Quarterback B
Jonathan Crompton made enough throws to win the game. More important, the senior didn't make any that would lose it for Tennessee. Crompton completed half of his 24 attempts in sloppy conditions for 121 yards with two touchdowns, and that was all the Vols really needed.
Running backs A+
Montario Hardesty again was a workhorse, piling up 121 yards on 23 carries and capping off a pair of drives with hard-running touchdowns. Bryce Brown broke a 37-yard run that showed his speed and vision. The fullbacks combined for their best performance of the season as receivers and blockers.
Wide receivers C
The best catches came out of the backfield, and the wide receivers weren't really targeted much. Denarius Moore led the group with three catches for 34 yards. Gerald Jones added two grabs, but the position was mostly used as extra blockers once UT got an early lead.
Offensive line B
The Vols opened up nice holes for Hardesty and largely kept Crompton clean in the pocket as they continue their season-long improvement. They were guilty of a couple false starts, but for the most part coach Lane Kiffin didn't have much to complain about up front.
Defensive Line B+
Dan Williams showed great hustle when he recovered a fumble downfield. The senior was unblockable for much of the game and also had a sack and three quarterback hurries. Wes Brown recovered a fumble. Willie Bohannon had a tackle for a loss.
Linebackers B+
Rico McCoy led the Vols with 10 tackles and forced two fumbles with some help from Savion Frazier, who had seven tackles with a tackle for a loss before getting hurt. McCoy also broke up a pass. Greg King intercepted a pass.
Secondary B
Hard-hitting safety Janzen Jackson had seven tackles and forced a fumble but dropped an interception. Cornerback Dennis Rogan recovered a fumble. Cornerback Marsalous Johnson had a sack. Cornerback Art Evans appeared to be targeted. The Vols gave up 300 yards passing.
Special teams D+
The kickoff coverage was better and David Oku was productive in the return game, but that was about it for positives. The Vols had their third consecutive field goal blocked, Oku mishandled a kickoff and Chad Cunningham appeared to punt the wrong way once. Even Eric Berry chipped in with a facemask penalty on a punt.
Coaching B+
The Vols' pressure package was fantastic. South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia was never comfortable. Lane Kiffin is proving a deft play caller, getting receivers wide open at times.
Overall B+
The black jerseys helped the energy. The Vols responded with heart after a tough loss to Alabama. Running the table suddenly doesn't seem so tough.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 45
Patterson8040 writes:
When was the last time two fullbacks caught a touchdown pass? Anyone have an answer?
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
memphis will be destroyed......with old miss weak showing today, vols will roll in oxford, vanderbilt is well vanderbilt.....watch out for kentucky in lexington lane....
DLuckySeven writes:
Last night in the Tn/SC game was the last time ithappened!
Cromptons1Cuz writes:
4th!
vol98champ writes:
Very generous as opposed to last week. I give an A+ for no turnovers. Garcia was the better QB. Everybody has run on SC. Wide receivers didn't get any separation. OL has the yips inside field goal range, Secondary hits hard but can't cover short passes. Still except for special teams we are a top 10 team.
wayoutwill writes:
Vols run the table!That we even belive that it's possible shows how far we have come.The biggest change has been at Q.B. and it's shades of "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers" as the only explanation concerning who this Q.B. is now compared to who he was during the first part of the season.Special teams is still a letdown,they ran a punt back and we got saved by a penalty.The three turnovers were the only reason that this wasn't a dogfight.I think the Vols have owned the gamecocks for so long that both teams belive that the Vols are destined to win when they meet,even though the Gamecocks should have been a clear favorite,the feeling seemed to be that we were gonna win this game from the onset.It was a strange game,fitting for halloween night.Go Vols!
jimr07 writes:
I love positive posts like this, coach.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
yes sir! look at the score when you take away 3 turnovers in SC's end of field! I don't think the black would of been a good color if not for the turnovers. Ole Miss and kentucky will be hard games to win, just wait and see.
utjammer writes:
Congrats to the Vol's defense for creating turnovers and the offense for converting them into points; which provided enough of a spread to cover up our dismal special teams play. I think a D+ is a very generous grade... try a F-.
Salpointe writes:
I'm realy proud of our quarterback. He didn't have his best game but it was obvious he never got down on himself and he was a positive influence all through the game. I noticed he was even trying to look away from his primary passing targets as the plays got going and before he delivered the ball. Way to go Jon, you're the man! One point though, Jon - watch with your periferal vision how many opposing players are around the ball before you throw it. You are so aggressive and want the completion so badly, I think you sometimes throw caution to the wind and try to force it in. You've got to back off that tendency but you're getting there. Good luck next week!
txvolsfan writes:
I think the secondary played better than the stats, most of the yards came at the end against Tampa 2 zone and prevent. Rogan is looking good and is in good position, even the TD he gave up he was in good position but it was a great throw.
