CHALK TALK
VOLUNTEER STYLE
VOLUME 46
OCTOBER 14, 2016
ALABAMA
What a game experience in Texas last week. It was the only stadium in the SEC that I had not been to and the few days I was there could only have been more enjoyable if we could have won. The Aggie fans I encountered were friendly, the stadium large and both fan sections were rocking for much of the game. As expected a large number of Big Orange faithful was there (8000/est.) and we were treated to as fun a game to watch as I have seen…..if you are not a fan of defensive football. 1276 total yards, 83 total points and enough missed tackles by both teams to last a month. Of course it is the third Saturday in October this week…..we will look at the Bama game after the A&M lessons.
The bottom line story of this loss….turnovers: 7 to be exact by the Volunteers. Field position was going to be a key in this game and our kick/cover and punt/cover was excellent. Daniel punted 6 times for a 42 yard net and 0 return yards. Medley kicked off 6 times and all were for touchbacks. Both of these young men expertly did their job. A whopping 684 total offensive yards was undone by a year-long nemesis….laying the ball on the ground resulting in 5 lost fumbles. These four were the most costly: fumble at Tenn. 25 = TD for A&M, fumble at Tenn.22 = A&M TD, fumble at A&M 7 and fumble at A&M 2 = loss of at least 6 to 14 points. That’s 20 to 28 points given up in a 2 overtime game. A game that was very winnable was in fact fumbled away. Can this be corrected before Bama? It is very hard to do in a week with very little contact expected. This is a beat up team and I would think the last thing CBJ will do is hit very much. After watching the game there is no doubt in my mind we were/are the better team, even with all the injuries. Having said the above this 2016 team is a group you have to love. They truly play as a team and no hole is too deep to dig out of, no amount of bad plays no injuries keep this group from playing for the full 4 quarters. It will take a four quarter effort to beat Alabama but we are very capable of winning this game.
On the defensive side we must play press coverage much better on the fade and go routes. Going back to Florida our corners and at times nickel get beat or interfere way too much. We have a bad habit of grabbing jersey and also not looking for the ball….two bad habits that must change. The depleted linebacker group had a hard time playing the run and as the game went on missed too many tackles….I don’t know what can be done in this area…Elliott Berry is the 4th outside linebacker that has played so far. I thought Coach Shoop called plays to protect both Jumper and Berry but it is hard to hide them against a strong running team. Kirkland Jr is needed badly but I seriously doubt he will play against the Tide.
The lessons coming out of the A&M game are perfect to show this team how to beat Alabama. The very things that kept us from winning in Texas if corrected will be what will put us in position to win this Saturday. IF we punt/cover well, IF we kick/cover well and IF we don’t turn the ball over in our end of the field then we WILL make Alabama start drives 70 plus yards from our goal line. Then defensively we must not give up long pass plays….we must make Alabama drive the ball at least 10 plays or more to score. Here’s what I know about their offensive coordinator….he is undisciplined, impatient and gets easily frustrated IF a defense takes away the big run and/or pass. Offensive passing gurus don’t like it when defenses force short passes and tackle well. If a defense makes him work hard for yards and forces definite passing situations he will make bad calls….this is Coach Shoop’s challenge! At the end of the day if we do the above we will have an excellent chance to win in the fourth quarter.
Alabama games have produced the great majority of signature plays by former Vols that are remembered forever. I won’t recount them….most of you can recount them better that I can but some player or players will have the chance to join Johnnie Jones, Dale Jones, Peyton Manning and Joey Kent among others in being remembered forever with a winning play against our most traditional rival.
Certainly the BWG must have big days…Dobbs, Hurd, Kamara, Malone, Jennings…..Byrd looks like a future star. There are plenty of players on offense to beat this crew and because of the limitations on defense we are going to need a great offensive day….and we are very capable of having a big offensive day.
If you are going to the game keep this in mind…..Bama’s QB is a true freshman and has never been in an environment he will face this Saturday. We need a loud rowdy crowd for sixty minutes…..that is our job this week.
We will Talk next week…….
