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Post-game awards: Tennessee Volunteers at Ole Miss Rebels

Worst where'd-the-wind-go. The first failed fourth down conversion, with the Vols down 21-17 and driving with momentum in their sails. After that, we punted, had a field goal blocked, and failed on another fourth down conversion while Ole Miss scored four additional touchdowns.

Biggest skeptic. Me, when Kiffin said that the team wasn't distracted because when you see a team that's distracted, you see a team that's not ready to play and a team that gets blown out early, and "that wasn't the case at all." Maybe not blown out early, but McCluster certainly blew through early and often.

Best continuation of an argument. Lane Kiffin, who said that the defense simply missed Janzen Jackson that much, because the Tennessee was, prior to the last weeks, No. 1 in the country in least explosive plays given up, and "that was because the guy back there in the middle third hardly every missed a play." Maybe he has a point.

Worst start, I. Tennessee's special teams, who pushed the opening kickoff out of bounds.

Star-divide

Worst start, II. Tennessee's defense, who let Ole Miss take the opening drive 60 yards in four plays in 1:31 for a TD.

Best sack. Ben Martin on a stunt to swallow up Jevan Snead, driving him back into Chris Walker, who was rushing from the other side.

Best coverage. Dennis Rogan, who, on one of Tennessee's early punts, beat everyone down the field and perfectly timed a perfect tackle.

Best run, I. Montario Hardesty, who navigated dense traffic at the line, hurdled over a grounded defender beyond the line, stiff-armed another defender in the secondary, and absorbed a late hit out of bounds for a bonus 15 yards on to what would have been a 23-yard run.

Best potential tongue-biting. Kiffin, who said of McCluster's second touchdown that what we all thought was partially due to a blatant holding penalty that wasn't called, "We've got perimeter issues there as you can see." I don't think this was a veiled shot at the officials, but the beauty of it is that it could be construed that way.

Worst defense. Ours, on McCluster. Pick a play.

Silverest lining. Jonathan Crompton, who went 20-37 for 176 yards and two TDs.

Best second wind. Tennessee, behind David Oku's 41-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

Best trick play. Crompton to Gerald Jones for 14 yards on the first drive of the second half. Crompton faked a hand off to the right, then turned and threw to a wide open Jones on the other side of the field. Where's the trick? Jones got so open by falling down on purpose during the fake handoff.

Worst stall, I. Tennessee's first drive of the second half, which ended with a field goal to make it 21-17 instead of what might have been 21-21.

Best play, defense. Wes Brown, who refused to go down on a cut block and intercepted an attempted screen pass from Jevan Snead, giving the Vols field position, momentum, and a shot at a 24-21 lead.

Best block. Crompton, on a reverse to Jones. Crompton sent the first defender to sniff out the play and start chasing Jones sideways cartwheeling through the air.

Worst stall, II. Tennessee's next drive, which ended on the 37-yard line when the Vols failed to convert on fourth and four.

Best quote, I. Kiffin: "Yeah that was a first for me. I've never thrown a screen and lost ten yards before."

Worst I'm-not-surpised. Daniel Lincoln's blocked field goal attempt from 45 in the fourth quarter.

Worst way to silence the home crowd. Having LaMarcus Thompson carried off the field on a stretcher.

Best quote, II. Kiffin again, who responded to the fan-submitted question of what adjustments one can make against someone like Dexter McCluster by saying that they're sending him to the NFL next year.

Best play, offense. Crompton's TD to Denarius Moore, down the middle and over two defenders.

Player of the game, offense. Crompton, see Silverest lining.

Player of the game, defense. Dan Williams, who had nine tackles (four solo) and two tackles for losses.

Leave yours below.

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Biggest irony

Ole Miss fan talking about the classlessness of Kiffin in the Grove following the same game in which Nutt had Snead, McCluster and his other key offensive starters on the field – up 18 points and driving for a run-up-the-score kill shot.

by memphispete on Nov 16, 2009 7:29 AM EST reply actions  

They were trying to get McCluster the rushing record.

