'Fellow Mourners:
Random musings as we ponder the aftermath of what could be described as, all things considered, the worst so far in the 45 games of the Butch Jones Era:
SHOOP'S DEFENSE POOPS THE BED: Injuries are certainly the biggest reason, but DC Bob Shoop's Tennessee defense has become shockingly bad. We have surrendered 791 yards and 9 TDs on the ground in the last two games.
We heaped way too much Shoop and his magical abilities before the 2016 season. Tennessee now stands an astounding 107th in the nation in rushing defense, 88th in total defense and 84th in scoring defense. Shoop's defense looked like they weren't aware of Alabama QB Jalen Hurts' running ability as he rambled for 132 yards and three touchdowns.
PRUITT AIN'T NO CHAVIS: Mike Debord deservedly received lots of praise for the game he called against Texas A&M DC John Chavis a week ago. Alabama DC Jeremy Pruitt's defense completely dominated Debord's offensive unit on Saturday. UT started out with a nifty look of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara in the backfield with Josh Dobbs and we never saw it again. Don Mahoney's OL got stuffed and abused. To be sure, this Alabama defense is as good as or maybe better than any in the Nick Saban era at Alabama, but this was awful coaching and playing.
HURD GOING DOWNHILL, NOT RUNNING DOWNHILL: Hurd had his least productive game since his freshman year, carrying 13 times for 28 yards and catching three balls for -1 net yards. This comes after the Georgia game, which saw the talented senior gain only 42 yards on 10 carries.
TYLER BYRD UPDATE: Freshman Tyler Byrd carried once for six yards and caught one pass for one measly yard. In seven games, the talented freshman who was switched from corner to slot receiver in preseason, is averaging a paltry 20 yards per game.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Jones didn't catch a break with four straight games against Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M and Alabama, but that's SEC football and why you have to build a defense that can handle it. With a week off, Jones and his staff need to make some big changes to give themselves the best chance to get to Atlanta and to position the 2017 team to avoid a big step backward. We'll talk about that all week on the Tony Basilio Show and more in this space on Friday. Hint: we're going to suggest Butch Jones shore up his defense as the first priority.
AROUND THE SEC:
ALABAMA (7-0, 4-0 SEC): No one before the season foresaw the emergence of freshman dual threat Jalen Hurts. The Tide will be hard to beat as long as they keep him healthy. Alabama now hosts Texas A&M in another battle of unbeatens and the Tide is favored by 16.5.
TEXAS A&M (6-0, 4-0 SEC): If John Chavis got schooled by Tennessee OC Mike Debord, what is Joey Freshwater going to do to him?
SOUTH CAROLINA (2-4, 1-4 SEC): The Gamecocks should come into the Tennessee game on Oct. 29 well rested. They had an open date Saturday and have a buy game with UMass(Cocks favored by 21) this week. Bob Shoop should note that the Gamecocks are 128th in scoring offense and 126th in total offense. (Note: there are only 128 schools in FBS)
KENTUCKY (3-3, 2-2 SEC): The Wildcats are currently a 3 point home underdog to Mississippi State after enjoying an open date. Don't look now, but Kentucky is tied with our Volunteers for second in the SEC East. A win over the Bulldogs would be huge for HC Mark Stoops' campaign to land UK in a bowl game and keeps them alive in the SEC East.
MISSOURI (2-4, 0-3 SEC): Mizzou QB Drew Lock completed four passes to his team for 39 yards at Gainesville and two to Florida DBs, which were hauled back for touchdowns. The Tigers host MTSU Saturday.
VANDERBILT (3-4, 1-3 SEC): As they are good at doing, Vandy drug Georgia into a low-scoring, butt-ugly game and came out on top, 17-16. Commodore Darrius Sims got his team off to a great start in the game with a 95-yard kickoff return. Vandy next plays Tennessee State.
GEORGIA (4-2, 2-3 SEC): The head scratcher for Bulldog fans is they outgained Vandy, 421-171 and didn't have a turnover and lost. Georgia has an open date before the Cocktail Party in Jacksonville on Oct. 29.
FLORIDA (5-1, 3-1 SEC): AD Jeremy Foley got bullied into switching the LSU game to Baton Rouge, but it's his own fault. The Hurricane Matthew game should have been played last Sunday. After dispatching Missouri, the Gators have another open date before Georgia.
LSU (4-2, 2-1 SEC): Another game without Leonard Fournette and another win for interim HC Ed Orgeron. Derrius Guice carried 16 times for 162 yards and 2 TDs in a 45-10 rout of Southern Miss. Big game up next with Ole Miss coming to Baton Rouge and LSU is favored by 4.
AUBURN (4-2, 2-1 SEC): Don't sleep on Auburn. Gus Malzahn has his running game going and DC Kevin Steele has a very improved defense. Arkansas comes to Jordan-Hare Saturday and War Eagle is a 7.5 point pick.
ARKANSAS (5-2, 1-2 SEC): Rawleigh Williams III ran for 180 yards and Austin Alley pitched three TDs as the Razorbacks got a huge home win over Ole Miss, 34-30.
OLE MISS (3-3, 1-2 SEC): The Rebs' season may go off the rails if they lose at LSU Saturday. Rumors persist that HC Hugh "Akeem" Freeze is going to get waylaid by the NCAA.
MISSISSIPPI STATE (2-4, 1-2 SEC) The Bullies fought gamely before losing in double overtime at BYU, 28-21. A win at Kentucky is vital if State has any chance of getting to a bowl game in the first year after the Dak Prescott era.
Orange Throat,
IGYV (Unless We Lose in November)'