How to beat Tennessee, from Rocky Top Talk

by Joel on Oct 24, 2008 9:45 AM CDT Comment 26 comments

In response to Todd's How to Beat Alabama post earlier this morning, here's an orange-tinted How to Beat Tennessee.

1. Field a defense. If you put 11 on the field and tell them to give some effort, that will likely be enough against Tennessee's rushing offense, which is 85th in the nation (9th in the SEC), and our passing offense, which is 96th in the nation (8th in the SEC). We are 87th, 104th, and 106th respectively in third down offense, pass efficiency offense, and total offense.

So yeah, we're . . . let's call it not very good on offense. We've played three teams with better overall defenses than the Crimson Tide (Georgia, Auburn, and Florida), and we got flattened by two of them. The Auburn game was close only because their offense was nearly as inept as ours:

FULL SCREEN VERSION

Seriously, put 11 guys out there, tell them to try, and we shouldn't score more than two touchdowns tops.

2. Run the ball, eat the clock. You may find this to be more difficult than you expect because Tennessee's rushing defense is as good nationally as is your rushing offense, statistically speaking anyway. We're giving up only 95.7 yards per game on the ground, and our only chance to pull an upset on Saturday is to win this even battle and force you to our only advantage, which is passing defense. So that will be the game plan, and it's where the game will be won or lost.

You may be tempted to point to the Georgia game as evidence that you shouldn't be too concerned about being able to run against Tennessee. After all, the Bulldogs' rushing defense is ranked 3rd in the country and y'all gained 129 yards on the ground against them. But here's the thing about that No. 3 ranking: they played us. Held us to one stinking net yard rushing. That alone has to be good for a few spots in the national rankings. So don't be surprised if you have some rough going on the ground against Tennessee's defense. Our team might be struggling this year, but it's not really due to our defense.

3. Don't throw the ball when Eric Berry's on the field. Alabama appears to be most vulnerable in the passing game. Tennessee ranks 13th in the nation in pass efficiency defense. It's not just that Eric Berry gets interceptions, it's that when he does, he takes it home. Berry leads the SEC all time in interception return yards with 397 midway through his sophomore season. He has 174 interception return yards in the last three games alone. By the time he leaves, Berry will lead the world in interception return yards, and if Tennessee was a contender at all this season, he'd be getting Heisman consideration. When Tennessee fans watch him with the ball on defense, we're more surprised to see him get tackled than we are to see him in the end zone. He's that good. Judge for yourself (and keep in mind that this video only includes highlights from last season):

You can't just throw away from Berry, either, as the others back there with him are all good, too. If the game gets to the point where Alabama is forced to pass and those guys are playing aggressively, we might actually have a shot.

4. Take Tennessee seriously. Yeah, we're not so good on offense, but our defense can be pretty good at times provided they don't have to play the entire game, and we showed some signs of life with the ball last week. Yeah, it was Mississippi State, and yeah, 14 points came from the defense, but it looks like the offense might actually be coming together. And face it, the last two games for Alabama against Mississippi and Kentucky weren't really all that impressive, right? From most of the stuff I've read this past week, it seems that Alabama fans are not even considering the possibility of a loss this weekend. If the Tide takes Tennessee seriously, they will beat them. If not, though, you could be looking at an upset.

FanPosts are just that; posts created by the fans. They are in no way indicative of the opinions of SBN and the authors of Roll Bama Roll.

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Remember this:

Tennessee and their coaches and players are serious about beating us. They have studied film, game planned against our weaknesses, and have done everything they possibly can to prepare for that purpose. They will not simply see that they are an inferior team, they will try to prove they are better on Saturday. It is a huge mistake to think any SEC team will roll over and play dead. You absolutely have to take a team like Tennessee seriously. As for Fulmer, we hate him, and we are merciless in our attacks against him, but he did win a National Championship at TN. He can coach, and he would love nothing better than to beat Alabama tomorrow.

Don’t fear Tennessee, but do not take them lightly, either. Fight for 60 minutes, and give them your best game of the year.

Roll Tide!

by NJBammer on Oct 24, 2008 10:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have heard this a few time around other blogs...

We’ve played three teams with better overall defenses than the Crimson Tide (Georgia, Auburn, and Florida)

What is this all about? Are they talking about stats? Points allowed per game? What? Cause i would put our defense up against any in the SEC, especially UGA’s and UF’s.

