A showdown between the nation's No. 1 offense and No. 3 defense sounds like it could tilt either way.
So why is Florida a four-touchdown favorite Saturday when Tennessee visits The Swamp?
The No. 1-ranked Gators lead the nation in total offense. They're averaging 643.5 yards a game after routing Charleston Southern and Troy.
The Vols rank No. 3 in total defense at 134.5 yards per game after crushing Western Kentucky and losing 19-15 to UCLA.
And yet Florida is a 29-point favorite. And some observers wouldn't be surprised if it's even worse - like the 59-20 romp two years ago.
"Opinions are like bellybuttons, everybody's got 'em,'' UT linebacker Nick Reveiz said Monday. "That's what my dad says.
"But we have our own opinion. I'm sure they have theirs in Gainesville. We're just going to play as hard as we can.''
Linebacker LaMarcus Thompson likens it to a heavyweight fight. And he doesn't mean a one-punch knockout.
"We're not going to back down and we know Florida is not going to back down,'' Thompson said.
"Everybody and anybody on any given day, in the SEC, can get beat. It doesn't matter. We'll just go play the best ball we can play.''
Practice Will Tell: Coach Lane Kiffin said he's upset with himself for perhaps misjudging how some banged-up players would hold up against UCLA and won't repeat the mistake at Florida.
Offensive linemen Cody Sullins and Vlad Richard, along with receiver Gerald Jones, played extensively against the Bruins, despite not getting in a lot of practice time.
"We'll find out this week in practice instead of waiting until Saturday to find out if they can't physically do it,'' Kiffin said.
"It's not their fault. It's my fault. They tried to practice and just weren't able to.''
Special Freshman: True freshman Janzen Jackson earned praise from Kiffin after his first start at free safety.
"What blew me away,'' said Kiffin, "was seeing on kickoff coverage Janzen still being the first guy down there after playing almost every snap on defense.
"He's a real special guy. There are a lot of decorated recruits in this class but he might be the best one right now.''
Not Flag Day: Tennessee's only penalties against UCLA were consecutive false-start infractions in field-goal formation. Daniel Lincoln still converted from 31 yards.
"Zero offensive and defensive penalties,'' Kiffin said. "I've never seen that, never been a part of game when that ever happened.''
Long Drive: Kiffin would like to duplicate this clock management at Florida to shorten the game: After UCLA took a 19-10 lead, Tennessee staged two drives that consumed a combined 14:25, sandwiched around a 58-second Bruins possession.
Kiffin said the 17-play drive that ended in a field goal was the longest in the SEC this year. It was followed by a 13-play drive that stopped on fourth-and-goal.
"But championship teams finish,'' he said. We saw that around the country on Saturday.
"We were one yard short of finishing. We'll learn from that and be a better team down the road because of it.''
Brown Update: Defensive tackle Wes Brown "moved around a little bit today,'' Kiffin said Monday.
Brown reinjured his knee in the first half against UCLA.
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Tennessee 73, Georgia 62 men's…
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Comments » 82
rockytopatl writes:
Not a word about the quarterback position. Very interesting....
volcycle writes:
Go Vols!! Beat the Gators!!
VOLS_R_BEST_DEAL_WITH_IT writes:
Lets rally around our players and coaches this week as good fans should. I may not think Crompton is the best quarter back ever but dang it at the end of the day he is still a Volunteer. He is still part of the Vol nation and Vol family. Lets try to be as supportive as possible, and hope he can help us win this week. No negativity is needed.
CRFVols writes:
Wishful thinking....I like it. Stranger things have happened.....we're gonna need Eric Berry and the D to step up and score some points for us though.
Some people are questioning why EB's name hasn't been on the highlight boards yet, but you have to look at the games. EB is successful as far as interceptions when the ball is being aired out.....it hasn't been aired out really in the first two games. It's been more short passes. Just my football opinion. Tebow will air it out and throw those slow flying passes and give EB a chance at it.
VolinCalif writes:
Don't really know what Lane could say. I don't pretend to know how to pick the best QB for this team. The play looked very bad against UCLA but their def. had a little to do with that issue. So I won't knock the Vols about losing until I see how UCLA stacks up the rest of the year. Also lets see how the Vols do in this game, we just may be supprised. We have a good staff and a good team, a little thin but they are pretty good. Lets give them time to grow and maybe last Sat. was what they really needed.
Go Vols you can do it, Miss. did it.
whatcanbrowndoforyou writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Madkels writes:
Answer: Spike their Gatorade before the game. Otherwise, it will be more of the same and it blows.
CRFVols writes:
On the other hand.....I'll copy my post from another article as my answer to how they slow down the Gators.
