BUT lard butt Cody got hurt and may not be there next week!!!
tnbigg writes:
I agree...but let's just take it one game at a time and not start thinking we're in line for the National Championship because we beat the doormat of the SEC. All we proved last night is that we can play better than we have before this year and we are not in possession of last place any more.
wkjq#213863 writes:
Some want to belittle this win because M.S. is not very good. Let me remind you of the UCLA game. Let me remind you that State just beat a pretty good Vandy team. And let me also point out, this wasn't a close game, it was a total beat down. It may not sigal a complete turn around, but it certainly signals a great improvement.
tnbigg writes:
A total beatdown:
1 2 3 4 T
MSU (2-5) 0 3 0 0 3
TENN (3-4) 0 6 7 21 34
One quarter of superior play at the end of a game against the worst team in the SEC does not constitue a "beat down". What were the first three quarters? A warm up for the "beat down"? What? We were duping them for three quarters while we looked unprepared and vulnerable to their pathetic team?
tnbigg writes:
Please...do remind me of the UCLA game...what the heck are you talking about? We lost to some PAC 10 retreads...
Or has this escaped your memory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QayRBR...
richvol writes:
Miss St. twice had receivers open for touchdowns and were overthrown. This was not a beatdown and was a close game except for the two defensive touchdowns.
John Parker Wilson picked us apart last year and Bama's receivers ran wild. Wilson is much better than Lee and their receiving corps has improved as well with the addition of Julio Jones. We will see...
givehim6 writes:
A very go win, in the 2nd half I think adjustments were actually made WOW! Where's that been all season? Just think were UT could be now if Chavis would have been upstairs back at UCLA? Anyway, Do it again next week and so on GO VOLS!
tnbigg writes:
THAT I will agree with. It is the first time this year I have seen half time adjustments by us that worked! If we keep that up...it will help A LOT!
wkjq#213863 writes:
You're right, we did lose to UCLA, that's the point. Now when we big over an SEC team, it's still not good enough. I just wonder what some expect. This was a beat down over an SEC team, those don't come every day. Anyone who expects to go from 2-4 to great in one week (with Fulmer or someone new) is dilusional. When you think consider griping about a 34-3 Beat down of an SEC team, just remember UCLA.
wkjq#213863 writes:
without the 2 defensive TD's it's 20-3, NOT VERY CLOSE. Also, the last time I checked, it's a team game and since the D. is part of the team. WE GET TO COUNT THOSE POINTS, so don't give me that argument.
tnbigg writes:
I see what you were saying now. Good point. Hey...I'm very happy we won...but I can't help but see the truth in the win. It was all about the 4th quarter and nothing else. We came out looking completely unprepared and played three quarters in that vein. Am I glad we won and won big? Heyl yeah! But next week is forboding with the Bammers coming to town and one quarter of outstanding football does not help me feel more confident. If the Bammers jump on us early...it will be a long...long game. If...FOR ONCE...we come out and seem prepared and get the lead...I think that will bolster the players confidence and we'll have a chance...otherwise...we're gonna' get pounded into the dirt...and that is what I believe will happen. I can hope with my heart that we win...but the mind can't bely the truth of what we face with with what we have...
tnbigg writes:
In other words...watch the 1st three quarters and think about it. Then watch the 4th. It was great...but it was only ONE QUARTER OF FOUR THAT MUST BE PLAYED...thank God that wasn't the Bammers last night because we wouldn't have still been hanging around in the 4th quarter with a chance to get it done...
ctexorange writes:
Looks like the fulmer haters need a new coin and 12 step program...........
Take it like men, we won and we won big. I'll bet you all took a few too many swigs out of the brown bag with Johnny.
tnbigg writes:
You're the kind of alleged "true fan" that fuels the anti Phulmer sentiment. Guys like you make guys who wish Tennessee would win rethink their position. If for no other reason that to get rid of the source of your lust and penile envy...and the source of Tennessee footballs sharp decline. Post on...and maybe we'll her ya' bragging next week...maybe not. But it is doubtful...so brag away Mr. Brilliant Phil-Osopher...whether it's this week...the next...or the next...he's going out...the more we lose the bigger the disgrace...adios Phil and all the big mouth Phil-Osophers...Judgement is day is nighe...
wkjq#213863 writes:
Not so sure I agree with unprepared. We had 1 penalty(pass int on an uncatchable ball, out of bounds) and NO turnovers. I agree we must play better to beat Bama, but I think this was a step in the right direction.
VolNWA writes:
Not that it means anything... But Mississippi State did manage to beat Vanderbilt
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We are righting this ship. We've done this before only to have it immediately lean in the other direction.
Now which rail do we need to stand against?
Or do we run from side to side scanning the charts as we go?
Bama should clear the picture, one side or the other.
Reality can be a eye-opener.
Colliervol writes:
"This team is not as talented as past teams."
I certainly agree with that. And whose fault would that be?
We got by for many years on superior talent even though we had less than superior coaching. When you combine lesser talent with that same coaching, well, the results speak for themselves.
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