FREE THOUGHT FRIDAY (Wednesday Edition)
VA TECH REFLECTIONS
O-LINE WHINE: Among the early season concerns the performance of the offensive line tops my chart. It is perplexing that a veteran unit that seemed only to need to fine-tune it’s pass protection coming into the year could appear to have regressed over an offseason of such high hope. At least the message from the shifts employed by the coaching staff Saturday is they know there’s a problem with their first unit that must -and will- be addressed. Two things are blatantly obvious; Coleman Thomas is struggling and Drew Richmond is overwhelmed. The other unmistakable fact is this line performs better when Jack Jones is on the field. Let’s hope we aren’t in the midst of a 2014 cluster when Brett Kendrick outplayed everyone at tackle but mystifyingly couldn’t wrestle snaps away from other struggling members of his unit. Our best line appears to be Kendrick and Thomas at left and right tackle tackle respectively with Dylan Wiesman at center and Jones and Josh Robertson at guard. If our staff can’t figure this out, keeping Jones with the first unit, to paraphrase an old QB adage “if you have two offensive line coaches, then you have none”.
CAN’T BACKUP THAT FAR Fair or not Darrin Kirkland may be the player that Tennessee can least afford to lose. His apparent ankle injury brought back bad memories of Colton Jumper appearing to be completely overmatched versus Oklahoma. This may be totally unfair but I don’t want to see a repeat two weeks from now when the Gators come to town. No one asked me but if Kirkland is out it’s time to move Jalen Reeves-Maybin to the middle and let Cortez McDowell and Quarte Sapp do their thing on the outside.
GET MALONE ALONE: I thought Preston Williams would be Tennessee’s highly-touted receiver having a breakout season. Looks like another 5* pass catcher has other ideas. Josh Malone made big strides last season but still didn’t appear to be a go-to guy that defenses had to account for. Josh’s number of receptions and yardage aren’t overly impressive over the first two games (4 for 127 yards) but what he’s done with them certainly is. His clutch outmaneuvering of an Appalachian State DB on a 67-yard TD reception kept the season from getting off to a miserable start and he added a 38 yd game-tying effort on Saturday. Josh Dobbs needs someone he can rely on to make 50-50 ball catches that win or turnaround games. Malone looks like he’s ready to assume that mantle.
ORANGE KOOLAID: As a host it’s imperative that I critique what I see on Saturday and project what areas of concern might negatively affect the outcome of future contests. As a fan it is not. I can simply enjoy the game for what it is rather than what it is not. With that caveat here is what was beautiful about the Battle at Bristol:
-Josh Dobbs accounted for 5 TDs throwing for three and running for two others. He also broke Jimmy Streater’s all-time rushing record for Tennessee QBs and his ability to keep plays alive resulted in a 23-yd TD pass to Alvin Kamara.
-Jack Jones appears to have the skill and attitude necessary to transform our offensive line from a sieve to an effective unit.
-Micah Abernathy is constantly visible when a big defensive play occurs. Whether it’s a tackle in space, a big pass breakup or recovering three fumbles in one game he makes it happen. He’s just a skilled, instinctive football player.
-The Vol defensive staff seems to be able to diagnose issues and correct them on-the-fly. The bad news is Virginia Tech had 400 yards of total offense. The great news is over half of them (204) came in the first quarter. Combine a defense that improves as the game progresses with the ability to take the ball away and you have a recipe for SEC success.
-Jalen Hurd continues to be the hardest working man in show business with 99 more hard-earned yards.
-Shy Tuttle is back and he’s still a man-child.
-The Vols were in the brightest spotlight of the national college football landscape and didn’t disappoint.
WHAT VOL FANS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OHIO
OFFENSE
-Ohio U averages 45.4 points and 563 yds of Total Offense so far in 2016
-QB Greg Windham has thrown for 560 yds and 5 TDs against only one INT in the Bobcat’s first two games
-Windham can run it as well averaging 91.5 ypg and 7.6 ypc.
-RB Dorian Brown also averages over 90 yds/game rushing (93) for Ohio U
-RB Papi White averages 77 ypg and 17.1 ypc with one TD
-The Bobcats return three starting WRs (Brendon Cope, Jordan Reid, Sebastian Smith) who combined for 140 catches, 1905 yds and 14 TDs in 2015.
