Despite one of its worst losses in Neyland Stadium history, Tennessee is ahead of schedule.
The Vols usually have to wait on Florida to get an accurate assessment of their strengths and weaknesses. Oregon saved them the wait in a 48-13 victory Saturday night.
Pre-Florida, you already know the Vols have a promising offensive line and a burgeoning star in running back Tauren Poole. You also know they have a questionable passing game, a lack of quality depth on defense, and the potential for disaster on special teams.
If you want some mystery with Saturday's matchup with Florida, forget the Vols. Check out the Gators, who have been barely recognizable the first two games of the season.
Florida looked so inept in its season opener against Miami of Ohio, the fans might as well have left their chomp at home.
Remember UT's second-half offense against Auburn in 2008? Florida's was worse.
The offense looked significantly better in the second half of Saturday's victory over South Florida. But overall, Florida hasn't played anywhere close to its No. 4 preseason ranking.
After watching two games, my wife has a theory on the Gators. Like all of her other theories regarding Florida football, it involves Tim Tebow.
Whatever goes wrong with the Gators - be it offense, defense or special teams - she attributes it to the loss of the Heisman Trophy quarterback. She theorizes Tebow ran the whole shebang, which makes Urban Meyer the highest-paid assistant coach in the history of man.
I will concede there is something missing from the offense. For all of its success, Florida hasn't done a great job of recruiting or developing wide receivers and running backs. That was never more evident than in the season opener against Miami of Ohio, whose defense inexplicably turned Alabama red against the Gators.
Moreover, Florida's inability to complete a center-quarterback exchange reduced the offense to a slapstick-comedy routine. Even when it succeeded at beginner's offense, what came next wasn't exactly Tebow-to-Harvin.
What's puzzling is the Gators opened the season in an offense so poorly suited for their personnel. Tebow is gone. Percy Harvin is gone, too. And their successors looked terribly awkward trying to play any semblance of option football.
That's why the second half of Florida's 38-14 victory over South Florida on Saturday was noteworthy. Suddenly, the Gators' offense took on an Alabama persona. It was tailback left and tailback right, and it wasn't always the same tailback.
On a 10-play, 53-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, running backs Jeff Demps and Emmanuel Moody each carried five times. It was I-formation football without all the pitches, hitches or shovel passes by which you have identified Florida football under Meyer.
Meyer has changed his offense before. His adaptability helped the Gators win a national championship in 2006 when senior quarterback Chris Leak passed, and Tebow powered forward whenever a crucial first down was a stake.
Once Florida took a more straightforward approach against South Florida, Demps never looked better. He didn't just singe defenders with his world-class speed. He broke tackles as well. The "I" also is a better fit for Moody, the former Southern California transfer whose career has been sabotaged by one minor injury after another.
But there's still work to be done, and not just on offense, where new quarterback John Brantley is clearly better passing, not pitching. The defense misses pass rushers Jermaine Cunningham and Carlos Dunlap on the outside, and linebacker Brandon Spikes in the middle.
The pollsters have noticed. Despite winning its first two games by 22 and 24 points, Florida has dropped from fourth to eighth to 10th in The Associated Press poll.
It doesn't look like a super-power anymore. Nor does it look like a team capable of embarrassing the Vols as it has in the past, or as Oregon did Saturday night.
In fact, if the Gators play around too much with the option Saturday, they might embarrass themselves.
John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 79
OTPVol writes:
Somebody in FLA needs a new bed buddy.
SEC1 writes:
Give them false hope John! VOLS ARE GATORBAIT 6INAROW BOOK IT!
NoSirRee writes:
They may not look like Florida now, but thats often the case right before we play them. However, as usual, we'll make them look like Florida like we do more often than not.
mountainbrook writes:
Alabama and South Carolina will both beat Florida this year.
volpreacher writes:
Don't bet too much on it SEC1. I would hate for you to file bankruptcy. Vols will win this one.
UTME06 writes:
Adams providing some bad karma, figures. If you don't start talking trash about us soon, you may not get prime interviews this weekend with your secret lovers.
