Watching several Vandy games and re-watching a few UT games here is my opinion of what the tape tells. First, the bad guys and what I see as their strengths and weaknesses to be.
Vanderbilt Offense....
First their strengths, they are big and physical up front in the offensive line. They will for sure try to muscle up our defensive front and wear them down as the game goes along and use the lack of depth against UT. They use mostly one back sets in the run game and wall zone block on the defensive front to create cut back lanes for their backs. They look to be very run heavy on 2nd down, especially if the yardage is 5 to 7 yards to go and appears to favor running right 75 percent of the time. In the passing game, they love the intermediate routes, square in, short crossing, out routes ( especially to the boundary side. TE is very active at times in their passing game. They love screens on 3rd down mid yardage plays with defenses showing pressure from backers and are very successful at those plays. Interior pass blocking is pretty sound and tackles are long and have decent footwork. Backs are shifty and powerful runners, with good hands out of the backfield. Receivers are not burners, but are very sound route runners and above average hands.
Now their weaknesses on offense, though big up front they do not seem to play with great leverage and lean. RT (77) and RG (74) play very high in their pad leverage and don't seem to move much off the ball in run fits, now this may be because of the zone blocking concepts they employ, but even zone concepts teach pad leverage in the run game. As I said they wall zone block the defensive front and do not seem get to the second level very often in the run game. Also. they do not pick up run blitzes very well coming from backside, this probably is more from scheme in the zone blocking allowing lanes in the line, if the backside guard and tackle do not seal down the line. In the pass blocking sets, as I said the tackles are long with decent footwork, but they seem to lean more than move their feet in pass sets creating a short corner to the QB. As for the running backs, they are not going to scare you with speed or explosiveness and (23) at times carries the ball very low. As I said receivers are not burners and can be inconsistent catching the ball at times.
Vanderbilt Defense....
Their strengths on defense are noticeable, they play a very gap responsible defensive style and very disciplined on the back end in coverage. Defensive front has decent size and plays sound within their gap responsibilities. (91) and (34) seem to take up blocks and are decent holding the point of attack in the run game. The DEs are not dynamitic, but are sound in their scheme and set the edges of the defense fairly well most of the time. The linebackers are solid in attacking the run inside the box and are decent sideline to sideline. In pass coverage they are capable in coverage and seem to play sound zone concepts well. The corners are not your lock down types, but play with very good technique with very good route recognition. Safeties play a lot of two deep coverage and seem to be sound in run support.
On to the weaknesses, as stated above their defensive front is sound in gap responsibility. but they are not dynamitic at all, inside or on the edges. They play a lot of 4 man fronts and do not stunt or shift very much. Depth also seems to be an issues with their front, as in all their games they seem to wither away from mid 3rd quarter on. the linebackers do play good gap responsibility, but tend to at times have trouble getting off blocks and pursuing outside plays. They seem to be affected greatly by play action in the passing game and not getting back quickly in coverage, leaving a void between the 2 deep and the middle zone of defense. Their corners, though sound in technique, do not seem to play a lot of press coverage and can be affected by length of receivers. The safeties do play a lot of 2 deep and can at times leave the middle of the field open to slants and seam passes.
So now to what this tale may mean for our Big Orange, lets make a conclusion or just a flat out educated guess.
To me this game sets well for our offensive line, they really struggle with defensive fronts that play multiple fronts, stunts and odd looks. This game they should see majority of the time basic four man fronts like Auburn, South Carolina and Kentucky plays. This should alleviate some of the miscommunications on who has who and allow them to play more physical with less busted assignments. It should again allow for more cutback lanes in the run game and give Chandler a chance at a big day rushing. I think if JG is healthy and able to go he could enjoy another solid day throwing the ball. Especially, in the center of the field to JJ and the backs out of the backfield. Look for Murphy to have a couple of big catches working the deep corner routes and Callaway to get the short throws again and use his physicality on the edge against off coverage. I believe this could be a game DWA finally has a big effect on the game and even Eli Wolfe has a chance to cause match up problems for Vanderbilt's backers and safeties.
On to the Big Orange defenders, Vanderbilt is big up front, but doesn't necessarily maul defensive lines. I think Tuttle, Johnson, Phillips and Gooden have another Kentucky game stat line at the end the game. I believe DT shows up again because Vanderbilt's tackles do tend to be slower out of pass sets and watch for Deandre Johnson to maybe get a couple of sacks as Vandy slides protection and TE to DTs side. Bituli and Kirkland should again have an opportunity to play clean and attack the football in the run game. As stated Vanderbilt seems to try and wall the Dline and not get to the second level often. Look for Bituli to have double digit tackles in this game and Kirkland possibly picking off a screen pass. Now, to the secondary and the opportunity they have to make an impact on this game. I see Buchanan making a lot of weak side run blitzes to cut down cutback runs for the Dores and in the pass game don't be surprise if he shows blitz on a 3rd down and drops back in coverage and undercuts an out route for the TE. Thompson and Taylor both should play solid this week and not be as pressed downfield on go routes, allowing them to play tighter coverage. Warrior should finally get a pick (if he can hold on to it ) on a deep post or seam route and be a force in run support in this game. Micah Abernathy may very well play his best game in this one as Vanderbilt doesn't have a slot as dynamitic as other teams they have faced. Finally in conclusion, I expect a close game till mid 3rd quarter and the Vols play their best game and win by a couple of scores. Go Vols!!!!!
