Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Oregon
- When: Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010, 7 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: $60
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
Justin Wilcox is always looking for perfect execution.
That goal doesn't change based on the opponent, though there are certainly some foes the Tennessee defensive coordinator will face where he might not actually need it to win.
Clearly No. 7 Oregon (1-0) doesn't fall into that category heading into today's showdown with the Vols (1-0) at Neyland Stadium (TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m.), and Wilcox hasn't left any wiggle room with his expectations for a defense trying to slow down the Ducks and their relentless spread-option offense.
"When the quarterback runs, you're 11-on-11, that's just simple math," Wilcox said. "Everybody's got a job to do, and if you don't do that, that's where you give up those explosive plays. That's what we've got to limit.
"That's what makes it tough. Everybody's got to be right. You can't be 10 out of 11 on defense. You've got to bat 1.000 against these teams. Simple concept, hard to do."
Wilcox has done his part to make it hard on the Ducks schematically over the last couple seasons as well, beating them twice as an assistant with Boise State to throw his name in the ring among the best coordinators in the country.
He's said on several occasions that there's no magic formula for grounding the Ducks, but throughout the week the Vols seemed to be hammering home three key areas of emphasis that might help spring the upset.
Play smart
Chris Walker could be lining up in any number of places on the field, which would potentially give him a different job to do on each snap.
But whatever it is he's supposed to do, the Tennessee defensive end is well aware what will happen if it doesn't get done.
"It's going to come down to - if I have the dive (play), I have to take it," Walker said. "If I don't, it'll go 90 yards. That's what we've been working really hard on is knowing what we have in every situation."
What makes the Ducks so dangerous is that the situations can all look familiar based on the looks they give a defense.
But with threats all over the field and sleight of hand helping get those players in space, trying to follow the football can produce the same result as a blown assignment.
"You can think the quarterback has it and go take him, and then it'll be 90 to the house," Walker said. "You have to do your responsibility, you have to trust your teammates and know that when you have dive, they have quarterback, and if the quarterback takes it, they're going to be on the quarterback.
"It's all about trusting your teammates and knowing they're going to do their job."
Play fast
Mastering the job is one thing. Making sure UT is ready to do it again quickly is the other.
The Ducks don't waste time, and their up-tempo pace can create just as much confusion as the offense itself.
"Man, they ran like 101 plays last week," safety Janzen Jackson said. "The most plays I ever ran was like 80-something against Auburn last year. We're going to have to get right for Oregon.
"You've got to practice that tempo. When you're in practice, you've got to practice that up-speed tempo and it's going to try to get you ready for Oregon, but the scout team ain't as fast as them boys."
Play hard
The Vols are an underdog for a reason, and Nick Reveiz is aware of that.
Oregon is the more talented team, and the senior linebacker is fine with that as well.
"I really don't mind the knock of people saying we have less ability or things like that," Reveiz said. "I kind of feel like that's something that's been all my life since I came out of the womb. Out of the womb I was too small, too short or too slow, but I feel like football is about a lot more than that.
"It's about heart, and that's something that at the end of the day, if you've got heart, I'd rather win with heart than ability."
The Vols will need a quick tempo and attention to detail also. And Wilcox has made clear what he wants their batting average to be against the Ducks.
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Comments » 69
mdvol writes:
Ducks this week - WIN
Gators next week - WIN
PETA will hate us!
Too bad!!!
It's gonna get CRAZY around here!!!
We are going to surprise some damn people.
We will upset either Florida or Alabama.
LifeIsOrange writes:
FIRED UP AND READY !!!!!!!
ODucks writes:
Boy, this is going to be one heck'uv a game, can't wait. May the best team win.
GO DUCKS!!!
kfa1979#319418 writes:
Reviez is right! Heart can take this team a long way....but we have to catch a few breaks also.
tnsportsman writes:
YOU GO NICK! The Big Orange has HEART!
LETS GET IT UP AND MAKE NEYLAND CRAZY!
IMO, UT 35 - ducks 31. We win it late, real late, so play 60 minutes!
GO VOLS, WE ARE UT!
movol77 writes:
Forecast is cloud-to-DC lightning.
volfaninohio writes:
Watched both teams last week. Had to catch both on ppv. This is going to be a good game. The Vols are young and our offense is going to have to control the clock and slow it down. It will be a true test of how this team will play when they get into the heart of their SEC schedule. Good offense game and ball control we could win.
Can't wait until tomorrow. G.B.O.
Big_Orange writes:
Rain tomorrow might work to our advantage
EverybodyDuck writes:
Rain? Did you say rain? The Ducks wouldn't know anything about playing in a place where it rains all the time. And, here we were hoping to get out of that kind of weather and get some southern sunshine. Having the same kind of weather doesn't make us sisters or anything like that, does it? (JK)
ODucks writes:
Since this article is about perfection, I'll bet the Ducks score within two minutes of their first posession.
GO DUCKS!!!
West10VolNHouston writes:
Wow, I have to admit, I have not been this excited about a non conference game since we played Miami in 2003. But not necessarily for the same reason. We were playing a team that had just made back to back national championship appearances. A program that had won 5 national championships the span of 20 years. We had a score to settle, and it got settled on a warm, muggy South Florida Saturday! We got even for the 2002 season when everybody but the water boy was injured, and the mighty Canes' got the victory in Neyland. Fast forward to saturday, September the 11th, 2010. With a young bunch, at home , we have been placed as a 13 1/2 point dog to a team whose tradition is about as long as the last strip on the roll of toilet paper! Yes people Oregon has a good team, and I will give them credit for that. But after reviewing www.oneclicksportsnow.com I am fired up from the complete disregard for the program, and how "easily" the Ducks fans think they will discard of us! 42-17, 44-10? True the spread option can be difficult, but I believe Coach Wilcox will have us prepared. Play the assignments and we should be fine on that side, the only concern would be the tempo that they will attempt to play with on offense. They got 101 snaps last week on offense!Have to pick up a ton of first downs to run that many plays. We've got better athletes than Boise State does on defense (See Coach Wilcox)! They can't however,run that many snaps if our offense is able to impose our will in the ground game, and Sims makes key throws to move the chains!They are also quacking about how much speed they have. Well congratulations, and let our defense be the first to welcome all that speed to a face full of Neyland Stadium Turf on Saturday! Speed, that word is normal in our league! Dont forget, this is the fastest league in the country and we recruit speed as well. They even have an article in on their site asking, and I quote, "Will Tennessee put up a fight?" Are you serious?" I'm sure by now the players are tired of hearing that they have absolutely no shot, and have a lot to prove, on a national stage! Win or lose, we will fight for 4 quarters! To the fans attending the game: make it as rowdy as possible in there tomorrow! To the Oregon Ducks and their fans: Save that last strip of toilet paper. If you are not on your A+ game tomorrow(and something about your starting QB says you wont be) you may need it to wipe the tears away after being upset by a young, but talented bunch of Volunteers with a whole lot to prove!
mtowntim writes:
Damn straight, this is going be one hell of a game.
Hopefully, no injuries on either side and ALL fans be safe in their travels.
27 - 24 VOLS in the fourth
GO VOLS!!!
crzyivan writes:
All you Quacks don't have a clue. Tired of your smack on a fellow SEC team. You don't have a clue what you have gotten yourself into! We (SEC) have your number! As far as a National Championship that I see on your useless blogs AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN! You Vols better be loud and proud tomorrow! We got your back!
buford134 writes:
45-12 ducks,clean game well fought, no injuries. shake hands and go prepare for gator bait. good luck you guys, can't wait until u come to oregon for revenge
I_Bleed_Orange423 writes:
Rain may not make all that much of a difference but rain is more of a help for Tennessee.
everydayisorange writes:
I know this is of topic, but maybe some one out there can help me out. I have been looking every where for a starting lineup of UO to see how they line up against TN. I just can"t find it, any one got an idea for me?
everydayisorange writes:
thanks RR
NorthwestVol writes:
Dang. And I wondered why the Huskies hated you guys so much.
