The broken record kept playing for two weeks.
Tennessee needed better push from the offensive line.
The Vols weren't getting enough tough runs from the running backs.
The wide receivers had to pick up some blocks on the edge, and coach Derek Dooley was scouring the film for answers as well.
Offensive lineman Ja'Wuan James heard all that during the open date and preparation for Buffalo, both in questions from the media and repeated challenges from the coaching staff to the right tackle and the rest of the UT offense.
But even after finally giving the Vols an effort they were looking for in a 41-10 rout of the Bulls on Saturday at Neyland Stadium, James isn't expecting the message to be much different as they go back to work. But he'd much rather maintain a little momentum than try to get the ball rolling as the schedule heats up dramatically.
"It won't really make it easier," James said. "This is in the past. Like (offensive line) Coach (Harry) Hiestand says, this game is over and we've got a game next week against a big opponent in Georgia. We've got to go into this week of practice with a great mind-set and prepare to get better for them.
"But this motivates you. You know, you try to keep it rolling."
The Vols (3-1, 0-1 SEC) certainly had things moving in the right direction in the lopsided win to open October, though the level of competition for the rest of the month is going to go up significantly, starting with a home date against Georgia on Saturday (TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m.).
Regardless of the opponent, UT was looking for signs of improvement for a rushing attack that had struggled with consistency and had been almost nonexistent at times. With Tauren Poole breaking out for 101 yards on 17 carries, Marlin Lane providing some support in reserve with 28 more yards on seven attempts and Rajion Neal adding an element of danger on end-arounds, the Vols seemed to have found what they were searching for against the Bulls.
Perhaps most important, the success and 199 total yards produced on the ground allowed UT not to have to air it out quite as often to come up with its yardage.
"We've got to get these yards," Dooley said. "I like the attempts, (completing) 21-of-31, so if you run the ball pretty good, then you don't get up in those 40s.
"I was pleased with the run game. It was good. Of course, our numbers go bad there down the stretch. Tom (Smith) has 10 carries, 29 yards. That will skew it a little. He stumbled around, didn't look like what he's capable of. But it was improvement."
The steps forward obviously come at a good time for UT with a crucial division game looming against the Bulldogs and two of the best defenses in the country on deck with LSU and Alabama coming up after that.
The Vols appeared every bit as aware of the opponents lined up over the next few weeks as they were of the struggles moving the ball on the ground during the previous couple weeks. But they probably won't have to hear about the latter nearly as much as their attention shifts to Georgia.
"I think the offensive line did a great job playing physical and playing fast," Poole said. "We've got some good SEC opponents coming in here next week and these couple of weeks coming up, so we've got to continue to get better and progress as an offense.
"(Buffalo) did a great job of filling gaps and being where they needed to be when they needed to be there. They played fast, they played hard, they played with great effort, and we definitely saw some great run defense out there. But we're going to see even better next week, so we've got to pick it up."
That's the same song that's been playing for the Vols lately. But the latest verse seemed to sound a little better to them.
Austin Ward covers Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274. Follow him at http://twitter.com/Vols_Beat and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/ward.
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Comments » 52
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
Battle every day and get better. The wins will come. We will get better at running the ball. Beat the Dogs!!! GBO!
BamaVol writes:
Open your eyes, you might find a hole, we run with our eyes closed.
VolinCalif writes:
Bama I don't need to tell you that some of those D-dudes are so big that you can't see around them to find a hole so you may as well close your eyes. We may get around Ga but you are in for another bad year in Bama, Hope I'm wrong. Wish I was there trash talking bama fans. They were always fun.
OldNumber7 writes:
Seems to me our running backs lack a good balance when hitting the hole - a small bump and they fall over. Or if a tackle is immanent, they give up and fall for a yard. These guys need to get in the pile and grind - and make the first guy miss. Need to keep working hard.
VOLliven2it writes:
The running game was better, much better. I am glad Poole got another 100 yard game. But we are still nowhere near where we need to be in run blocking. I read all the nega-talk about our RBs. Well it is hard to hit a hole when there are 8 stacked on the line and the second level defenders come at you almost unblocked a lot of the time. Yes more intensity is needed by the runners but I am still waiting to see our big OL just smack the DL in the mouth. That still did not happen on Sat as it could and should have. Until that happens we rely on the pass. We relied heavily on the pass on third downs last Sat. Bray and Co. did wonderfully. But our lack of run will hurt beginning this coming Sat. if we do not step it up about two notches. There is work to be done and now is the time to get on it. GO VOLS! I live in Dawgland and have to hear it from the neighborhood when we get spanked by them.
tennvolsman19651965 writes:
I saw a fresh team against Buffalo, and felt that our running game was pretty good. I hope we can build off of last weekends performance and carry it to the Georgia game. If we lose to Georgia, I dont see us being competitive at all against BAMA or LSU. Kind of the same way that we laid an egg last year in Athens after the way we lost to LSU.
Fryinpansvols writes:
It was a step forward for our run game last week and a step forward is always better than two steps back. I liked some of the formations and packages that CDD and CJC had for running the ball. I don't know how effective the bunch formation will be running Neal for an end around against Georgia but it was a nice change of pace. If the offensive line fires off the ball and stays low they can drive Georgia's DL off the ball and open some holes. Low pad always almost always wins in football you're taught that in Junior Pro. Tauren played better but he did trip on the turf monster on a run that should have went to the checker board for about 40 yard TD. Keep working hard and it will pay off young Vols. GBO and beat Georgia!
CCLC writes:
Tennessee's Bataan Death March of an October gets off to a painful start next Saturday.
just sayin'
rocky_topper writes:
It was Buffalo. I'm sure the running game will resort back to its "non-run" style this coming weekend once they go up against a true SEC defense. It is what it is!
volsince53 writes:
did anyone see any film on commit cross had
huge game this weekend
xvolx writes:
One can't use the Buffalo game as a measuring stick. Fla. game showed best that this off. line can't run block. They're just too young to be physical or they can't block period. I haven't seen one of them finish a block yet.
OrangePride writes:
Great CC!! Always good to hear a great Vol fan like you to provide some words of support. Of course, should you be wrong, we can all expect you to be back here on Sunday apologizing, right? I frankly never know if your "just sayin'" or "just hopin'."
And speaking of running backs; anybody notice that our recently departed B. Brown was noted in the Kansas paper as, "..did not play again and internet sources say his future at K State is uncertain.." ? Guess the move isn't working out as planned. GO VOLS
VolFanInTheBoro (Inactive) writes:
"just sayin" CCLC is a Jawja fan, not a Vol fan
allvols4life writes:
You know he/she/it is not going anywhere. He/She/It may not post with this username again, but will just create 5 more to replace this one.
GoVols_16 writes:
I'm a Vols fan, have been my entire life, but is it really fair to say our run game has improved when our run game only looks good against the bottom-feeders of the NCAA? It hasn't improved IMHO. It just looks "good" against teams who have much less talent--teams that we are supposed to clobber anyway. We'll see w/in the next month.
That being said, I hope the Vols continue to improve & put a spunk knot on the Dawgs this weekend!
GBO!!!!!!!!!
Knocknox writes:
Another game review that goes a little more in-depth can be found here:
http://8thmaxim.com/site/forum/blogs/...
hikerdude writes:
We ran well against Buffalo. But that tells us nothing about the state of our running game except that we outmanned Buffalo. We were woeful going in and I doubt there has been any significant improvement. I hope I am wrong. We'll see.
jt45 writes:
On Sept 30th Cant Compare wrote.
(Quote)
Yea, let's test our offense against Buffalo. That will definitely answer all of our questions and quell any doubt of where we are at right now. LOL..This is funny. The real test comes in October. We have a loooooooong road ahead of us with DooLittle at the helm..
Buffalo- 34
Tennessee- 14
Write it down! If I am wrong I will leave this site forever, but I am never wrong! ;)
(End Quote)
I see your word is nonsense, go play with your gator buddies.
VolGrad writes:
I believe that "turf monster" was actually Rivera's foot.
Go Vols! Beat the Dawgs!!!
VOLliven2it writes:
Okay, once more, I cannot say we ran the ball really well against Buffalo. We did not have a series where we had a number of good runs in a row. That is the sign of running really well. And while more holes were opened, they were not all that better considering the competition was not FL Bama LSU etc. So we were better and need to get really better by this weekend or else the pass blocking will need to be off the charts.
volinlouisvilleky writes:
Just a reminder CC, your previous post below, now go away!
Yea, let's test our offense against Buffalo. That will definitely answer all of our questions and quell any doubt of where we are at right now. LOL..This is funny. The real test comes in October. We have a loooooooong road ahead of us with DooLittle at the helm..
Buffalo- 34
Tennessee- 14
Write it down! If I am wrong I will leave this site forever, but I am never wrong
zman44 writes:
Let's correct the third sentence by removing the "If" clause...
Sentence should read: "I don't see us being competitive at all against BAMA or LSU."
There is no "if". Bama and LSU are both 25-30 points better than the Vols right now.
volfaninchattanooga writes:
Still not convinced these guys are getting better following a game against Buffalo. Our guys seem to fall down on first contact almost every time. We need a running back. Where are they Jamal Lewis, Chuck Webb type runners that can take over a game? Still optimistic that they will get better over time, but the line is going to have to do it, the backs are below average backs in my opinion compared to what we are use to at Tennessee.
usafvol writes:
Georgia probably has a fan site that you'd probably enjoy more. You're no more a Vol fan than Steve Spurrier so I wish you'd stop using words like "WE" and "US". Your only purpose on here is to make real fans mad and get a reaction to stroke your fragile ago. You're a pitiful little man; it must truly suck to be you!
tennvolsman19651965 writes:
Well, I guess IF you dont watch college football, then you would realize that two years ago, BAMA was 2 points better than Tennessee, but that is all they beat us by. And BAMA won the national title. LSU was 2 points better than Tennessee last year, but that is all they beat us by. So if you dont know anything about SEC football, maybe you should stick to you lincoln logs and sippy cups.
boomer writes:
I attended UT from 1968-1972 and law school from 1973-1976. I saw the era of Jack Reynolds, Curt Watson, et al. Volliven2it has identified the issue: smack them in the mouth, pund them into the ground and run over them. This team does not have it. It's attitude. Watch Alabama and LSU's demeanor. Watch the Alabama center run downfield and pound the defender into the ground. Watch their running backs crush tacklers, delivering more than they receive.
Remember Jack Reynold's phrase, "Rip their heads off and spit down their necks."
RockyTop1 writes:
BTW, CC If we don't have two drops and score the extra eight points, the VOLS would have hung 49 on the Bulls as I called for last week. I say we score 38 on Georgia this week. There I said it!! GBO!!! VFL!!!
richvol writes:
Poole goes down too easily. If you hit one of his feet he is down. The difference between him and Lattimore and Bama's two backs is like the gap in the Grand Canyon. Several times this year he has gotten into the open to only stumble and fall on his face after someone touched him. Very disappointing.
SCVFL writes:
If you ignore the ignorant trolls they will shrivel up and die. Please stop feeding them.
Although it is not a true TEST of our running game. It does show improvement. Coach Double D is making them better day after day, week after week. It is a long road to recovery.
UT 31
ga 16
GO VOLS!!!!!!!
CCLC writes:
Well as far as my name I had no choice in the matter. YOU however have chosen your blog handle and named it after a woman's contraceptive and a cartoon for 4 year olds. Well done SpongeBobOrangepants.... I lay odds you dont have all your teeth.
still sayin'
SCVFL writes:
I heard an announcer say "Lattimore runs behind his pads". If you notice even on the sideline he doesn't run out of bounds, but puts he shoulder into a defender. We haven't had that type of running back for a while.
GBO!! VFL!!
UT 31
ga 16
GO VOLS!!!!!!
CCLC writes:
I see by your post here that not only do you make the Kool-Aid.... you have started drinking it as well.
SouthPaVol writes:
A good back makes the first person miss, and that's not happening. TB must hit the hole at full speed--not happening. The reason good backs through the years have averaged 7 yds/carry for a season is because they averaged 10-12 yds/carry against teams like Buffalo. Fugate has power; maybe put him at TB and he runs over a safety or CB. At the very least, find someone that doesn't trip over the yard marker lines.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I don't think you are in a position to be guaranteeing anything yourself, CCLC..I'm sure UGA has things they need to improve on just like UT does.
LADAWG writes:
Get ready for a beat down. TN lost against the only opponent that had a semi decent team. FL secondary is horrible. Georgia on the other hand is a different animal. Battle tested, defense is among the tops in CFB, they held MSU to 53 yards rushing. mSU was leading the conference in rushing. The defense is on par with LSU. Look at the stats for LSU versus MSU. Dawgs will force Tn to pass and that isn't a good thing against this defense. See you after the game, when you are asking to send dd back to LA.
CCLC writes:
NO doubt. Perhaps... I am overstating a bit.
usafvol writes:
It's not our running game Ga needs to be worried about; it's the passing game thats gonna make the difference. Them dawgs haven't seen Mr. Bray and company yet!
CCLC writes:
Hold that thought.... Let me find a ten year old worthy of making a snappy retort to your clever response. I am always impressed with your creativity...I want someone equal to your ability to respond.
just sayin'
CCLC writes:
The passing game is UT's strength. Georgia's total D is number 7 in the nation with their run stop ability being ahead of their pass D. Tennessee's pass D is 98 in the nation. SO.... can Tennessee run enough on Georgia to keep their passing game working? Can Murray pass on the Vol secondary to off-set Bray and let Georgia's running game grind out some points and run the clock. Gonna be a great game!
toddbinkley writes:
I love the Vols and always will. But we cant make comparison that a run game has appeared with Buffalo as to what will happen with LSU and Bama. Remember we are a league with the biggest,fastest young men roaming this Earth. We just dont have the talent as we once did. We just saw what Bama did with Demps and Rainey...we realistically know whats coming in this stretch. Georgia and South Carolina can be had if things go very well with the maxims.
CCLC writes:
"Them dawgs haven't seen Mr. Bray and company yet!"
Dawgs played Boise State their opening game. Kellen Moore was the Boise State qb. He just might get the Heisman.
just sayin'.
Georgia is not a stranger to good quarterback play.
just sayin'
SummittsCourt writes:
Montario Hardesty comes to mind
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I think it will be a good game and one to see where both teams stand.
PowerT4L writes:
Dooley may not have beaten a big sec school yet... but he has kept the Vols players from getting in trouble which is different from previous years. Character wins championships and character is something Muschamp lacks.
navarrebeachvol writes:
and no stranger to losing to good qb play..correct me if I'm wrong, didn't UGA get beat pretty bad in the Dome by Boise St? just saying as well
allvols4life writes:
I agree that Muschamp appears to lack character. I get so tired of watching him rant and rave on the sidelines, especially at the officials. While I don't agree with every call that is made, the SEC officials generally do a good job. I don't understand why the officials put up with that kind of "unsportsmanlike behavior".
From page 87 of the rule book...There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct or any act that interferes with orderly game administration on the part of players, substitutes, coaches, authorized attendants or any other persons subject to the rules, before the game, during the game or between periods. Infractions for these acts by players are administered as either live-ball or dead-ball fouls depending on when they occur.
a. Specifically prohibited acts and conduct include:
1. No player, substitute, coach or other person subject to the rules shall use abusive, threatening or obscene language or gestures, or engage in such acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning to an opponent, to game officials or to the image of the game"
I understand that coaches won't agree with the calls, but publicly berating of the officials at the collegiate level is getting out of hand. Flag them once early in a game for 15 yards and if that doesn't shut them up, flag them again and send them packing for the rest of the game. That's the way it is handled at the high school level, should be the same in college.
traderjoe writes:
VOLS TAKE A STEP IN RUNNING GAME
LOL...Really??? We took a step playing the Buffalo Wings. Maybe the McDonald McNuggets we could take another step but I think the Bulldogs are here next week. We'll make them look like BCS winners, and did you see Bama...it will be men against boys. We're in the wrong league this year. We need at least a couple of more good recruiting classes and then we'll see if Dooley can coach and recruit. The Bama guys are huge and powerful.
CCLC writes:
I was Never one not to help a stranger. Suffice it to say that relative to the work the Gators managed on the Vols... the loss against the Broncos was small in comparison.Ga. vs. T. It's a game that should make you want to watch it more than once. Still... Georgia starts the Vols on their Bataan Death March... of October.
just sayin'
LADAWG writes:
Spongebob.....your vols are gonna get killed. You talked the same garbage last year....41-14.....
usafvol writes:
Kellen Moore is no Tyler Bray, I'll promise you that! He can't even dream about having Bray's arm strength. With that being said; Moore is a good QB but I think you're gonna be impressed with this kid if you haven't seen him play. I know talk is cheap so we'll just see what happens but i'm thinking it's gonna be a long drive home for them dawg fans who make the journery to Knoxville..
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