Jantzen is a beast and can separate the receiver and the ball like EB.
GO VOLS
TXVOLSFAN
Elkabong1940 writes:
I'd give coaching an "A+". After the heartbreaking loss to Alabama, this team could have very easily been down and have an off game.
Pompey writes:
yes, before you were born.
GR82BAVOL writes:
I would've given the special teams an better grade. The kick-off coverage was way better. I know they took one to the house, but it got called back...I'd have given them a "C".
I've noticed Crompton is now throwing with some touch; almost too much touch for my liking, but his improvement is a major reason we're getting wins.
Pompey writes:
if you are implying that the turnovers were gifts you were watching a different game than I saw...they resulted from hard hits. Neither Ole Miss or Kentucky are the team that the Vols are...that is true if for coaching alone much less talent.
jet writes:
Well said! those fumbles were caused by beast style hits from a pro style defense. They were no accident or a slippery ball. Good defenses make things happen and good teams capitalize on them. Actually SC was lucky they didn't have more turnovers. GBO!!!
amstelman writes:
The black jerseys alone overcame the bama hangover.
Hardesty's "move" was just wicked! Dan Williams is a monster! Crompton has come back from the living dead! Janzen is a nightmare for any receiver!
Best Halloween any VOL fan has had in a long time.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
One of your better posts, and not ONLY because I agree with nearly everything you said(;-P)!
stratocaster54 writes:
IMHO...
Kicking the Ole' AHole Coach's ranked arse out of the rankings on national TV, priceless!
So starts the slide for USC. Expect them to lose out. Carolina fans call this the 'orange crush' as they usually end their season losing to UT, UF and Clemson.
Remember, you can't spell S U C k w/o USC and you can't spell A S S w/o Steve Spurrier!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
For the most part, Monte's defenses have always been of the "bend but don't break" variety. Besides, if we use the LBs and DBs in rushing the passer, the ones who are left in coverage are covering one-on-one; if they lunge for INTs and miss, the result is a REALLY long gain. Besides, how often did hard hits after catching those short passes result in drops or fumbles?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well said! JC also doesn't seem to have a good QB's "sixth sense" for when he is being pressured. Earlier in his career, he seemed to be spooked by pressure that wasn't really there. He seems to have conquered that to some extent, but he still doesn't always realize when he is being pursued from behind. The fact is that JC has made great strides this year, but he is still something of a work in progress.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Very true! No telling how many national commentators said the team would be down after that tough loss at Bama. I sensed early on that this team would not be subject to the emotional highs and lows that many teams go through. That is just a part of the staff's matter-of-fact, professional approach to the game; concentrate on the essentials and rise above the emotional distractions.
Fossilfiction writes:
Well some of you ever just get of Crompton?! You scream crucify him when he is bad and point out what flaws he has left when does improve. Geez people leave him alone
vol94 writes:
who peed in your corn flakes this morning Mr. Positivity?
CRFVols writes:
I'd give coaching a better grade and I'd give the O line a little better grade....I'd say they played closer to a B+. They were really moving guys off the ball most of the night.
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
A memorable play in the game for me was Crompton's recovery of his own fumble. Blindsided and hammered to the turf, he immediately got back on his feet and into the play to aggressively take back the live ball. I do not recall ever seeing a QB doing that so well as Crompton. Another memorable effort by Crompton was his sideline pass under extreme pressure(I recall it as third and long) to Denarious Moore. I thought it remarkable that Crompton was able to throw the ball away under the circumstances, only to realize that he had thrown a perfect strike to Moore, who made a great play on the ball while closely covered. And hey, the first TD completion to the FB was a thing of beauty, a well executed play by the entire team.
eldr5#344719 writes:
Monte's defense is designed to be a bend-but-not-break, turnover producing scheme. In the NFL his good teams always gave up quite a few yards but held opponents to field goals and was always near the top of the league in forcing turnovers. It seems to be playing out the same way here at UT. It's frustrating to see all those short passes completed on a regular basis but, if you look at it, the defense is has allowed only one TD in the past three games. 0 to Georgia, 0 to Alabama, and 1 to South Carolina. Georgia's only TD was on a kick return. Our defense is doing it differently than the traditional way but you will win a lot of games when you don't give up any TD's.
murrayvol writes:
Enough is all you need.
Jefferies made be wondering about the wisdom of choosing SC at this point. No matter. Play on.
asleep#212036 writes:
Agree completely. NFL defenses generally don't concern themselves with yards, just points. I tell you that D is scary good when we get backed up near the red zone. If I'm not mistaken, in the last 3 games, our red zone has been violated only once, by Bama. Incredible. I'd like to know how many plays over 20 yards we have given up compared to last year. Probably half. I don't know about you but I like our defensive strategies just fine, despite a little slip in the national rankings. Go Vols!!!
tenuscvol writes:
Didn't Georgia also run an int back for a TD?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
So? The discussion was about points given up by the DEFENSE. All points surrendered by a team, including kick returns and defensive scores, are counted against the defensive rankings, making that a highly-misleading indicator of the relative stature of the defense. The previous poster's point was that despite the fact that this year's defense is lower-ranked overall than last year's, it may in fact be better since it has given up so few big plays and many if not most of the points scored against us have NOT been scored against the defense.
VolinCalif writes:
No guys. Crompton didn't just come back. The team has really improved and shown a lot of confidence in Jon's ability. I think Jon was a real victim from fans to players. Lane saw what was happening to a QB he wanted at So. Cal. Jon was just the goat for a lot of the mess the Vols were having. Those days went by by last year.
huntined#565710 writes:
Watched the game with GATOR FAN and he said Dan Williams is a stud and had a great game.
RespectTradition writes:
We played good football. We made plays. We didn't make mistakes. (I know we weren't perfect, but our mistakes were not a habit.) Once we get special teams on the bus with the rest of the players and off the short bus with the other special kids, we will be a genuinely good football team. I love what we have done so far, we just need to keep improving.
Go Vols!
dwa7#337691 writes:
prediction
UT 33
Memphis Tigerless 17
Berry finally gets the 15 yd interception!
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports....
Spikes and Meyer are off topic, but here they are anyways.
FWBVol writes:
I can't answer your question as opposed to last year, but ESPN.com has a blog by Chris Low today stating that our defense has only given up five plays of 25 yards or more, which is the best in the nation.
RJ_Vol writes:
I give the black jerseys an F.
montanavolfan writes:
I have sat and watched Spurrier for years, his confidence and will to win carried the gators to a lot of wins. I have no dobt that fulmer was intimidated by him, heck spurrier owned him. Last night he just looked like a tired, out coached, old man. No longer the boogy man he once was, no one to be afraid of anymore. Life is good.......
VolInSabanLand writes:
I like your way of thinking Volunteer_cowboy. Let's see now, if we take away the Gamecock's points, we'd have won by 31. If we take away Alabama's field goal blocking team, we win comfortably. If we take away crompton's mistakes, a missed kick or two and maybe a UCLA goal line stand, we're top 2 or 3 in the nation. If we take away Tebow and Florida's defense we won that one in a blowout.
Shoot... I can come up with all kinds of "if you took away... scenarios." Unfortunately, all those are part of the game and count. You know what? Some even - imagine this - were caused by one team or the other.
One last example:
If you took a real fan, with knowledge of sports and took away his common sense you'd have...well, er.... maybe you?
Just sayin'
VOLHolla writes:
Coaching was "Fantastic" but only gets a "B+" ?!
Go Figure
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Agreed. After JC's epiphany, whatever its cause, the offense has been steady. Mistakes have been relatively few and minor. More importantly, when they ARE made, they aren't quickly compounded into two or three more. This team is becoming mentally tough in a way we haven't seen around here in far too long.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Good one! Hard to say just what that "cowboy" is "volunteering" FOR, with sentiments like that! Couldn't have anything to do with our Tennessee Volunteers.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
17 points?
maybe Im wrong... but AL and SC didn't score that much on our D...and they are much better.
JAWga only had 19 as well and they are light years ahead of Mempisspanzees..
Just a thought!
My prediction is 44-9
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
(throwing temper tandrem like a 3 year old..I don't wanna chg NO NO No I want I don't want to NO NO NO you cannot make me Our colors have to be the way "I" like them no no no I will not NO NO NO I am not going to take this I WANT FULMER BACK HE always went with the colors I like NO NO NO this is ridiculas I cannot stand this I am going to dress up like a LiL girl and hide in the closet and pout...)
I GIVE THE BLACK JERSEY AN A+
but guess what we don't grade uniforms dude!
I hate to break it to you but Lane is going to change some other things ur not going to like cause he is running it like a buisness!
get over it...what do you wanna win games or not?
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