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It's officially game week in Tennessee
Topic Started: Aug 26 2012, 09:30 AM (61 Views)
LonzoVol


Big Orange Report 8-27-12

What time is it?
A few leaves floated from an Oak tree last Thursday. After a sweltering July, a cool snap has refreshed West Tennessee over the past week or so. The days are getting shorter, schools and colleges across the state are open for business.
In Big Orange Country the anticipation has been building all this month. Not surprising, after a very bad seven-year stretch in the proud history of Tennessee football, a program that still remains as one of the top all-time winners in the NCAA, Vol fans are ready for a reversal of fortune. Four losing seasons out of the last seven autumns have dulled the brand and caused some consternation and restless days among the loyal, but antsy faithful.
Derek Dooley took the Tennessee job because of the tradition and reputation of a school that is a true SEC aristocrat. But a few weeks into his new position, Dooley knew he had a roster that would find it difficult to compete in the MAC or Sun Belt Conferences. The re-building job began and it was not a quick fix to be found in a book or on the internet. The two previous coaches left him one quality lineman, offensive tackle Dallas Thomas. That’s just how bad things were and the slow process of recruiting to need began for the young head coach.
Dooley struggled through his first two seasons at the helm with wide eyed kids right out of high school, walk-ons, transfers and journeymen players. He built a foundation the right way even though his kiddie korps needed to red-shirt, not line up against the likes of Alabama, LSU and Arkansas. All the while, Dooley was putting the hay in the barn.
The re-modeling and re-construction may not be quite complete, but Tennessee’s long suffering legions can now look to the future with a positive attitude. This team is ready to compete, no more sand kicked in their faces this year, thank you. The front line players can line up and duke it out with most every team on the schedule. There is some depth now, even if it is youngsters who have been recruited over the past two years. So yes, it’s time, football time in Tennessee and this team should make you proud.
Key matchups
Daniel McCullers vs. Camden Wentz— The big junior college transfer moved swiftly to claim the starting job at nose tackle on the Vol defense. McCullers (6-6 ½, 370) has been a disruptive force in pre-season drills and Wentz (6-3, 300), the North Carolina State center, will need some help on Friday night against this gigantic UT roadblock. If McCullers can gum up the middle and push the pile, he will create havoc for the opposing offense.
Justin Hunter vs. C.J. Wilson—Everyone has heard of State cornerback David Amerson, the nation’s leader last season with 13 picks. But Wilson, the other cornerback, only had one interception in 2011. One can expect that Vol offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will find Wilson and dispatch his All-American candidate to try Wilson on for size.
Vol offensive line vs. State defensive front—Coach Dooley and the offensive staff have emphasized the run all winter, spring and summer. The bigger, better and more experienced UT blocking unit won’t be intimidated by this Wolfpack defensive front seven. The State secondary had to make many tackles last season, I expect they will be called on again to help slow the Vols down on Friday night.
Special Teams—The Pack lost the ACC’s all-time leading kick returner to graduation. Tennessee, on the other hand, has some potentially electric return candidates in Cordarrelle Patterson, Devrin Young, Eric Gordon and maybe even freshman Quenshaun Watson might be asked to lend a hand. Watson is the current reigning champion at 100 meters in Georgia 4A high school track.
Wildcat—The Vol offense has worked both Marlin Lane and freshman Justin King in the wildcat formation in practice. Will they unveil this maneuver against State or save it for Florida?
Secret Weapon—Senior tight end Mychal Rivera is poised for a big season and he will be working underneath the speedy UT wide outs. He was the second leading receiver on the squad last year, pulling down 29 passes for 344 yards and one TD. State could have a problem trying to cover this future pro with an inexperienced linebacker.
Watch for this—Tennessee is looking for a pass rusher and it would be productive if one could emerge in this game. Top candidates are linebackers Curt Maggitt, Jacques Smith, Jordan Williams, Willie Bohannon and defensive end Steven Fowlkes.
Point of attack—Keep an eye peeled for the surge of the right side of the Tennessee offensive line. Juniors Zach Fulton and JaWuan James are poised to lead the Vol run game back to respectability.