-Vol pass rushers will be challenged as the Bobcat O-Line has yet to allow a sack in 2016
DEFENSE
-Sr DE Tarell Basham is Ohio’s all-time career sack leader with 20.
-LB Chad Moore had 7 tackles and 2 tfl versus Kansas last Saturday
-FS Toran Davis leads the Bobcats in tackles with 19
-SS Kylan Nelson has two interceptions he’s returned for 35 yards.
-CB Mayne Williams has Ohio U’s only other Int on the season
SPECIAL TEAMS
-R-Fr PK Louie Zervos currently leads the country with 4.5 FGs/game
-The Bobcats also have a R-Fr Punter in Michael Farkas who has punted 8 times for a 41.5 ypp average.
ODDS & ENDS
-Ohio Offensive Line Coach Dave Johnson served on Butch Jones’ Cincinnati staff in 2011 and 12
-The Bobcats are 0-1 all-time versus Tennessee (34-23; 2009) and 2-11 vs SEC opponents
-Ohio is the only team in America to have the same Head Coach, Offensive and Defensive Coordinators for the last 12 seasons.
WHAT VOLS MUST DO vs OHIO U:
KEEP STREAKING AND SMACK THE MAC: With a victory Saturday the Vols will have a 9 game win streak; start 3-0 for only the 10th time since 1974 (Thanks W-Lynn) and give Butch Jones the longest win streak of his head coaching career. It will also move Tennessee to 7-0 all-time vs the MAC.
GET OUT OF THE BLOCKS: I mentioned it prior to the Appalachian State and it fits for Ohio as well. They don’t believe they’re going to win the game so don’t give them any reason to. I think the 4 TD line is bloated but the Vols should take care of them handily.
HAVE A PRAYER IN THE AIR: It’s time for the Vols passing game to get on track and the Bobcats are the perfect opponent to do so against. FS Toran Davis has the vast majority of the unit’s starts while SS Kylan Nelson has 2 of their three picks. Both CBs are vulnerable and should be overmatched by our talented WR corps. Texas State and forever-dreadful Kansas have thrown 85 times on them for 646 yds and 7 TDs. If we can’t throw the football on these guys it may be time to run the Veer.
INCREASE ZERVOS’ NATIONAL LEAD: As mentioned above Bobcat PK Louis Zervos leads the nation with 9 FGs in two games. If Ohio is settling for FGs in this one they’re getting their eyes beat shut.
PLAY THE BOBCATS NOT THE GATORS: I came away from the Vols opener with even greater respect for Appalachian State’s players and staff. I still believe however we overlooked the game gazing toward the much-anticipated Battle at Bristol and were barely able to wake from our slumber in time to secure victory. Ohio U is a well-coached, stable program used to playing on the big stage that will present the same dilemma as the Mountaineers if the Vols give them anything but full attention. The Gators will arrive soon enough. Let’s make sure we’re unblemished when they do.
WHAT WE LEARNED IN WEEK 2
BUSTED PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: Just a few short weeks back I predicted TCU as my dark horse to make this season’s CFB Playoff. The bruising Bielemas sure made that appear an unlikelihood with a 41-38 double-overtime victory over the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth. Barring a 2014 Ohio State-like recovery the Horny Toads will not be making me look like I know what I’m talking about on New Year’s Eve. If Clemson doesn’t wake up quickly I will be down two sooner rather than later. Too bad my miss couldn’t have been Alabama.
HILLARIOUS INJUSTICE: With apologies to classy Oklahoma State fans like Cow Girl Kate and others I couldn’t help but chuckle a little over Oklahoma State’s unfortunate -and unjust- fate of losing a game due to an officiating gaffe. Central Michigan ran the dipsy-doodle on an erroneously awarded untimed down to beat OSU 30-27. I have compassion for all of the fine, broken-hearted Cowboy fans that deserved better. Then, somewhere out there, is a 300lb, drunken windbag to whom I would like to say from the bottom of my heart;
GETCHA SOME OF THAT!
FRANK WITH FRANKLIN: As great as it was to see the renewal of a classic eastern football rivalry -after a 16-year absence- it was even better to see Pitt take down Penn State 42-39. There’s no love lost here for the State College program -or the cocky James Franklin- which makes the Panthers victory even sweeter. The
genius Franklin fell to 15-13 in his third year at the helm in what is now, I’m quite sure, Unhappy Valley. Nittany Lion lettermen and a segment of the fan base are willing to forgive most anything -as evident from the petition to return Joe Paterno’s statue- as long as enough wins are involved. I don’t think 15 is enough however to get Franklin immortalized any time soon.
TWO GREAT TOO LATE: As Peter Poker would say the PAC-12 took a couple of bad beats Saturday evening at the hands of the Mountain West. Washington State dropped to 0-2 after losing to Boise 31-28 and the road-weary Cal Bears were the victim of a 45-40 loss to San Diego State. Both PAC-12 members ventured into enemy territory and came away with unfavorable results. With the four teams combining for over 2000 yds total offense and 144 points in games beginning in the 10:30 EST timeslot at least those returning home from the Battle at Bristol still had some football to watch.
WHAT WE WILL LEARN IN WEEK 3
WHAT’S REALLY IN THE CARDS? Among the big stories of the young 2016 CFB campaign has been the Louisville Cardinals. Though the 2-0 start was expected the explosive manner in which it has occurred was not. The Cards have beaten Charlotte and Syracuse 132-42 and QB Lamar Jackson has been absolutely electrifying. Jackson has thrown for 697 yds and 7 TDs (against only 1 INT) and run for 318 more with six scores. The youngster’s quantum leap into the nation’s consciousness will be equaled by the increased difficulty of opponent beginning this Saturday when the Seminoles of FSU come calling at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. With the game slated for a noon start we’ll know the Card’s true prowess no later than 3:30.
IS APPY REALLY SCRAPPY? VFL Dale Jones’ wonderful appearance on
The Tony Basilio Show the week after the Tenn-Appy St game made me rethink the Vols struggles versus the Mountaineers. Jones implied that the Vols would face few teams whose offensive and defensive line schemes would present the problems that ASU’s did. I bought in. This Saturday in Boone, N.C. will demonstrate the wisdom or foolishness of that thought. Miami -and new coach Mark Richt- will surprisingly invade the mountains of Western Carolina on Saturday sporting a 2-0 record and a 54 pt/game offense. The U has put up their gaudy numbers against State of Florida alphabet soup teams FAMU and FAU so the Mountaineers will easily be their biggest challenge to date. If the Canes struggle, I’ll feel better about believing anything a coach tells me. Even one I respect and love as much as Dale Jones.
RILEY’S REVENGE: Mike Riley may be pacing the Cornhusker’s sidelines these days but I would bet he still has enough Beaver in him to get redder than Nebraska’s mascot’s hat when the Ducks from Oregon visit Lincoln this Saturday. Riley was 4-10 in two stints in Corvallis versus his arch rival but probably never had the athletes at his disposal that Nebraska football attracts. Nebraska is 5-1 all-time versus Oregon but the last meeting was in 1985 and we all know the Ducks were late arrivers to the modern era of CFB. As a matter of fact, Oregon had a conference championship drought that lasted from 1957 until 1994.
REGAL RARITY: Pay close attention to this because you will never read it again in this space; God bless the Buckeyes and Sooners. In a time when the only way we get quality regular season intersectional matchups are in some far-flung professional palace Ohio State is traveling to Norman to face Oklahoma. The Sooners schooner took a wrong turn on the way to the playoffs when upstart Houston blasted them in Houston two weeks back but a win over Urban Meyer’s boys will get them back in the conversation without totally removing the Buckeyes from it. It’s a win-win for college football fans everywhere.
REBEL TRIFECTA: Nick Saban has never suffered three consecutive defeats at the hands of an opposing coach in his career. Embattled Hugh Freeze has an opportunity to pull that off Saturday when the Tide and Rebels face off in Oxford. Alabama was able to shake off last season’s home 43-37 loss and win yet another Natty but with back-to-back trips to Fayetteville and Knoxville and a later trek to Baton Rouge looming I don’t believe they will be afforded the opportunity to repeat that feat in 2016.
FINAL FRIDAY THOUGHT: One last softball tournament to get through then I’ll do what I begged the Vols to above; give CFB season -and blog readers- my full attention. Enjoy the weekend and GBO.