Don't take life to seriously, you'll never get out alive.

by bammer on Oct 24, 2008 10:13 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes, stats

Total defense, to be precise:

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2008&rpt=IA_teamtotdef&site=org

Go Vols!

by Joel on Oct 24, 2008 12:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only 9...

…SEC defenses in the top 25? Shame on Vandy, Ole Miss, and Arkansas. What are we, the Big 12?

by NiceLittleSaturday on Oct 24, 2008 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

and you lost to all 3…

by Bens4vcobra on Oct 24, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But those three teams have played you

Doesn’t that kind of inflate their stats just as it does UGa’s run defense stats?

by zeke2029 on Oct 24, 2008 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree Bammer

Pretty much everything he said except the first point is shit. Our D is solid, moreso (apparantly) than the Barn, Georgia, and Florida. Weakness in the passing game? When Wilson is on, I put him up against any SEC QB in regards to passing. Some of his TD passes are beautiful, simply put. He has that fade into the endzone DOWN. We get a couple of those and play solid D it’s game over.

I agree we need to take the seriously, but if you think Saban and the boys aren’t, well…I am not saying for sure but I think our 2nd half lapse against UM could have been some looking forward, as Ucheat is much more of a rivalry.

Finally, F$##$ Eric Berry. Not personally, but this whole media love affair with him. I mean, yeah, I get that he is a phenomenal player. But you still gotta field a team and they can’t all be winners. Berry has not seen a receiving core like ours – top to bottom – yet and I guran-damn-tee you he hasn’t seen a physical player like Julio. Even if Julio neutralizes Berry, it will free up McCoy, Walker, Alexander, Stover, Smelley (apparantly!) to pick on the rest of those guys.

Bottom line is that if we play that hard nosed ball control offense that served us well in our first 5 games, we will dominate. Every now and then go deep to Julio or Maze – after the burn coverage – and keep the D on their toes. Could be a nice day for Bama.

"With a female-IHOP, With the guys-Waffle House. With a female your pulling Wingman on-Taco Bell" ~ Comer4tide, on his favorite place to eat at 3 AM

by BamaReturns07 on Oct 24, 2008 11:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And when I said it was shit

no offense to you Joel. Just disagree with what you said, is all. Appreciate the time to post it though!

"With a female-IHOP, With the guys-Waffle House. With a female your pulling Wingman on-Taco Bell" ~ Comer4tide, on his favorite place to eat at 3 AM

by BamaReturns07 on Oct 24, 2008 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Understood

and thanks for the clarification. Take a look at the stats, though. Numbers sometimes don’t tell the whole truth, but they usually tell some of it.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Oct 24, 2008 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you saying

Your Receiving group is as good as Florida? No offense to your opinion, but Florida has the best WR group in the nation.

Also, Eric Berry has seen all types of receivers and he’s done well with all of them. Most of whatever “media love affair” comes from the fact that, oh, he leads (edit: is tied for the lead with 2 others) the nation in interceptions and broke a 40-year-old SEC record not even halfway through his career (or, maybe halfway if you assume he leaves after his Junior year). The other thing about Berry is he can lay down the law like none other. He hits hard, he’s fast, and he has great hands, great instincts. And Tennessee’s Defense is as good a group as any in the SEC. We’d be 5-2 (losses to UF and UGA, I think) if our offense had any type of ability. Which .. well …

Finally, JPW passed for a season high 219 yards last week. He’s a good QB, no doubt, but Joel’s point was that if UT’s run-d could make the game a one-sided affair we have a shot. Tennessee has 14 interceptions to date, and while I can’t find the number that has to be in the top 5 nationally. Point being, they can get after the ball. DeAngelo Willingham, while still not the best out there, has 2 INTs for TDs this year.

Also, while I’m certain Saban will do a fine job getting up for the Tennessee game, no offense but I do think there’s stuff there to go on. A reference to UL-Lafayette might go a long way here . . .

