What are some of the goals for this week’s game against N. Texas? Try to rest some guys. Get some guys healthy. Great opportunity to get young guys in other than special teams. See how they have developed since their playing time against Western Carolina. Some positions they can’t do as much due to depth. These types of games in will start to be the norm in college football for November. Scheduling because there are not two open dates in a season. Try to help their teams get to the finish line.
How healthy is Josh Dobbs at this point? Great question because Josh says he’s healthy and Butch says he is banged up. Debord would not comment yesterday on it. Debord said that he took the ball out of Josh’s hand that second half last week. I don’t think he does that unless Josh was banged up. he has taken a lot of hits this year when you take in the rushes, the sacks, etc. Certainly this week you want to avoid the hits and try to get ready for two good defenses to close out the regular season.
Close game against South Carolina? How does TN look at that game going forward? It was some execution things. Good film study for the OL. USC moved around a bit. Defensive front caused the OL problems. Did not handle the movement well. Mizzou and Vandy have a good defensive front. They must correct the OL play. Have to execute better in the passing game. Had the one big drop. The biggest thing that kills this team in the second half is the lack of first down production. TN got way out of kilter on 1st down in the second half. Defensively the pass rush went away. A mobile QB limits their pass rush.
Was the decline in pass rush due to depth or S. Carolina’s adjustment? TN was very active with their front 4 early. They looped and twisted. They got hit with some QB draws and scramble so what happen TN changed how they played 3rd down. Played Wetherd more as a spy. Also played Barrett and Phillips inside more and looped them outside. Really played with 4 defensive ends early in the game until Phillips hurt his shoulder and they got out of that look.
The FACT of the matter Brent if that one gets away from them we are having a very different conversation today?( smart ass question by Mark Howard and then Brent brings the boom!) The fact of the matter is that it didn’t get away from them. They made a play. We can say the same thing about the Georgia game ( Mark groaning in the background) if Randolph doesn’t swat the ball away. If they get a stop on 4th down at Florida the conversation is different. Same thing for OK game. Butch is right when he says you never apologize for winning. They have to play 60 minutes better. Everybody in college football can play the what if game. The FACT Of The Matter is that TN gets bowl eligible this Saturday and has a chance to finish 2nd in the Eastern Division which is an improvement from a year ago and the number of wins will be an improvement from a year ago.
What about the turf concerns? Interesting. I talked to an admin person this week who said it was not an issue. Butch said they have conversations about it. South Carolina was not pleased about it. Derek Barnett talked about how he had to change shoes. TN has done some things to look at what has caused the problems. Look to see if there is something they did wrong in managing the grass. Because of weather things? Was the Rye and the Bermuda growing when they over seeded? They have had some experts in. Doesn’t look to be wet this week. It was a very slick surface. It looked good but slick. They have had some surface issues at practice as well. It has been a topic of conversation not only amongst fans but internally as well.
Butch talking about Pre-Game locker room focus? TN has outscored their opponent two to one in the first quarter. They are converting 60% of 3rd downs in 1st qrt. They have been their best on Defense in the 1st qrt. Opponents convert only 20% of 3rd downs. I am not in to this team lacking focus to start games. Have the finished games well enough? No. I would give Butch and his staff credit for having the team emotionally and mentally ready to play every game. What game can you say that they have come out flat? Georgia game they had the turnover that caused them problems early but they were moving the ball. Moved the ball in the first quarter against Bama as well as anybody has. They missed FG’s and didn’t convert the way they needed to. This team has not lacked focus. I will agree with Butch in this that home games are different. You have family in the night before and around the hotel. Saturday you got few more people around the locker rooms. You got donors on tours ( way pre-game). People are passing through. Recruits passing through. There are potential for distractions. I don’t think anyone would say last Saturday night that TN struggled or had a hard time finishing the game because they had distractions.
What are some of the factors they will look at in finishing games stronger? Is it conditioning? Strategy? Adjustments? Probably a combo of all. Also some young guys learning how to win. Biggest thing is that this program has to get into the mindset of finishing teams early. Not letting teams hang around. I don’t know the answer to that. They have to finish teams off when the opportunity presents itself. It was there Saturday. They were sitting at 17 and you thought if they get to 24 will South Carolina roll over. Same case against Oklahoma. I can guarantee their whole off season theme will be about finishing. From conditioning to mental toughness to killer instinct. To the OL needing to get 10 yards to run out the clock. Had that opportunity on a couple of different occasions and they didn’t do it. Had to punt it back. It has cost them could of cost them Saturday night if it wasn’t for a punch out by Malik Forman. If TN finishing 3rd and 4 with USC without a TO then TN is in a victory formation. That is something the OL has to invest in this off season. Maybe it is play calling. What can they do schematically? There is some things to look at on both side of the ball to better finish games. That is the next step to grow this program back. Learning how to win against the big boys.