FU looks to be much weaker this year, and even SEC(2) would have to admit it. I can't call an upset because we don't deserve that kind of confidence yet. 2 keys to open the SEC--
1.) Sustaining drives. Simms needs to learn to look off defenders in the next 5 days. At the very least learn to check a second receiver. Our D is way too shallow to spend more than 30 - 35 minutes on the field. That said, it's time for the reserves to make an impact (the few reserves we have that is)
2.) Confidence. Seeing them on the sidelines after the pick-6, I'm not sure they can get it back over the week. I've NEVER seen a UT team roll over and stop playing. Last year at Ole Miss it was evident... Saturday it was embarrassing.
Screw the trolls, obviously I want a W. Losing to subUrban causes me sleepless nights. But I was torn up about our lack of effort this week... and I'm talking dreams and shat. A moral victory this week (and I'm saying at the least, don't drag me over the coals on this comment) would be a good way to put the OR game behind us. We are not as bad as advertised. We shouldn't lose a game in October/ November if we stay on this track, but the team needs to instill some confidence and a 17-14 loss that keeps the stands full till :00 would go a long way in providing that.
17-24 would be better.
jarvol writes:
Tennessee hasn't been Tennessee for the past 9 years either.
jarvol writes:
"We shouldn't lose a game in October/ November...."
You sure are some kind of delusional.
BigBadVol writes:
You certainly spend a lot of time on this site troll. You know we are headed in the right direction and it bothers you. That's obvious.
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
Wow... Adams has a wife?
kwvolsfan writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
halloffamebowler writes:
That is what my buddy and I were talking about yesterday.Florida seems to do a lot of experimenting in games prior to playing us.Then we jump start them with terrible play from the special teams.That is when they beat the snot buggers out of us.I keep hopeing the tables will turn,and this will be the year.Don't expect it though.Florida by 20.Just like the Oregon game,our lack of experience,lack of backup talent,and specal team play will once again do us in.Ain't that right Mrs.Mull?
halloffamebowler writes:
It will be no contest at Alabama.South Carolina,hopefully, even though I hate to see Saint Steve beat anybody.
Mule_Days_King writes:
Whatever you say, Plaster.
CoverOrange writes:
Rewind the tape and watch the first 5 or 6 plays Oregon ran to open the second half. No option, no misdirection, just straight ahead plowing. Ran for two, fell down for 3 or 4 or 5 more. Right out of half time, the defense couldn't have been tired. That is what Bama plans to do. I'm sure Urban will take notice as well. If we can't force Brantley to throw....
leedsvol2007 writes:
All of our weaknesses were exposed Saturday.
The last time we played with a junior college quarterback as a starter was with Steve Allatorre in 1981.
Simms is the equivalent of a sophomore quarterback at this point with talent but no game experience. He should get better.
Without Gerald Jones we had only Dennarius Moore as a truly experienced wide receiver. Apparently Oregon took away our tight ends with the goal of having them beat us. Hunter made a couple of nice plays but the consistency was not there.
On defense we played well until lack of depth caused fatigue and the outstanding offense of Oregon was then able to assert itself.
Our punting game was so-so and we kicked a ball straight down the field to an outstanding returner and got burned as a result.
Regardless of the outcome Simms needs to play smarter, the receivers need to learn from their play last week, the coaches need to substitute more freely in the defensive line and our special teams need to kick the ball to the proper location and cover better.
Florida is very talented but they are struggling to find their identity without Tebow. Hopefully we can add to their struggles.
GoVols!
jdcdjc writes:
Look for another day like last Saturdy. Fla has all the speed that Ore has and they will turn it loose on our Vols. This will be the start of the season for the gators.
illinoisvolfan writes:
And who would know better than Adams that Florida has not been Florida so far this season. I'm not so sure that photo of Urban wasn't him pointing at Adams demanding that he write a Florida story for KNS just to get the Gators fired up. Trolls are one thing, but a paid troll on your staff? Please...
Lizardgrad89 writes:
Forty Five straight points and 1-AA type ineptitude was the right direction?
Really?
BTW, are you guys still predicting you will beat either Florida or Bama this year?
kman29 writes:
Florida hasn't done a good job of recruiting or developing WRs or RBs???
Percy Harvin
Andre Caldwell
Louis Murphy
Riley Cooper
Aaron Hernandez (might as well be a WR
Better tell their respective NFL teams they aren't being developed.
As for the RBs, really? You think most SEC teams wouldnt take Demps, Gillisles or Moody right now on their teams?
I wont even get into the "hasnt done a great job in recruiting RB or WRs" line. That part is pretty laughable when you see the likes of Andre Debose or Chris Dunkley signing with UF every year.
The7Maxims writes:
Florida still has talent. Urban has recruited some top notch players. It's gonna be a tough game, but IF they make mistakes like Oregon did during the first half of the game, we have a chance.
99gator writes:
i think it will be like florida's other games this season.
it will be ugly as hell and fairly close, but florida will end up winning because they have the better football team.
volaholic45 writes:
With the upsets that have occurred already this season, and even the undermanned Vols giving the Ducks a good half, it is amazing that some still can't imagine the possibility of the gaders losing in Knoxville. Not paying attention? Lack of imagination? Gloomy Monday? Pessimistic personalities? Dunno, but the Vols will have a good opportunity on Saturday to build on the 1st half effort against Oregon and who knows, maybe even pull off the upset.
kman29 writes:
I don't really think this past saturday's game was really ugly as hell. Not sure about you, but even before the season started I expected the South Florida game to not be a push over. UF did not commit a turnover, did get 5 turnovers themselves and eventually won out because BJ Daniels just couldnt run any more and the offensive line took control in the 2nd half. It certainly wasnt a perfect game by any means but I think athletically and QB talent wise that South Florida team is better than what UF will face saturday in UT. Just my opinion.
FearTheVols1252 writes:
If you watched the game, what killed us was not the speed of Oregon’s players… it was the tempo of their game. Oregon basically runs a 2-minute drill the entire game and it wore our already thin defense down. Right now there’s NO WAY Florida could run that kind of a tempo on offense. You have problems snapping the ball to your QB, so you all will need all the time you can get between plays. Florida still hasn’t found their identity yet, so while we may not win… I would still much rather play UF than UO any day of the week!
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
For the most part, he struggled with Florida except for a win every now in then..I will give him credit thought...I THINK(not for sure) he may have won 3 out of 4 during a stretch; but other than that, a win was a rare occurrence..So how many times DID he beat Florida during his tenure??
BTW..I DO think we have a chance because Florida isn't nearly good as Oregon nor are they as good as they have been prior to this year...Not saying we are gonna win, but it wouldn't surprise me THIS YEAR.
TommyJack writes:
Why should it be close, 99? All I've heard from you for years is how you guys have 3-deep 5 stars. What up with that? Hmmmm?
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
"Tenn would lose to both of Florida's opponents so far."
________________________________________________
Don't think so!!!
TommyJack writes:
HamiltonnotFULMERfan.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Most sensible Florida fan thus far.
OldNumber7 writes:
Florida has no where near the tempo or speed Oregon has. Oregon was a machine unlike any I've seen since the 90's Nebraska teams or the Rodriquez WVU teams of recent past. I expect very few teams to stop Oregon this year. UF operates in slow motion compared to the Ducks and the Oregon game will help UT contain the UF backs this weekend. I am not saying UT wins, but UF will have a tough day earning a W.
illinoisvolfan writes:
Same spit, different day...
mdvol writes:
Like everyone, I'm disappointed about the second half against Oregon. However, Oregon is 10 times better than Florida. This Vols are going to improve significantly over the course of the season. Quick enough to beat Florida???.....I think so!
We are going to surprise some damn people.
We will upset either Florida or Alabama.
DavidB writes:
Well said.
I am hopefull for a Vol victory (Im not banking on it but I am hopefull).
Florida is always going to play UT tough. Meyer will have a game plan to make the game tough. Dooley has to come up with a game plan that fits our needs. Fans HAVE to get into the game starting now and not quit on the team.
