Thoughts and observations from the game.

The sun came up this morning, but for the life of me, I don’t know why that’s supposed to be a good thing.

In a perfect world, Trent Richardson’s performance yesterday would have strengthened his Heisman standings.  Despite the defense clearly keying on him on every single down, he managed 169 yards from scrimmage, including an impressive 24 yard run that most people will quickly forget because the next play was the Marquis Maze pass gone wrong.

Is there a more overrated player than Tyrann Matthieu?  His only real contribution was a dirty play that took a true All-American quality corner — Dre Kirkpatrick — out of the game.  There is no arguing that it was just the speed of play or an accident.  He got beat, and decided to take the player out.  Did he intend to injure Kirkpatrick?  Probably not, though I have no idea what he was thinking.  Was there anyway he could believe he was making a legitimate football play?  No chance.  LSU’s secondary is extremely good, but Matthieu is only the fourth best player on it.

Is there a more underrated player than Eric Reid?  He made plays all night and all over the field, including the biggest play of the game — stripping the ball from Michael Williams at the goal line.

I’ve heard a lot of people saying that because of the lengths of the kicks, Tide fans shouldn’t fault the kickers.  I do agree that those are not gimme kicks that were missed. But the issue isn’t with a missed kick here or there, it’s with missing four kicks, and missing them egregiously.  Those kicks never had a chance.  They didn’t cut just outside the upright.  One didn’t go far enough (and was still wide), one was blocked because it was so low, one was so wide that it had not passed the line of scrimmage before it was obvious it was missed.

Still, Alabama’s defense played arguably better than expected — as did LSU’s — and there is little doubt that these are still the two best teams in college football.  Which is of course problematic.  Most folks, myself included, don’t believe there should be a rematch.  But, as the system dictates, the top two teams in the game should play in the championship.  If Oklahoma beats Oklahoma State and Oregon beats Stanford, and we assume everyone believes that the SEC pair are one and two, the issue becomes this:  do voters manipulate their ballots to make sure their isn’t a rematch or do we get a rematch which will invalidate the importance of the first matchup?   Neither is ideal.

Kicking.

Kicking.

South Carolina vs. Tennessee

What Mike said:

In a game billed as the SEC East Championship game, neither team disappoints. Marcus Lattimore goes crazy, scoring twice. Alshon Jeffery pumps his gas twice in the end zone as well. A furious 4th quarter comeback by Tyler Bray ensues. With time clicking off the clock Bray finds Justin Hunter in the end zone. Final score UT 31-28
7-1

What Steve said:

No rest for the weary, huh? Fourth week, fourth straight opponent that beat the Vols last season (three of the four by multiple TDs). Mr. Bray, meet Mr. Clowney. Despite the fact that this will be the fourth consecutive top twenty program the Vols will have faced, rumblings will begin in the fanbase that perhaps Coach Dooley isn’t the right man for the job. It’s not right, but it will happen. Perhaps Coach Spurrier can give him the secret to winning in Knoxville during the post-game handshake. Score: Cocks 31-17

What actually happened: 

In a defensive struggle, South Carolina managed mistakes better than the Vols did.  It was ugly, and when South Carolina made mistakes, Tennessee didn’t take advantage, and they made blunders nearly as big. Final score South Carolina 14-3.

Mike’s reviews, retractions, and/or mea culpas:

Hmmm, well since three of the four players I mentioned didn’t even play in this game, and the fourth was an amazing non-factor. (Partly because Stephen Garcia also is gone). This prediction wasn’t even close.  Steve mentioned Dooley’s “hot seat”. He gets mad props for me on that for being right. There is talent in Knoxville, but not enough right now, and not all of it is healthy.

Steve’s reviews, retractions, and/or mea culpas:

Again, I got the winner and not much else.  Tyler Bray didn’t play of course, and likely won’t again, at least not in a game where he would be a difference maker.  While they didn’t make Jadaveon Clowney a complete non-factor, the offensive line did manage to keep Justin Worley on his feet most of the night with solid pass protection.  What he did with that protection looked a lot like you would expect from a 3rd-string true freshman getting his first collegiate start against the best pass defense in the country.