What does it tell you about this programs growth when you look at some other teams? Iowa is 5th, TN played Bama close and Oklahoma with a couple of wins this month can put them in good shape for final 4? TN has had some level of success against them or at least competitive? That is the thing at the end of this season will be brought about. Depends on how they finish the last 3 ball games. If TN can finish this season the way a lot of fans anticipate than you will kind of have the glass half empty half full concept. One thought process is man they are close. That is true. It is a better team and program from a year ago. Flip side is how close this could have been a special season. Did not capitalize.
8 and 4 would be nice but this season could have been really special? It did. No denying that. As administrators and coaches they need to figure out why you didn’t make it special. How you take advantage of the situation if it happens again. What we know in college football is that the window is not always open for a special season. Not always there. Bama is the exception. Look at Oregon. They had a window to win a National Championship with Mariotta and now lookwhere they are at. When you have the opportunity you have to take advantage of it. Go back to the glass half full scenario. When you look at TN you feel the window is not closing because they do not have a SR laden team. Window is more open than it has been but tN has to take advantage of the opportunities.
We will see a lot of Quinton Dormady Saturday? I think so. They want to make sure Dobbs is healthy because they will need his legs the last two games. His legs are very important. Saturday was the 1st game he won a game where he rushed for less than 40 yards. Have to get him rested. Get him off the field quick. Let QD play the game. See where he is at. One of the last time we some QD play was a roll out zip pass where everyone went “woo that was fun”. Play him early where he can run the offense.
Butch Jones has really worked hard to repair Medley’s mentality? I asked Medley after the game how important to you was when Butch came out and said that Medley was our kicker after Bama? Aaron acknowledged that it was very important to him and that it meant a lot to him. Look at Butch’s history at TN he has done a lot of things well. Maybe the best thing he has done is fixing the psyche of kickers. Fixed Palardy. Darr is now the starting punter for the Miami Dolphins. Medley also adjusted what he does during the game. Staying more focused and not getting caught up in the game. He also fixed some mechanical stuff.
That’s all folks! I thought it was some pretty good stuff this week. Go Vols!!!!!!
AUDIO: @Brent_Hubbs of @Volquest_Rivals talks Tennessee football topics stationcaster.com/stations/wgfx/…
How healthy is Josh Dobbs at this point? Great question because Josh says he’s healthy and Butch says he is banged up. Debord would not comment yesterday on it. Debord said that he took the ball out of Josh’s hand that second half last week. I don’t think he does that unless Josh was banged up. he has taken a lot of hits this year when you take in the rushes, the sacks, etc. Certainly this week you want to avoid the hits and try to get ready for two good defenses to close out the regular season.
Close game against South Carolina? How does TN look at that game going forward? It was some execution things. Good film study for the OL. USC moved around a bit. Defensive front caused the OL problems. Did not handle the movement well. Mizzou and Vandy have a good defensive front. They must correct the OL play. Have to execute better in the passing game. Had the one big drop. The biggest thing that kills this team in the second half is the lack of first down production. TN got way out of kilter on 1st down in the second half. Defensively the pass rush went away. A mobile QB limits their pass rush.
Was the decline in pass rush due to depth or S. Carolina’s adjustment? TN was very active with their front 4 early. They looped and twisted. They got hit with some QB draws and scramble so what happen TN changed how they played 3rd down. Played Wetherd more as a spy. Also played Barrett and Phillips inside more and looped them outside. Really played with 4 defensive ends early in the game until Phillips hurt his shoulder and they got out of that look.
The FACT of the matter Brent if that one gets away from them we are having a very different conversation today?( smart ass question by Mark Howard and then Brent brings the boom!) The fact of the matter is that it didn’t get away from them. They made a play. We can say the same thing about the Georgia game ( Mark groaning in the background) if Randolph doesn’t swat the ball away. If they get a stop on 4th down at Florida the conversation is different. Same thing for OK game. Butch is right when he says you never apologize for winning. They have to play 60 minutes better. Everybody in college football can play the what if game. The FACT Of The Matter is that TN gets bowl eligible this Saturday and has a chance to finish 2nd in the Eastern Division which is an improvement from a year ago and the number of wins will be an improvement from a year ago.
What about the turf concerns? Interesting. I talked to an admin person this week who said it was not an issue. Butch said they have conversations about it. South Carolina was not pleased about it. Derek Barnett talked about how he had to change shoes. TN has done some things to look at what has caused the problems. Look to see if there is something they did wrong in managing the grass. Because of weather things? Was the Rye and the Bermuda growing when they over seeded? They have had some experts in. Doesn’t look to be wet this week. It was a very slick surface. It looked good but slick. They have had some surface issues at practice as well. It has been a topic of conversation not only amongst fans but internally as well.
Butch talking about Pre-Game locker room focus? TN has outscored their opponent two to one in the first quarter. They are converting 60% of 3rd downs in 1st qrt. They have been their best on Defense in the 1st qrt. Opponents convert only 20% of 3rd downs. I am not in to this team lacking focus to start games. Have the finished games well enough? No. I would give Butch and his staff credit for having the team emotionally and mentally ready to play every game. What game can you say that they have come out flat? Georgia game they had the turnover that caused them problems early but they were moving the ball. Moved the ball in the first quarter against Bama as well as anybody has. They missed FG’s and didn’t convert the way they needed to. This team has not lacked focus. I will agree with Butch in this that home games are different. You have family in the night before and around the hotel. Saturday you got few more people around the locker rooms. You got donors on tours ( way pre-game). People are passing through. Recruits passing through. There are potential for distractions. I don’t think anyone would say last Saturday night that TN struggled or had a hard time finishing the game because they had distractions.
What are some of the factors they will look at in finishing games stronger? Is it conditioning? Strategy? Adjustments? Probably a combo of all. Also some young guys learning how to win. Biggest thing is that this program has to get into the mindset of finishing teams early. Not letting teams hang around. I don’t know the answer to that. They have to finish teams off when the opportunity presents itself. It was there Saturday. They were sitting at 17 and you thought if they get to 24 will South Carolina roll over. Same case against Oklahoma. I can guarantee their whole off season theme will be about finishing. From conditioning to mental toughness to killer instinct. To the OL needing to get 10 yards to run out the clock. Had that opportunity on a couple of different occasions and they didn’t do it. Had to punt it back. It has cost them could of cost them Saturday night if it wasn’t for a punch out by Malik Forman. If TN finishing 3rd and 4 with USC without a TO then TN is in a victory formation. That is something the OL has to invest in this off season. Maybe it is play calling. What can they do schematically? There is some things to look at on both side of the ball to better finish games. That is the next step to grow this program back. Learning how to win against the big boys.
What does it tell you about this programs growth when you look at some other teams? Iowa is 5th, TN played Bama close and Oklahoma with a couple of wins this month can put them in good shape for final 4? TN has had some level of success against them or at least competitive? That is the thing at the end of this season will be brought about. Depends on how they finish the last 3 ball games. If TN can finish this season the way a lot of fans anticipate than you will kind of have the glass half empty half full concept. One thought process is man they are close. That is true. It is a better team and program from a year ago. Flip side is how close this could have been a special season. Did not capitalize.
8 and 4 would be nice but this season could have been really special? It did. No denying that. As administrators and coaches they need to figure out why you didn’t make it special. How you take advantage of the situation if it happens again. What we know in college football is that the window is not always open for a special season. Not always there. Bama is the exception. Look at Oregon. They had a window to win a National Championship with Mariotta and now lookwhere they are at. When you have the opportunity you have to take advantage of it. Go back to the glass half full scenario. When you look at TN you feel the window is not closing because they do not have a SR laden team. Window is more open than it has been but tN has to take advantage of the opportunities.
We will see a lot of Quinton Dormady Saturday? I think so. They want to make sure Dobbs is healthy because they will need his legs the last two games. His legs are very important. Saturday was the 1st game he won a game where he rushed for less than 40 yards. Have to get him rested. Get him off the field quick. Let QD play the game. See where he is at. One of the last time we some QD play was a roll out zip pass where everyone went “woo that was fun”. Play him early where he can run the offense.
Butch Jones has really worked hard to repair Medley’s mentality? I asked Medley after the game how important to you was when Butch came out and said that Medley was our kicker after Bama? Aaron acknowledged that it was very important to him and that it meant a lot to him. Look at Butch’s history at TN he has done a lot of things well. Maybe the best thing he has done is fixing the psyche of kickers. Fixed Palardy. Darr is now the starting punter for the Miami Dolphins. Medley also adjusted what he does during the game. Staying more focused and not getting caught up in the game. He also fixed some mechanical stuff.
That’s all folks! I thought it was some pretty good stuff this week. Go Vols!!!!!!
AUDIO: @Brent_Hubbs of @Volquest_Rivals talks Tennessee football topics stationcaster.com/stations/wgfx/…