I fan watched some during the Oregon game. We as a fan base were loud for most of the first half. By the end of the 3rd quarter people were rolling out of the stadium in herds.
Before you come on here and post something negative about the VOLS ask your self the following questions:
Did I attend the Game?
Did I give my all for Tennessee Football during the game?
Did I yell the entire game?
Did I stay for the entire game?
If you cant answer yes to those questions then put your tickets on ebay and stay home, we just dont need you there anymore. An empty seat is just as productive as the guy sitting on his hands.
hikerdude writes:
Unfortunately, they will both beat us also.
kman29 writes:
10 times better? Yeah ok. While the Oregon offense right now is clearly functioning a lot more efficiently than UFs, UT will still face an equally talented special teams unit (maybe even slightly better than Oregons) and a defense that has 300 plus pound guys like Omar Hunter and Jaye Howard at DT who can run as fast as the small dline Oregon fielded. Much bigger test for the Tennessee offensive line this week. Add on UFs secondary quite possibly could be one of the best in the country, far better than what Oregon fielded and UT is facing a more athletic and tougher defense in Florida.
Offense goes to Oregon, defense goes to Florida. Doesnt quite make Oregon 10x better. Makes them about equal as the rankings show.
SIMSVOL writes:
VolNotHamiltonFan and others like you - you're nothing more than a sorry a@#$ed troll. You're no Vol fan. If you can't root on the VOLS, take a hike loser. We're at the beginning of a 3-year rebuilding process and the VOLS played their hearts out in the first half- before depth issues took hold.
kman29 writes:
I see someone else has jumped on the annual September South Carolina bandwagon. Yes S.Carolina beat S.Miss and a UGA team starting a freshman at QB and their best offensive player suspended and yet with that needed a UGA fumble near the goal line to keep the bulldogs from possibly taking the game. But I've seen this movie before. Carolina will be 6-1 by mid season, threatening the crack the top 10 and finish the season 7-5 playing a december bowl game. Any takers on that bet?
amyinsparta writes:
Miracles do happen and one is coming on Saturday. Book it!
NashVol1 writes:
I typically do not spend any time writing on message boards because I don't want to associate with one of three types of people that show up here on a regular basis:
1) Fair weather fans. People like VolnotHAMILTONfan, who are really no more a Tennessee fan than Tim Tebow. Coming on here and spewing forth your negativity and saying ridiculous things like we couldn't beat either of Florida's first two opponents. SIMSVOL said it best. You're no Vol fan. Get lost. "We're at the beginning of a 3-year rebuilding process and the VOLS played their hearts out in the first half- before depth issues took hold." Well said, SIMS. If we score on that drive instead of a pick-6, we're right back in it, tied, the defense gets that first half spark back in it, the crowd gets back into it, and who knows what happens? But a young team was deflated by that incident, and so the game went south from there. If you aren't a fan enough to realize that, we don't need you or want you. Go put on a Crimson Tide shirt, and don't come back when we're winning. We don't want you or need you.
2) The John Adams hater. Seriously, get a life you losers. Every time I read an article by Adams, I scroll down through the comments to see how long before someone writes something over the top classless, angry, and negative about the writer of the article. It's a freaking newspaper writer, people... but to some of you there is nothing he could write that would appease you. Article after article, you get on here to bash a newspaper writer you have never met before as if he drowned your puppy. You make a sworn enemy out of someone you have never met before, nor ever will. Get a life!!!
3) The genius. "Moral_Victories_U". "Write it down", "book it". They say it with such matter-of-factness that you would think they have a crystal ball, that they would bet the entire farm on their prediction of the outcome. The only bet I would make is that you don't have the stones or the money to throw on a bet you know you're unsure of making. You can BOOK that! Once again, get a life. Your mom's calling from upstairs. Dinner is ready. Don't let it get cold.
