3 Things That Worry Me About Tennessee
Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images We’re the first team out, an offense that is progressing the wrong way, a defense occasionally looking lost, a coach facing distractions, and now nationally known for dropping the ball. So why not bring Game Day and SEC Nation on campus? What, me worry? Here’s what I’m NOT worried about when we meet the team that regularly wears uniforms not in their school color scheme, can’t decide what color to paint their endzone, and whose band can only form straight lines when spelling out the school name: 1. Playoffs. If we beat the Vols, I feel good we will have a meaningful post-season. If we lose, I will feel nostalgic about central Florida weather in late December. It is just that simple for me. 2. Compared to years’ past, Georgia has had a much tougher schedule, playing literally multiple top 5 defenses on the road, a receiving corps that doesn’t create separation or catch balls, a banged up offensive line obviously playing poorly, losing half the RB depth – but it isn’t the play calling. The wide receiver screens frustrate me as much as anyone. But if you’re trying to keep the defense honest and combat a pass rush you can’t stop, that is one of your best options. The problem is that if you can’t throw vertical at all because of nothing open or getting sacked, those screens tend to not be as effective. I truly believe the Bulldog OL will be better, and that all of these plays will generate more production. 3. The defense, overall. And I mean our defense. Yes it was exasperating to see wide open receivers over the middle, and a lot of broken arm tackles. But the Rebels came into the game averaging over 550 yards a game, and UGA held them to under 400, their second lowest total of the year. And the 6.19 yards per play was their lowest production. Lane Kiffin may have taken his foot off the gas later in the game, knowing that his defense wasn’t going to surrender anything and not wanting to risk possessions. But there’s no denying that the defense was the better unit, and while not their best game, it was serviceable. If that’s the floor, I’ll take it. Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about the Knuckleheads from Knoxville: 1. Over the middle, again. If you thought the middle of the field was wide open in Oxford, just wait until Tennessee lines up. Because Josh Heupel puts his receivers out wide. And not just normal wide, I’m talking practically on the sideline wide. And both sidelines at the same time. He purposefully makes a defense cover the entire width of the field. They do throw more to the boundary even with all that territory, trusting receivers to beat man coverage and avoiding the safeties, but they also create space for a stout running game. It isn’t so much as pick your poison as it is defend every option. If you have a weakness, they will find it. 2. Dylan Sampson is the best running back in the SEC. And he might be one of the best in the country. Against tough SEC defensive fronts, he is not only leading the conference in rushing yards, but has the 7th best yards per game across FBS. Sampson’s 125 yards per contest is 20% greater than the next best SEC back (Jarquez Hunter/Auburn). Don’t think that just because Josh Heupel is a former QB, has recruited great arm talent at Tennessee, and puts up some gaudy passing numbers that he is some kind of Air Raid guy. He wants to run the ball. He will run the ball. And he has a stud in Sampson who will do exactly that. Georgia has historically been tough against the run, and are again this year. Aside from Jalen Milroe and Hunter, no one man has racked up more than 90 yards against us. But with so many options out wide as well as the willingness to run, our defense will be stretched and put to the test. 3. Last week I was worried the nation’s leading sack defense would cause trouble to an already struggling Georgia offense. I’m very tempted to cut and paste here, but we’ll dive in a bit anyway. We came to Oxford having kept Carson Beck relatively clean, only surrendering 10 sacks in 8 games. That number is now 15, and I’m sure Stacy Searles, Greene, Fairchild, Ratledge, Morris, Wilson, Truss et al. are very aware of that. They also know there were 9 tackles for loss and only 1.79 yards per rush on 33 attempts. The good news is that Tennessee is all the way down to the #2 SEC rushing defense (Ole Miss is #1). So far, they’ve only allowed 900 yards on the ground and 6 scores. Passing isn’t much better – UT is #19 in the country and 3rd in the SEC at 171 yards a game. They’ve only recorded 22 sacks on the season (we have 21), but just like Ole Miss, they’re mostly doing this only bringing 4 in pressure. I believe they utilize 5 and 6 man rushes less than any team other than the Rebels. So they’re very good at containing, even if they don’t necessarily get home, and they
We’re the first team out, an offense that is progressing the wrong way, a defense occasionally looking lost, a coach facing distractions, and now nationally known for dropping the ball. So why not bring Game Day and SEC Nation on campus? What, me worry?