I can’t blame a coach for doing that. No coach would (or, especially in college, should) back off when a record-breaking performance is well within reach.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Nov 16, 2009 8:45 AM EST up reply actions  

What record?

Didn’t he already have the single-game record?

by spiritofthehill on Nov 16, 2009 9:37 AM EST up reply actions  

If that's the case, it's understandable

I’d been under the impression that he already had the record.

by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 16, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions  

yes

i believe he already had it

by golfballs03 on Nov 16, 2009 10:18 AM EST up reply actions  

I also think that

We should get this behind us and start the Urbie to ND campaign !!!

Dan Willmams and Hardesty are the real deal ! Go Vols !

by bulldurham on Nov 16, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions  

x2!!!

From someone born and raised on Blue and Gold, and an avid Florida hater!

by Vols767 on Nov 16, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions  

Best discipline

Kiffin saying “Orgeron recruited all these guys” without actually saying it in the postgame. He wasn’t heaping praise like this on any of the other teams that beat us.

by Will Shelton on Nov 16, 2009 10:17 AM EST reply actions  

Speaking of LaMarcus Thompson

Is it true that Kiffin did not come out to check on Thompson while he was down on the field? Is that an issue?

by 12NationalChampionships on Nov 16, 2009 5:44 PM EST reply actions  

No.

Head coaches don’t always do that. They can’t really contribute anything, so it’s probably better that they stay out of the trainers’ way. The trainers will tell the coaches the initial diagnosis when they get back to the sideline, and since he has to be replaced for a minimum of one play regardless of injury, it doesn’t affect the head coach.

Meanwhile, he still has x-1 players to deal with, and his time is better spent keeping their heads in the game. (Or, in the case of the Vols on Saturday, trying to get their heads in the game in the first place.)

(But honestly, I didn’t notice whether Kiffin came out to check on him.)

by David Hooper on Nov 16, 2009 6:19 PM EST up reply actions  

Trying not to pile on.....but

This was one of our worst defense performances ever, right? I heard McCoy was playing hurt and that we really missed Jackson at Safety and I know we are down to our 3rd string ML. Also, I know we have a lack of depth (thanks in large part to our 2006 and 2008 lackluster recruiting classes) and tons of injuries…. Seriously, stop me guys if I am piling on here. I am still excited about the Kiffin era long term, the next 2 games and hopefully a bowl game.

Finally, when can we start expecting some more plays in space for David Oku and Bryce Brown? Serisouly, I’ve seen enough of Oku on kick returns to know the kid has the goods. It wasn’t Hardesty’s fault that we couldn’t block Ole Miss on any short yardage plays all game.

by Jan221973 on Nov 16, 2009 6:43 PM EST reply actions  

More plays in space

This guy’s looking into it.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 16, 2009 6:47 PM EST up reply actions  

Yeah, depth caught up to us on Saturday.

We have great talent, but not enough to withstand the losses we had.

by David Hooper on Nov 16, 2009 6:55 PM EST up reply actions  

Brown and Oku have an immense amount of talent, but prob still needs some coaching up. Brown is good on sweeps and off tackle, but neither of them can hit the hole with authority like Hardesty can. For freshman though, they are definitely showing why they were recruited so heavily, and have gotten some pretty good touches out of the system so far.

And I would say our defense’s depth is a bit decimated, I was wondering how long it would take to catch up to us, and Saturday may have been it. Oh well, I have no real complaints on how this coaching staff has handled the position battles and dwindling-depth from injuries.

RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Member of the Committee to Keep Keith Bulluck.
Eric Berry for Heisman!!

by Pride of the Southland on Nov 16, 2009 11:14 PM EST up reply actions  

Our defense is decimated

Fortunately, I think we can simply outscore our next opponent. And then maybe we’ll be a little less banged up in the final game and can keep that streak alive. The Reagan Administration! First term!

________________________________
Eric Berry is better at football than you.

by kidbourbon on Nov 17, 2009 7:29 AM EST up reply actions  

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