crocko brody, Big Orange Blog contributor
If i were looking at the Vols through orange colored glasses, I'd say we have a heck of a team this year. We put up points, and we hold our opponents to less than half of our totals. We don't get penalized. One penalty through two entire games? That's eight quarters of football!
We seem to embody Coach Jones' "controlled chaos" theory, swarming around the ball on every play, running to and from the line of scrimmage, to the sidelines, to and from the Tunnel, and through the mighty Power 'T'.
But if i looked at the Vols through clearer lenses, I'd say we're two games in, we've played two high school teams who played like high school teams, and i don't have a freaking clue. All i really have are questions. Such as:
What is with our offense? It looks like we may have a couple of playmakers, but i am concerned about Justin Worley. He looks…weak. Not to mention inaccurate. And he lacks confidence.
Worley's post game conversation with Bob Kessling after WKU left much to be desired. He actually called himself "young and inexperienced." This wasn't false humility. Far from it, this was s a skinny kid being honest, thinking he may not be equal to the challenge. Not exactly what you want out of your starter.
And what about our defense. Is it any good? One could certainly make that claim. Just look at the points-against totals, and all those Hilltopper turnovers.
But the points-against were the result of inept offenses. Petrino's squad showed flashes, but they couldn't put the ball in the end zone. What happened was, our defense let them go the distance, and then we stopped them short. Yes, we stopped them when it counted (more often than not); but Oregon, Alabama and the murderer's row of teams we face over the next thirty days won't give us those opportunities. They'll take it to the checkerboards on the first missed tackle or assignment. Over and over again.
And the turnovers--here again, was that us, or them? You could accurately say both. But to take all the credit, and expect such miscues to continue against teams who take care of the football is pie in the sky. Protecting the football is what good teams do, and we are facing some very good teams.
Finally, i'm worried about whether we can compete with the rest of the athletes in the SEC. I know we got hustle, but I'm worried about our muscle. Did you watch the Clemson-Georgia game? Georgia-South Carolina? Those guys were big and fast and both games were extremely violent. The crunch of bodies and shoulder pads felt dangerous, like someone was going to get hurt. When i watched our games, i didn't see that level of competition. Maybe Jones asked them to play 3/4 speed, in order to preserve his athletes for Oregon, et al. I don't know.
As i said, at this point, all i have is questions. I think I'll have some answers come Saturday.
GBO!
~ crocko brody
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