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Ah, yes. We have come to the end of our long, bumpy journey through all 120 teams in Division I college football. I didn’t exactly stick to the original schedule, but yet I’m still finishing with plenty of time before the season gets underway Thursday night (thank goodness).
Anyways, to the actual task at hand, as every year, I am incredibly excited for this season of Tennessee football. Last year was such a roller coaster with some really frustrating times as well as some times that honestly were just fun. Being in Gainesville and Tuscaloosa and watching those games I can still remember the different emotions and feelings of frustration, disappointment and anger that resulted from those trips.
At the same time, three home games – UGA, Carolina, and Arkansas – were just a joy to see in person. Of course the Kentucky had more of an emotional toll on me than probably any game before because after the game I wasn’t even that excited – just more relieved and worn out. If I learned anything from last year, it was two things: (1) the heart that team showed was tremendous and I admittedly wrote us off of ATL about ten times, only to be proven wrong EVERY time, and (2) just a few plays can determine a good season and a great season.
As for this year, I feel there’s a new air of excitement about the 2008 Vols for a couple different reasons: (1) the new offensive staff – finally, some unpredictability, and I for one have little clue as to how exactly the Clawfense/Circle of Five is going to run; (2) we’re flying so much in the shadows of Florida and Georgia that it almost has to fire you up as a Tennessee fan, especially knowing how we have recently fared in such situations; (3) the new QB – it’s like 2004 all over again, except there’s just one guy and he’s not a true freshman. Nevertheless, I think all Tennessee fans are interested to see how a guy who’s waited his turn will do finally getting his chance; (4) finally, the defense. This might prompt some questions, but just think back to the end of last year to how our defense, particularly against LSU and Wisconsin, was absolutely knocking some folks up (Tyler Donovan and Early Doucet in particular).
I don’t expect us to miss a beat offensively. I know he has called as many plays in a game at Tennessee as I have, but I have full confidence in Dave Clawson’s ability. Maybe it’s just a feeling, maybe I’m a homer all up on the kool-aid, but I think our offense is going to be very good. Of course, Jonathan Crompton is the wild-card. I think he’ll do fine, but I also expect to see some risk-reward tradeoffs here. He’s going to throw some picks, but I think he brings more of a deep passing game than Erik Ainge or even Casey Clausen did, as he showed against LSU in 2006.
I expect a much more concentrated commitment to running the ball this year than under David Cutcliffe. I think our group of running backs with Foster, Hardesty, Creer and potentially Tauren Poole might be one of the best in the SEC. We know what Foster can do, and we’ve seen Hardesty’s ability when he’s healthy, which he says he is heading into UCLA (and hopefully it stays that way). The progress of Poole – he’s very much in the mix for the third back with the talented Creer – can only be encouraging.
Yes, I know our offensive line hasn’t been pushing folks around the past two years, but by all means we have absolutely no reason for not being able to run the ball this year. I do know Tennessee had success with Jacques McClendon and Vlad Richard on the line last year. Crompton couldn’t ask for a better group to throw the ball from behind.
Like the backs, the receiving corps is one of the more underrated in the SEC. I know some have been saying that Gerald Jones hasn’t proved enough and questioned if he can be the dynamic player others have predicted, but he’s going to be a huge part of this offense, and I expect the G-Gun to be used til someone stops it and I also think we’ll see him throw it at some point.
The growth of Lucas Taylor and Josh Briscoe has been incredible, and despite some dropsies, Austin Rogers is almost money on third downs. Quintin Hancock made some big catches last year. Denarius Moore and Ahmad Paige brings some big-play and yards-after-catch aspects to the group.
Brandon Warren and Luke Stocker provide more weapons down the middle of the field and Warren will be a real matchup problem for defenses. Another reason for Crompton to feel comfortable and confident.
Defensively, the obvious strength is in the secondary, which I think talent-wise might be one of the nation’s best. Eric Berry (need I say anything else?). I expect a big year from Demetrice Morley. After what he went through to get back into Tennessee, you can’t not respect the guy.
Two plays from the Florida game last year I still remember: (1) deep pass down 42-20, DeAngelo Willingham has inside position on Percy Harvin and Harvin basically takes the ball from D-Will. (2) Cam Newton running over Dennis Rogan. Even at the end of last year, the improvement from those two was just amazing, despite Willingham’s struggles against LSU. Brent Vinson might have been our best corner last year, and that was with a major shoulder injury he played through after being switched early in the season.
