Just to go ahead and give everyone a sigh of relief our film was better than theirs.
So breath...
Okay
Defensive observations
Not as bad of DL play as everyone wants to make it out to be. Sorry
Yes they gave up 184 rushing yards.
4.3 yards per carry.
Last season Appalachian state average 271.5 rushing yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry. It is what they do.
Plus the DL consistently pushed the OL back all game. Especially their Ends vs the Tackles.
Now one thing that jumped out to me is McKenzie the highly touted 5 star going into his 2nd season was almost a non-factor. Didn't play that well. O'Brien NT, Vereen DE, and Barnett DE did.
However, they are still a 1 trick pony at LB. Their linebackers looked lost at times. Out of position and they did a terrible job of fighting of blockers. Appalachian state did consistently manage to use a TE to help occupy a DL and allow an OL to get to the 2nd level and absolutely own a LB. Their RB displayed nearly perfect vision and always found and followed this blocker. Hence their success all night long.
The DL most of the time won their one on one match-ups, but no one forced a double team, or if they did they got the TE to help out not the 5th OL, so this allowed the 5th OL to consistently to go nail a LB and create space for the RB.
Maybin is the Vols only LB. No one else has stepped up.
UF is so much better at LB and DT IMO.
End play we will call even for now. Well for the first half of a game anyway. Tennessee's back-ups are no where near as good as their starters unlike us.
Sutton is the only DB that impressed me.
I think Tennessee would have a very difficult time covering Goolsby, Powell, Lewis, Swain, and any outside receiver not covered by Sutton.
Short-intermediate passing game should be available all night long.
Think Scarlett should have at least an average game running the ball as well. Since their DT play is most suspect in their DL, and their LB stinks. Just need to find a way to block Maybin somehow.
Overall, the back 7 of UF's defense (when fully equipped) is far better than the VOL's back 7.
DL we will give a slight advantage to UF.
Offensive observations
Well their QB can create. Forgive his performance to a degree because the OL play was terrible, but we will get to that later.
There were multiple plays where an OL whiffed, he ran out of the pocket, and completed a 7-12 yard pass.
However, there was also times when he had good protection and just over threw the open receiver.
Very inconsistent QB.
Also UT got outcoached. Whenever, it was a must passing situation, even 3rd and 3, Appalachian only had 3 rushers, kept 3 linebackers at home, and dropped 5 DBs. This made Dobb's scrambling ability useless. However, their was no pressure at all. He had all day to sit back their and hit the open guy. He rarely ever did. Appalachian state basically told Tennessee I know your QB can't go through his progressions and we're gonna sell all out on that train of thought and it worked.
RB play. I am not gonna say Hurd and Kamara are overrated. Too early for that, but Appalachian State's linebackers consistently tackled them in space 1-on-1. Would that of happened with Fournette or Chubb?
I think it might be time to take a step back and re-evaluate this supposed loaded offensive backfield.
TE play. Wolfe is a lot like Gooslby. Will find a role in the league. Don't think he can stretch the field vertically quit as well, but he is an elite pass catcher at TE and crappy blocker.
OL play.
Well now...
Their LT, LG, and RT are solid. Not great push, but decent. Did good in pass protection all night.
Now the other 2. The RG and Center (oh boy the Center) are really really really really terrible.
Their Center got abused all night long. Appalachian state's 260 lbs NT owned that dude. Their were 2 times the Center never even touched him. Saw the Center get ran over (literally put on his butt) by a LB, and just over all constantly failed to square up and block any of their DL.
RG did an okay job in run blocking, but wow is he susceptible to quick DTs. Put a DT with athleticism in front of him on a passing down and you end up with a QB running for his life.
Overall, they will hold their own against good defensive ends. Still susceptible to great ones.
Good defensive tackles will be in the backfield most of the game. Great ones will be back their all day.
And their Center play raises one HUMUNGOUS QUESTION?
HOW CAN YOU BE SUCCESSFUL RUNNING THE BALL TWICE AS OFTEN AS YOU PASS IT IF YOUR CENTER IS CONSTANTLY GETTING HIS BUTT WHOOPED?
The answer?
YOU DONT
You end up with 127 rushing yards off of 43 carries. 3 YARDS PER CARRY AGAINST APPALACHIAN STATE AND THAT IS WITH A QB THAT CAN SCRAMBLE. JUST WOW BAD!!!
Tidbits
1. Not positive but I am pretty sure Tennessee never recorded a sack.
2. Dobbs had negative rushing yards.
3. None of their running backs average 4 or more yards per carry.
4. Tennessee only had 20 more total yards of offense.
So breath...
