Talking points: talkin' turkey, cheese, and vomit

by Joel Hollingsworth on Dec 27, 2007 11:49 AM EST in Rocky Top Talking Points

And he emerges . . .

I was on The Sports Tap's Around the South (audio link) segment for the third time last night talking about the Vols and the Outback Bowl. Um, ignore the part where I said that Demonte Bolden and Rico McCoy were on offense. That was the turkey talking. Anyway, the receiving end of questioning was a very risky position to be in considering the fact that all I know about Wisconsin is what I learned driving through the state in a blizzard on Monday: (1) yes, there are thousands of billboards advertising cheese, and (2) all of the hotels at Wisconsin Dells feature a water park in the lobby and a buffet so overpriced that one is compelled to over eat just to break even, the combination of which must have led to the mysterious pool of puke in the sink of the women's restroom that has scarred one of my daughters for life.
Okay, then. Where was I? Oh, yes. Offense == defense, cheese, and vomit. So, woo, we're without a starting defensive tackle and our starting weak side linebacker. Mayo in the Middle is shifting to weak side, and we will substitute Ellix Wilson for Mayo at the Mike. Call him . . . mustard or something. Oh, and Ryan Karl practiced yesterday for the first time since chipping a bone in his elbow (aaiii!) during the SEC Championship Game against LSU, but they're not sure he's going to play. So, some backup, perhaps Nevin McKenzie, possibly comes in for him.
Recap: Starting Will 'backer out. Starting Mike 'backer moves to another position, and a backup takes his spot. Sam 'backer probably out and another backup fills in for him. And we're down a d-tackle. And here comes Wisky, with three healthy runners. Expect the defense to spend waaaay too much time on the field and Ainge, who will be without his favorite target Lucas Taylor, to be frustrated during his limited opportunities.
Arian Foster -- you're our only hope.

Happy holidays!

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Aaahrrrggg!!!

Well, I have to believe that the 'backers will play inspired ball. Elix and Nevin are better than we think, please, please. Plus they have to be chomping at the bit to have this opportunity to prove themselves in a HUGE game, right?

Tight ends, tight ends, and more tight ends. Chris Brown has to have a BIG game as well as the Cottams. They're not just run blockers anymore. Although, they still better contribute big to...

...Foster's day. Arian and the rest of the backfield (?) MUST absolutely produce. But in the spirit of the holidays and the delusional optimism of the NEW year, I say they play with reckless abandon and combine for over 200 yards. Yay for collards and black-eyed peas.

I think the defense will also abandon their reck and play some real bend but don't break ball. Obviously E'Berry is primed to have a big game and as long as Heffney doesn't screw up too bad and cost us big, I think we can focus on their run and force them to beat us in the air and we all know that their only threat in the air is the tight end, so on passing downs we can focus on him and let EB go get inerceptions. Problem solved.

OK, now that we've gotten everything sorted out, let's go win us a ballgame! Because I really don't want to have to take out my buddy's sister-in-law if we lose. Yikes! Come on boys, save my hide!

GO VOLS!!!! (Please go!)

All hail Jim Bob Cooter!

by XRayVol on Dec 27, 2007 1:49 PM EST reply actions

IT COULD BE WORSE!

It could be worse, at least we are going to a bowl with more players than Florida State {-36 players}. Some times when things like this happen it gives other players that are sitting on the Bench a chance to play. Their may be a future All American come off the bench and play better than the player that they are replacing. So things might not be as bad as they look.
I still did not get the Orange and White Fire Plug I asked for. Oh well maybe next year. GO VOLS !!!

OLD SMOKEY

by old smokey on Dec 27, 2007 1:59 PM EST reply actions

G-Gun

This would be a great chance to run the G-Gun and see what we can do with it. Let's dig deep into our bag of tricks if that's what it takes.

by ColonelCorn on Dec 27, 2007 3:59 PM EST reply actions

Something new to worry about

With such turmoil in the 'backer corps, expect Wiskey to look for TE matchups against the LBs in the middle. Out of 185 completions on the year, 97 have been to TEs (73 for #9 Travis Beckum, 23 for #89 Garrett Graham, and 1 for #83 Sean Lewis). Beckum is their leading receiver, and it's not even close between him and whoever's second. Our new LBs better be able to cover well, in addition to defending the gaps in the running game.

Yeesh. We can win this one, certainly, but it's a tougher task now than just a couple of weeks ago.

by David Hooper on Dec 27, 2007 6:15 PM EST reply actions

Exactly

That's what I'm sayin'. Cover the tight ends hard, even double if we have to and make Wisky throw the ball deep. If we can make them do that, as well as stopping the run, etc..., we should be able to hold them pretty well. Oh yeah, I forgot, it would also proably be a good idea if we got some good pressure on their QB. I don't know. I'm pretty sure that would be a good idea, though.

All hail Jim Bob Cooter!

by XRayVol on Dec 28, 2007 1:25 PM EST reply actions