NorthwestVol writes:
Pot calling the kettle....
EverybodyDuck writes:
Real grass, did I hear Real Grass? Got some. You are talking OG Kush, Chemdawg, little purp, and that sort of thing, right?
At Oregon, we do not want our players on real grass. That is why Masoli now plays in the SEC, he likes real grass.
And, if it's raining and you are on real grass, absolutely do not drive.
The stats from last year and the last decade are meant to convey what exactly? I gathered the message was Tenn should have played us in the last ten years if they wanted to have more of a chance.
Current stats in the NCAA are, Oregon #1 Offense. Oregon #1 Defense.
Our defensive plan against you is simple. Stop the Run. Stop the Run. Stop the Run.
Offensively, we will, Run the Ball, Run the Ball, Run the Ball.
Come to think of it, we are pretty base for the #7 team in the country.
Plan the work, work the plan, WIN THE DAY!
UTByrd writes:
That's what I'm talking about. SEC, baby!
It's time for the VOLS to represent their Nation as well as the SEC.
No matter what happens Saturday, I know I'm going to feel proud.
Go VOLS!!!!!
EverybodyDuck writes:
"Speed, that word is normal in our league!"
Technically, it's call methamphetamine. And, you really shouldn't be doing that. And, certainly not in combination with your real grass.
When everyone in the country talks about the team speed of Oregon, that is not to say your team is slow. Your team is fast, mine, maybe a little faster. Oregon is not the one claiming all this speed. It is other coaches, well, like Wilcox today. " I had to keep replaying Lamichael James because I couldn't believe it wasn't on fast forward".
There is an element of truth to the rumor that Oregon has team speed and they play fast in every facet of the game. So does Tenn, except they can't get a snap off every 10 seconds, which frankly, sometimes I find it exhausting to watch.
The upside to Tenn of all this is you will get to have the ball a lot. No worries.
QuackQuack writes:
Sorry for invading your forum Vols. I just want to Quack-Off a couple of honest contentions. First off, Josh Wilcox is one of my favorite defensive Ducks of all time, so if he succeeds I won't be bitter after tomorrow. Second, if we don't absolutely destroy your team, then the Ducks are completely over-rated. I am not predicting that we will destroy the Vols, just that the hype states that they must do so to remain relevant on a national stage. The only tradition we really have comes from this decade, where we have either been srewed over or choked year after year. To those posters that are touting the rain as an advantage over the Oregon-Effing-Ducks, it is people like you that give Yankees the opinion that Southerners are stupid. Aside from that I look forward to hearing Rocky Top tomorrow as it is truly the best fight song in sports, and I will be looking for some upset wins for the Vols in SEC conference play. Good luck this season, and thanks for tolerating the amount of Duck droppings this week.
SnAp1978 writes:
Name your price
OrangePsyched writes:
Will be one of the most entertaining games on TV tomorrow. Honestly..I won't be surprized if we win and I won't be surprized if we lose. We have less margin for error than UO I admit. I think a big key is our corners being successful with man coverage allowing our safeties to help stop the running game. ROCKY TOP!
ViperOrange writes:
Bring on the Ducks. I'm ready for some Tennessee Football, we'll talk all the bullsmack later. GBO!
LifeIsGreen writes:
Folks in SEC country... It's great to be a DUCK! To be as objective as I can be (sitting here in my "O" shirt and sipping a wonderful Oregon Pinot)... I think the speed of the game will overcome whatever the Vols have to offer. You haven't seen a real game until you've witnessed the breathtaking speed of the Oregon offense...AND defense... and we have nearly all starters returning from last year. As long as DT doesn't make too many mistakes, I predict about a 10-pt win for the boys in Green-n-Gold.