Vanderbilt Offense....
First their strengths, they are big and physical up front in the offensive line. They will for sure try to muscle up our defensive front and wear them down as the game goes along and use the lack of depth against UT. They use mostly one back sets in the run game and wall zone block on the defensive front to create cut back lanes for their backs. They look to be very run heavy on 2nd down, especially if the yardage is 5 to 7 yards to go and appears to favor running right 75 percent of the time. In the passing game, they love the intermediate routes, square in, short crossing, out routes ( especially to the boundary side. TE is very active at times in their passing game. They love screens on 3rd down mid yardage plays with defenses showing pressure from backers and are very successful at those plays. Interior pass blocking is pretty sound and tackles are long and have decent footwork. Backs are shifty and powerful runners, with good hands out of the backfield. Receivers are not burners, but are very sound route runners and above average hands.
Now their weaknesses on offense, though big up front they do not seem to play with great leverage and lean. RT (77) and RG (74) play very high in their pad leverage and don't seem to move much off the ball in run fits, now this may be because of the zone blocking concepts they employ, but even zone concepts teach pad leverage in the run game. As I said they wall zone block the defensive front and do not seem get to the second level very often in the run game. Also. they do not pick up run blitzes very well coming from backside, this probably is more from scheme in the zone blocking allowing lanes in the line, if the backside guard and tackle do not seal down the line. In the pass blocking sets, as I said the tackles are long with decent footwork, but they seem to lean more than move their feet in pass sets creating a short corner to the QB. As for the running backs, they are not going to scare you with speed or explosiveness and (23) at times carries the ball very low. As I said receivers are not burners and can be inconsistent catching the ball at times.
Vanderbilt Defense....
Their strengths on defense are noticeable, they play a very gap responsible defensive style and very disciplined on the back end in coverage. Defensive front has decent size and plays sound within their gap responsibilities. (91) and (34) seem to take up blocks and are decent holding the point of attack in the run game. The DEs are not dynamitic, but are sound in their scheme and set the edges of the defense fairly well most of the time. The linebackers are solid in attacking the run inside the box and are decent sideline to sideline. In pass coverage they are capable in coverage and seem to play sound zone concepts well. The corners are not your lock down types, but play with very good technique with very good route recognition. Safeties play a lot of two deep coverage and seem to be sound in run support.
On to the weaknesses, as stated above their defensive front is sound in gap responsibility. but they are not dynamitic at all, inside or on the edges. They play a lot of 4 man fronts and do not stunt or shift very much. Depth also seems to be an issues with their front, as in all their games they seem to wither away from mid 3rd quarter on. the linebackers do play good gap responsibility, but tend to at times have trouble getting off blocks and pursuing outside plays. They seem to be affected greatly by play action in the passing game and not getting back quickly in coverage, leaving a void between the 2 deep and the middle zone of defense. Their corners, though sound in technique, do not seem to play a lot of press coverage and can be affected by length of receivers. The safeties do play a lot of 2 deep and can at times leave the middle of the field open to slants and seam passes.
So now to what this tale may mean for our Big Orange, lets make a conclusion or just a flat out educated guess.
To me this game sets well for our offensive line, they really struggle with defensive fronts that play multiple fronts, stunts and odd looks. This game they should see majority of the time basic four man fronts like Auburn, South Carolina and Kentucky plays. This should alleviate some of the miscommunications on who has who and allow them to play more physical with less busted assignments. It should again allow for more cutback lanes in the run game and give Chandler a chance at a big day rushing. I think if JG is healthy and able to go he could enjoy another solid day throwing the ball. Especially, in the center of the field to JJ and the backs out of the backfield. Look for Murphy to have a couple of big catches working the deep corner routes and Callaway to get the short throws again and use his physicality on the edge against off coverage. I believe this could be a game DWA finally has a big effect on the game and even Eli Wolfe has a chance to cause match up problems for Vanderbilt's backers and safeties.
On to the Big Orange defenders, Vanderbilt is big up front, but doesn't necessarily maul defensive lines. I think Tuttle, Johnson, Phillips and Gooden have another Kentucky game stat line at the end the game. I believe DT shows up again because Vanderbilt's tackles do tend to be slower out of pass sets and watch for Deandre Johnson to maybe get a couple of sacks as Vandy slides protection and TE to DTs side. Bituli and Kirkland should again have an opportunity to play clean and attack the football in the run game. As stated Vanderbilt seems to try and wall the Dline and not get to the second level often. Look for Bituli to have double digit tackles in this game and Kirkland possibly picking off a screen pass. Now, to the secondary and the opportunity they have to make an impact on this game. I see Buchanan making a lot of weak side run blitzes to cut down cutback runs for the Dores and in the pass game don't be surprise if he shows blitz on a 3rd down and drops back in coverage and undercuts an out route for the TE. Thompson and Taylor both should play solid this week and not be as pressed downfield on go routes, allowing them to play tighter coverage. Warrior should finally get a pick (if he can hold on to it ) on a deep post or seam route and be a force in run support in this game. Micah Abernathy may very well play his best game in this one as Vanderbilt doesn't have a slot as dynamitic as other teams they have faced. Finally in conclusion, I expect a close game till mid 3rd quarter and the Vols play their best game and win by a couple of scores. Go Vols!!!!!
