Tennessee finally gets to turn its attention to an opponent.
In the process, the Vols are hoping to find out a lot more about themselves.
For all intents and purposes, coach Derek Dooley's first training camp is over at UT. After a productive spring and a grueling month of August in the sun, at last he's got a real game to prepare for at the end of the week. And though Saturday's season opener against UT Martin is nowhere near the toughest date on the schedule, it will at least provide a litmus test of what the Vols are actually working with this season - both on the field and in the booth.
"I think from a day-to-day work standpoint, (the coaching chemistry) has been phenomenal," Dooley said after Wednesday's mock game. "What is not there yet are all the things that come up (during a game). 'Holy smokes, we didn't talk about that. How are we going to handle that?' It's just the newness, and it takes a full year of going through it to really iron out the little things out there.
"Where you're really going to see it is when it gets a little thick out there, fans are screaming, we're struggling, coordinators are screaming on the headset, head coach is screaming on the headset, that's where it's important. I've said that a million times and we talk about, boy, we've got great leaders or we've got a great team. We don't know until it gets thick. When it gets thick, how everybody handles it and works together to solve the problem is when you know you've got something."
The Skyhawks aren't likely to cause as many issues as Oregon or Florida over the following two weeks for UT, though kicking off with the Football Championship Subdivision member should give it a chance to iron out the kinks without as much pressure.
Dooley tried to get a jump on that with the mock game last week, testing out the communication between the coaches, acclimating the players to the timing before the game and even drilling them on the pregame traditions. All of that could make the transition to a live game day smoother for such an inexperienced team, though the Vols have been short about 100,000 fans, a band and an actual opponent during camp.
"We're right in the middle," Dooley said. "We're not where we want to be schematically, but we're doing enough that we ought to be able to move the football - and the same thing on defense. I think on defense we're probably doing more schematically - disguise, stem, blitz, pressure - than what we're doing on offense.
"(That's partially due to) a lot of youth, and I think it's not as much defensively. We're doing more, but then you've got to be able to react to all those things to what the offense brings you. That's the challenge."
The Vols will no doubt face bigger ones than UT Martin during Dooley's debut season.
But the first one is almost here, and the preparation kicks into high gear today.
"I've felt like we made progress every day, I really have," Dooley said. "Of course, our first trial is next Saturday. That's really what matters.
"That's when we'll find out."
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Comments » 73
a330m#650327 writes:
I am ready for the season
Mommasboy writes:
I am trying to figure out how we don't start out this season 2-6. Does anybody think we are going to beat SC or Oregon?
RespectTradition writes:
I am sooooooo having trouble waiting. It's like some weird contradiction. Saturday is just around the corner, but at the same time it seems so far away!
Aaaarrrrggghhhh!!!!
OK, I'm over it!
...for the moment...
Go Vols!
vol4gzus writes:
Yes..yes..heading to Rocky Top on Friday aft to get ready to battle Rowan & Martin on the gridiron. Gettin' cited because it's Tennessee football time regardless of the opponent. The bar will get raised in two weeks by the #8 Ducks(mrducks..not said as mister,but M R ducks!) Play one at a time and keep improving...Good ole Rocky Top......
FEARinSEC writes:
I think UT could beat anyone on any given Saturday.... Call me a true fan if you must....
TennesseeTodd writes:
Yea I do
Psychovol writes:
Oregon could be jet lagged and is breaking in a new QB also. SC has it's own problems and may have it's annual late season swoon. GA can be gotten and LSU is vulnerable also. The Vols will have chances but they'll have to capitalize on them.
VolGrad writes:
This story sounds familiar.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Yes, I fully believe we can and will be SC, and Oregon is coming in with a guy starting for the first time this year and if the crowd shows up and does it part, it could very well be like when Cal came in with a QB making his first rd start a few seasons ago and we were supposed to be beat in that game after a bad year. Plus, we have the DC that compeltely shut down Oregon last year with 'lower rated' guys (as far as recuiting classes/stars go) at Boise St.
Not to mention LSU was almost beat by Dooley's LA Tech team last year and they are having QB, RB, and LB questions after having the lowest scoring SEC team last year and UGA has had issues playing us lately, the last 4 or 5 years, with the exception of Cromptoms junior year.
