OrangeCrush
09-19-2005, 12:09 PM
Offense
Quarterbacks
Erik Ainge and Rick Clausan combined to go 16 of 34 for 147 yards with 1 TD. You do not win in hostile enviroments with this kind of production. Most people know that if you have two quarterbacks, you have none. It took the Florida game for the Vols coaching staff to realize this. The only thing saving this group from a failing grade is the touchdown drive in the second half that ended with a TD reception to Brett Smith. Grade D
Running Backs
15 carries for 81 yards in the first half. 6 carries for, wait a second, only 6 carries in the second half? The Vols running backs did a solid job in the first half. In the second half, they simply did not have a chance. A failing grade to Corey Anderson must be given as he wiffed on as many blocks as he did make. Riggs is a feature back who is not getting featured enough. Foster showed some things in his limited role. Grade B
Wide Receivers
The Flordia defense made adjustments in their package to put the ball in the QB's hands and make him, plus the receivers beat the Gators. We know how this one played out. To many times, the receivers and QB were not on the same page. This did not look like a group that had been hyped as one of the best units in the SEC. I'm not sure who is ultimatly to blame, but I'll get to that in a few seconds. The bottom line is that the receivers did not get the job done. Grade D
Offensive Playcalling
Tennessee abandon the run with the score still within an one score game. The screens on third and long will drive you nuts. The waste of timeouts, because the wrong players are on the field. The lack of pass routes over the middle. The ineptitude of a two QB system. Need I go on? The whole offensive staff was burned in this game. Nobody brom OC Randy Sanders to OLine coach Jimmy Ray Stephens should feel good about his game. Tennessee played like a freshman led group, when the starters are made up of mostly juniors and seniors. Grade F
Defense
Defensive Line
The defensive line was one of the bright spots for the Vols. The Gators rushed for 31 yards in the first quarter and 37 yards for the rest of the game. The DT's were sound in their assignment against the spread option. The DE's were able to bring some pressure to Chris Leak, while also playing sound football against the run. Grade A
Linebackers
The LB's did a good job overall in this game, but were exposed in the zone pass coverage. The tackling from this unit was above average, but there were some critical misses. When asked to blitz, the LB's showed off their speed. The dropped interception by Kevin Simon hurts. As did the lack of contain on the end around. They are not the best LB crew in the SEC, but they might challenge for that distinction by the end of the year. Grade B-
Defensive Backs
As was the Linebackers, the DB's were exposed in coverage. The group was put in a position to not give up the big play passing and they accomplished that. Again, a dropped interception by Antwan Stewart hurt the team. The Gators WR's did not run free all of the game and that is an improvement over last year. When Leak did have time to make his reads, there were more plays where receivers were open instead of tight coverage. The jury is still out on this group, because nobody is sure what will happen if the opposing team's blocking holds for a game and the defensive backs have to stick their coverage. Grade C
Defensive Playcalling
With the exception of the 3rd and forever plays that the Gators completed in the 2nd half, the defense was well called. Everybody knew that Chavis would come after Leak and he held true to form. It was a good enough mixture of Blitzs and coverage, that the offense of Florida ever got on track. Grade B+
Special Teams A blocked FG, A fake Punt on the wrong side of the 50 yard line, A dropped punt, and no return game in Kickoffs or Punt Return. Is Fulmer's kids in charge of the special teams, because that is the only way a coach should not be running steps after this performance. Grade F
Quarterbacks
Erik Ainge and Rick Clausan combined to go 16 of 34 for 147 yards with 1 TD. You do not win in hostile enviroments with this kind of production. Most people know that if you have two quarterbacks, you have none. It took the Florida game for the Vols coaching staff to realize this. The only thing saving this group from a failing grade is the touchdown drive in the second half that ended with a TD reception to Brett Smith. Grade D
Running Backs
15 carries for 81 yards in the first half. 6 carries for, wait a second, only 6 carries in the second half? The Vols running backs did a solid job in the first half. In the second half, they simply did not have a chance. A failing grade to Corey Anderson must be given as he wiffed on as many blocks as he did make. Riggs is a feature back who is not getting featured enough. Foster showed some things in his limited role. Grade B
Wide Receivers
The Flordia defense made adjustments in their package to put the ball in the QB's hands and make him, plus the receivers beat the Gators. We know how this one played out. To many times, the receivers and QB were not on the same page. This did not look like a group that had been hyped as one of the best units in the SEC. I'm not sure who is ultimatly to blame, but I'll get to that in a few seconds. The bottom line is that the receivers did not get the job done. Grade D
Offensive Playcalling
Tennessee abandon the run with the score still within an one score game. The screens on third and long will drive you nuts. The waste of timeouts, because the wrong players are on the field. The lack of pass routes over the middle. The ineptitude of a two QB system. Need I go on? The whole offensive staff was burned in this game. Nobody brom OC Randy Sanders to OLine coach Jimmy Ray Stephens should feel good about his game. Tennessee played like a freshman led group, when the starters are made up of mostly juniors and seniors. Grade F
Defense
Defensive Line
The defensive line was one of the bright spots for the Vols. The Gators rushed for 31 yards in the first quarter and 37 yards for the rest of the game. The DT's were sound in their assignment against the spread option. The DE's were able to bring some pressure to Chris Leak, while also playing sound football against the run. Grade A
Linebackers
The LB's did a good job overall in this game, but were exposed in the zone pass coverage. The tackling from this unit was above average, but there were some critical misses. When asked to blitz, the LB's showed off their speed. The dropped interception by Kevin Simon hurts. As did the lack of contain on the end around. They are not the best LB crew in the SEC, but they might challenge for that distinction by the end of the year. Grade B-
Defensive Backs
As was the Linebackers, the DB's were exposed in coverage. The group was put in a position to not give up the big play passing and they accomplished that. Again, a dropped interception by Antwan Stewart hurt the team. The Gators WR's did not run free all of the game and that is an improvement over last year. When Leak did have time to make his reads, there were more plays where receivers were open instead of tight coverage. The jury is still out on this group, because nobody is sure what will happen if the opposing team's blocking holds for a game and the defensive backs have to stick their coverage. Grade C
Defensive Playcalling
With the exception of the 3rd and forever plays that the Gators completed in the 2nd half, the defense was well called. Everybody knew that Chavis would come after Leak and he held true to form. It was a good enough mixture of Blitzs and coverage, that the offense of Florida ever got on track. Grade B+
Special Teams A blocked FG, A fake Punt on the wrong side of the 50 yard line, A dropped punt, and no return game in Kickoffs or Punt Return. Is Fulmer's kids in charge of the special teams, because that is the only way a coach should not be running steps after this performance. Grade F