🏈 Vols Viewpoint: Bad loss

[Alabama17Tide]

Bad loss, Jones' program evaluation key for the future
Brent Hubbs | Publisher

There are bad losses and then there are bad losses. Saturday night's loss to Vanderbilt was beyond bad.

The numbers are staggering too staggering to even imagine. Numbers like most points surrendered to Vanderbilt since 1923. Numbers like Vanderbilt converting 6 of 8 third downs in the second half.

The most staggering from Saturday night's 45-34 loss to Vanderbilt was that Josh Dobbs was a career best 31 of 34 for 340 yards and 2 touchdowns and the Vols lost by 11 points.

On a night where the Vols punted only twice, it was again a defense, albeit make shift one in the interior, that minimized the accomplishments of Team 120 and has everyone wondering the direction of that unit moving forward.

“It is unacceptable,” Nashville native Derek Barnett said. “It is a tough loss. Right now we just have to come together on Sunday and get ready for our bowl game. It's unacceptable and I'm embarrassed.”

Embarrassing in an understatement for the Vol defense. A defense that gave up 351 points in 12 games. A defense that surrendered 5,522 yards, including 1,983 yards the last 12 quarters. Sitting at 5-0, the Vols lost four of their last seven games. In five of those games, they gave up 590 yards or more.

“It's embarrassing. We have to do something to fix it,” redshirt junior Kendall Vickers offered.

Head coach Butch Jones called the loss extremely disappointing and said post game that the lack of defense his program has shown is unacceptable.

“I don’t ever want to use injuries as an excuse because football is a game of that and it’s next man in,” Jones said. “But, when you’re down three defensive tackles, you're down your best linebacker, or your best two linebackers in our conference. But, again, it’s an opportunity for other individuals. To give up 600 yards and 40-something plus points, that’s unacceptable at Tennessee. That’s not going to be tolerated.”

That leaves many obvious questions for Butch Jones moving forward. Questions about the direction of things for his program, particularly on defense.

“I’ll start it when we get home tonight and see what we need to do to get better,” Jones said. “I love our players and they are giving everything that they have. Again, I’ll address it like I have, but I have some time now, coupled with recruiting, but I’ll constantly evaluate it.”

That evaluation process for his entire program will be most critical for Jones. Ten months ago, Jones' program had as much momentum as anyone in the country. Jones went all in with two staff changes. Heading into December following a year of expectations lost and past success minimized, Jones must make critical decisions about his program – staff decisions, recruiting decisions, training and development decisions.

Decisions that won't be easy. Decisions Jones has never had to make before.

Decisions that dictate the future as a season of great hope and promise swings into a winter of discontent and questions.

Something unthinkable five weeks ago when at 5-2 we all laughed when Jones calling the final five games of the regular season a tougher grind than the first seven games

Unfortunately, Jones' comments came true as the Vols finished 3-2 eliminating themselves from the SEC Championship Game and the Sugar Bowl and leaving everyone to wonder what's next?
VolQuest.com - Bad loss, Jones' program evaluation key for the future

 

[Bamabww]

Maybe it ain't only the assistants who need evaluating.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Sounds like the vols are fresh out of goodwill for their HC? His contract is mammoth and unless butch does the university a huge favor and quits, they are going to have to continue to listen to the world's biggest catch-phrase-coach-speak for at least a few more seasons.

 

[planomateo]

Can they keep Butch a few more years, please?

 

[bradenob]

Next year will INDEED be interesting for Jones. We'll see what kind of acrimony there may be, but unless things change his only losses on offense are his right guard, Dobbs (not sure that's such a bad thing), and maybe ONE receiver. Yeah, Hurd is gone, but Kamara and Kelly are back at RB.

On defense, it will be a 2nd year for Schoop, and no one doubts he can do a good job. They will lose Barnett as well as 2 other DEs, but Kongbo obviously feels he is more than capable of taking over there... O'Brien is gone at DT, and Sutton and Reeves-Maybin also graduate, so there ARE some losses (5) on that side.

Berry, the amazing returner, and both kicking specialists, return.

So Butch has the players to make one more good run - not sure how good the recruiting has been behind those guys for the depth or help needed, but next year will be very interesting. If he can't get 9 wins, not sure what happens. Jones is signed thru 2020 at 3.6 million a year, so if he were canned next year it would cost u cheat almost ELEVEN million dollars.

I would not be surprised if he finishes 10-2 with losses to us and LSU and goes to the SEC champ game - he has to get by Florida.

 

[bama alum]

Once you have this mastered, what else matters...

 

[alabamajack]

Didn't watch the game, but now I'm thinking it would have been nice to have seen butch's veins popping out of his neck