OXFORD, Miss. -- If the University of Tennessee offensive line was a makeshift dam, it at least temporarily broke Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
UT's defense played a large role in the 42-17 loss at Ole Miss, but the offense didn't sustain the early success that kept the Volunteers close to the Rebels in the first half.
"We had kind of masked some things throughout the year (up front), and we got exposed today," coach Lane Kiffin said. "I've got to do a better job of finding different ways to move the ball."
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Comments » 30
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
more like Def exposed
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
The Goon that threw me out of Neyland for nothing besides standing by the rail last weekend looked like he used to work in a cemetary.
He shall be refered to as Gravedigger in future posts!
just giving a heads-up to the regulars
*thank you kindly
VolunteerLifer writes:
We've been playing with a patchwork O-line all year, without alot of SEC quality talent and hardly any depth. Two of the five starters are walk-ons, and I saw them really struggling yesterday against the terrific front four of Ole Miss. The others had a hard time too.
All of these guys are playing their guts out, and giving their all for UT. The story isn't that they lost yesterday, its that they've had so much success this year with so little to work with. I realize its a transition year, and this line and much of the team will be rebuilt starting at the end of the season. I'm proud of them, and I thank them for getting us through this transition year as well as they have. They have sacrificed greatly in order to lay a foundation for this program's future. I salute them, win or lose.
Psychovol writes:
The O-line looked like boys among men and I lay that squarely at Fulmer's feet. He let the program slip to a level that's unworthy of the great tradition. Kiffin will right the ship but it's going to take time because Fulmer left the coffers empty. I hope he sticks to acting.
orange1207 writes:
It boils down to line play and closing the gaps. I think as a whole our protection on the offensive side of the ball wasn't terribly bad, but were outplayed by a more determined Ole Miss front that got good penetration to ice our run attack. At times Crompton looked as if we could open the run with the pass, but hand it to a deeper Rebel team. They adjusted and played 4 quarters of football on defense! We were out flanked and got spanked. On the defensive side of the ball, I cant recall a back ever putting up those #'s on a Tennessee defense before in recent years. We had no answer for McCluster the speedster. We held Jevon Sneed in check for the most part but I think we should have gone to tighter nickle package and brought up the corners more. More corner blitzes to answer McClusters sideline production. We got beat by a better team, bottom line. The weeks distraction didn't help. It looked as if our boys were getting out of bed during that 1rst series. allowing 60 yards on 4 plays, we were in slow MO! I think the gameplan was a solid one but to no avail. Lets Rally behind our Orange and not overlook Kentucky. They could be a problem! I pray for Thompson's speedy recovery, and our chiefs, Kiffin and staff to get the warriors back on the battle field next week. This is a work in progress. A spanking out behind the shed like this one should inspire, identity and gut check time
mlsoft#228820 writes:
Good post -- I agree completely, especially with the part about the story of this season so far is not what we have not done, but what we have been able to accomplish with a glaring lack of SEC caliber talent, especially in the offensive line, and a lack of depth almost everywhere, considering the injuries we have sustained.
These kids have worked their tails off, and for the most part they have played well in the face of superior size and ability. They deserve praise for that from our fans, not criticism.
Yes, yesterday we were outplayed and out coached, but that thankfully has been the exception, not the rule this year as opposed to recent years past.
mlsoft
halloffamebowler writes:
I believe this is getting old.Maybe you should be thrown off this board,just as you claim to have been thrown out of Newland Stadium.Just my take.
VOLorado writes:
the o line, huh?
i thought maybe mccluster had leprosy or something...
why else would we have kept such a safe distance?
halloffamebowler writes:
He should be good at acting.Acting is pretend.That is how he got by as a Coach the past 10 years.He pretended.
Rugby2 writes:
Bad day at the office for both lines. It will be easy for people to assign blame, that's what it is all about anymore. Find somebody to blame. Guys that made blocks and tackles last week didn't this week. It happens in sports.
Blame if you want, I suppose it's fun for some. I got a feeling next week will be much different. Go Vols!
Give Blood Play Rugby
jsm67vol writes:
Great Post Lifer! You are 100% correct. I doubt another sec team has had the number of walk-ons be regular starters as the Vols have this year. Its really amazing, and a tribute to how well this new staff has done coaching, that these guys have held up as well as they have. Just 2-3 weeks ago UT had the SECs leading rusher behind this makeshift line. I'm with you Lifer, win or lose, this years team has played their guts out for UT and all Vol fans shoud recognize the foundation this group of players have laid for the future. Go Vols, keep fighting and get 2 more wins to finish this season!!!
halloffamebowler writes:
Come on.Kiffin is not the blame for the goings on of last week.Some of you seem to think so.Kids will sometimes go bad ,even when they have had the best leadership possible.Peer pressure,parent control or lack of the same or even the part of the city they grew up in playes a part in things like that.Even kids that are raised in church sometimes fail.However,they don't fail as often as others.We are all subject to failure and must pay the price.Some pay and learn a hard lesson that straightens their life,while some will never learn and will pay the price but continue to do the same thing over again and have to pay again.I hope the lesson is learned and they turn out to be upstanding citizens after this.Christians need to pray for these youngesters while the non christians need to become christians so they will be qualified to pray for them also.
jsm67vol writes:
I believe Kiffin admitted that he put the offense in bad situations and that he has to do a better job of putting them in better situations to have success. When you have a young team and a young coach, things like this are going to happen sometimes. I think these coaches have had this group overachieving most of the season, especially the O-line. Against the rebs, they did not over-achieve. Ive posted on several threads since the game that the Vols feet looked slow on both sides of the ball in this game. Makes me wonder if these guys weren't practiced too hard this week leading up to the game just to try to keep their minds off the Thurs morning incident.
