It's that time boys and girls. ... and if Jonathan Crompton starts against Florida, it is time for me to go do laps in the pool. Nick Stevens (#17) may not have command of the entire play book, but he can execute the pages he knows. He can complete long passes. I look for the Tennessee coaching staff to give Nick a good look in practice this week. In my opinion, based off of what I saw today, it should be his job to lose in practice. On Thursday, Sept 4, it was reported that Crompton suffered a concussion in the 4th quarter of the UCLA game. Nick took all of the 1st team snaps at QB on Wednesday Sept 3. He either didn't show very much in that practice, or the staff is holding him as a secret weapon for Florida. He played today but only after we were way ahead and played pretty vanilla.
Tom and Cindy, I don't know about the Tennessee internet sites, but the Gator sites are filled with people who think our offense stinks, our offensive coordinator should be fired and in general we are pitiful. That's after outscoring our opposition 82-10 over two games. I shudder to think what it might have been had we either lost a game or only managed to score about 40 points in the two games. Hey it wasn't 3-2 like the Auburn - Miss St game today. Anyhow, my perspective is that we seem to have a good all around team. Our offense hasn't been quite up to par but our defense has looked a whole lot better than last year. I'm optimistic.
Our offense surprises me with it's middle of the road production but Percy Harvin has been barely in the gameplan which I am certain changes in a big way on Saturday. It's hard to believe that UCLA got so hammered by BYU after they managed to beat Tenn. Makes me wonder about Tenn but I think Tenn still is capable of running the ball like a conference champion and our defense had better be prepared to stop that. Fortunately run defense has been a strength so hopefully the Gators will show up big in that area in Knoxville. If so I like our chances......UF 31 Tenn 20
Then you haven't been paying attention to either BYU or UCLA. But that is off-topic. I think the Gators will win this game, but will be pulling for the Vols.
But I have been paying attention to Tenn and I started to believe how tough they were as I was told so that must have meant UCLA had a damned good defense......but 59-0 later I wonder about that.
Well I certainly wonder about UCLA's defense and that does lead to some wondering about Tenn's offense. Hopefully the Gator D isn't doing too much wondering as you say... :wink:
Let me see MCG. Last year we beat Tennessee 59 - 20 Tennessee beat Georgia by over 20 points as I recall. Then Georgia beat Florida. Tennessee went to the SEC Championship game against eventual BCS champion LSU and played them a very close game. Comparative scores mean squat. I predict we may well be in a dogfight in Knoxville.
Well it is official: Approximately 2% of Tennessee fans smoke crack! :shock: There is a poll on Go Vols Extra that shows a poll (rounded percentages) of "What will be the results of the Tennessee Florida game?" Tennessee by 20 or more 2% 5 votes Tennessee by 10-19 1% 3 votes Tennessee by less than 9 19% 36 votes Florida by less than 9 7% 14 votes Florida by 10-19 21% 40 votes Florida by 20 or more 47% 87 votes My vote was Florida by 10-19 (may change closer to game time)
Update on the poll: Tennessee by 20 or more 2% 33 votes Tennessee by 10-19 2% 35 votes Tennessee by less than 9 21% 345 votes Florida by less than 9 6% 103 votes Florida by 10-19 26% 423 votes Florida by 20 or more 40% 638 votes 1577 total votes Still proving that 2% of Tennessee fans smoke crack!
ugh. UCLA entered the season talented but thin.. -Then they suffered several key injuries before the season started. -Then they opened the year with a physical Tennessee team which led to even more injuries. -BYU is a very, VERY good team and most of the 'experts' that folks around here like to cite have been picking BYU is the BCS crasher this year. -There's not a lot of love between Mountain West and Pac10 teams. If UT's defense can play as physical as Miami while preventing the big play that Miami gave up, then they have a chance. Make Florida play this game 3 yards at a time and they are in trouble, IMHO. I can see that UT offense, if they can complete the ball regularly in the 10 to 15 yard range, scoring 3 TDs on the UF defense..maybe a FG or 2.. They key, IMHO, will be UT preventing the UF big play.
The Gators are 8 point favorites according to this Vegas site: http://www.vegasinsider.com/college-football/odds/las-vegas/?s=2215 That is a large spread for a visiting team in K-ville.
Time for my favorite week of the college football year. I was in my mid-teens when this rivalry really started to mean something in the mid-90s. So, this is the game that I cut my teeth on as a serious college football fan so to speak. I remember very well how Peyton couldn't beat the Gators and how Tee Martin did (major reason why I still prefer Tee Martin as my fav. Tenn QB of all time). Over those years, the Gators have more or less dominated the series with a few notable exceptions including the 2001 season in which, IMO, changed the complexion of the entire SEC. I also was priveleged to be at the 2004 nail-biter. Despite the losses, the wins become that much sweeter. Now, to this year. Florida is my pick to win the SEC this year which I think, overall, is a little weaker than it has been in recent seasons. Before the season, I felt UF would lose in Knoxville but then rebound to capture the conference crown. Unfortunately after two UT games, I don't feel Tenn. is back in the same class as the Gators yet. The reasons for that are many, just for fun, let's lay out a couple. QB play-Like Tom, I'm really tempted to wish for Stevens as the starting QB against the Gators. Crompton makes some really nice throws sometimes but he never seems comfortable. Not being comfortable in your first game when it's your team, on the West Coast, on national TV, in a new offense, I understand. Not being comfortable against a D that's given up around 45 pts. a game, at home, before a less than packed house, I do not understand. He never seems to find a rhythm. You're right MCG, I expected big things from Tenn. this year but because of the awkwardness of the offense, I am rethinking my position. I do think that Tenn. tried to use the first two games to get Crompton comfortable, esp. the first half against UAB. I think they could have clearly run the ball down both Ucla and UAB's throats and won but were trying to give Crompton some confidence. In the second half against UAB, Tenn. dominated up front and would still be running the ball if the clock hadn't run out. That's another post though...... Pass Rush-Once again, I felt like Tenn. failed to generate a consistent pass rush. The defense, overall has been quite good for the most part (minus 2 Ucla 4Q drives). The lack of a pass rush is concerning to me though. The only way, I think, you throw off Tebow is to put him on his backside. There are other reasons too, like TEs dropping passes, under-utilization of offensive personnel, concerns about the scheme, playcalling concerns, etc. but these two are key in my mind to beating the Gators. We'll see if Fulmer can accomplish something in these two areas at practice this week.
Good analysis of where Tenn is at Aquila......thanks for the info. Florida right now is a little bit of a mystery because of the slow introduction of Harvin into the offensive gameplan and because he brings so much when actively involved. The offense could fly if he is healthy and his motor running. The O-line needs to do a better job also but they have had two weeks to iron out kinks exposed by Miami and I think Meyer is pretty good at doing that. I think Florida wins but it's in Knoxville and look what happened to a pretty good Georgia team there last year.