First, let me say I was at the game with a couple of my guys who are being recruited there, and that it has been very busy and I am just now getting a breather to sit down and really watch the game again. Wow. We had our asses whipped in a way that feels terrible, and that is not a fun position we find ourselves in.
Of course the injuries have sure began to mount up, and they can be attributed to a lot of our problems, but defensively, even before the injuries we have been really bad. I have a couple of theories why, and I will say a couple. First, I don't think Shoop has forgotten how to coordinate a great defense, I just think we have some glaring issues. With Cam at least we had one side of the field we didn't have to worry about, and it made the job of our safeties much easier. Now however, the safeties are being exposed for their weaknesses, combine that with the fact that linebackers simply aren't very good and you have a recipe for 1000 yards surrendered in the last 3 games.. I will end on my defensive comments with this. The "base nickel" look that we insist on running is a joke while healthy, but given the personnel issues, it makes me question the sanity of our defensive coaches. I promise you So car has seen that and will take advantage of our "light" packages.
Ok, so, what I saw on the offensive line. first and foremost, crap, I have never seen an entire offensive line go down like that and it especially sucked going down against a team like Alabama. They are so loaded it's unfair, but they aren't so good that they just skull f@@@ us like that. Good grief. From the very outset of the game they made their dominance known. If you don't believe that, go watch the second snap from scrimmage. Our o line is so weak it is very concerning. Footwork is terrible and something that definitely has gotten worse since the Florida game. Crazy to think our older guys are going backwards. Maybe it's the "tired legs" theory...
Watch 66 on that particular play, and he does a good job of getting himself up to the 2nd level, but when he gets there, he stops his feet and catches #10. He then gets handled and a 1 is stopped for a 6 yard gain. Had 66 kept attacking and hit ten instead of stopping his feet and catching him, it is likely that carry goes for 12-15 yards. Frustrating to watch simple stuff like that continue to happen.
On 2nd and 3 of the first drive we are going to throw. We run what I call 700 protection but in layman's terms, it is simply turn back. The entire line slides right, and invites the d line up field. When they come, you are charged with two things. Nothing, NOTHING crosses your face, and when someone appears in front of you, latch onto them and run their ass as far up field as he wants to go. Just simple protection, and one of the easier things to teach an o lineman. Watch Jack, who I have been very high on. He turns back, and is caught flat footed. He posts with his inside hand and by the time he looks up, again, something I have harped on constantly. Guys playing with their eyes in the dirt. It's too late. Williams who goes inside of chance, No longer chance's responsibility, Jack has no chance to get there. Dobbs bails them out by stepping out of the sack and finding the TE, but as we see in just a few, he can't get away most of the time.
66 is really struggling, and to me it looks like a strength and a technique issue. That said, the mentality of 66 has changed. He isn't trying to bury people's ass, and it's something he was known for in the past. The whole mentality of that group is a bit alarming.
55 is simply too weak to play in the SEC. The people who constantly praise him, the coaching staff, whoever it is that wants to talk about how good he is needs to just stop. When he is pulling, he is a good player, but unfortunately he can't pull in pass pro and that is something that really seems to get the best of him. He is so susceptible to a bull rush, I will guarantee teams have started to make it a play in their arsenal against us.
76 had his worst game as a Vol. Hopefully it is because he wasn't healthy like a lot of people on here and other places are claiming, otherwise, I promise you, this team is not going to finish these last 5 games undefeated. He was whipped from the word go, and it only got worse as the game progressed, just a terrible outing. A play in particular is the first sack to williams. He starts in a stand up position, and shows he is going to speed rush up field and 76 is so scared he can't match him that he basically turns to run, as soon as williams sees this he plants and comes back inside and underneath chance. again, Jack as an opportunity to help, but there is no way he gets there in time. Josh has no chance to step away from this one and is sacked for an 18 yard loss. Just terrible technique by 76. Shows me he doesn't trust what he is being taught. The question, is why?
50 Somebody I have pumped and praised all year. Not a great game. Just seemed slow, and unsure. Several times, bull rushed into josh's lap, and that is simply unacceptable in the interior of an o line. He must get better, or he will lose his chance back to Jashon. The positive is, Venzell looked really good in his work against A&M, so maybe this was just a talent disparity, and something that can be swung the other direction in the next 5 games which will help him learn some tricks of the trade which in turn will allow him to offset some of the talent disparity come December in the dome.