---My idea, jokingly (kind-of), is to go back to the single wing or an Air Force type offense and run it every play, at least that keeps the ball out of JC's hands, which ultimately means out of the defense's hands. We don't have foster to fumble it anymore, we have a great stable of running backs and speed guys to handle the task.
Here's my stat from last season on UTSports.com that leads me to believe it wouldn't be a bad idea, "The Vols actually outgained the Gators in total offense 258-243 but committed three turnovers."
What have we got to loose, besides every game this year? lol I just pray we don't end up at the end of the season with our biggest hope and bragging right being to beat KY again.
RebelVol writes:
Load up the box and blitz every play. What do we have to lose? Force turnovers. Be as aggressive as possible. We were all over the Prince on saturday against a good UCLA line. An early turnover would be huge. The gators will be playing off too much emotion. If, now that is a big if, we can somehow turn the ball over over early it would do great damage to their psyche and make em play on their heels a little bit. People are forgetting just how physical our D is. Our players have their backs against the wall and will very P.O'ed. I think this will be a very surprising game. Go Vols!
dvols writes:
#3 defense.... vs . what offenses?
Regulator writes:
I think I'm paraphrasing "Any Given Sunday", but the Vols have to make the Gators bleed for every inch they gain on the field. Do that, win the turnover margin, have solid special teams, and come the fourth quarter, MAYBE, just MAYBE, they've made a game of it. If Appalachian State can go win at the Big House, Tennessee can take this group and win in the Swamp. Go Big Orange!!
Elkabong1940 writes:
Maybe all the Gators will come down with the flu!
CRFVols writes:
Lane should call up the coaches at Wyoming and ask how they prepped to come here last year....it obviously helped them to come in and win as a big underdog.
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
Got a of couple questions for you, and I ask this seriously. Do VOLS fans frequent gator boards as much as you do this one? And if so, do they talk trash like you? I have never been to a gator board and don't intend on ever going to one. Just wondering if any UT folks do this.
dvols writes:
what if the raiders win tonight?
bluetick writes:
Put some valium in their gatorade is how we slow them down. Not sure what their rush defense is like since I have not taken time to read it, but I think we run the ball on them pretty good. Going to have to if we plan on getting any first downs. I'm saying 3 picks again this week at least vs fla by crompton. Dude just isn't a QB.
BigOrange93 writes:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/st...
Cromptons starting
Grantham_Vol writes:
I know no one wants to give the guy any credit but Jons got a cannon for an arm. He can make any throw on the field. He just just lacks confidence. I'm sure hearing people ragg him on these message boards doesn't exactly boost his self esteem. The guy hasn't been coached well since coach Cut left. Boring offense or not, coach Cut was good with qb's. Maybe Kiff is on to something. Lets cheer our guys on and hope for the best. If anything we're still rebuilding. We went 5-7 last year and nobody promised any different this year. The recruits are coming and the staff is awesome. Be patient and be true vol fans. We'll be back!
TNPilgrim writes:
Several years ago Bobby Bowden had a good game plan to deal effectively with top rated QBs - hit them hard and often. More often than not it works. Hopefully our defense will punish Timmy the Virgin at every opportunity this Saturday. With a little luck he'll spend the afternoon on the sidelines counting the trainer's fingers and remembering the alphabet. If our defense can play physical and fast enough to keep the game close, who knows what might happen? There have been bigger upsets in college football in recent years: remember Temple over Va.Tech in 1998? They won at Blacksburg in spite of being 35 point underdogs.
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
1.) We need to run a jailbreak screen or two... line up in a shotgun, send Bryce Brown out to the slot. At the snap, the O-Line puts up a momentary token resistance, and then releases as Crompton takes a 5-7 step drop. Then the O-Line gets downfield to take out the linebackers and safeties, while Bryce Brown settles in behind the d-line. Crompton makes a simple rainbow toss over the rushing D-line and Bryce Brown is suddenly behind the entire D-line and maybe a linebacker or two...and he's got a road of blockers in front of him. We'd only have to do that two or three times, and that would calm the pass rush. That would also make the linebackers play more contain on passing plays, giving us a shot at some 15 yard passes over the middle. If they back out of the box, we may have some chances at draw plays and runs out of passing formations. When they try to draw back up, move to play action passes. By the time that's all said and done, Florida would be on their heels on defense.
2.)For our defense... don't wait for Tebow to come bull rushing, be the ones making contact with him. If you have a blindside shot, put the helmet right on the small of the back and make that back pop. When they put Rainey/Demps motioning into the backfield, tighten up the d-line, have the middle linebacker spy, and have LaMarcus Thompson and Rico McCoy collapse in the sides, to contain the play to the middle of the pocket. Nick Reveiz just looks for any hole trying to open, and stuff it. We'll have to have that kind of faith in our d-backs to lock down receivers. And we will need to keep Eric Berry off the line of scrimmage, he's gotta play some centerfield for us.
3.) Either kick the ball out of bounds, or when you have the chance to pin them at about the ten, sky the punt, and have one of our bench guys take Brandon James' head off. The officiating misses block in the back calls all the time on his returns, so we can't count on a clean attempt to tackle him.
4.) Make a statement from minute one. The very first thing we have to do is kill the immediate environment, as the Gators are thinking bloodbath. We have to show them that we are for real, whether it's laying killer licks on their players, or pulling tricks out of our bag on offense and throwing them off. We cannot come in there flat, we're walking into what is essentially a prison (especially considering the trouble the Gators have been in with the law) and we have to find the biggest, baddest dude in there and beat the snot out of him. You don't do that by announcing your intentions, you do it 100% unannounced and in a manner in which they'd never expect it.
It'll take that before I can say that I feel really good about our chances. But when you play a team that's "that good" you don't muscle up to them, you cut their knees out from underneath them, and beat them senseless before they have a chance to get their wits about them.
Down_The_Field writes:
#1 offense.......vs. what defenses?
whatcanbrowndoforyou writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Of course, UT is the underdog and no one expects us to win. Overwhelming odds are that we won't beat UF in The Swamp.
But, that's why they play the game. You never know what will happen.
PlaidinOrangeandWhite writes:
Dude; go back to the Florida boards and you can hire Colonel Sanders to replace Urban next year when he jumps to Notre Dame.
GahLee writes:
Lace their Gatorade with liquid acid?
GahLee writes:
A black hole will form in Oakland, and Al Davis will collapse into an abyss of Members Only jackets.
Voluvr writes:
What does our coaching staff do after losing on Saturday? They go out and get commitments from two of the top DE's in the country and the #1 WR prospect in OK.
They're laying the bricks.
Win or lose, let's bust them in the mouth.( no reference to UCLA's QB intended.)
Stomp Florida.
daniellovesutfootball writes:
Not sure how late this is, but they just reported on the news that Kiffin is going with Crompton Saturday and that Crompton will not be allowed to talk to the media.
I hope Crompton plays better this week and his mind is free and clear of the mental errors he made against UCLA. Either way I will always support my TN Vols and will until the very end!
GO VOLS!
GahLee writes:
Reading through some of your posts, gotta say I like the whole " that's why you play the game " " anything is possible " attitude.
Being honest with yourself, we have no chance what-so-ever.
Hurts to say that, really does, one of you mentioned getting an early turnover and maybe putting the Gators on their heels, we are talking about the same Florida Gators right?
Give props when props are due, they are the most talented team in the game today, we on the other hand, are a few years away from really competing with a team of their caliber.
Florida-31, Tennessee-10
give_him_6 writes:
True words Doc. We didn't get in this shape overnight and Kiff won't fix it overnight. But better days are coming. He keeps lining up the recruits!! Just go down to The Swamp and play hard. that's all we can ask for. Leave it all on the field and you'll be winners!!!
jphilli5#240013 writes:
Belly up to the bar boys. Those Gators might look like the Dalton Boys, and Crompton may be a little wild with his shots during the excitement, but damnit... He is us...He is a vol. he does not suck anymore than we do. Its not his fault. He may not be up to your standards, by God but he starts for our VOLS. Get a little love in your hearts and give him a finking break. Damn he is ours and He will play as best he can. What more do you fruiting expect from anyone in his position. lighten up and GO VOLS! FIGHT FHIGHT FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT!. Do noit need ot offend, but get real its on us now. Lets give it all we can insult them with. They deserve it. NUFF said, I ain't no Rockne, but at least believe it will be a VOLS game. All I ask as do they. Think about it please.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
and....#1 offense vs. what defenses?
smyrnavol writes:
secWoman, couldn't get laid again tonight? Lower your standards and go out with a bammer woman.
WinkeyVol writes:
Make Tebow pay for every pass he throws.Lay the leather to him.Vinnie Testeverde didn't like it at Miami and neither will Tebow. Florida Gators are not invincible. Go Vols!
VOL03_NC writes:
WinkeyVol writes:
Make Tebow pay for every pass he throws.Lay the leather to him.Vinnie Testeverde didn't like it at Miami and neither will Tebow. Florida Gators are not invincible. Go Vols!
.
This is the SEC...stranger things have happened...
GO VOLS!!
smyrnavol writes:
I see it like you call it everytime, and i get dumber by the post. bentoverlaughinglikehell, my sister would kick your aRss! peace princess!!! GO VOLS!!!
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
hey man, we're sorry you have a bad lot in life... but be grateful for lowered standards. If not for them, you wouldn't have even been conceived, and you therefore wouldn't be able to come here and grace us with your thoughts.
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
My empathy for your situation is free... you didn't have to ask for it. Our team is 1-1 right now, they had a bad game, we'll see how they handle it. Couldn't have been any worse than the morning after for your parents.
smyrnavol writes:
my sis said good nite, the lord be with you, and get a life luigi! GO VOLS!!!
newtonrail writes:
What about those illegal downfield receivers?
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
The Gators will be who we thought they were. And that's why we're taking the dang field... Now if you wanna crown them, crown their butts, but they are who we think they are, and I hope we don't let them off the hook.
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
won't be illegal as long as Bryce Brown stays behind the line of scrimmage to catch the ball. It's only ineligible reciever downfield when the pass is thrown beyond the line of scrimmage.
volfanforlife writes:
I got a feelin our d will keep it close, but we have to get some sort of passing game goin if not they will put eleven in the box and say come on! Please kiffen if crompton gets rattled give nick a shot so we can at least say we went down swinging!! GO VOLS!!
dbc5361 writes:
Check out these plays from the UCLA game, what was Kiffin thinking?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR4Gs2...
Razzle writes:
Remember. You heard it here first. Tennessee wins by 3.
CadmiumOchre (Inactive) writes:
What would be great is if this Vols forum was a forum of class. Where none of us respond to classless comments from anyone and stooped to insults (like the reference to lowering standards and sister comments) and actually engaged in intelligent discourse even when disagreeing. This would set us apart from other forums and may prompt even more quality recruits to come to the UT.
Commentary on Crompton: I'm unsure now if he can rise to the occasion but if his coach thinks he can and thus keeps him in the game, I'm all for what those true fans did by chanting Crompton, Crompton! and otherwise cheering him. Doing otherwise sure as heck isn't helping him, the game's progress, the team, the coaches, and certainly not the university. Not to mention illustrating classlessness of UT students and fans.
Commentary on the team: I like what's being said by team members. The impression I get is they plan a game long 'tude of going on the field and playing a full game of serious football even if the stadium is falling down on their heads. I recall a comic book story involving a being from elsewhere called the Champion. He defeated (or had disqualified) the mightiest of the Marvel Comics musclemen--Hulk, Thor, etc). That left it up to Ben Grimm (The Thing) who got beat up BAD BAD BAD, but refused to stay down and kept coming. He told this "Champion", "I'll never give up. I won't be beaten.' Champion stopped and said, "You're right. I can never defeat one such as you who refuses defeat." If I recall right, Ben is recognized as the winner because of his championship spirit and that was what it was essentially about. Funny, The Thing is orange colored too. Sounds like this team has that 'tude and I'm proud of them now and I'll be proud of them even if they come away as 250-0 losers. because I know when it all comes together eventually, they're going to formidable in physical victories a well. They said they won't be backing down and I believe them and while I want a win that reintroduces the Gators to humble pie, I'll also be content that MY team went in, gave it their best shot and left with their heads high because they refused defeat and never gave up, utterly refused to back down.
I honestly think a team's spirit incorporates the quality of its fans. It can begin here on this forum if you choose. We don't need the name calling, the insults and other junk. We just need class. Like someone said, recruits (among others) do check out forums of teams. It's up to us to decide what they see HERE when they do.
iowavol writes:
I thought that one was the #2 TE and the other was the #2 DE from South Carolina. Is that not true?
tngeoff2 writes:
#1 offense against what defenses?
jst4tdyvols writes:
Well said smack them right in the mouth and dont let up we can do this GO VOLS
Mr_Bandman writes:
General Neyland's 7 Maxims
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win. Turnovers---too many, obviously, but ZERO penalties (save the two 5-yarders on the extra point attempt) ?!?!?! How did we lose this game?
2. Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way - SCORE. Well, we did this once...
3. If at first the game - or the breaks - go against you, don't let up... put on more steam.
Yeah...I'm starting to understand....
4. Protect our kickers, our QB, our lead and our ball game. Poor pass protection was an issue....our boy JC just does not hold up well under pressure...
5. Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE. Apparently not....
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made. Aside from the opening kick-off going out of bounds and UCLA getting great field position on their 1st possession, we had a good day here---they missed a field goal...our kicking & punting was solid, and coverage was okay.
7. Carry the fight to our opponent and keep it there for 60 minutes. My head hurts....
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