So I've been giving a decent amount of thought to how I would attack UGA. Their front seven is solid, and their secondary has performed very well to-date, even if I'm not ready to anoint them anything special. Admittedly, I have not watched UGA much, but I believe this game is truly about us rather than about them and what they'll do to counter us.
First, I believe that UT has not shown very much of the playbook to date. Reviewing UMass you'd be hard-pressed to find anything to key on for the Vols offensively other than we like the run zone. Formation-ally and schematically we were extremely vanilla. Even going back to Florida, where we saw some nice wrinkles and variation from Larry Scott between the 20's, we did not use many shifts or formational wrinkles to scheme up plays like say we did against Florida in 2016, where I thought Mike Debord did a fantastic job of creating mismatches given the D called against him. Scott has done this to an extent, but I expect to see more moving forward.
With that said, here's what I'd be looking at if I were Larry Scott.
1) Motion, motion, motion, run using the motion!!!
--> Ty Chandler has wheels. Tyler Byrd has wheels. Let's use them. One way to help our running game will be to look to Mike Bajakian circa 2014 when Pig Howard caused headaches for defenses coming in motion from the slot. I think Ty Chandler and Tyler Byrd are tailor-made to take over this role, stretching defenses wide on sweeps, screens, and motions into flat, wheel routes, slants, or skinny posts. The slot needs to be worked vigorously in this game, as it will get UGA's very experienced LBs off the field, which should soften the box more, or create mismatches in space on Byrd or Chandler (who has shown he can catch the ball very well). Both of them should be quicker than UGA's LBs or NBs, if we can force them into Nickel.
Some of the ideas I have are Chandler or Byrd starting in the backfield then motioning out to the slot, to then again motion across the field, etc. We need to be creative here to help give our run game some juice.
2) Play-action on dem dawgs off misdirection
--> We've got to get the LBs looking inside to stop JK, and we've got to create eye-discipline confusion to soften up the running lanes inside. UGA's DBs have performed very well to-date, but I believe our receivers can win matchups on the outside. This comes down to execution and protection. Coach Larry Scott ("CLS") will likely need to use an additional blocker for longer passes given the pressure UGA's front-seven have generated. Smart is gonna bltiz early and often and his 3-4 scheme can be confusing for young linemen when ran properly. This will mean that an additional blocker will need to stay in for any PA passes, but this won't be an issue if done well. I'd like to see some Skinny post-Dig combinations with a Comeback to the solo side, whether that's Cover 3, 4, 6, 1 or 0. If we can find Callaway on these types of plays, he should eat well. (Obviously the route will need to be run and thrown differently depending on coverage, but I'd be shocked if we didn't see Cover 1 and Cover 0 early, with a mix of 4 as UGA gears up to stop the run and make us one-dimensional.
3) RPOem
--> Dormady ain't running it. We have to turn to the RPO. If E. Wolf is healthy, I believe that a healthy dose of TE seams is in order, mixed with weak-side runs + TE chips on the strong or weak side depending on the formation. These quick outs can get you 4 and 5 a pop and turn into big gainers while holding the ends and LBs over the TE's gap in-place and creating a mismatch there, while also taking those defenders out of the run play if ran correctly. This is hard to describe writing; if I could draw it up, maybe it'd make more sense.
4) Pass on First
--> Though it was a major criticism last week, I'm not worried about offensive variation on First Down from CLS.
5) Ride the Beast
--> Speaking of JK, I rewatched his highlights today, and my co-worker here in NY's first comment was, "He reminds me of Beast Mode how hard he runs." No truer words have ever been spoken. I'd move away from zone schemes early and use a pulling guard in Trey Smith or J. Jones/Boulware to allow JK to press the A gap and then make something happen. He's great in the zone, he's better when we get our OL coming downhill on folks. I expect to see much more pulling this week and much more power running game with Bumphus likely to see additional reps. Telling a Fr. to run his face through a DE or LB can be a simple assignment; I suggest we employ that big frame of his and let these youngins work. Feed that beast.
6) Take Your Shots and Be Aggressive
--> This game is a game where you lay it on the line. Don't be afraid to gamble in the first by taking shots. Allow Dormady to throw 50-50 balls and give him good protection to allow him to step in and resist his tendency to throw off his backfoot. This is a game where we manage our personnel and play to their strengths. We should't be afraid to sling it early. Many will say JK, JK, JK, and yes, that's true, but everyone knows that's who we want to have the ball. We need to mix it up by throwing it early and often, which will open up the run for JK.
We're not going to win this game playing not to lose. CBJ has to overcome that tendency. Don't clock watch, break their face.
This would be my initial gameplan. I'll let @RockyTopRowdy58 and @DylanVol add and critique the strategy. I look forward to your thoughts.
34-31 Vols.
First, I believe that UT has not shown very much of the playbook to date. Reviewing UMass you'd be hard-pressed to find anything to key on for the Vols offensively other than we like the run zone. Formation-ally and schematically we were extremely vanilla. Even going back to Florida, where we saw some nice wrinkles and variation from Larry Scott between the 20's, we did not use many shifts or formational wrinkles to scheme up plays like say we did against Florida in 2016, where I thought Mike Debord did a fantastic job of creating mismatches given the D called against him. Scott has done this to an extent, but I expect to see more moving forward.
With that said, here's what I'd be looking at if I were Larry Scott.
1) Motion, motion, motion, run using the motion!!!
--> Ty Chandler has wheels. Tyler Byrd has wheels. Let's use them. One way to help our running game will be to look to Mike Bajakian circa 2014 when Pig Howard caused headaches for defenses coming in motion from the slot. I think Ty Chandler and Tyler Byrd are tailor-made to take over this role, stretching defenses wide on sweeps, screens, and motions into flat, wheel routes, slants, or skinny posts. The slot needs to be worked vigorously in this game, as it will get UGA's very experienced LBs off the field, which should soften the box more, or create mismatches in space on Byrd or Chandler (who has shown he can catch the ball very well). Both of them should be quicker than UGA's LBs or NBs, if we can force them into Nickel.
Some of the ideas I have are Chandler or Byrd starting in the backfield then motioning out to the slot, to then again motion across the field, etc. We need to be creative here to help give our run game some juice.
2) Play-action on dem dawgs off misdirection
--> We've got to get the LBs looking inside to stop JK, and we've got to create eye-discipline confusion to soften up the running lanes inside. UGA's DBs have performed very well to-date, but I believe our receivers can win matchups on the outside. This comes down to execution and protection. Coach Larry Scott ("CLS") will likely need to use an additional blocker for longer passes given the pressure UGA's front-seven have generated. Smart is gonna bltiz early and often and his 3-4 scheme can be confusing for young linemen when ran properly. This will mean that an additional blocker will need to stay in for any PA passes, but this won't be an issue if done well. I'd like to see some Skinny post-Dig combinations with a Comeback to the solo side, whether that's Cover 3, 4, 6, 1 or 0. If we can find Callaway on these types of plays, he should eat well. (Obviously the route will need to be run and thrown differently depending on coverage, but I'd be shocked if we didn't see Cover 1 and Cover 0 early, with a mix of 4 as UGA gears up to stop the run and make us one-dimensional.
3) RPOem
--> Dormady ain't running it. We have to turn to the RPO. If E. Wolf is healthy, I believe that a healthy dose of TE seams is in order, mixed with weak-side runs + TE chips on the strong or weak side depending on the formation. These quick outs can get you 4 and 5 a pop and turn into big gainers while holding the ends and LBs over the TE's gap in-place and creating a mismatch there, while also taking those defenders out of the run play if ran correctly. This is hard to describe writing; if I could draw it up, maybe it'd make more sense.
4) Pass on First
--> Though it was a major criticism last week, I'm not worried about offensive variation on First Down from CLS.
5) Ride the Beast
--> Speaking of JK, I rewatched his highlights today, and my co-worker here in NY's first comment was, "He reminds me of Beast Mode how hard he runs." No truer words have ever been spoken. I'd move away from zone schemes early and use a pulling guard in Trey Smith or J. Jones/Boulware to allow JK to press the A gap and then make something happen. He's great in the zone, he's better when we get our OL coming downhill on folks. I expect to see much more pulling this week and much more power running game with Bumphus likely to see additional reps. Telling a Fr. to run his face through a DE or LB can be a simple assignment; I suggest we employ that big frame of his and let these youngins work. Feed that beast.
6) Take Your Shots and Be Aggressive
--> This game is a game where you lay it on the line. Don't be afraid to gamble in the first by taking shots. Allow Dormady to throw 50-50 balls and give him good protection to allow him to step in and resist his tendency to throw off his backfoot. This is a game where we manage our personnel and play to their strengths. We should't be afraid to sling it early. Many will say JK, JK, JK, and yes, that's true, but everyone knows that's who we want to have the ball. We need to mix it up by throwing it early and often, which will open up the run for JK.
We're not going to win this game playing not to lose. CBJ has to overcome that tendency. Don't clock watch, break their face.
This would be my initial gameplan. I'll let @RockyTopRowdy58 and @DylanVol add and critique the strategy. I look forward to your thoughts.
34-31 Vols.