Of course the injuries have sure began to mount up, and they can be attributed to a lot of our problems, but defensively, even before the injuries we have been really bad. I have a couple of theories why, and I will say a couple. First, I don't think Shoop has forgotten how to coordinate a great defense, I just think we have some glaring issues. With Cam at least we had one side of the field we didn't have to worry about, and it made the job of our safeties much easier. Now however, the safeties are being exposed for their weaknesses, combine that with the fact that linebackers simply aren't very good and you have a recipe for 1000 yards surrendered in the last 3 games.. I will end on my defensive comments with this. The "base nickel" look that we insist on running is a joke while healthy, but given the personnel issues, it makes me question the sanity of our defensive coaches. I promise you So car has seen that and will take advantage of our "light" packages.
Ok, so, what I saw on the offensive line. first and foremost, crap, I have never seen an entire offensive line go down like that and it especially sucked going down against a team like Alabama. They are so loaded it's unfair, but they aren't so good that they just skull f@@@ us like that. Good grief. From the very outset of the game they made their dominance known. If you don't believe that, go watch the second snap from scrimmage. Our o line is so weak it is very concerning. Footwork is terrible and something that definitely has gotten worse since the Florida game. Crazy to think our older guys are going backwards. Maybe it's the "tired legs" theory...
Watch 66 on that particular play, and he does a good job of getting himself up to the 2nd level, but when he gets there, he stops his feet and catches #10. He then gets handled and a 1 is stopped for a 6 yard gain. Had 66 kept attacking and hit ten instead of stopping his feet and catching him, it is likely that carry goes for 12-15 yards. Frustrating to watch simple stuff like that continue to happen.
On 2nd and 3 of the first drive we are going to throw. We run what I call 700 protection but in layman's terms, it is simply turn back. The entire line slides right, and invites the d line up field. When they come, you are charged with two things. Nothing, NOTHING crosses your face, and when someone appears in front of you, latch onto them and run their ass as far up field as he wants to go. Just simple protection, and one of the easier things to teach an o lineman. Watch Jack, who I have been very high on. He turns back, and is caught flat footed. He posts with his inside hand and by the time he looks up, again, something I have harped on constantly. Guys playing with their eyes in the dirt. It's too late. Williams who goes inside of chance, No longer chance's responsibility, Jack has no chance to get there. Dobbs bails them out by stepping out of the sack and finding the TE, but as we see in just a few, he can't get away most of the time.
66 is really struggling, and to me it looks like a strength and a technique issue. That said, the mentality of 66 has changed. He isn't trying to bury people's ass, and it's something he was known for in the past. The whole mentality of that group is a bit alarming.
55 is simply too weak to play in the SEC. The people who constantly praise him, the coaching staff, whoever it is that wants to talk about how good he is needs to just stop. When he is pulling, he is a good player, but unfortunately he can't pull in pass pro and that is something that really seems to get the best of him. He is so susceptible to a bull rush, I will guarantee teams have started to make it a play in their arsenal against us.
76 had his worst game as a Vol. Hopefully it is because he wasn't healthy like a lot of people on here and other places are claiming, otherwise, I promise you, this team is not going to finish these last 5 games undefeated. He was whipped from the word go, and it only got worse as the game progressed, just a terrible outing. A play in particular is the first sack to williams. He starts in a stand up position, and shows he is going to speed rush up field and 76 is so scared he can't match him that he basically turns to run, as soon as williams sees this he plants and comes back inside and underneath chance. again, Jack as an opportunity to help, but there is no way he gets there in time. Josh has no chance to step away from this one and is sacked for an 18 yard loss. Just terrible technique by 76. Shows me he doesn't trust what he is being taught. The question, is why?
50 Somebody I have pumped and praised all year. Not a great game. Just seemed slow, and unsure. Several times, bull rushed into josh's lap, and that is simply unacceptable in the interior of an o line. He must get better, or he will lose his chance back to Jashon. The positive is, Venzell looked really good in his work against A&M, so maybe this was just a talent disparity, and something that can be swung the other direction in the next 5 games which will help him learn some tricks of the trade which in turn will allow him to offset some of the talent disparity come December in the dome.
