🏈 🔎 Looking ahead to Tennessee. How do the Vols match up with the Tide?

Bassackwards. There's Tennessee in a word.

You're going to see this pointed to a lot, I suspect. UT isn't last in the SEC in total defense: pretty damn close. It's neck and neck with the Derby folks and about 40 or so yards less than UArk in yards per game given up.

At the same time they lead the SEC in total offense with almost 530 yards per game.

YPP is the only statistical advantage I've found so far. (Vandy and Mizzou rank higher.)

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Best news of the week. Everyone responds differently to concussions, but very early in the week it was not looking good for Miller to play.

 

[Justneedme81]

Best news of the week. Everyone responds differently to concussions, but very early in the week it was not looking good for Miller to play.

It's huge for several reasons. I don't think Miller will get lot of snaps, just enough to make impact. And takes pressure off Hill and Riley.

 

[TerryP]

I’d say UT has the advantage in the special teams department. That could factor in to this one. I’d think rain would benefit them since they have a better run game. But I’d say we have the better passing attack and at the same time, weaker O-line.

Bama comes in at #27. FEI, Special Teams

UT can't get any worse in PRE. OFG is the only marker here.

 

[TerryP]

It's huge for several reasons. I don't think Miller will get lot of snaps, just enough to make impact. And takes pressure off Hill and Riley.

Things we'll never know...

Based on what Hill was like in the spring and fall, before his injury, I have my doubts we'd have seen as much of Riley this season if he were healthy.

Brandon mentioned it with Jam. I like having Hill fresh going into UT AND with a break coming up.

I didn't catch the availability reports Wednesday. Are UT's corners still out?

 

[TerryP]

I've been ignoring this 2007 vibe I've felt all week.

I'd fall out of my chair if Bama deferred and went with onside kick.

 

[BamaFan615]

Things we'll never know...

Based on what Hill was like in the spring and fall, before his injury, I have my doubts we'd have seen as much of Riley this season if he were healthy.

Brandon mentioned it with Jam. I like having Hill fresh going into UT AND with a break coming up.

I didn't catch the availability reports Wednesday. Are UT's corners still out?

Both CB’s are out still.

 

[bamafan9201]

Things we'll never know...

Based on what Hill was like in the spring and fall, before his injury, I have my doubts we'd have seen as much of Riley this season if he were healthy.

Brandon mentioned it with Jam. I like having Hill fresh going into UT AND with a break coming up.

I didn't catch the availability reports Wednesday. Are UT's corners still out?

Yes both corners are still listed as out.

 

[Rolltide24]

Bama comes in at #27. FEI, Special Teams

UT can't get any worse in PRE. OFG is the only marker here.

View attachment 32553

Interesting. If that is ranking Bama better than UT in special teams, I’d like to dig in more to their data. Here’s what I was going by, and UT is better in every category. Based on kickoff return yards, punt distance, and field goal kicking, they have us in every category. ESPN on Monday had UT ranked 13th for special teams and Bama 92. I don’t know if special teams coverage is considered but we haven’t been consistent there, I think back to the KO return TD at Wisconsin that could skew our coverage average.

Avg KO return for: UT 28.7, Bama 16.8
Avg Punt Return for: UT 11.5, Bama 7.2
Avg Yards per Punt: UT 40.8, Bama 37.8 (this is net average so I believe coverage is factored in, UT is actually at 44.1 kick distance)
FG Kicks: UT 10-12, Bama 9-13
Touchback % for: UT 90%, Bama 56%
FG Kicks Over 40 Yards: UT 4-6, Bama 3-7

 

[TerryP]

Interesting. If that is ranking Bama better than UT in special teams, I’d like to dig in more to their data. Here’s what I was going by, and UT is better in every category. Based on kickoff return yards, punt distance, and field goal kicking, they have us in every category. ESPN on Monday had UT ranked 13th for special teams and Bama 92. I don’t know if special teams coverage is considered but we haven’t been consistent there, I think back to the KO return TD at Wisconsin that could skew our coverage average.

You're looking at unadjusted numbers including garbage time I suspect. Look up FEI on bcftoys

 

[Rolltide24]

Do the numbers lie? Their kicker has been more accurate. Their punter has been more successful. They return the ball better on punts and kicks.

That site has expected and potential and weighted for strength of opponent and supposedly removes garbage time. When is garbage time? A field goal attempt is a field goal attempt, at least in my eyes. But I’m a simple man. Maybe the wind blows harder or a kicker is more anxious against FSU versus Syracuse, who knows. I was just going by straight data. What even determines if it’s garbage time or not? I guess a FG attempt is easier in garbage time, less anxiety for the kicker. Punter kicks further in garbage time. Again ESPN has Bama 92nd and UT 13th in special teams. This site has Bama 27 and UT 59. Holy cow at the difference!

I’ll stick with, field goal kicking could be key in this game. Punting as well. Same for kick off coverage and punt coverage and kick off yards and punt return yards. So far, UT has been better in all these this year. I just can’t argue that if garbage time and strength of schedule is factored in, the they are actually less effective than us, I’ll plead ignorance on that angle.

 

[TerryP]

Do the numbers lie? Their kicker has been more accurate. Their punter has been more successful. They return the ball better on punts and kicks.

That site has expected and potential and weighted for strength of opponent and supposedly removes garbage time. When is garbage time? A field goal attempt is a field goal attempt, at least in my eyes. But I’m a simple man. Maybe the wind blows harder or a kicker is more anxious against FSU versus Syracuse, who knows. I was just going by straight data. What even determines if it’s garbage time or not? I guess a FG attempt is easier in garbage time, less anxiety for the kicker. Punter kicks further in garbage time. Again ESPN has Bama 92nd and UT 13th in special teams. This site has Bama 27 and UT 59. Holy cow at the difference!

I’ll stick with, field goal kicking could be key in this game. Punting as well. Same for kick off coverage and punt coverage and kick off yards and punt return yards. So far, UT has been better in all these this year. I just can’t argue that if garbage time and strength of schedule is factored in, the they are actually less effective than us, I’ll plead ignorance on that angle.

I look at efficiency numbers. It's a bit of a deep dive in numbers (which I hate) but it tells the story more often than not.

2025 FEI Ratings — BCF Toys

bcftoys.com

 

[BamaFan334]

@UAgrad93

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

@UAgrad93

Wayne's son Jack is a student at UA... I can think about about a dozen different ways he could be utilized tomorrow....

 

[bamaledge]

I love Alabama so much and I miss home!!!

 

[UAgrad93]

@UAgrad93

Hell yeah!! Give em Hell Wayne!! Miss ya bud!!

 

[BamaFan334]