Okay
Defensive observations
Not as bad of DL play as everyone wants to make it out to be. Sorry
Yes they gave up 184 rushing yards.
4.3 yards per carry.
Last season Appalachian state average 271.5 rushing yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry. It is what they do.
Plus the DL consistently pushed the OL back all game. Especially their Ends vs the Tackles.
Now one thing that jumped out to me is McKenzie the highly touted 5 star going into his 2nd season was almost a non-factor. Didn't play that well. O'Brien NT, Vereen DE, and Barnett DE did.
However, they are still a 1 trick pony at LB. Their linebackers looked lost at times. Out of position and they did a terrible job of fighting of blockers. Appalachian state did consistently manage to use a TE to help occupy a DL and allow an OL to get to the 2nd level and absolutely own a LB. Their RB displayed nearly perfect vision and always found and followed this blocker. Hence their success all night long.
The DL most of the time won their one on one match-ups, but no one forced a double team, or if they did they got the TE to help out not the 5th OL, so this allowed the 5th OL to consistently to go nail a LB and create space for the RB.
Maybin is the Vols only LB. No one else has stepped up.
UF is so much better at LB and DT IMO.
End play we will call even for now. Well for the first half of a game anyway. Tennessee's back-ups are no where near as good as their starters unlike us.
Sutton is the only DB that impressed me.
I think Tennessee would have a very difficult time covering Goolsby, Powell, Lewis, Swain, and any outside receiver not covered by Sutton.
Short-intermediate passing game should be available all night long.
Think Scarlett should have at least an average game running the ball as well. Since their DT play is most suspect in their DL, and their LB stinks. Just need to find a way to block Maybin somehow.
Overall, the back 7 of UF's defense (when fully equipped) is far better than the VOL's back 7.
DL we will give a slight advantage to UF.
Offensive observations
Well their QB can create. Forgive his performance to a degree because the OL play was terrible, but we will get to that later.
There were multiple plays where an OL whiffed, he ran out of the pocket, and completed a 7-12 yard pass.
However, there was also times when he had good protection and just over threw the open receiver.
Very inconsistent QB.
Also UT got outcoached. Whenever, it was a must passing situation, even 3rd and 3, Appalachian only had 3 rushers, kept 3 linebackers at home, and dropped 5 DBs. This made Dobb's scrambling ability useless. However, their was no pressure at all. He had all day to sit back their and hit the open guy. He rarely ever did. Appalachian state basically told Tennessee I know your QB can't go through his progressions and we're gonna sell all out on that train of thought and it worked.
RB play. I am not gonna say Hurd and Kamara are overrated. Too early for that, but Appalachian State's linebackers consistently tackled them in space 1-on-1. Would that of happened with Fournette or Chubb?
I think it might be time to take a step back and re-evaluate this supposed loaded offensive backfield.
TE play. Wolfe is a lot like Gooslby. Will find a role in the league. Don't think he can stretch the field vertically quit as well, but he is an elite pass catcher at TE and crappy blocker.
OL play.
Well now...
Their LT, LG, and RT are solid. Not great push, but decent. Did good in pass protection all night.
Now the other 2. The RG and Center (oh boy the Center) are really really really really terrible.
Their Center got abused all night long. Appalachian state's 260 lbs NT owned that dude. Their were 2 times the Center never even touched him. Saw the Center get ran over (literally put on his butt) by a LB, and just over all constantly failed to square up and block any of their DL.
RG did an okay job in run blocking, but wow is he susceptible to quick DTs. Put a DT with athleticism in front of him on a passing down and you end up with a QB running for his life.
Overall, they will hold their own against good defensive ends. Still susceptible to great ones.
Good defensive tackles will be in the backfield most of the game. Great ones will be back their all day.
And their Center play raises one HUMUNGOUS QUESTION?
HOW CAN YOU BE SUCCESSFUL RUNNING THE BALL TWICE AS OFTEN AS YOU PASS IT IF YOUR CENTER IS CONSTANTLY GETTING HIS BUTT WHOOPED?
The answer?
YOU DONT
You end up with 127 rushing yards off of 43 carries. 3 YARDS PER CARRY AGAINST APPALACHIAN STATE AND THAT IS WITH A QB THAT CAN SCRAMBLE. JUST WOW BAD!!!
Tidbits
1. Not positive but I am pretty sure Tennessee never recorded a sack.
2. Dobbs had negative rushing yards.
3. None of their running backs average 4 or more yards per carry.
4. Tennessee only had 20 more total yards of offense.
