Tennessee Review

Despite what some pundits think (no links, you can feed their troll habits without my help), I'm remain happy with the team's play. Fourth strong defensive effort in a row.  Strong play calling when we needed it.  Strong running from Crowell later in the game.  A win in Knoxville.  I'll take it.
The Good:

• Coaching adjustments.  If I'm going to call out the lack of coaching acumen, it is only appropriate that I laud it when it goes well.  The half time adjustments were good.  The second half play calling was very good.  
• Special props to the call on Crowell's second TD run.  In the second half, almost every run was to the left side of the line, presumably to protect against him losing the ball out of his sprained right wrist.  We went back to the play that we ran at Mississippi from inside our own 5 that gained 25+ to the right side.  It was as well blocked and well executed Saturday night.  As a bonus, Tennessee's defense was completely expecting him to cut left when he cut right.
• Energy.  Loved going for it twice on 4th down on the first drive. Crowell kept answering the bell. The defense kept hitting hard.  It was a nice change after the last two trips to Knoxville.
• -20 yards allowed rushing.  I've seen some people pointing to this being a product of how bad the Vols rushing offense is.  To that, I'd answer that those guys didn't just fall down behind the line on their own.  
• Keeping Bray off kilter enough that he never got into a rhythm. 
• Walsh getting his mojo back.
• The defense not falling into super prevent on the last drive.  Yes, they only had :18 seconds, but we still came after them very hard.

The Bad:

• 4th and 56.  Damn.  I know you could call a hold on nearly every play (and the first one against Aron White was particularly tictac), but damn.  Although you could make a case that you'd rather get all of your holds for one game out of the way in one drive.  
• An 8 minute, 12 play, 28 yard drive.  I am not sure how you do that.  Wait, you end up 4th and 56.
• Not getting that last first down.  The game is on the line.  Finish them.
• Murray's long passes.  Give Bobo credit, he kept giving Murray chances to work it out (which he did with the long Mitchell pass), but they were there all night and he just isn't in sync on the long ball right now.
• I miss Orson Charles in our passing game.
• The long 3rd and 4th down conversions allowed in the first half.  I started having flashbacks.

The Ugly:

• The first half.

One last observation.  When it was 3rd and 56, why not throw it long?  At that point, armpunt isn't the worst option, right?  In all a strong game.  Still areas to improve in, but strong.

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3 Questions Answered: Tennessee

I had questions.  Now I have answers.

1. Will we slow down their passing offense enough? Yes.  We held Bray to a season low in passing yards.  He only had one game with fewer than the 18 completions, and he only threw 24 times in that game (compared to the 33 times he threw Saturday).  Rogers had a couple of big catches on their one TD drive, but was largely silent, especially in the first half.  We didn't him him as much as I thought we would need to, but we kept his rhythm off enough to make it a long night.
2. Can we score enough points to win? Wow.  If you'd told me we'd win with 20, I'd have counted on rain or something else.  Give Tennessee credit.  They played really strong defense in the first half.  We only had the ball three times in the first half.  The Vols bowed up when they needed to.  I have to give Bobo credit with the play calling in the second half.  He kept going to the long ball because it was open, and despite Murray consistently missing those open guys.  He mixed run and pass very well on both TD drives.  
3. Which team will make the biggest special teams screw up? It ended up not mattering.  We blocked an extra point that would have made it interesting.  They missed a FG early, but I don't think that mattered either.

Hey, a road win in Knoxville is a road win in Knoxville.  Our defense held Tennessee to -20 yards rushing.  Taking sacks and tackles for losses out they still only had 41 yards rushing.  I'll take that all year.

Safe Travels

I have obligations in South Georgia for Saturday night, but will be watching the game.  With any luck and my phone battery holding out, I'll live blog a bit. 

I apologize in advance if I end up with a technofail.

Go Dawgs!

Tennessee Preview

Crowell on the carry (Image:Hipple)

Well, here we are.  34 hours from kickoff and still fretting about how in the world we're going to win in Knoxville. I mean we went up there the past two times and crappantsed ourselves right out of the gate.  Hell, I didn't even wear the shirt I wore to watch the game home in either year.  Threw them both away immediately. 

Now we are strong on defense, especially passing defense. We're second in the nation in 3rd down defense. Teams are scoring on us when they get into the red zone, but teams have only been in the red zone 9 times all season.  Nine.  That is good for top 10 in the nation.  Tennessee has been in the red zone 22 times, good for top 25 in the nation.  The Vols like to sling it down the field, the one thing Kellen Moore wasn't really able to do in the opener.  If Rambo and the corners play strong, I look for a win.  I don't expect to keep the Vols out of the end zone all night, but I do expect them to have to earn the scores.  If they hit a couple of quick deep pass plays, I could be in the market for a new shirt.

On offense, I like our chances to run the ball on them.  The Vols got eaten alive by Florida with Demps and Rainey.  For that matter, Cincy and Buffalo had more success running the ball against them.  One interesting note, they are much better in the second half against the run, averaging a full 3.33 yards per carry better in the second half.  That is why I think Bobo will be forced to be let go of his four corners offensive philosophy and keep Tennessee's defense on their toes.  Tennessee lets up in the 3rd Q in passing D, with that being the highest QB rating allowed.  Will Crowell get that signature long run he's been dreaming about?

Overall, I'm nervous, but like our chances.  If we can run the ball effectively and take shots down the field with our deep threats, which I think we can, we'll be in the game.  If our defense can force Tennessee into a short zone passing game, instead of allowing them to open it up, which is easily their strength, I like our chances. 

Matchups to watch:
-Rambo/Boykin on Da'Rick. Easy choice, right? Rogers has become Bray's go to man.  Put aside the Twitter/Facebook non-sense; this is where the Vols will focus early.  Establish Rogers and spread the ball to Rivera and Arnett.  A few token running plays for good measure.  Shut down Rogers and you force Tennessee into a game they aren't prepared to play and probably can't win.
-Their punting vs. our punt return team. So much hilarity could ensue.  It is possible to see a blocked punt, a punt returned for a TD, a fake punt and a fat guy TD.  Hell, it is possible to see that on one play.  We don't want to play field position exchange with them. Bobo is much more comfortable opening the playbook with room to operate.  Their passing game is too dangerous to only make them go 50 yards for a TD. 
-UGA Oline vs. their blitz package.  Murray has been hit way too much. Changes are afoot on our line.  We've got to keep him protected.  If he starts forcing and short arming throws, we'll give them too many opportunities to score, either through lack of conversions or picks. 

I expect Dooley to have seen what Mississippi State did with that little jet/bubble screen and use it to free up the deep guys.  Also, lest we forget, the misdirection and play action Tennessee used in 07 and 09 to clean our clocks remains the one thing our defense still consistently fails to play strong on.  We have to be ready for that or find a way to neutralize that threat.

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Tennessee - 3 Questions

Jenkins with the pwn. (Image:Hipple)

Another week, another must win game.  I'm concerned about Tennessee.  If there is one thing this Georgia team has struggled with for a number of years is the ability to consistently play good football. We can continue the debate about the level of the competition, but we've had three strong defensive performances in a row. Can Grantham's D put up a fourth dominating performance?

1. Will we slow down their passing offense enough? There is no doubt losing Justin Hunter changes the complexion of each of Tennessee's remaining games.  Still, Bray is dangerous enough with the weapons left at his disposal.  Georgia's defense, specifically our passing defense, is the stoutest Bray has seen all year (currently 4th in the nation at just over 150ypg allowed).  Against the only competent pass D he's faced, Bray was 26/48/3TD/2INT.  His passer rating was a respectable 116.87.  Still Florida got to him enough to make those errors pay, with 3 sacks and 6 more TFLs.  Either way, I don't see Bobo having the luxury of playing four corners offense in the 4th quarter.  The good news is the D line matches up well with them on the front.  That'll give some opportunity to drop guys in to coverage, or even better bring multiple looks to keep Bray from being comfortable.  I'd love to see Big John do a full body take down early.
2. Can we score enough points to win? The other side of that coin is scoring enough points to win.  I don't foresee this being a 2006 style score fest.  I do think it'll take more than 24 points to win. Fortunately, they've struggled containing strong running games. Crowell will get his share of looks.  I look for more Smith/Boykin plays, too.  The Vols haven't been getting to the QB too much, but anyone that has played Georgia this year has reversed any sack issues they've had.  When Murray has been comfortable, he's been very good.  When he's been turfed a few times, he's been less so.  Keeping Murray upright, either through some miraculous improvement in blocking or scheme is huge.  Involving more play makers might be necessary.
3. Which team will make the biggest special teams screw up? They kick the ball short and don't cover well, have given up blocked punts in back to back games, allow long returns with regularity.  We can't stop a fake punt, our kicker has the yips, and a few decent high school teams could pull off an on-sides kick against us.  With a game that has the potential to be this close, these are the types of plays that matter. Lord, please let Boykin's teeth be healthy enough for him to house a punt.

I think we'll need Rambo and the rest of the secondary to have monster games.  They've played very well, clearly, but Tyler is a QB unlike what they've seen since week one.  Which went so swimmingly.  

Any big questions on your mind?

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Rejected Tennessee Locker Room Posters

Who did they get to check this, me?

The other one considered:

Did I miss any?  Extra points for art.

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Tennessee Road Game

The hardest part about going to an away game is figuring out what your tailgate plans are.  Knoxville is a relatively easy three hour drive from Atlanta, four hour drive from Athens, and 25 years from both places.  Last I checked, there were some hotels a relatively short drive from Knoxvegas, keeping in mind that getting out of downtown there is like leaving Atlanta, but no mass transit, only one interstate and more donkey carts. 

Getting in shouldn't be that big of a deal with a 7pm kickoff.  There are some open tailgate options, with the best one I've seen being the Hedges2Hardwood's soire.  Contact them for more info.  They promise coozies. UGA's official spot will probably be the Knoxville Marriott.  It is also my experience that if you can get past the nasty orange, Tennessee fans are always happy to share their hooch. 

I mean moonshine.  Not their lady companions.  Gotta keep it in the family.

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Marrying Down

That is all.

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