Darn, this Pinot keeps getting better with each glass! :-)
EverybodyDuck writes:
Hmm. Of the six teams you list, only one is ranked higher than the Ducks. Guess the others must not be that much better, ya think?
Not our game of the year, we treat each game as the most important game of all time. Hey, you should thank Oregon, without us you would be on the radio only again this week. Espn is there, because Oregon is there.
Despite your pretending this is just another game, this game is huge for Tenn. The entire pride of the SEC is riding on this game. Your storied tradition, your rise from the once proud but fallen program, is riding on this game.
This game is bigger for Tenn than it is for Oregon. But, don't tell the players that, we want them to stay focused and motivated.
Oh, and Auburn is not impressive, LSU limped by a crippled opponent, Florida is in chaos post Tebow, Georgia loses players on a daily basis, Arkansas has not proven elite, all of which leaves Alabama, and their schedule doesn't look too tough.
I would rather play your schedule than face everyone in the PAC 10.
We'll compare how Oregon does at your House with all those juggernauts you have in there this year.
DuckingtheTrend writes:
To my knowledge the title isn't on the line Saturday night, so you can take your NCs and slow your roll. Crzyivan, what horse do you have in this race; are you a disgruntled Vandy fan???? I love when Southerns pound their chests over SEC Football, you believe all the National Media. Out West where real football is played, people laugh at the SEC. "We play real football in the South". Yeah like Thursday night's 17-14 snooze fest between the Tigers and the Dogs. ZZZZZ.
DuckingtheTrend writes:
Hey did you count Alabama-Birmingham coming in Neyland. Those Blazers are a top-notch Conference USA opponent. Its get well game, after the Gators get done showing them week two of the Spread Offense. Go Ducks WIN THE DAY!
CroKev writes:
Dear Vols,
Did any of you go to UT Martin's blog sites and spout off during the week before the game? Will you do so before we play UAB? I thought so. And yet the "Mighty Ducks" are coming to UT's site and talking trash. It seems they are not as confident about the win this week as their posts convey. How can a #7 in the country be so nervous against a team not ranked in the top 50? And yet they're thumping their chests on this site. Do I sense a bit of anxiety on the Quackers' part?
CroKev writes:
Come on BodyOdorDuck, "everybody" knows this is the height of the season for the Oregon faithful. You are the cream of the PAC-10 with only 2 other ranked teams in the PAC-10 (again, Stanford barely made it at #25). The SEC has 7 (Yes, you read that correctly and it seems to be the case year in and year out) teams ranked. BTW, if we beat you that will make it 8 ranked teams.
Here's another thought for you. If Boise State wins out their schedule, they will be in the NC game. Now the knock against them is that they have a pathetically easy schedule. They only play one ranked team (#10 VT). If you guys finally go undefeated this year, you will not be able to say you deserve it more than Boise because you guys only play 2 ranked teams and they are only ranked 16th and 25th. Thus, as pathetic as Boise's schedule is, yours is worse.
UT is down this year but we'll be back. We toughen ourselves by regularly playing Florida, Bama, UGA, LSU, Auburn, etc. You guys, like Boise, basically have to get up for just one game every year and then, if history serves as a reminder, you usually choke to an unranked team somewhere along the way. Here's hoping that it's UT this year!
CroKev writes:
You know, I have to admit that I've liked the Gators in the past. Nobody liked Spurrier but at least he didn't run from anybody. I've just looked at UF's schedule and you played Miami, Ohio (and you embarrassed yourselves and the SEC that day), today you play South Florida, and later in the season you play Appalachian State. You actually provide fodder for the trolling Duck fans. UT, on the other hand, is playing #7 Oregon (a team that was 7 places behind you in the polls but is now ahead of you because of your embarrassing "victory" last week). Keep it real DC.
DuckIt writes:
Duck
SpiralBound writes:
It appears to me that Florida has some catching up to do in the "Cretinous Fan" department? I'm a true UT fan who likes to keep to himself, hope for the best, and pray his Vols let their games do the talking for him. I tend to keep my mouth shut but after the comments I've read, I AM READY TO WHOOP SOMEBODY'S TAIL!
If you're wearing green and/or yellow to tomorrow's football game, you had better walk softly and bite that tongue because I promise this: If you think we, collectively, are rednecks...I can and WILL prove that this man is FAR, FAR beyond the "redneck" point.
*EXHALE*
With that said I'd like to wish everyone a safe trip to the game and back to their respective homes. I pray that all the players and coaches have a clean, safe, entertaining game.
V-O-L-S GO VOLS GO!
jcp201 writes:
This is exactly how it is. I have high hopes.. GO VOLS...
volfan2002 writes:
The best defense is a great offense and we need our offense to play great today and limit Oregon's field time. We need some long drives with a lot of plays. They can't score If they don't have the ball. So we need to win the turnover battle and control the ball to win.
VolFanInTheBoro writes:
I wonder if the Mighty Gators will be able to snap the ball. What did they have? about 26 yards of offense going into the fourth quarter. That isn't so mighty
TommyJack writes:
If I didn't know better, I would think these trolls are really duck fans. But we know who they are. Next week they morph into Z's. Sad, really.
jdcdjc writes:
I sure hope you are right, but I think our defense will have to step up as I don't think we can get into a scoreing battle with them. UT wins but something like 17-14.
CroKev writes:
OrangeDay, check out the following:
http://tennessee.rivals.com/cdepthtex...
utfan36 writes:
they didnt even khow what corn from a jar is!ut fans had to explain it to them the other day and tell them what it was! ducks have a small brain!
DuckingtheTrend writes:
Since you are late to this party, you can thank MDvol for introducing us to this site. He was on our site last Sunday, if it weren't him I would've stayed away. However, the crazy (at times clever) posts that ended up on our site quite frankly stirred up a loyal and loud group. Soooooooo with that said CROKEV, he brought down the fire on YA'all because he fired the first volley of smack talk our way. Anyother items I can clear up for you before kickoff. Oh and today is a statement game for Oregon, we are going into SEC country to carry the Pac-10 flag into a non-conference tilt. Much like UCLA last season, so protect Matt Simms cause we are coming in to steal your precious homefield advantage in the opening quarter. WIN THE DAY!
Mule_Days_King writes:
You have no clue. You think that just because we are playing a top 10 team that it is a do-or-die game. Wrong answer. We play top-10 teams all the time. It's called UT's conference schedule.
The thing is UT doesn't have anything to lose. YOUR team does. You are supposed to be a talented yet depleted UT team. You are a 12 point favorite. You have several potential All-Americans. We are in a rebuilding phase. Your team should win big. Should be a blowout. That's what all you Daffy people keep saying.
utfan36 writes:
we call people like you TROLLS!!!
92volalum writes:
well its game day and i'm excited because we finally get to see what type of coaching staff Mike H has really hired... Was coach D really the 5th or 6th choice or is he a "diamond in the rough" that will lead us back to being competitive.... Well today we find out!!
On today's game I hate it as much as anyone in the vol nation that we have to put up with Quack's talking smack but think about this... we have less depth and exp than last year and we lost to ucla. If we are to win the ducks have to be way overrated and no injuries to anyone on the OL and DL of the vols.
I hope I'm pleasantly surprised tonight but just don't see... Vol nation we have a ton or work to do and that's a fact!!!!
One more tidbit... if we lose 40-7 and what has happened to Bruce pearl will all of vol nation come unglued tomorrow morning? I'm tired of losing and more tired of all the ncaa stuff going on at my school!!!
GBO!!!!
DuckingtheTrend writes:
What do you call MDvol???? Just curious.
manningberrychism writes:
GO VOLS!!!!!! as I told David Oku yesterday.. THEY CAN DO THIS.. WE CAN DO THIS!!! I will take a 35-0 lose.. but I really would LOVE a 21-17 win.. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!
volfan123dooley writes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSr2us...
SCvol333 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
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