Tennessee Volunteers v. South Carolina Gamecocks open game thread

But they have got to start converting these 3rd downs.

Thats a nice start. If we can keep the pressure on the running game we can force SC's offense to become one dimensional. And as their passing game has struggeled that could work heavily in our favor

Yeah I'm not sure. It's a toss up right now. I think they are passing, to attempt tp keep us from focusing on their run game. But that being said we've got to wrap this guy up and close the holes.

Otherwise blitz the corners, is the way I see it.

TENNESSEE BALL!!! GOING GOING !!
Out at the 5 !!!!!

Just asking.

;->

But if SC just lost their MLB, we've managed to get some TFL already, and their offfensive passing is sluggish, we have a heafty shot at putting this to bed.

I missed the formation though, like a dummy I was too busy watching the QB in hopes someone was going to crush his skull in his helmet....

...errr....I meant tackle him. Yeah. Tackle.

Eric's having a great game so far.

INTERCEPTION!

I'm about 30 minutes from the University of Arkansas :P

Whatever. It seems to always work.

"What were you thinking Frank Broyles!?"

And shaking my head.

I'd like to see Ainge run more Option plays but hee's really more of a pocket passer. But it would mix up the offense enough to put the defense in to a quandry

I see SC's back up QB warming up.
Harbringer of things to come?

Looks like an angry pug!

But why throw on 4 and 1 versus giving it to Foster?

TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE!!!

It seems to me that we're passing a lot more than running, but the live stats say it's 11 run and 13 pass. So good balance, I guess.

And you can't argue with 14-0.

Let's break it open.

If we pull this off, this late in the year?

We might pull Atlanta out of our hats!

He's having a great game, and what a fantastic play. Nice tackle and everything!

Which I have tickets to see

My life just got better!

In the pocket.

Smelley?
Succop?

Really crappy return there

Starting to swing that ball arm a lot.

But your right, he needs to lock that arm in, tuck it close and go.

Think they'll try to pass long and go for a TD? Or a FG?

Or keep going to the run to the outside for a FG?

Their defense poses the most problem for us I think. They have a good defense, who can play hard and make plays. But they aren't really doing either tonight.

Their offense has been problimatic for a while, that being said, if the put the second stringer in, it becomes a unkown quantity (or it does for me as I've never seen him play or heard of him)

Bottom line? They have to make some serious adjustments to be effective.

UT needs to keep doing what its doing on offense, but they need to be more effecient at it, less silly mistakes, reievers get free.

Defense needs to start covering the SC recievers better, and they need to get tighter up front, and start pushing back harder.

That being said they aren't playing like they did last week, and thats a huge imnprovement.

Now if they can make that consistent next week, and the next week, I'll be a happy man

Go Vols!

I just want to see it consistent!

So why doesn't he have more carries?

Though I guess it's better than his carries from last week...

I'd say look to see Hardesty do more running in the second, giving Foster a change to rest and heal, and have a fresh running back for our second half to keep the pressure on.

I also appreciate my first "victory" in the Hail Mary Haiku contest, but I must be honest...I feel a little cheated that it was given instead of earned by my peers.  I'll follow up that gem next week!

This is the wild card in the SC deck

But your right they never have recapped his injury

Need to shut down this momentum now!

My Uncle records games for me out of Sevierville and mails them to me every month :)

Break in the game went in our favor, but I hate to see such an obvious no-call.

Most will say yes, need to protect the lead. Need to not abandon the run like we have so many times this season.

But . . . they'll know we're going to run, which makes it more likely that we'll fail.

Dilemma.

See this too many times. Turn it around.

Nevermind.  TD SC.

Wrap up BOYD already!!!

. . . But nice long pass to Gerald Jones to make it manageable.

What gives? They played great in the first

Corners need to pressure the QB and they have got to tighten up the front.

Where's the center safety!?

The last 3 passes have been right up the middle and no one is there to cover it or tip it

Offense is moving as long as they don't hurt themselves. We can score. Somebody on the sideline needs to lead and not let the rest of the team start thinking they're going to lose.

Games like this can turn one in to n alcoholic

Offense needs to score, take 2 point conversation and defense force them to eat the clock

Pressure. Pressure. Pressure.

Pressure. Pressure. Pressure.

Pressure. Pressure. Pressure.

Take your time, breathe, and make the play.

Pressure like heck!!!

WTH?

Boyd.

Again.

Two more.

we can still do this

Offense.

Offense.

Offense.

I'm too much on the edge of my chair to give anything reseamb ling sane commentary at this point

Is it the ball or the foot?

It's the game.

South Carolina up three.

1:30 to play, but we've done nothing this half on offense.

Just a couple of first downs. Please.

Eric Young down?

Worked for us, but come on.

Remember, they're the 5th best passing defense in the country. But they're best corner is on the sidelines w/ cramps.

FG ties
Risk it or not?

Defense is tired so overtime is not a good thing

Let's do it.

Still not over.

I hate squibs.

If they get the ball. It's over. Assuredly.

Our defense is tired, worn down and we've lost Eric Young. So this is going to be harsh

First down. Throw. Tipped. Incomplete.

Second down. Draw. Coker. First down. Nice call, nice run.

We need a turnover here. A big one.

Their corner's back.

Second down, toss for a handful.

Third and eight. For the end zone, overthrown.

Field goal attempt coming up.

But watch for Spurrier to fake it

Kick...

The formula for beating Spurrier in Knoxville: take it to OT and go up by a FG. Worked in '98, works in '07.

A buddy of mine said before the game, "It's like God doesn't want Phil to get fired, He keeps giving him second chances." Hard to argue with that thinking after this one.

Long way yet to go to get to ATL, but we're back in the driver's seat for a couple of weeks at least.

Go Vols!

• Berry was huge for us.  A lot of our points are thanks to him, and a lot of missed SC opportunities are as well.
• The offensive line did great in pass blocking.  That's about all that was good on pass plays, but they gave Ainge plenty of time.
• I could tell every time SC was going to run a swing pass.  The QB would read the unholy cushions we were giving their receivers, signal the pass, and you saw the rest.  If we're going to give that much cushion, they need to at least wait until after the QB's initial field survey.
• They didn't run much because there wasn't anywhere for the runners to go.  SC's line was much better against the run than the pass.  They must have seen the tape and practiced against it.
• The special teams wasn't bad.  Kickoff returns worked well rather consistently.
• Our D-line was getting beat in run blocks a lot.  The SC linemen managed to guide them out of the running lanes frequently.
• I'd grade our O-line, return game, and field goal game at the top.  I'd put the D-line and perhaps coaching/playcalling at the bottom.  Ainge was off tonight, but it wasn't cataclysmic.