BleedsOrangeinMO writes:
When your back is against the wall there's no where to go but forward. True we may lose some games this year however, every game provides more experience for this young group. What we have coming in next year (that we know of) will help out immensely (depth wise). I see a bright future. And as long as we keep getting players with the correct attitude (see above) we will be just fine.
GO VOLS!!! WE ARE UT!!!
andy112382#209793 writes:
One thing people don't ask is....what is this o-line or some of the young DTs do step up and prove to be solid? Given their youth, we'd be in great shape with a junior and freshman QB set for the coming years (and another in Worley) plus youth behind Jones and Moore at WR and some good young RBs.....never know until they play!
ncvolfan58 writes:
GO VOLS!!!!
mdvol writes:
You bet I do....
We are going to surprise some damn people.
We will upset either Florida or Alabama.
Ayres_Hall writes:
Beat SC? Yes, I fully expect to beat SC. And I won't be surprised if we beat Oregon, but then ask me again next week.
I like the confidence, so far.
volpreacher writes:
How come only you and I believe this. We will beat one of the big boys and if we stay healthy could pull off both. We played both close last year and I have to believe we are more fundamentally sound this year than last. I believe our line will be better than most people think, our backs are good, our defense I believe will be stout. Simms will be a good qb with Bray getting some experience. 8 or 9 wins IMO.
PennVol writes:
If we play good defense, anything can happen in any game. I hope Coach Wilcox is the real deal and can scheme and make good adjustments during the game.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
This will be a 30 pt. win. I hope we can play the 2nd team at least a half to get them some experience. We need to develop depth badly.
FWBVol writes:
Mommasboy, anyone that has ever strapped it on at any level of football will tell you that anything is possible when the lights come on. And beating Oregon and SC isn't that much of a stretch.
Oregon has a new starting QB making his first road start in Neyland. If things really play out for Tennessee it will be about 90 degrees with 70 percent humidity and the boys from the great northwest will wilt like week-old lettuce.
There's not a game on the schedule that we can't win if everything falls into place. The main thing we have to avoid are injuries that will expose our lack of depth at certain positions.
That said, remembering what Appy State did to Michigan a few years ago, there's also not a game on our schedule that is a guaranteed win.
I still like our chances of going 8-4 or 9-3.
jimr07 writes:
that is why they play the games.
orangeman1 writes:
I think realistically UT should beat KY,Vandy , Uab,Memphis, and UTMartin. They have a good shot vs Georgia,S.C., and OleMiss, but if they pull off just one of those upsets they should be 6-6. It would be nice if they exceeded that though.
Take_Back_Knoxville writes:
If we (all) show up and defeat Oregon the sky's the limit. We will defeat Florida with confidence at home as well as UAB and start the season off 4-0. I say we'll drop the road games to LSU and SC. We'll lose to Bama and one other team, possibly Kentucky, ending the steak. I'll take it though if we can go 8-4.
RoadTrip writes:
That's because it is - a rerun for the most part.
rootin4volz writes:
Here's hoping Fulmer's old adage that the greatest improvement in a team happens between the first and second game, especially with highly ranked teams on the horizon after UT-Martin.
NoSirRee writes:
Dooley waiting for things to get thick?
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!
WinkeyVol writes:
I have read about Tennessee Football til I had to get my glasses changed. I can hardly wait for it to begin and have something new to read and talk about.Finally,something on TV worth watching. College Football. It don't get no better than that.Fire Up Vols!
VOL1SG writes:
Am I wrong or is kickoff at 6 p.m. eastern? If so, that means the quacks would be playing at 3 p.m. their time. At least I hope so, because I live in Seattle and do not want to turn it on an hour late. With that being said, they will probably fly in the day prior. They are going to hit the sack, but their body clocks will say it is still time to party. They have to wake up in the morning for the game which will be 3 hours ahead of when they usually get up.
GO VOLS!!
volman2010 writes:
guys relax..Ut wins at least 9 games..i would bet 1000 on that
keepitreal4vols writes:
Hey Dummy, are you playing the XBox NCAA football 2010 demo game again? You shouldn't be taking the computers version so seriously.
BTW, contrary to what your video game says, Bryce Brown no longer plays for UT.
halloffamebowler writes:
You are $99,ooo.oo short of what you were willing to bet yesterday.What happened? Did you go to Burger King last night and are now running short on money.Stop offering to bet money you don't have.Besides,some one actually took you up on the $100,000.00 bet but you never responded to him.Yesterday you were saying we would go 10-1 playing a 12 game schedule.I believe you are the true Mouth Of The South.
sol_way writes:
your jet lag theory is very interresting and makes good sense, i guess i really never thought about it like that
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I agree corch Dooley that the water will get deep adder the Skyhawks.
Mixing up the first batch of koolade.
nocleats writes:
Attack Attack Attack ! Trample the Weak and Hurdle the Dead!!!, Pull a #9 on em!
gnm53108 writes:
First batch?
You got some catching up to do pd.
OTPVol writes:
Guess what? Everybody's undefeated right now. And I too, wearing orange blinders, fully expect to win the game every time we take the field, but I love our team, win or lose, always will.
gvegasvol writes:
Now that's funny! Starting the week out good!!!
VAVol writes:
Just win, baby...
Brillovol writes:
Like you, I've got the feeling we start of strong and finish weaker due to lack of depth. I'll stick with 7-4.
Brillovol writes:
I must be stuck on an 11 game schedule. 7-5.
tnsportsman writes:
BINGO FWBVol!
At least 8 wins BOOK IT! I too think we can knock off one of the 3 SEC Teams either the Swamp Lizzards, LSU or Alabubba.
IMO, OR is the confidence building and swing game we need. Long range forecast is 90 degrees and 80 percent humidity for the OR game, YES!
Leaving Brentwood Friday for Neyland and can't wait!
Let's put the women and children to bed and go hunting dinner! ITS FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
GO VOLS, WE ARE UT!
tnsportsman writes:
IMO, CDD learned playing 60 minutes while working 7 years with Saban. At LSU Saban said after a blow out, 'I don't know what they were doing, but we play football for 60 minutes'
Hope CDD does exactly that!
GO VOLS, WE ARE UT!
VOL1SG writes:
I am wrong. Looking at the wrong game. But I still think the time change is going to hurt them. I hate traveling east, stay up late and wake up late for three days.
GO VOLS!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Speaking of watching football on TV, I have heard that Time-Warner Cable and the Disney corporation that owns ABC and ESPN are in a major rate dispute in which Disney has threatened to withhold their channels from TWC. I know the K'ville area mostly has Comcast and a few Knology subscribers, plus the satellite services of course, but many of us in other areas have only TWC as a cable service. A TWC ad running in my local paper says that Disney has already pulled the plug on at least one other cable service and one satellite provider. Does anybody know anything more about this?
I confess I don't know much about the economics of TV these days, but it seems silly to me that a Disney company--ESPN--would shell out all that money to buy rights to show college sports and then their parent company would yank the games from millions of their potential viewers. Can anybody help me out here?
Mule_Days_King writes:
The over/under on stupid a** posts from you today is 6.
Enjoy the beatdown from Northwestern in that half-empty high school stadium.
illinoisvolfan writes:
M R Ducks
M R Not Ducks
O S A R
O I C D Ducks...GBO!!
Tennfan4075 writes:
While your analysis of SC, Oregon and LSU maybe correct, lets not forget the Vols have untested QB, RB, OL, need I say more?
nocleats writes:
I stand corrected. Its not a # 9, its a # 6 (see Blazing Saddles per Taggart)
gnm53108 writes:
Does Mongo have any eligability?
He'd make a pretty good dt.
snuffysmiff writes:
IMHO the jet lag thing for the Oregon game is not gonna be in play. Reason is, not enough time zones to make that much difference. It's not like making an overseas flight where you cross five or more time zones.
BigOrangeSlim writes:
The way I see it in a rebuilding year your gonna beat a couple your not suppose to and you might lose one your not suppose to. I really think 6-6 or 7-5 by years end, but we have to be patient. If at the end of the year were 3-9 we still have the right coach and are headed in the right direction. The future is so bright we will all need shades!
gnm53108 writes:
I remember winning the next 13 games after that.
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