Related
Ohio found a way to move the football against the Tennessee defense like no other opponent this season.
The Bobcats (2-2) rolled up 340 yards of total offense against a seasoned Vols unit that ranked No. 5 in the nation in total defense heading into the night and had held No. 1-ranked Florida to 323 yards the week before.
But Ohio coach Frank Solich said he's not into moral victories after Tennessee scored a 34-23 victory at Neyland Stadium Saturday night.
"You can't count those,'' said Solich, who coached Nebraska to a 31-21 Fiesta Bowl victory over one of the most talented Vols teams in history in 2000. "I'm pleased our kids played really well and at times played hard, but we're trying to build the program to where we can finish these games off.
"To play it close is not a moral victory for us.''
Ohio, a 23-point underdog, had hope until kicker Matt Weller pushed a 32-yard field goal attempt wide with 2:08 remaining.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, the Bobcats narrowly missed an opportunity to close to within 31-27 of the Vols (2-2).
Ohio linebacker Noah Keller had a foot out of bounds when he recovered a Jonathan Crompton fumble, which he returned 46 yards for a TD before the play was reversed via replay.
"It was a close game and we were definitely in it,'' said Keller, who had nine tackles, a sack, and a first-quarter interception that set up a touchdown that put the Bobcats ahead 14-7. "We were expecting them to run it more.
"We knew they had a great O-Line ... we wanted to stop their run game and force them to throw it more.''
Solich said he suspected UT coach Lane Kiffin might come out passing.
"I thought maybe they'd want to work on their passing game,'' Solich said, "maybe get up on us early and put the game away.''
The Bobcats' offense, meanwhile, did its part to keep Ohio in the game with quarterback Theo Scott completing 30-of-52 passes for 319 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
"There was nothing they could do,'' said Bobcats' receiver Taylor Price, who had four catches for 90 yards. "One of their guys, No. 25 (cornerback Art Evans), said we're the best receiving corps they faced this year.
"We knew we could capitalize on some things; the key was to get the ball out quick.''
Solich said he counted on UT defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin bringing a lot of pressure.
"They've got an aggressive defensive front, so they take a lot away,'' Solich said. "But when you are stunting and blitzing as aggressive as they were, you can come up with some things to take advantage of it.''
Ohio threw short routes underneath to beat the pressure along with working the screen game much of the night, converting on seven of 18 third down opportunities.
Price said the Vols started out playing a great deal of zone coverage, but once the Bobcats proved they could find the seams, UT switched to man-to-man coverage.
"We kept making plays,'' Price said. "Middle of the third quarter, they started mixing (the coverages) up.
"I think they took us seriously from the start.''
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 13
UTVOLSFAN4LIFE writes:
It was a sloppy game overall tonight but we will be ready for Auburn. There were some promising things that happened tonight. That hit Jackson made was great. He knocked the sh*t out of that wide receiver. It reminded me of the hit in the endzone during the Florida game. He got rocked by Jackson too. I hope we can get Jackson and Berry knocking wideouts on their as*es in the same game. No receiver would want to run a route. JC did not have a breakout game but there was some improvement. Atleast we had an off game against a weak opponent. I can't wait to see us come out and stick it to Auburn. I look forward to Mccoy, Jackson, Berry, and the rest of the team laying some Tigers out.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
We have to take every team seriously, Mr. Price.
beachvol1 writes:
This was nearly as disappointing as the UCLA game with the exception of getting the win...Team is too conservative on offense and nearly as predictbale as our former coach...If you are afraid to open up the offene with the current qb, then go to your number 2 man at that position and give him a shot..surely can't hurt....crazy play calling in the first half that I have witnesses in some time...this team has no identity whatsoever....Unless something changes drasticly on the offensive side of the ball, Auburn will eat the Vols alive as much I hate to say it...
Fossilfiction writes:
You guys would have loved a win like this last year. Get over it. It was not a pretty win. Its a win. I would rather win like this than lose to teams like Wyoming and Ohio(which we would have last year).
Maybe nobody told you people but this is a rebuilding season. No way around that.
The playcalling probably is predictable because our QB's just cannot do much more than basic plays. That goes for Stevens also. He cannot be that bad? It could not hurt? Yes it could! Stevens was worse in every aspect last year except the int's. Both suck. Deal with it, pull for the Vols, get off your soap-boxes and enjoy a win. Maybe Bray will be one who can step up through for about 250 -300 per game and not throw but 7 int's all year long. Is it a long shot? Yes but it happens every year in college football
LaneTrain writes:
"To play it close is not a moral victory for us.''
I wish some vol fans would have adopted this motto last week. Made us look like Vandy fans saying 'we won'. Well, they lost by almost the same margin, DID OHIO WIN YESTERDAY? By some comments last week, they did. Is Kiffin going to say we all had the flu? He should because that was a lackluster perfomance AGAIN. We are TN, we don't have 'moral victories'.
pammyvol1000 writes:
What happened to our top defense last night. They were wide open all night long with orange all around?
pammyvol1000 writes:
Forgot to mention special teams too! How many teams are going to run a TD on us this year??
Hardesty continues to be the top player for TN.
VolFan21 writes:
Great post. This is a rebuilding year and ive been saying the samething about Stephens. Everyone wants Stephens but tend to forget what he did last year he is not the answer. Some say get him ready for next year yeah lets do that so next year we will have QB play just like this year. The answer at QB is not here right now and i hope bray will be.
LaneTrain writes:
Perhaps we could run WR screens like the first game since this is OHIO we played and not Ohio St. We 'aired it out' against wky. You have to throw a couple deep balls regardless who you are just to stretch the defense. I don't care if we lose by 20 or 10, a loss is still a loss. We should have went for it last week. I guess you are one the 'vandy fans' that considered it a 'win'. Pathetic. Perhaps it is you that is the troll.
givehim6 writes:
Yes, reality bits sometimes, but we have what we have. This is a rebuilding year, and 2010 will be also. I can remember in 98' when "T" started out the season fans were down on him but that worked out well. Crompton is no T, but if he can bumble us into a bowl game, and win it. That's an improvement over last year right?
seventysevenvol writes:
Not sure why you continue to trash talk Vandy...last time I looked, they are 2-2 just like us (Vols). Also, the Florida game is over...move on and quit the personal insults. Concentrate on beating Auburn more and trash talking Vanderbilt less. They're on the schedule...we'll deal with them later.
Go Vols! Beat Auburn!
volbald writes:
There is no UT offense "to open up." Auburn will certainly "open up" on us. Maybe the coaches can figure out a way to keep the came close into the 4th quarter.
ncvol17 writes:
AU will be very tough. We will go in with patched up players who can easily aggravate those injuries...AU started slow then wiped out another mid tier team
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.