And now comparisons:
Offensive lines-- Tennessee was third in the SEC at protecting the passer last year and No. 40 nationally allowing only 18 sacks. State was No. 98 last season, giving up 34 sacks on the season against defenses no where near those at Bama, South Carolina, LSU, Georgia and Florida. Vols were bad running last season but State, wasn't much better, averaging only 14 more yards on the ground than UT and checking in at 109 in rushing. State lost All-ACC tackle Overgaard, Tennessee has everyone back, a year bigger, stronger and more experienced. Advantage-- Tennessee
Receivers-- State lost an All-ACC tight end and three more of its top five pass catchers from a year ago. Tennessee loses Dumbrick Rogers but replaces him with Cordarrelle Patterson. Vol tight end Mike Rivera will play on Sundays next year. Advantage-- Tennessee
Runningbacks-- A question mark for both teams heading into this game. State's James Washington was a better receiver than runner last season as was Raijon Neal for the Vols. Both teams have good blocking fullbacks. The joker for UT here may be Devrin Young and the Vols also may use a wildcat formation in this game with 230 pound freshman Justin King taking the snaps. King can throw out of this formation he was a QB for his final two years of high school ball. Advantage-- Tennessee
Quarterbacks-- Mike Glennon is a classic drop back, pocket passer with a terrifc arm and almost no mobility. Tyler Bray matches him in size and arm strength with a slightly quicker release and a better feel for the rush and how to side step the pressure. (See sack totals above). Advantage-- Even
Kick returns-- NCST lost T.J. Graham to graduation. He is the all-time, ACC career leader in kick return yardage. Last year had 986 yards in kickoff returns and 195 on punts. He was also the runaway team leader in all-purpose yards when you add his 757 yards receiving for a total of 1933 all-purpose yards lost. The Vols have several guys with experience returning kicks including Young, Marlin Lane and Eric Gordon. Patterson averaged almost 50 yards per kickoff return last year at Hutchinson J.C. and took five to the house. Advantage-- Tennessee
Defensive lines-- Tennessee's front three is the best looking set of down lineman on defense trotted out by this program in many moons. Three former juco all-americans, Couch, Sentimore and McCullers are big, strong and athletic. Couch should flourish at an end after taking a beating last season as a nose tackle. Marlon Walls is a quality backup and Steven Fowlkes may be the designated pass rusher. State lost a starting tackle and an experienced end. Their best player in the defensive front is end Brian Slay. They will start two sophomores at tackle. Advantage-- Tennessee
Linebackers-- No contest here. Vols have two budding stars in A.J. Johnson and Curt Maggitt. Veteran Herman Lathers is the traffic cop for this unit and Jacques Smith goes from an under-sized end to outside linebacker where he can work in space. Smith was second on the team last year with tackles for loss (7.5). State lost all three starting linebackers off a defense that was 57th in the NCAA last year in tackles for loss. The Vols were 38th. State does have one veteran, Sterling Lucas, returning from injury that kept him out all of last season. Advantage-- Tennessee
Secondary-- State's interception totals are impressive and David Amerson led the nation with 13 picks. But in overall pass defense ratings, State was no better than 61st, yielding 224 yards per game through the air. Tennessee had to play with rookies and guys who were hurt last season and still was 12th in the nation in pass defense. State's other corner, C.J. Wilson had only one pick last season. Vol senior corner Prentiss Waggner was all-sec second team in 2010 as a full time corner with five picks, three returned for TDs and three fumble recoveries. Free safety Brian Randolph is a star in the making. Advantage-- Slight edge to State, but not by very much.
Kicking-- Palardy was 9 of 14 last season while kicking with a variety of pulled muscles and strains. State wasn't much better, hitting 11 of 16. Palardy has been perfect during fall practices. State's punter, Will Baumann, averaged an anemic 37 yards per punt last season. Tennessee punter Matt Darr wasn't much better but also seems to have improved and hit some booming punts in practice and scrimmages. State kickoff man Niklas Sade kicked off 70 times with only five touchbacks and four kicks out of bounds. Advantage-- (Hard to believe right) Tennessee
Edited by LonzoVol, Aug 26 2012, 09:49 AM.
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gallavol
Cynical Idealist

TN 51, NCST 44.
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