Tennessee Vs. Arkansas: Final Player Report

by Brad Shepard on Nov 15, 2011 10:01 AM EST

No individual awards this week, sorry. I can't look at a 49-7 loss and pick out any superlatives. There was Da'Rick Rogers and his 106 receiving yards who would have to take home honors any other day. Justin Worley grew up a bit but had another crucial orange zone pick. Then there was Marlin Lane breaking free for a long run ... only to get dragged down from behind. [I don't know what's worse: The fact that Lane's 46-yard run was the longest of UT's season or that it replaced one from our punter.] Anyway, onto the awards.

Looked the Part: THOSE SWEET JERSEY UNDERSHIRTS

There's perhaps no fanbase in the country that likes talking about uniforms more than Tennessee. [When you have had the past half-decade we have, what else is there to get excited about?] Well, against Arkansas, Derek Dooley found a way "change" our look without changing tradition. The Vols sported tight, checkerboard undershirts with "Rocky" down one sleeve and "Top" down the other. I didn't think I'd like it, but it grew on me. Would I want this every game? No. Would I want to wear them under our home jerseys? Eh, not likely. But they look sharp for the occasional wear. They looked much better than we played, I thought.

Bless His Heart: OUR PUNT TEAM

I know it was just a great individual effort on Joe Adams' electrifying punt return for a touchdown that took the wind out of UT's sails, but how many people had the chance to tackle him? Seven? Nine? DVR went out on me and didn't get to re-watch it. Should I care when Dooley and the gang didn't?? I remember a particularly egregious blown tackle by Dontavis Sapp. Then, Austin Johnson was basically on Adams' back before getting shrugged off. In a word, the whole thing was embarrassing.

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Grew on me as well

but if you want real uniform talk, you should talk about NC State’s excuse for losing to Boston College. (hint: it’s because they wore their normal uniforms and not any special ones. I’m not joking.)

Heel for school, Vol for life!

Bolts, Preds, Canes (childhood team, home state team, hometown team). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity!

by Incipient_Senescence on Nov 15, 2011 10:13 AM EST reply actions

Lane getting caught from behind was really more a function on him running INTO the pursuit angle of his pursuer. Gotta look at the camera view from behind to see it, because you can’t tell from the normal camera angle.

by spiritofthehill on Nov 15, 2011 10:41 AM EST reply actions

Lane getting caught “from behind”

by spiritofthehill on Nov 15, 2011 10:44 AM EST up reply actions

I don't know

Looked like that dude would have caught him no matter which way he ran.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 15, 2011 11:12 AM EST up reply actions

I'm not all that concerned about it tbh

So they had a faster DB, big deal, it happens.

If it hadn’t been for number 8, Lane scores judging by the two angles you provided in that clip.

Not like it’s the first time a Tennessee HB has been run down from behind. See Tauren Poole on the first play of the Oregon game, Cedric Houston against Miami in Neyland, and even Travis Stephens against Florida in 2001.

"I condone fun things" ~~ Cortland Finnegan

Hello ladies. Look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn't me.

by VolBrian on Nov 15, 2011 11:32 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with this.

It looked like the DB made up about 2 yards on him. It’s not like Lane got caught by the MLB.

by JohnCoctostan on Nov 15, 2011 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah

That DB commit we just got ran what, a 4.37?

That would make him the fastest player on the team next season. Maybe even faster then Hunter.

"I condone fun things" ~~ Cortland Finnegan

Hello ladies. Look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn't me.

by VolBrian on Nov 15, 2011 12:00 PM EST up reply actions

I liked the undershirts

but, I think it would have been cooler without the “Rocky Top” on the inside. Just all checkerboards imo.

"I condone fun things" ~~ Cortland Finnegan

Hello ladies. Look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn't me.

by VolBrian on Nov 15, 2011 11:33 AM EST reply actions

Loved the undershirts

agree they probably wouldn’t look good with the home unis, but it’s the concept I like best: unique to Tennessee without creating major change. We should use the checkerboard/Rocky Top more often

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Nov 15, 2011 11:49 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Something else that wasn't said yesterday and I haven't seen anywhere else really

Am I the only one who thinks a good portion of the offense’s struggles can be placed on Tauren Poole this year?

I mean, I appreciate all he has done for the program and the work he has put it and I think he is great, respectable guy and all that good stuff, but he is just not a good HB, at least this season.

When one of the few seniors on the team who was ranked among the best HB’s in the country in preseason gets 10 yards on 10 carries every game you have a problem. Especially when that problem is exacerbated by the fact his inability to get it done places all of that pressure on 3 true freshmen, one of which hasn’t played in weeks and another is a walk on.

"I condone fun things" ~~ Cortland Finnegan

Hello ladies. Look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn't me.

by VolBrian on Nov 15, 2011 11:50 AM EST reply actions

It's not just blocking either.

Jaron Toney came in against MTSU and was getting 3-4 yards on the exact same runs that Poole would have gotten 1 or a loss.

Not a huge difference, but that’s how you eventually break them long. Quick, decisive cuts with little dancing, second effort and falling forward for every inch.

"I condone fun things" ~~ Cortland Finnegan

Hello ladies. Look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn't me.

by VolBrian on Nov 15, 2011 11:52 AM EST up reply actions