As for the Vols this weekend, forget the score. The first half was something I wouldn't have even dreamed we had the ability to do, given what every sports writer in the country has been saying about us the entire offseason. I am extremely encouraged by what I saw. We have the ability and the potential to play with a top 10 team. That's good coaching, and good coaching eventually puts us back in the top 10 ourselves. They will only get better as the season goes on. We will beat some teams we are not supposed to beat. GO VOLS, beat Florida.
arkyvol writes:
i'm resigned to getting slapped around by the gators, the tide, and anybody else on the schedule with a serious football team. the oregon blowout is the benchmark this year. the tide and the gators will be trying to best it. if the tackling i saw in the second half is any indication, ingram and richardson may not need to wash their jerseys after the game. that's only this year (i hope). but, if recruiting doesn't pick up, this might start looking like an annual event.
givehim6 writes:
Well after reading the posts I'm glad the trolls are not doing there usual Volbashing. I do not think this will be a usual UT-UF game, there will be no 50-7 run up win for UF. But there will be no suprise stomp for the Vols either. UT or UF are as good as they were last year, but this years game will look kind of like last year. CDD will have the Vols up from last Saturdays loss. It will be a good game but no were near the hype of past games. No predictions just GO VOLS! Lets redeem ours.
OldNumber7 writes:
One more comment to this thought. Oregon averages about 80 plays/game - they hit around 85 Saturday. But, when UT held them to 2 field goals (1st quarter) they ran only 15. Alabama is running about 65/game and UF about 62. Do the math. The tempo was absolutely the killer - it is for whomever Oregon plays. At 15 plays/quarter, I think UT keeps up. I don't know that UT can win, but it should be a very defensive game and low scoring. With the low scoring output of Tebow last year in this game - I don't see it getting better this year. I'll give UF a special teams or defensive score though. I think Simms hasn't shown enough fire power passing, so UF jams UT's run game early and UT struggles to make big plays.
SFOrange writes:
They may not "look like UF", but they have plenty to rout these Vols. UF 41 UT 14
gatorbaitheaven writes:
The Gators arent nearly as bad as some Vol fans think and on the flip side not as good as some Gator fans think. They however will continue to improve and I like this running game they showed last week. Hoping for a good game with no injuries on either side and of course a Gator victory!!!!!!!!!!!!
kman29 writes:
I would agree there. Still finding it funny though that the AP writers want to act as if UF is just this horrible team now by dropping them for winning. The latest is now they drop Florida two spots because they beat a BCS conference team by only 24 points. Not talking about a UCONN or a Duke ect. but a South Florida team who is known as a giant killer taking out schools like Auburn and FSU.
In the mean time they want to place Boise State in the title game for beating now unranked Virgina Tech by 3 points.
GatorFan66 writes:
It's all conjecture, folks.
Yes, Florida looks a bit off it's game. But, you're comparing apples to oranges. This is a new team with a new leader (Brantley) and a very changed coaching staff on both sides of the ball.
Are the Gators young? Yep
Vulnerable? Yep
Could they lose in Knoxville? Yep
But, do the odds-makers know their poop? Yep
What's the line today? Florida by 17
Where are the Vols ranked in the AP Poll? (speak up, please)
Where are the Vols ranked in the Coaches Poll? (ahem)
Yep, any given Saturday a team can lose the unexpeted game ... like VT to JMU. But, if all things continue as they are, Florida is improving and I BELIEVE the Vols will lose their sixth in a row to Florida (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida%...).
99gator writes:
alabama-tenn was close last year.
the 3 deep/5 star talent would explain all the winning even though....."florida isn't that good this year".
i don't pretend to believe that this is a vintage florida squad so far this season.
i also don't believe that even in this, our darkest hour, many schools are going to leave the field against florida with a win.
despite how ugly it has looked at times, i am not trading rosters with many schools out there.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I would almost take that bet because it has happened several times through the years...This year could be different because they have some playmakers on that team, like Jeffries(sp???), that other wide receiver(the name escapes me), and Lattimore, who has been really impressive thus far...I haven't seen a player like that @ USCe in a long time...SO while I feel this year may be different for USCe, I also wouldn't be surprised if they end up 7-5 by the time Dec. rolls around...So I will hold off on deciding if USCe is for real or not.
TommyJack writes:
Yeah, FL never gets any good press. I'm gonna hurl.
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