Anyways, overall point being Alabama isn’t a football behemoth come to Tennessee to stomp the poor and lowly Volunteers (though that definately might happen). One is #2, 7-0, having a great year. The other, at 3-4 is having a down year, especially on offense. But Tennessee still has the talent to win football games. The question for us is can we get the cohesion we need to do just that.

by bobo_the_vol on Oct 24, 2008 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't Eric Berry one of the guys

that tried and failed miserably to cover DJ Hall one on one last year? It’s memories of that game that have made it hard for me to believe anybody from UT’s secondary could really be that good. Maybe he just had a bad game though.

by zeke2029 on Oct 24, 2008 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I

put JP up against any QB in the SEC too…when he has protection…

by Bens4vcobra on Oct 24, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

JPW

When Wilson is on, I also put him up against any SEC QB in regards to passing.

When Wilson is off, I’m not sure we’d be giving up anything to have Spencer Pennington back.

by zeke2029 on Oct 24, 2008 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's harsh. haha

by jsholt969 on Oct 25, 2008 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best Pennington story ev-ah

I was at a Bama baseball game a few years ago. Pennington had quit football but was still playing baseball. Pennington had hit a single and was either the winning or tie run late in the game. The pitcher must’ve thrown over on him ten times during one at bat. This kid sitting in the row in front of me yells at the top of his lungs, “Come on and pitch! If you’ve ever watched him play football you know he can’t run!” Our whole section was cracking up.

RollBamaRoll.com

by Nico2.0 on Oct 25, 2008 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've got nothing against Spence

He did his best, just didn’t get it done for whatever reason. I’m not so sure the coaches at the time ever really gave him the coaching he needed. From some things I’ve heard Brodie got all the reps in practice and the coaches expected SP to pick it up mostly from just watching. When he didn’t, they gave up on him and really hurt his confidence, which was then reinforced by the fans.

Regardless of the reasons, SP didn’t scare anyone and when JPW is off, the same is true.

by zeke2029 on Oct 25, 2008 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I always liked Pennington...

….he never got a fair chance from both the coaches and his own shoulder, but he went out and played his heart out even though they pretty much threw him to the wolves.

Roll Bama Roll

by Todd on Oct 26, 2008 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One more thing

Besides Berry, what other playmakers are there to be concerned about? Not being a smartass, just curiuos who to watch out for?

"With a female-IHOP, With the guys-Waffle House. With a female your pulling Wingman on-Taco Bell" ~ Comer4tide, on his favorite place to eat at 3 AM

by BamaReturns07 on Oct 24, 2008 11:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

DeAngelo Willingham, Robert Ayers come to my mind.

by bobo_the_vol on Oct 24, 2008 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

offensively ...

(tiny voice) Gerald Jones?

by bobo_the_vol on Oct 24, 2008 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Will

Jones play? We’re hearing high ankle sprain and likely out.

by Bens4vcobra on Oct 24, 2008 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that's part of the problem

;-)

Really, the entire secondary is pretty good, but I wouldn’t call them stars yet. Just Berry, there.

Lennon Creer (our 3rd string TB (don’t ask)) could be one, but it’s hard to tell right now.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Oct 24, 2008 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tennessee will be ready to play

they are out to prove they are better than Alabama, and not just in this game from a winning standpoint. They hate us with a passion, and its steams from them being jealous of our program and its success. Im nervous about this game, and its going to be tough.
This game, as i posted earlier, is THE game for us. THis week is all that matters, not what has happend and what will happen, but what we do Saturday infront of 110,000 drunk rednecks who hate everything our program is and stands for. Our players need to come out with intesity and keep it through the half.
We have not been to a place this hostile yet…..yes UGA was a blackout, but they dont hate us, actually, I truely love UGA except those 2 times every few years we play them. The blackout was a tough place to play, but this is a different animal.
Its a rivalry, its pride, its hate for one another, and its Gobble Gobble MF’ER!!!!!

“Hey Vols…Hey Vols…We just beat the HELL outta you, RAMMER JAMMER YELLOW HAMMER GIVE EM HELL ALABAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Hell, no! A tie is like kissing your sister!

by comer4tide on Oct 24, 2008 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Take UT seriosuly is the best one. Take them serious like UGA and Clemson and heck, even Arkansas, and we win this game. Goof around, we got troubles.

by tjua97 on Oct 24, 2008 1:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

any Bama people, especially the team, are taking this game lightly. Bama will need to play better than we have the last 2 weeks for sure. #14 is a force and even from the DB position he can be a game changer. I just hope we show up for 4 qts., if not we are in trouble.

by 5026 on Oct 24, 2008 4:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs