Tennessee Volunteers 45, Georgia Bulldogs 19: honk if you're having fun

by Joel on Oct 10, 2009 4:03 PM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football Comment 9 comments

Commence the 15-minute immediate post-game mostly incoherent and questionable-impression-filled ramblings on Tennessee's 45-19 win over the Georgia Bulldogs. No reps or warranties on facts. ;-)

Raise your hand if you saw this one coming.

Yeah. I thought Georgia would have trouble running the ball against Monte Kiffin's defense, and it did. I thought that the defense would be able to make the Bulldogs one dimensional and make them risk throwing interceptions, which they like to do anyway, and they did. I even thought our offense would be able to score enough points to win. And they did.

But I didn't think this. Jonathan Crompton? Player of the game? High completion percentage? Four TDs? Throwing the ball to receivers who were selling out to make the catches and getting yards after the catch? Putting up 45 points? Getting Nick Stephens in the game because Crompton had beaten the opponent before the game was over? Seeing Josh McNeil on the field at the end of the game, taking the opportunity to mix it up a bit because this may be his last chance?

Denarius Moore flying five yards through the air, stretching the ball back in bounds as he was flying out, getting an honest-to-goodness highlight for ESPN's recap tonight?

Eric Berry finally getting a chance to run with the ball in his hands and him -- OF COURSE -- not disappointing?

Raise your hand if you think I could go on and on.

Yeah. Because it was one of those games. One of those we used to enjoy more often than not. It's been so long.

Perhaps Lane Kiffin does know what he's doing. Perhaps Jonathan Crompton's problem is in fact that he's had to learn five offensive schemes in five years and had his brain scrambled in the process. Perhaps he is the team's best chance at QB. Perhaps he can even salvage the season.

Brakes.

But let's not get too carried away. The 24-hour rule should apply to this one as much as to the heart-breaking losses. Enjoy it today. Tomorrow, because we have a bye week. But the team needs to turn its attention to getting healthy and doing their best against Alabama.

And don't go thinking that we're going to beat Alabama. Georgia is, for whatever reason, a middle-of-the-pack SEC team, and us beating them doesn't mean we're ready to challenge for the top of the SEC. It's merely progress. Improvement. A glimpse of where we're going if only we're patient and the team continues to work hard and root out any personnel or attitude problems.

This was a fantastic game for the Vols and for Jonathan Crompton in particular. They now need to focus on that next step forward, which is being competitive against the Tide in two weeks. They don't need to win; they just need to keep improving.

And if they do, days like these will continue to come more often than not.

Raise your hand if you like the sound of that.

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Love to hear that

We won’t beat Bama (barring a miracle). But this might’ve just made us a favorite in 5 of our last 6 games. Not that we haven’t already lost two games as a favorite. But the fact is, we can be confident about playing in December/January, and we have a legit shot at 8-4. We probably won’t hit it, but we have a chance. We didn’t at this time last year. I like having a chance.

by Incipient_Senescence on Oct 10, 2009 4:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

agree

living in Ga., the next week or so will be quite pleasant. the fact is, however, that the score of this game potentially could’ve been the same going the other way. we played great today, but we are not dominators (yet), like what many thought after WKU. i believe we have a shot @ Bama, albeit slim. we must be committed and prepared for that chance. we are not there simply due to our performance today, but we ARE on the right path. GO. BIG. ORANGE.

...and we shall eat only the red skittles...

by thetennesseethumper on Oct 10, 2009 6:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

That the score could’ve been the same going the other way. We haven’t let a single team this season (and we’ve played teams better than Georgia) get even close to doing what we did to Georgia. Today was domination on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Now I’m not willing to say that that will be standard. Any team with a salty enough front 7 to contain the run without selling out to defend the run won’t be susceptible to being beaten by Crompton. This probably includes Bama, USC, and Ole Miss. I expect to return to playing close games and don’t expect more blowouts like this against anybody but Vandy and Memphis. But, as you said, we’re on the right path. And now the team knows how to win, which gives me hope that the close games may start falling in our direction.

by Incipient_Senescence on Oct 10, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

perhaps

my opinion of the score has been influenced by the bashing of CLK, Crompton, UT in general, by the local fauna. my confidence was still shaky at halftime. i don’t believe today was a fluke, i just hope we don’t start smelling ourselves, so to speak.

...and we shall eat only the red skittles...

by thetennesseethumper on Oct 10, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We are an OCD fanbase in that regard.

Top of the world, bottom of the well, top of the world, bottom of the well, …

by Hooper on Oct 10, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty good showing for the recruits today.

by bsmithinc on Oct 11, 2009 2:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ole miss

Raise your hand if you think Ole Miss now looks beatable. South Carolina is a pick ’em but if we can get those two and win out after a loss to Alabama, this will be an 8-4 team with a nice win streak working…perfect scenario for recruiting.

by phil g on Oct 11, 2009 8:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not so special teams

I’m just amazed at how bad our special teams still are even after picking up a good special teams coach like Eddie Gran. I suppose many of the same players are playing on the special teams as played the past couple of years. There must have been some horrific coaching the past couple of years as Gran is struggling to change their bad habits. Heck even Berry is making bad plays as he over committed and abandoned his contain lane which opened up the hole for the TD.

Eddie always got great special teams play at Auburn so I know we’ll get there, but I didn’t think the learning curve would be quite so steap.

by phil g on Oct 11, 2009 8:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still think it has a lot to do with the lack of height, direction and depth to the kicks

Someone pointed out that the KO return for a TD made it to the goal line, but I’ll be it was low trajectory and that affects how far guys get downfield and their running lanes. You are right about EB being out of his lane (btw).

The 3-step drop on the blocked punt is inexcusable. Get the ball out quickly – that took forever…

Palardy will make a HUGE difference in special teams. We haven’t recruited good kickers in a while (post-Cafego era, maybe).

by memphispete on Oct 11, 2009 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs