'65 Cobra
Member
For discussion, here are some observations and comments as we get ready to head up to Knoxville for our last game before the bye week.
1. Forget about the BCS - we need to laser focus on each opponent each week and ONLY each opponent each week. There is nothing we can do about the BCS, but we do control our destiny for the SECCG - THAT should be our sell-out goal. The rest will take care of itself.
2. Calling out the D for a fiery on-field leader - This year's D has alot of talent but alot of youth. Our guys played alot better this week than last, but was still not dominant. However, we have shown flashes of dominance this year - just not sustained. Which upperclassman starter will step up and take on the leadership role: Marcel, Dont'a, Mark? The leadership role was thrust upon Rolando and he stepped up and handled it. We need a field general and motivator on D. who will it be?
3. Calling out the O-line which is getting manhandled - for three games in a row now, we have not had a 100 yard rusher. For two games in a row, GMac has had a high number of sacks (though it must be said that many of those were his own fault). Our O-Line has always taken pride in bullying the opponent and playing ultra-physical. Again, we have had that this season but not recently. Who will step up in practice and in the weight room and challenge his teammates to get back to that level of performance? Used to be we didn't care if they stacked the box, we ram it down their throats anyway. We have the ability to be that way again. Do we have the drive and motivation? Football is an emotional game. Bear won with smaller guys that had bigger hearts. We have big guys... How big are their hearts on game day? They have to CHOOSE to dominate.
4. Our QB, the mid-range passing game, and the TE - Our QB is shell-shocked as a result of getting pounded and getting sacked. Some of this is his own fault for being indecisive. GMac needs to play faster in all areas: command that huddle and get the O in and out and to the LOS, tempo, tempo, tempo; take the snap and fire that pass, tempo, tempo, tempo; make your read and make a decision, tempo, tempo, tempo; let your WRs make a play on the ball, feel the pressure, run when you need, throw it away when you need. What has happened to the mid-range passing game and the TE? If they are stacking the box to stop the run, then a swing or screen won't do much better. Where are our 10-15 yard routes and where is the TE? If Julio is going to be hurt so much, let's get in some of our young and BIG WRs and give them a shot to make plays.
5. Open up the playbook; on offense AND defense - the restricted, conservative play selections of the last three weeks are obviously not going to cut it the rest of the season. Why are we running mostly the same vanilla stuff over and over again. Obviously, opposing defenses know how to defend our basic offense now. If McElwain is afraid to let GMac light it up, then give AJ two or three series a game to see what he can do with some downfield strikes. Perhaps even the threat of that - when AJ is put in the game it should be obvious - will open up the running game as defenses prepare for the long ball. This allows us to get the ball in the hands of our play-makers, Mark and Trent. IF Mark and Trent can effectively share the load, why can't AJ get a few series a game as well? On defense, we have injuries and youth to deal with and opposing offenses are moving the ball. Why stay conservative with the "bend don't break" philosophy - that works with a seasoned veteran team. When you have youth, you downplay their lack of experience by letting them be aggressive. Rather than having them play on their heels, turn them loose and let them blitz and attack; let them take chances on big plays - it's the best way to optimize youth.
6. Calling out Fast and Furious - as much as we all love Mark and Trent, the truth is they have looked tired and slow the last two weeks. Trent's swing pass notwithstanding, they have been going down easier and slower to hit holes the last two to three weeks. Granted alot of this is on the O-line and the play calling and the lack of creativity to get Mark and Trent to the second level where they can make people miss, but Mark and Trent know it themselves - they could both be playing better. Suck it up for one more week and sell yourselves out for this game and this game only. Then you get the bye.
7. Calling out our Coordinators - calling and scheming games "to not lose" as opposed "to win" will backfire eventually. I think everyone knows what I mean. Our playcalling has put our guys on their heals on both sides of the ball - they are calling games to minimize mistakes and to avoid big plays and "to not lose." All this does is restrict our very strenghts; aggression, size, speed, and power. How many times a game are our O-Line and D-Line going backwards for passing/coverage? Turn our guys loose and call the game to take chances, promote aggression and moving forward, and selling out to win! My impression of the Ole Miss game is that we learned little from the South Carolina loss in this regard - that is, that our Coordinators are still calling games to try to minimize mistakes and big plays. This doesn't work with a young team, it only crushes the one thing that can overcome inexperience - aggression. Turn our guys loose!
I don't expect much difference with UT, but we had better have better execution if we want to win against UT in Neyland. HOWEVER, we HAD BETTER come out of the bye week with open playbooks, aggression, willingness to take chances, and power or this conservative "avoid mistakes," passive, unaggressive football is going to backfire in a big way. And the thing is, it's such an easy fix - just turn them loose guys! Let them be aggressive and use their natural talents. Look at what Auburn did last year and they almost pulled it off - we had a very seasoned veteran team that weathered the storm. We don't anymore. We already have the one loss, and when it comes to LSU and Auburn this year taking risks and being aggressive may result in a loss, but playing "careful" and conservative and trying to avoid mistakes will DEFINITELY result in another loss or two.
Here's to a victory over the Hillbillies next week and getting back to Bama, bullying, power and attacking football after that!
My $0.02.
1. Forget about the BCS - we need to laser focus on each opponent each week and ONLY each opponent each week. There is nothing we can do about the BCS, but we do control our destiny for the SECCG - THAT should be our sell-out goal. The rest will take care of itself.
2. Calling out the D for a fiery on-field leader - This year's D has alot of talent but alot of youth. Our guys played alot better this week than last, but was still not dominant. However, we have shown flashes of dominance this year - just not sustained. Which upperclassman starter will step up and take on the leadership role: Marcel, Dont'a, Mark? The leadership role was thrust upon Rolando and he stepped up and handled it. We need a field general and motivator on D. who will it be?
3. Calling out the O-line which is getting manhandled - for three games in a row now, we have not had a 100 yard rusher. For two games in a row, GMac has had a high number of sacks (though it must be said that many of those were his own fault). Our O-Line has always taken pride in bullying the opponent and playing ultra-physical. Again, we have had that this season but not recently. Who will step up in practice and in the weight room and challenge his teammates to get back to that level of performance? Used to be we didn't care if they stacked the box, we ram it down their throats anyway. We have the ability to be that way again. Do we have the drive and motivation? Football is an emotional game. Bear won with smaller guys that had bigger hearts. We have big guys... How big are their hearts on game day? They have to CHOOSE to dominate.
4. Our QB, the mid-range passing game, and the TE - Our QB is shell-shocked as a result of getting pounded and getting sacked. Some of this is his own fault for being indecisive. GMac needs to play faster in all areas: command that huddle and get the O in and out and to the LOS, tempo, tempo, tempo; take the snap and fire that pass, tempo, tempo, tempo; make your read and make a decision, tempo, tempo, tempo; let your WRs make a play on the ball, feel the pressure, run when you need, throw it away when you need. What has happened to the mid-range passing game and the TE? If they are stacking the box to stop the run, then a swing or screen won't do much better. Where are our 10-15 yard routes and where is the TE? If Julio is going to be hurt so much, let's get in some of our young and BIG WRs and give them a shot to make plays.
5. Open up the playbook; on offense AND defense - the restricted, conservative play selections of the last three weeks are obviously not going to cut it the rest of the season. Why are we running mostly the same vanilla stuff over and over again. Obviously, opposing defenses know how to defend our basic offense now. If McElwain is afraid to let GMac light it up, then give AJ two or three series a game to see what he can do with some downfield strikes. Perhaps even the threat of that - when AJ is put in the game it should be obvious - will open up the running game as defenses prepare for the long ball. This allows us to get the ball in the hands of our play-makers, Mark and Trent. IF Mark and Trent can effectively share the load, why can't AJ get a few series a game as well? On defense, we have injuries and youth to deal with and opposing offenses are moving the ball. Why stay conservative with the "bend don't break" philosophy - that works with a seasoned veteran team. When you have youth, you downplay their lack of experience by letting them be aggressive. Rather than having them play on their heels, turn them loose and let them blitz and attack; let them take chances on big plays - it's the best way to optimize youth.
6. Calling out Fast and Furious - as much as we all love Mark and Trent, the truth is they have looked tired and slow the last two weeks. Trent's swing pass notwithstanding, they have been going down easier and slower to hit holes the last two to three weeks. Granted alot of this is on the O-line and the play calling and the lack of creativity to get Mark and Trent to the second level where they can make people miss, but Mark and Trent know it themselves - they could both be playing better. Suck it up for one more week and sell yourselves out for this game and this game only. Then you get the bye.
7. Calling out our Coordinators - calling and scheming games "to not lose" as opposed "to win" will backfire eventually. I think everyone knows what I mean. Our playcalling has put our guys on their heals on both sides of the ball - they are calling games to minimize mistakes and to avoid big plays and "to not lose." All this does is restrict our very strenghts; aggression, size, speed, and power. How many times a game are our O-Line and D-Line going backwards for passing/coverage? Turn our guys loose and call the game to take chances, promote aggression and moving forward, and selling out to win! My impression of the Ole Miss game is that we learned little from the South Carolina loss in this regard - that is, that our Coordinators are still calling games to try to minimize mistakes and big plays. This doesn't work with a young team, it only crushes the one thing that can overcome inexperience - aggression. Turn our guys loose!
I don't expect much difference with UT, but we had better have better execution if we want to win against UT in Neyland. HOWEVER, we HAD BETTER come out of the bye week with open playbooks, aggression, willingness to take chances, and power or this conservative "avoid mistakes," passive, unaggressive football is going to backfire in a big way. And the thing is, it's such an easy fix - just turn them loose guys! Let them be aggressive and use their natural talents. Look at what Auburn did last year and they almost pulled it off - we had a very seasoned veteran team that weathered the storm. We don't anymore. We already have the one loss, and when it comes to LSU and Auburn this year taking risks and being aggressive may result in a loss, but playing "careful" and conservative and trying to avoid mistakes will DEFINITELY result in another loss or two.
Here's to a victory over the Hillbillies next week and getting back to Bama, bullying, power and attacking football after that!
My $0.02.
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