Rugby2 writes:
I know that Meyer, just like every other D1 football coach can't be reponsible for all of the actions of 85 players.
But for all the trouble that UF has had (and UT's history); you have to admit that the 11 months was a pretty good run.
From what I have read there has been plenty of bragging on both sides about their coach. The incessant UT bragging part problably has to do with this being a UT sports site. I could be wrong though.
Give Blood Play Rugby
HollySpringsVOL writes:
So I have to be a "christian" to pray? I think not. That is a really narrow minded point of view. You need a less xenophobic and more informed world view, my friend.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Hmm, interesting perspective from a florida fan. meyer is reponsible for the off field trouble his players keep getting into because he doesn't instill discipline, and players know they can keep getting away with it. Case in pint - a half game suspension for Spikes when at least a full game and more was required to make players understand that dog won't hunt.
Again, I apparently have to repeat to someone as dense as you - Kiffin has yet to discipline these three players. If he lets them go as lightly as meyer would, THEN you can criticise him as being no better than meyer. To criticise him for that now exposes you for what you are, a florida homer who hates on Kiffin with an irrational patch.
Trying to gouge someone's eyes out and then getting a half game punishment DOESN'T change one's perspective, and that's the point. Save your hatred for later gator, and if Kiffin lets these boys off as lightly as meyer, THEN let loose with your predictable, now comical, howls about Kiffin.
VolunteerLifer writes:
You are correct but all of that is irrelevant now. Fulmer is gone, and paid off. That chapter is closed. There's no point in looking back, even if to lay blame. We all know he recruited poorly his last few years. That's why he was fired, in part. Its time we only looked forward, not back. We have two games left this year, hopefully we can win them both, finish 7-5 and go to a bowl and call it a good year for a transition year, and enjoy the beginning of a new cycle in 2010.
tennezz writes:
And you just exposed yourself for the idiot that you are!
gvegasvol writes:
That argument will only go so far on this board. For years I said the same thing about the coach you referred to as a actor earlier. Whenever I said Fulmer could not be responsible for the conduct of the kids I was told I was stupid and it was ALL HIS FAULT. Funny how so very few want to apply the same logic to our new "street cred" coach. I'm guessin' it will take a year or so for people to quit blaming all bad stuff on CPF. BTW, if he were acting like a coach I betting he would have only lasted a couple of years in Knoxville. Things slipped the last few years under him but he was still good for the program - no matter what poeple like you say.
gvegasvol writes:
True - you do not have to be a Christian to pray - just need to be a Christian for God to hear it!
halloffamebowler writes:
dthenc,you have never seen a post where I have said anything about Meyer and the way he handles his players wrongs.However,trying to intentially harm someone does seem to merit more than one half game on the pine.Blind fold yourself and turn off the lights tonight and see what the offended player could have gone through the rest of his life .Away from football,this would have been called an assault with the intention to do bodily harm.If proven,there would then be a police record for the offender as well as some jail time.Kiffin has not made a decision on the attempted robery.Most likely he will not have to.The court system will most likely do that for him.After all,you can't play ball for any University if you are pulling time in the pokey.As for Jackson,even if he is cleared by the investigation,he still must be punished for breaking team rules.I think the rest of this season with probation after would be just.However,my thoughts will not make a difference.I just wish all punishment to fit the crime.Phillip Fulmer should have been more strict when he was head coach.He was way too lenient in my opinion.You see where that got our program and Fulmer.
cobbwebb writes:
one of the best,more reasonable, post i have read on this site in a long time! at least some of us are still able to think rationally! i second your thoughts.
GO BIG ORANGE!!!!
halloffamebowler writes:
I agree except I didn't mean he was not good for our program.He was for ten years or so.It is the last 8 years or so that I was refering to.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
standing by the rail drunk perhaps? had to be doing something obnoxious to the other fans.
cobbwebb writes:
sure the coaches are partly responsible for the conduct of the players! i however put 99% on the players themselves, we call them kids, but give me a break. i think every one of us on this site at the age of 18, knew it would be wrong to try and rob someone, or put someones eye out! i will not make excuses for any of these players! if you are dumb enough to pull a stupid stunt like the ones mentioned, then you should not be representing a major university, whether it be Tennessee, or Florida! these players should be punished to the fullest extent! if a kid gets caught drinking, or out after curfew, even fighting(the good ol' fashion way, with your fist) then you teach them a lesson, and move on! these actions(armed robbery) are inexcusable. the players are the ones responsible, and their parents. i was too afraid of my dad growing up to do something stupid like this! you cant fully blame a coach, kiffin, fulmer meyer, whomever for these actions, only hold the coach accountable for the punishment given! that is silly to even try !
the10sevol writes:
welcome back home, brother 444, can i get a hallelujah? lol...
we've all been edgy the last few days, a good vandy smackdown may be in order to snap us out of it.
GBO
chad_t31 writes:
I was about to say the same thing. You covered it for me, thanks.
mattnchatt writes:
Monte can't stop the spread-option, or wildcat, or whatever it is called. Hope Kentucky doesn't run it with Cobbs and Locke or we'll be exposed again.
Psychovol writes:
Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Nope just standing.
gravedigger likes you to remain seated at all times.
Also as I got myself in abit of a jam with all the replys explaining several times "I was not blocking anybody's view or in the way"
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