JessN: Tennessee wrap-up: Vols didn't want that smoke, but they got it anyway

[JessN]

Tennessee wrap-up: Vols didn't want that smoke, but they got it anyway
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief

The first scent of cigar smoke came wafting over the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd at roughly the 10-minute mark in the fourth quarter. The game was far from being over at that stage, but some in the crowd were already making their point felt.

And smell't.

For those of us who remember days when there were smoking lounges in hospitals and even high schools, the aftermath of Alabama's 37-20 victory over Tennessee was a trip down memory lane, where a trip to a barber shop, bowling alley or even the corner drugstore left behind a burnt-tobacco fragrance for the remainder of the day. Eau de Marlboro, as it were.

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TideFans.com | By the Fans, For the Fans. - Tennessee wrap-up: Vols didn’t want that smoke, but they got it anyway

The first scent of cigar smoke came wafting over the Bryant-Denny Stadium crowd at roughly the 10-minute mark in the fourth quarter. The game was far from being over at that stage, but some in the …

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[Professor]

Yeah, we could smell that cigar smoke all the way up here in North Carolina!

 

[MikeInBama]

Great write up, thanks Jess

 

[92tide]

loved this line

And the Tennessee Volunteers, and their fans, could do nothing but breath it all in.

 

[LeBron47]

As always excellent analysis. I miss Cecil but as long as you are writing I feel like a piece of him is still here!

 

[bamadwain]

Great write up! The defense gave up some chunk plays on the ground, but Tennessee had been torching teams in the air so Womack took that away

 

[Tug Tide]

Wether it's the rotating right side of the OL, Red Morgan for Jones, or Lee over Jackson… this staff seems determined to get the right guys on the field

 

[JDCrimson]

With the portal and NIL, players csnt afford to take plays off or think their position is safe. We will find someone on the depth chart or in the portal that wants to play. Its your choice.

Wether it’s the rotating right side of the OL, Red Morgan for Jones, or Lee over Jackson… this staff seems determined to get the right guys on the field

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

"It might not look like the defensive you'
re accustomed to, but saying it's not an effective defense at this point is a statement with no facts to support it."

Yup.

 

[BamaMoon]

"And smell't" - love it!!!

 

[Rush]

Superb break down of the game, as always, Jess...

And I can safely say that finding a reference to Celine Dion therein was most certainly not on my BINGO card...

 

[Windsortide]

Defense was pretty good but we have to fix the big runs the unit gives up every game. But they stepped and made the plays when they had to.

 

[Rkharley98]

Excellent write up, as always Jess, the smoke was glorious. RTR

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

"It might not look like the defensive you're accustomed to, but saying it's not an effective defense at this point is a statement with no facts to support it."

Yup.

Wommack is an enigma. We give up yards but Holding that offense to their lowest point total is really impressive. And it's not like the first time he has pulled something like that off.

 

[Ledsteplin]

I hope Bama can maintain that "emotionally hot" attitude going into the South Carolina game.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Nicely done, Jess.

 

[Cruiser]

Chills:

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Chills. (via uaCTP/X)

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[CaliforniaTide]

1) Now that it's been mentioned, I do feel like this team seems to be better playing emotionally than under Saban. That hasn't worked out all the time (maybe an indication of CKD) but so far, it is working. Players definitely responded to it.
2) I think we were all spoiled (rightly so) for how much defensive success Alabama had under CNS. However, even at the end of CNS' time, the defense was not at the same standard as his earlier years. Whatever combination of reasons why, that was happening. I don't like how bendy Alabama's defense is, and I don't like an inherent weakness of the 4-2-5 system is run defense up the middle. Wommack's defense did hold UT's offense to 20 points, and with the exception of the FSU game, have come up big when it was needed. I do think we all need to re-orient ourselves to what is a good defense now because the game is played and officiated differently than before.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

1) Now that it's been mentioned, I do feel like this team seems to be better playing emotionally than under Saban. That hasn't worked out all the time (maybe an indication of CKD) but so far, it is working. Players definitely responded to it.
2) I think we were all spoiled (rightly so) for how much defensive success Alabama had under CNS. However, even at the end of CNS' time, the defense was not at the same standard as his earlier years. Whatever combination of reasons why, that was happening. I don't like how bendy Alabama's defense is, and I don't like an inherent weakness of the 4-2-5 system is run defense up the middle. Wommack's defense did hold UT's offense to 20 points, and with the exception of the FSU game, have come up big when it was needed. I do think we all need to re-orient ourselves to what is a good defense now because the game is played and officiated differently than before.

I'm not a big fan of how Wommack's defense works either but I can tell you what makes most systems look good, and that's better players. We've had a drop off in LB play (and talent) that hasn't helped the scheme. Jefferson has definitely improved but he's somewhat small and Lawson is going to miss four to five gaps a game on run fits, you can bank on it. I think if we can get more talent at the LB position and get a little bigger at the defensive tackle position, we'd see a lot less of the busted run plays.

 

[rolltide_21]

The offensive line played much better too. Some of the rushing issues are related more to Jam not being 100% and Riley not being big enough for power football. When Hill came in the game, it was an immediate difference. Also, Ty was mostly clean in the pocket all night. 64's pancake block of a UT DT was glorious. Cole Cubelic posted it on X.