Here’s what I’m NOT worried about when we meet the team that regularly wears uniforms not in their school color scheme, can’t decide what color to paint their endzone, and whose band can only form straight lines when spelling out the school name:
1. Playoffs. If we beat the Vols, I feel good we will have a meaningful post-season. If we lose, I will feel nostalgic about central Florida weather in late December. It is just that simple for me.
2. Compared to years’ past, Georgia has had a much tougher schedule, playing literally multiple top 5 defenses on the road, a receiving corps that doesn’t create separation or catch balls, a banged up offensive line obviously playing poorly, losing half the RB depth – but it isn’t the play calling.
The wide receiver screens frustrate me as much as anyone. But if you’re trying to keep the defense honest and combat a pass rush you can’t stop, that is one of your best options. The problem is that if you can’t throw vertical at all because of nothing open or getting sacked, those screens tend to not be as effective. I truly believe the Bulldog OL will be better, and that all of these plays will generate more production.
3. The defense, overall. And I mean our defense. Yes it was exasperating to see wide open receivers over the middle, and a lot of broken arm tackles. But the Rebels came into the game averaging over 550 yards a game, and UGA held them to under 400, their second lowest total of the year. And the 6.19 yards per play was their lowest production.
Lane Kiffin may have taken his foot off the gas later in the game, knowing that his defense wasn’t going to surrender anything and not wanting to risk possessions. But there’s no denying that the defense was the better unit, and while not their best game, it was serviceable. If that’s the floor, I’ll take it.
Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about the Knuckleheads from Knoxville:
1. Over the middle, again. If you thought the middle of the field was wide open in Oxford, just wait until Tennessee lines up. Because Josh Heupel puts his receivers out wide. And not just normal wide, I’m talking practically on the sideline wide. And both sidelines at the same time. He purposefully makes a defense cover the entire width of the field.
They do throw more to the boundary even with all that territory, trusting receivers to beat man coverage and avoiding the safeties, but they also create space for a stout running game. It isn’t so much as pick your poison as it is defend every option. If you have a weakness, they will find it.
2. Dylan Sampson is the best running back in the SEC. And he might be one of the best in the country. Against tough SEC defensive fronts, he is not only leading the conference in rushing yards, but has the 7th best yards per game across FBS. Sampson’s 125 yards per contest is 20% greater than the next best SEC back (Jarquez Hunter/Auburn).
Don’t think that just because Josh Heupel is a former QB, has recruited great arm talent at Tennessee, and puts up some gaudy passing numbers that he is some kind of Air Raid guy. He wants to run the ball. He will run the ball. And he has a stud in Sampson who will do exactly that.
Georgia has historically been tough against the run, and are again this year. Aside from Jalen Milroe and Hunter, no one man has racked up more than 90 yards against us. But with so many options out wide as well as the willingness to run, our defense will be stretched and put to the test.
3. Last week I was worried the nation’s leading sack defense would cause trouble to an already struggling Georgia offense. I’m very tempted to cut and paste here, but we’ll dive in a bit anyway. We came to Oxford having kept Carson Beck relatively clean, only surrendering 10 sacks in 8 games. That number is now 15, and I’m sure Stacy Searles, Greene, Fairchild, Ratledge, Morris, Wilson, Truss et al. are very aware of that. They also know there were 9 tackles for loss and only 1.79 yards per rush on 33 attempts.
The good news is that Tennessee is all the way down to the #2 SEC rushing defense (Ole Miss is #1). So far, they’ve only allowed 900 yards on the ground and 6 scores. Passing isn’t much better – UT is #19 in the country and 3rd in the SEC at 171 yards a game.
They’ve only recorded 22 sacks on the season (we have 21), but just like Ole Miss, they’re mostly doing this only bringing 4 in pressure. I believe they utilize 5 and 6 man rushes less than any team other than the Rebels. So they’re very good at containing, even if they don’t necessarily get home, and they have plenty back in coverage. I sure hope there’s a plan this week. Because last week, there was no plan.
Call me crazy, just don’t call me late for dinner. Sound off in the comments below what worries you about the Bulldogs of Georgia versus the Volunteers of Tennessee. And as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!
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