VOLUNTEER STYLE
VOLUME 46
OCTOBER 14, 2016
ALABAMA
What a game experience in Texas last week. It was the only stadium in the SEC that I had not been to and the few days I was there could only have been more enjoyable if we could have won. The Aggie fans I encountered were friendly, the stadium large and both fan sections were rocking for much of the game. As expected a large number of Big Orange faithful was there (8000/est.) and we were treated to as fun a game to watch as I have seen…..if you are not a fan of defensive football. 1276 total yards, 83 total points and enough missed tackles by both teams to last a month. Of course it is the third Saturday in October this week…..we will look at the Bama game after the A&M lessons.
The bottom line story of this loss….turnovers: 7 to be exact by the Volunteers. Field position was going to be a key in this game and our kick/cover and punt/cover was excellent. Daniel punted 6 times for a 42 yard net and 0 return yards. Medley kicked off 6 times and all were for touchbacks. Both of these young men expertly did their job. A whopping 684 total offensive yards was undone by a year-long nemesis….laying the ball on the ground resulting in 5 lost fumbles. These four were the most costly: fumble at Tenn. 25 = TD for A&M, fumble at Tenn.22 = A&M TD, fumble at A&M 7 and fumble at A&M 2 = loss of at least 6 to 14 points. That’s 20 to 28 points given up in a 2 overtime game. A game that was very winnable was in fact fumbled away. Can this be corrected before Bama? It is very hard to do in a week with very little contact expected. This is a beat up team and I would think the last thing CBJ will do is hit very much. After watching the game there is no doubt in my mind we were/are the better team, even with all the injuries. Having said the above this 2016 team is a group you have to love. They truly play as a team and no hole is too deep to dig out of, no amount of bad plays no injuries keep this group from playing for the full 4 quarters. It will take a four quarter effort to beat Alabama but we are very capable of winning this game.
On the defensive side we must play press coverage much better on the fade and go routes. Going back to Florida our corners and at times nickel get beat or interfere way too much. We have a bad habit of grabbing jersey and also not looking for the ball….two bad habits that must change. The depleted linebacker group had a hard time playing the run and as the game went on missed too many tackles….I don’t know what can be done in this area…Elliott Berry is the 4th outside linebacker that has played so far. I thought Coach Shoop called plays to protect both Jumper and Berry but it is hard to hide them against a strong running team. Kirkland Jr is needed badly but I seriously doubt he will play against the Tide.
The lessons coming out of the A&M game are perfect to show this team how to beat Alabama. The very things that kept us from winning in Texas if corrected will be what will put us in position to win this Saturday. IF we punt/cover well, IF we kick/cover well and IF we don’t turn the ball over in our end of the field then we WILL make Alabama start drives 70 plus yards from our goal line. Then defensively we must not give up long pass plays….we must make Alabama drive the ball at least 10 plays or more to score. Here’s what I know about their offensive coordinator….he is undisciplined, impatient and gets easily frustrated IF a defense takes away the big run and/or pass. Offensive passing gurus don’t like it when defenses force short passes and tackle well. If a defense makes him work hard for yards and forces definite passing situations he will make bad calls….this is Coach Shoop’s challenge! At the end of the day if we do the above we will have an excellent chance to win in the fourth quarter.
Alabama games have produced the great majority of signature plays by former Vols that are remembered forever. I won’t recount them….most of you can recount them better that I can but some player or players will have the chance to join Johnnie Jones, Dale Jones, Peyton Manning and Joey Kent among others in being remembered forever with a winning play against our most traditional rival.
Certainly the BWG must have big days…Dobbs, Hurd, Kamara, Malone, Jennings…..Byrd looks like a future star. There are plenty of players on offense to beat this crew and because of the limitations on defense we are going to need a great offensive day….and we are very capable of having a big offensive day.
If you are going to the game keep this in mind…..Bama’s QB is a true freshman and has never been in an environment he will face this Saturday. We need a loud rowdy crowd for sixty minutes…..that is our job this week.
We will Talk next week…….