As for the fan reaction to Coach Dooley, my inbox certainly saw it’s share of coaching criticism, including one Vols fan gloating over predicting the failure of the Worley experiment, but I haven’t seen anyone go that extra step and call for his ouster (though Roll Bama Roll‘s Meltdown Time on Tuesday will likely feature a few calls for his head).  I sense a lot of people don’t want to go through even further turnover as the result of another coaching change, so they are holding their tongues.  Long-term, I believe those reservations will pay off.  With championships?  I don’t know, but certainly with the kind of stability this program really needs which will be a solid platform for the next coach if it’s not ultimately Dooley.  Vols fans bristle at the comparison, but if Dooley can do for UT what Mike Shula did for UA, that’s a net positive on Rocky Top.

Tennessee vs. Alabama

What Steve said:

I don’t expect it to be as large of a blowout as last year, when the spread set a record in the series. Still, the Tide’s defense is designed to stop offenses like the Vols (and has — the Vols have not scored more than 10 points in each of it’s last three tries) and the nation’s best secondary is licking it’s chops at the thought of Bray trying to go deep. The Vols do top 10 points this time (moral victory!). Score: Tide 38-17.

Please, Vols fans.  Don’t be too hard on Tyler Bray.  He won’t be the best QB on the field.  He won’t even be top two.  He’ll also be responsible for the turnover that breaks this game open.  But that’s more because of the quality of the defenses each of them has to face and not because of his personal lack of talent.  DeAndrew White receives the “DJ Hall Memorial Award” with a seven catch, 125 yard day.  Trent Richardson will sit out the fourth quarter for the fourth time this season.  Score: Tide 38 – 17

What Mike said:

Nothing to see hear folks, move along, move along. Final score Alabama 21-13

Nothing good happens for UT other than the fact that the score is closer than recent games. Alabama 21-13

What actually happened:  

According to the Alabama players, they were too arrogant coming into the game and actually thought Tennessee would just lay down.  Obviously, that didn’t happen.  UT played well for a half and frankly, Alabama didn’t.  AJ McCarron was particularly sloppy in the first two frames, missing open receivers egregiously, and getting picked off by a linebacker dropping into coverage.  Whatever was said at the half worked, though.  Trent Richardson added two more TDs to his season total moving into second place in the country in scoring.  McCarron came out crisp, completing his first eight passes of the half, and more importantly, participated in what has become an Alabama quarterback tradition:  having a career day against the Vols secondary.  He’s now the fourth consecutive starter to set personal bests in passing yards against Tennessee.  After getting their act together at halftime, the game was never close.  Tennessee would not convert another first down or ever threaten to score again.  Alabama would rattle off 31 unanswered points before ceding the reins to the second and third stringers.  Lost in the poor play during the first half is also the fact that the Alabama defense never allowed Tennessee inside the 20.   Tide rolled to victory – 37-6.

Steve’s reviews, retractions, and/or mea culpas:

So, taunting Tyler Bray just looks cruel right now.  Obviously, he wasn’t responsible for any turnovers, and the turnovers the Vols did cough up both occurred after Alabama had the game in hand.  Clearly, I was off on the score as well, though I was within a point of what Alabama would score.  That’s nullified somewhat by my statement that the score would be closer than the record-setting margin of the year before, since that margin was equaled.  On the year (and given Bray’s and Hunter’s status, this is a trend that will likely continue), I’ve overestimated the Vols offense six of seven games.  DeAndrew White did not earn the “DJ Hall Memorial Award.”  He didn’t have a single catch.  Marquis Maze did manage to top 100 yards receiving, but it was built largely on a 69 yard reception rather than a series of back-breaking first down catches which would merit the honor.  Richardson also played half of the fourth quarter, and had he sat, it would have been the sixth time this season.

Mike’s reviews, retractions, and/or mea culpas

Well. For a half…it was beautiful. I nearly broke my hand. Pumping my fist in joy Tiger Woods style after the successful fake punt, and nearly hitting my wall.  I enjoyed the first half as much as any part of the Derek Dooley era. No Tennessee didn’t get inside the 20. But this version of Tennessee is hard to get a bead on. Is it the same version that played Cincinnati? Nope.  I was disappointed in another 31 point loss to the Tide. But, this time last week, I wouldn’t have predicted 21-13 Alabama either. So much for the validity of pre-season predictions.