News Article: Tennessee preview: 2009 Vols are a mixed bag

[JessN]

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Tennessee preview: 2009 Vols are a mixed bag
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief
Oct. 20, 2009

When Lane Kiffin took over as Tennessee head coach last offseason, he did so in brash fashion, promising a win over Florida and accusing opposing head coaches of cheating on the recruiting trail.

Unfortunately, he failed to check with the bank first before letting his mouth write those checks. So far in 2009, more of them have bounced than not.

For the full story, click here.

[Baryugin]

A lot of UT fans up here are predicting an upset. Not happening.

[markenk]

Only thing I'm hoping for in this game, aside from a win, is for us to come out injury free. We have a bye next week and it would be crucial for us to just get the win without any injuries.

[OreBama]

No mention of Julio in the WR comparisons?

[IMALOYAL1]

Looks like Arenas will play after all. If we just get good game management from our QB position we will win handily.

[CrimsonEyeshade]

The key will be our ability to control the run and put JC on his back. Georgia looked like they were playing 9 to guard 11. The bootleg pass worked time and time again, leaving Crompton to cook a two-minute egg and still find a receiver.

On our side, the return of the real Greg McElroy wouldn't be a bad thing at all.

[GulfCoastTider]

This is about the way I see it, too. I don't think UT's defense will let Bama put up 30 points, but I don't see that ineffective offense scoring more than twice itself.

We should win by two scores--again.

[trenda]

	Quote:	OreBama
	No mention of Julio in the WR comparisons?

Wondering the same thing . . .

On the surface, I agree with Jess' assessment. However, I can't help but keep thinking about the '06 game, where their offensive ineptitude led to a blowout.

I can see the same thing happening again this week.

[Alanbama27]

According to all sources Javy could have played had we needed him but since MJ was doing a bang up job there was no reason to play him. Javy was back in his number 1 spot yesterday at practice and while his ribs might still be a bit sore, he will have had ten days to recouperate prior to kickoff this Saturday.

I also have a question about the comparisons. Leigh Tiffin has been better than UT's kicker and PJ is better than UT's punter and while Bama has had an issue with kickoff returns it doesn't seem that the "nod" should go to UT because of that area alone being in the UT column. Also, while Bama has given up long returns, our D is so stout that it almost doesn't matter because we can shut anybody's offense down.

I would also question how UT's defensive line is better than Bama's offensive line given the fact that Bama's offensive line over the course of a full sixty minute game has been very dominant over every team we've played and UT doesn't have the manpower to hold up. Therefore I give the nod to Bama's offensive line easily since you have to play sixty minutes of a game to win. If the game were 1 quarter or even possibly a half I'd say it might be even but once our big ugly's lean on you for a half or so it takes its toll and UT will be no different.

[TideEngineer08]

A great read as usual, JessN.

I feel like if we just avoid the turnovers and stupid penalties, we'll be ok. We got away with it last week, but we can't keep living on the edge like that. As good as our defense is (and they are elite), our offense has got to step up and help out more. I feel like they are more than capable, and I'm hopeful it shows this week.

As you say, we are simply better than Tennessee. They beat us every single year during the 90s when they had the better team. We rarely got an upset, unless you call 1994 an upset, and I don't. I don't want to let them off the hook. It's their turn to take the yearly beatings now.

[Bamabuzzard]

Take away the penalties in the USCe game and that game is at least 35-6.

[Crimson Cat]

	Quote:	Bamabuzzard
	Take away the penalties in the USCe game and that game is at least 35-6.

Thank you!!! That was my biggest gripe coming out of that game. We knocked ourselves out of scoring position and killed too many drives doing that.

Good read, Jess.
I know the Vile fans are hanging their hat on their UGA win, and how they played against UF, BUT, UGA has a pass heavy offense which played into UTee's hands defensively. UF game was simply a "getting up" for type game because of Kiffin's pre-season flaming. Viles will be simply overmatched against BAMA, I believe. I just don't see Crompton, who's been booed and nearly run out of his own stadium pre-Georgia, all of a sudden getting hot against BAMA's stout defense.

[BamaMoon]

Jess makes an important point: JC has trouble following up a great game (like with Ga) with another one. Hope that hold true and without a similar effort like he had with Ga then Ut will struggle (especially against our d).

This year's UT team reminds me of some of our teams under Shula that played miserably, mediocre, and then occasionally they'd have a great game that made us think we'd turned the corner (remember SI's "Bama is Back"?). Then the next week we'd be miserable or mediocre again.

If UT struggles early and we establish ourselves early, I think this one could be settled even in the first half.