However the front seven will determine the ceiling for this time. It’s not even the linebackers though really – Rico McCoy is this year’s stud, Ellix Wilson was great in limited time last year, and Nevin McKenzie I think is a very good player, and he’s probably not going to even start (Adam Myers-White). Hopefully this mess with Gerald Williams clears up SOON because he’s too good not to see the field.
I have full confidence in our starting defensive line (Robert Ayers, Wes Brown, Dan Williams, Demonte Bolden) and Walter Fisher. Behind that, though, I’m honestly scared because that’s the most glaring weakness I see for Tennessee. Chris Walker and Ben Martin have the ability, but can they be consistent and can they be relied upon? Are Victor Thomas or Donald Langley going to step up this year? Whether you want to admit it or not, Tennessee’s going to need those guys to play some snaps and at least hold their own. You have to be able to run the ball and stop the run to win championships, especially in the SEC.
What question do surround the Vols are going to have be answered quickly, with the front-loaded schedule. After the Georgia game, I don’t see a game we should lose. However, there is a real possibility that Tennessee could start 0-3 in the SEC, thus making the remainder of the year pretty much irrelevant. The restlessness of the masses could also come into play should such a start happen.
That said, Tennessee has to absolutely beat Florida in Knoxville September 20. Absolutely a must-win. Win that, and it could be a great season with very real championship hopes. Lose to the Gators, and it’s trips to Auburn and Athens with no room for error. Can Tennessee repeat as SEC East Champions? Definitely. The talent is certainly there.
Friday I walked over to TRECS (that’s the student recreation center for those that might not know – if you get a chance, check it out because it’s amazing) and the band was practicing their pregame routine on the intramural fields. As I happened to walk by, they of course began to play Rocky Top and I found it hard not to smile knowing how close we are to the start of the season.
Just one more week…
Uh, is it just me or has everyone already forgotten who won the National Title last year? It was LSU by the way. For a defending national champion, I sure don’t hear as much chatter about the Tigers as I do about Georgia, or Florida, or Auburn, or USC, Ohio State, West Virginia, so on and so forth.
After being banged up most of the year, LSU used the time between the SEC Championship Game and the BCS National Championship to get healthy and I think it’s pretty accurate to say LSU at 100% last year was the nation’s top team.
However LSU lost a number of key parts (seniors) from that team – Matt Flynn, Jacob Hester, Early Doucet, Craig Steltz, Ali Highsmith, Glenn Dorsey, Luke Sanders, Chevis Jackson, and Jonathan Zenon (I cringe at the mention of his name…). But when you have the talented depth that LSU has, you don’t have rebuilding seasons – you just reload and keep winning.
That’s why writing LSU off as the “underdog” to Auburn in the West is foolish. This team is still loaded at all of the skill positions offensively and have plenty of experience and talent along the OL. Obviously with the now-ended saga of troubles and dismissal of Ryan Perrylou, the hole at QB is gaping.
But it’s not like whoever the QB’s going to be – either Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch or redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee or maybe even true freshman Jordan Jefferson – has to go out and win games for LSU. He’ll just have to manage the game, spread the ball around, and not make crucial mistakes. Granted, the QB will at some point have to make a big play, but the LSU QB has so many weapons around him that his job really ain’t that hard.
For example, you have a continuing line of NFL WRs to throw to like Brandon LaFell and Demetrius Byrd (Terrance Toliver is no slouch either). Richard Dickson’s pretty solid over the middle at the TE position. Even easier, you can just hand the ball off to one of these guys:
(1) Keiland Williams…
(I could have made that throw)
(2) or Charles Scott…
(3) or maybe the most dangerous, Trindon Holliday…
(above LSU vids by WebWideLeader)
And when you’re running/passing behind a line of Brett Helms, Lyle Hitt, Herman Johnson, and Ciron Black, you really like it. In other words, if the LSU QB is even just slightly above average, look out.
For as much offensive talent as LSU has produced in recent years, when you think LSU you tend to think a mean, scary defense – especially the front four. LSU has five of the SEC’s best linemen – ends Kirston Pittman (#49) and Tyson Jackson (#93) and tackles Marlon Favorite, Ricky Jean-Francois (#90), and Al Woods. RJF played in two games last year and was the defensive MVP of the BCS Title Game. LSU probably has the best lines in the SEC.
Darry Beckwith (more cringing…) is the only linebacker returning and free safety Curtis Taylor is the only returning starter in the secondary, so there’s reasons for concern at least experience-wise, especially in the secondary. Despite that, you know those young, inexperienced guys are still going to be (1) really fast, (2) really athletic, and (3) really talented.
Also don’t discount the loss of Bo Pelini to Nebraska, as he was a excellent defensive coordinator. LSU will feature co-defensive coorindators this year with DBs coach Doug Mallory and LBs coach Dale Peveto. With those two guys you’re likely going to see probably the same defense for the most part.
Also, the cycle of luck and fortune says that LSU won’t get all the bounces and tough yards (and bonehead throws by senior QBs) this year as that they did last year. Keep an eye on that. Les Miles, much maligned for his seemingly idiotic coaching, has a chance to shut people up this year – as if that ring and crystal football haven’t done it already.
Our first good look at LSU actually won’t be at Auburn September 20 – it will be the opening Saturday against Appalachian State. However, it’s not gonna happen this year, so stop thinking about it happening. Ellis-Shoe also has trips to Gainesville and Columbia and Georgia at home back-to-back-to-back in October, but I don’t see any Ls anywhere else.
Perhaps people should be talking about the talent at the skill spots and along the lines instead of the hole at QB – there they’ll see the West favorite.
His mere name strikes fear into every one of us Tennessee people. I also figured the few of you that read my site hadn’t heard his name enough so I decided to use it. And here’s that name a few more times just for the hell of it…
Incredible editing job there. Anyways, the Gates have gotten so much publicity and are so loved by ESPN, who showed their spring game, that everyone forgets they were 9-4 last year and lost to Michigan in the bowl game. Of course they absolutely crushed Tennessee (I know, I was there) so that’s probably why we Vol fans have reservations about our chances of beating Florida this year.
Tebow scored 55 TDs last year. Think about that. It’s ridiculous! Then again, when you’re your team’s QB and short-yardage/goal-line running back you’ll score…alot. And he did. He perfectly fits the gimmicky offense of his lover coach Urban Meyer. To Meyer’s credit (about the only thing I can credit the man for), he’s recruited the fastest bunch of players this side of the Jamaican track team.
Percy Harvin, Chris Rainey, Brandon James, Mon Williams, Kestahn Moore, Jeff Demps, Louis Murphy, Riley Cooper (ask LaMarcus Coker), all have blazing speed and can turn a simple end-around into six with a missed tackle. However, a huge part of that offense, TE Cornelius Ingram, a mismatch nightmare for defensive coordinators around the world, tore his ACL and won’t play a down this year. I honestly felt horrible for the guy since he withdrew from the NFL Draft to come back. The health of Harvin has also been a little in doubt with his nagging heel injury that required surgery in the offseason.
The wildcard for the Gators is USC transfer Emmanuel Moody. Florida’s leading rushers last year were Tebow and Harvin and the use of a halfback was minimal at best. They still averaged 42.5 points/game, why would they add in a halfback now? I’m not sure how I can see Moody fitting in to the offense, but Meyer will have to find some way to take care of Tebow and not let him get as banged up as he did last year. Another possibility is using backup QB Cam Newton a la Tebow 2006. Ask Dennis Rogan about Newton (although Rogan has come so far since that awful September afternoon).
I still wonder how good Florida is along the lines, since line play is essential to winning championships. The OL should be pretty good with the Pouncey brothers, and senior returning starters Jim Tartt and Jason Watkins. Also back in the mix is Phil Trautwein, a 2006 2nd Team All-SEC selection who missed all of last year. So that’s a group that might have improved, and they only gave up 13 sacks last year as it was.
Florida’s defense was iffy last year and the reason they lost four games with the Heisman winner. It wasn’t necessarily the front seven that was the trouble, it was the secondary that had a tendency to give up big plays.
Up front Florida did a decent job for replacing an entire line that’s in the NFL (or in jail) now. Still, I want to see what Urban does when he doesn’t have Ron Zook’s linemen. The ends are scary – Jermaine Cunningham had 6.5 sacks last year and Carlos Dunlap has NFL potential – but DT depth is a concern after the no-show of Torrey Davis, despite the return of Mr. AK-47 himself Ronnie Wilson. The front needs to be able to allow the fast LB corps of Brandon Spikes (#51), Dustin Doe, and A.J. Jones to range and make plays.
As for that iffy secondary, the CBs – Jacques Rickerson, Joe Haden, Wondy Pierre-Louis, and Markihe Anderson better have improved. The safety siutation is a total mess – Dorian Munroe and John Curtis will miss the season, leaving Major Wright (#21) and possibly highly-touted Will Hill – and of utmost concern.
The bottom line is as long as the defense improves just a little bit, the offense should be enough to win games for Florida. The best way to stop this offense seems to be to (a) not let them get into any sort of rhythm, (b) make Tebow beat you with his arm, and (3) hit them in the mouth many times. Auburn and Georgia were both really physical with the Gators, and Michigan wasn’t exactly love-tapping them either. That and hope to force turnovers or you’re gonna have to score 40+ to win.
Of the three East contenders (sorry South Carolina), Florida has the most favorable schedule, drawing Ole Miss and Arkansas out of the West and getting LSU at home. Since 1992 Florida has lost ten more games to SEC West teams than to SEC East teams despite playing 36 less games against West teams (thank you Phil Steele). A split against Tennessee and Georgia isn’t undoable, so that alone has me putting Florida as the team to beat in the East.
…and Auburn went 24-2 in 2004 and 2006, including an undefeated SEC with an SEC Title in ‘04 with a loaded team. This year’s Auburn isn’t near that good, but they should be pretty solid yet again, and with the mystery of the QB situation at LSU and Alabama being very young this year, honestly it’s tough not to have the Warring Tigereagles as the SEC West favorite.
That said, the Tigers at #10 is a little high for a team replacing both coordinators and with questions of their own at QB. The big story down on the Plains is obviously the implementation of the spread, thanks to the hire of Troy’s offensive coordinator Tony Franklin at the end of last year. The Trojans averaged 34 points/game and 453 yards/game in Franklin’s second year, so there’s obvious reason for excitement for Auburn fans.
Honestly, Auburn has had anemic offenses since the Campbell/Cadillac/Ronnie Brown days, especially the past two seasons with the inconsistent Brandon Cox running things, not 100% most of the time. Kodi Burns made an impact as a freshman as more of a running option to counter from Cox, so the obvious question is can he handle throwing the ball looms.
Enter junior college transfer Chris Todd. Todd played under Franklin in high school in Kentucky, and played in five games for Texas Tech in 2006. Todd already knows Franklin’s offense, and I would expect Burns and Todd to split time running the offense, that I have dubbed (though not my own creation) the “Spread Eagle” offense.
The only other question on offense I see is playmakers at the receiver position. Rod Smith and Montez Billings led the way last year, but neither incite a great deal of fear. The group of running backs does though – Ben Tate, Brad Lester, and Mario Fannin, who will be featured as a receiver as well. All three have some ability to make big plays, and the general assumption is that the new offense will automatically improve the QB play – why that is I’m not exactly sure.
Last year the offensive line, with three true freshman, was a liability and most responsible in Cox’s struggles – he had no time to throw and forced things at times. This year, things are a bit different. All five starters return on the OL, which should bode well for the QB combo and group of talented backs.
Of course, Auburn’s strength under Tommy Tuberville has always been defense, and this year looks to be the same. Don’t discount the loss of Will Muschamp to Texas though, though Paul Rhoads, the new defensive coordinator, had Pitt #5 in the nation in terms of yards/game (including the stifling of West Virginia).
Up front there’s Sen’Derrick Marks, one of the most talented DTs in the nation, and Antonio Coleman, who had 8.5 sacks last year and will have to make up for the loss of Quentin Groves. The LBs, always a position of strength for the Tigers, features Tray Blackmon, Merrill Johnson, and Craig Stevens. Those guys average 214 lbs, so you know that can cover some ground.
The secondary took a hit when likely starter Aairon Savage tore his knee completely. CB Jerraud Powers and SS Zac Etheridge are still back there, but the depth is a question with Savage’s injury.
And lately the Auburn practice fights have been getting some pub, and who knows how much stock you can put into those minor scuffles and how they effect team chemistry. Although when a kid transfers, especially to Memphis (that was just too easy…kidding though, I love Memphis), maybe it’s more. I don’t think anyone will even remember those in a couple months.
With all that core group returning back, there’s reason to see Auburn winning the West. The new coordinators could be canceled out by the favorable schedule in the SEC. Auburn gets LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia all at home, where Auburn seems to always win the big games. The road trips are to the Mississippi schools, Vandy, and Bama, where Auburn is going for win #7 in a row against the Tide. There’s also a little Thursday night trip to Morgantown, where Auburn’s going to demonstrate the SEC strength against West Virginia.
Auburn could very well continue it’s good string of even-numbered year success in 2008.
(WARNING: This is pretty much my rant of bashing UGA, who I despise – thanks to my first road game as a student to Athens in 2006. That said, please enjoy!)
Nope, that’s not a mistake – the Georgia Bulldogs are ranked at the top of both the media and coaches’ polls, after finishing #2 in the nation last year. Georgia rode the wave of momentum created by this well-know, dramatically overblown act of celebration…
…to a 42-30 win over the media’s darlings in Florida. These silly antics continued two weeks later for the Dawgs’ home game against Auburn…
…where Georgia won 45-20. After a seventh-straight win over Georgia Tech, UGA, perceived as “playing the best football in the country,” was hoping a national title game appearance was possible thanks to the carnage going on everywhere else.
Except there was one problem: Georgia didn’t even win their own division. UGA ended up in the Sugar Bowl, where they crushed a WAC team, thus forcing the offseason hype machine into the red. I guess it’s still going because of the #1 ranking and the talking heads everywhere calling for Georgia as the favorite to win it all.
I swear the media apparently forgot this game ever happened, or that it was some sort of false stroke of luck…
The hype machine has been sputtering a little bit though. The biggest hiccup came just recently, when All-SEC Freshman from last year T Trinton Sturdivant was lost for the year, a huge, huge blow for such a powerful running team. That of course followed the well known string of offseason nonsense going on down in Athens, resulting in suspensions and dismissals. We Tennessee fans saw the effects of those in 2005, though that team and this UGA team are pretty different, so I’m not sure that comparison holds water.
Let me just get to the point: Georgia is not going win the national title, the SEC, or even the division in 2008. Let’s examine how UGA came to be anointed the 2008 paper champions: lost to South Carolina at home, got smoked here in Knoxville (a worse beating than 2006), stole victory from defeat at Vandy, beat a beaten-up Tebow, beat an ACC team on the road, and beat a WAC team. What in there really makes you think this is going to be the best team in 2008.
It starts with Knowshon Moreno. He had a whopping 30 yards against Tennessee, so it’s not like he’s totally unstoppable, though he’s an incredibly talented back and one of the SEC’s best. Stoppable? Yes. Scary good? Yes, without a doubt
Matt Stafford has done nothingspectacular, throwing 26 TDs and 23 INTs in his career. All the hype he’s getting is based on pure potential and speculation. Stopping UGA isn’t rocket science people: you make Stafford beat you with his decision-making throwing the football. He hasn’t done that yet to my knowledge (I’ll even give you Alabama last year, but that was one throw). The receivers don’t scare anybody.
I can’t argue against Georgia being pretty good defensively this year with nine starters back, but then again, Tennessee has hung 86 points on them the past two years. Geno Atkins, Jeff Owens, and Roderick Battle up front, Dannell Ellerbe, Akeem Dent, and Rennie Curran at LB, and Prince Miller, Asher Allen, C.J. Byrd, and Reshad Jones is a pretty good secondary. I think they are going to be really good.
But this Georgia offense isn’t what it’s been made out to be for me. What scares you outside of Moreno and the talented backs behind him? The offensive line has really become a concern now due to some injuries and suspensions.
I haven’t even discussed the schedule: trips to Arizona State, South Carolina, LSU, Auburn, Florida in Jacksonville, and Tennessee and Bama at home. It’s rough. Really rough. I just don’t think Georgia’s as good as the media has made them out to be – they’re very talented, sure – and the brutal schedule should reveal that.
Mark Richt’s an excellent coach with plenty of class in my book, but he is out of place at Georgia. Those fans deserve a bigger jerk as their coach than Richt. I also have to wonder what antics UGA will pull this year. Internet rumors are that the game against Tennessee will be this year’s blackout game. Here’s a reminder of how that worked last time…
So to answer my originally posed question…absolutely not.
