Rocky Top Talking Points: Tuesday morning edition

by Joel Hollingsworth on Aug 29, 2006 7:03 AM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

Four days, folks. Here's the view from Rocky Top on this Tuesday morning:

Despite being a one- to two-point favorite, the Vols are feeling like underdogs. That's usually a good thing. The problem, though, is that Cal's feeling a bit miffed, too, as they finished ~~last~~ the 2004 season 10-1 and yet didn't qualify for a BCS bowl.
After 26 votes yesterday, 26% of Vol fans believe that the offensive line will be the key unit to watch against Cal this weekend. The defensive line is next with 23%, and QB is after that with 19%. The charge for the o-line is to get more physical. It will be tough, though, as coach Fulmer says that Cal's defensive front seven is as good as any he's seen in the SEC. The good news is that UT running back feels like he's in the best shape of his life.
Corn from a Jar is beginning to have concerns about Cal's defense, which is apparently the best that coach Jim Tedford has ever had. CFAJ's a bit uncertain just how uncomfortable to feel, however, because as he says, "The bag of garbage I carried out to the curb this morning might be the best bag of garbage I ever had, but it still stunk."
ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit is picking the Vols to win the SEC East and to lose to Auburn in the SEC championship game.
The depth chart for the Cal game features the following starters:
Offense
QB: Erik Ainge (10)
TB: Arian Foster (27)
FB: Cory Anderson (45)
WR: Jayson Swain (1)
WR: Robert Meachem (3)
WR: Bret Smith (9)
C: Michael Frogg (73)
LG: David Ligon (66)
RG: Anthony Parker (75)
LT: Arron Sears (76)
RT: Eric Young (54)
Defense
LT: Justin Harrell (92)
RT: Matt McGlothlin (68)
LE: Turk McBride (90)
RE: Antonio Reynolds (89)
MLB:Marvin Mitchell (40)
SLB:Ryan Karl (39)
WLB:Jerod Mayo (7)
LCB:Jonathan Wade (4)
RCB:Inquoris Johnson (29)
FS: Jonathan Hefney (3)
SS: Antwan Stewart (24)
Return Specialists
PR: Jonathan Hefney (33)
KR: Lucas Taylor (12)
Punters / Kickers
P: Britton Colquitt (47)
PK: James Wilhoit (25)
KO: James Wilhoit (25)
DS: Ryan West (69)
H: Casey Woods (85)

That's it for this morning. Head on over to the Diary section and continue the conversation on any of these talking points. Thanks for reading.

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Comments

Thanks . . .

. . . for the fact-checking. Appreciate it.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Aug 29, 2006 1:01 PM EDT reply actions

Herbstreit's prettiest co-eds

With all due respect to Kirk, the Vandy co-eds are horrible. So let's make that 11 out of 12 SEC schools.

Runner-ups should include Texas and USC. I live in LA and have been to some SC games and the girls are phenomenal. Oh, and Arizona State. Yowza!

Cola
http://www.classiccolaforthesoul.com

by Cola @ Rocky Top Talk on Aug 29, 2006 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

astute

First of all, I wrote "bag of garbage", not "pile of garbage." Piles are harder to move.

Second, that 5th ranked Cal defense got 45 hung on it by Texas Tech. The same gimmicky Texas Tech offense that does squat when it faces a really good defense. The same Texas Tech offense that didn't score 45 against SMU, Kansas, or Baylor, among others.

Lastly, if you click on the link, you'll see that I didn't call Cal's defense a bag of garbage. I just think it's strange to hear a Pac-10 team brag about defense.

by CornFromAJar on Aug 29, 2006 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

C'mon now...

...You're being selective with your facts Corn.

No, not 45, but TexasTech beat Baylor 28-0. They hung 30 on Kansas. They did not play SMU at all (though the 'S' team they played, Sam Houston, allowed them to score 80 point...).

by AustinBear on Aug 30, 2006 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions