This was horrendous. This was ugly.
And I'm not even sure those two words are correct for how awful of a game Tennessee played. Florida didn't dominate Tennessee like last year and UT actually outgained Florida, but the Vols made many mistakes and blew multiple scoring opportunities thanks to dumb turnovers.
Offense
Look, I've tried to support Jonathan Crompton since the offseason started. I thought this guy would be a smart quarterback and wouldn't be as bad as everyone said. Boy, was I wrong. Even though Crompton's stats were decent yesterday (18-28, 162 yards), probably half of those catches were thanks to the receivers doing a great job to even get a hand on the ball.
Crompton has proved to be an incompetent, mediocre, and most of all, confusing quarterback in his first three starts. Here's two main examples.
In the second quarter about halfway through, Crompton's led the Vols to the Florida one. The score is still UF 17, UT 0, but Crompton and the Vols have a great chance to get a touchdown and gain some momentum.
There is no Florida defender in front of the center. Most quarterbacks know what this means. If you are in this situation, you change the play to a quarterback sneak and you easily get in for the TD and some momentum and possibly a game-changing play.
So what does Crompton do?
He attempts a handoff to the fullback, holds on to the ball for too long, the fullback drops it, and Florida recovers. It's a good thing I was sitting in the upper deck because if I was in the lower deck I would've ran out onto the field and beaten the crap out of Crompton.
Then, with 30 seconds left in the first half, once again, the Vols are at the Florida one. Montario Hardesty (I think) attempts to jump over the pile and is stuffed for no gain. When the play ends, there are 28 seconds on the clock. When Fulmer finally calls the freakin' timeout, there's 16. 16 seconds. More on that later.
So, instead of having a chance to run the field goal unit out there in case we don't make it, we've got to throw the ball. At the Florida one. What? Crompton throws an awful pass that's nearly picked off on third down, and his fourth and goal pass is easily intercepted. Crompton is booed off the field.
The rushing game underperformed. Many people were saying that if UT was going to win this game, they needed at least 200 yards rushing. We got 96 on 31 carries. Arian Foster led with 37 yards on 14 carries.
The offensive line has been a big disappointment so far. We've had many holding penalties be the cause of calling back 20 and 30 yard plays. Fulmer's got to get this group together and say that if they don't start performing better, everyone's starting spot is up for grabs.
Grade: C-
Defense
Thank God for the defense. If it wasn't for them, this game would've been 51-6 instead of 30-6.
The defense held Florida to just 243 yards and Tim Tebow to 8-15 and 96 yards passing with two TDs and just 26 yards rushing, which was a good job by the D.
Rico McCoy and Eric Berry were the two standouts and were all over the field making tackles. McCoy finished with 10, including one for a loss, and Berry finished with 8, including a sack.
4 comments Last one added 9 months ago — Leave a Comment
Nick The Only 9 months ago
Solid write up, but you missed a few things from seat in the stands.
"So what does Crompton do?
He attempts a handoff to the fullback, holds on to the ball for too long, the fullback drops it, and Florida recovers. It's a good thing I was sitting in the upper deck because if I was in the lower deck I would've ran out onto the field and beaten the crap out of Crompton."
Crompton was attempting to hand off the the HB, not the FB. The Gator defender got a good push and knocked the offensive lineman back and it cause the fullback to shift and help on that block. When the FB shifted, he knocked the ball out of Crompton's hand. This was partly due to Crompton (for having the ball too far away from his body) and partly due to Florida's defensive push.
RE: the defense. I think the stats are misleading. Florida had so few yards because they had excellent field position all game. Florida scored on 6 of their 7 possessions that mattered. They punted once (which is a telling stat), knelt the ball to end the half and the game, and purposely turned it over on downs with 1 minute to go and a 24 point lead.
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College Football Fanatic 9 months ago
Well, I couldn't really tell on the fumble (I was in the opposite end zone). The postgame show said that he attempted the handoff to the fullback.
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Nick The Only 9 months ago
I figured you just had a bad angle from your seat in the stands.
At least you were at the game though...the CBS announcers were HORRIBLE.
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College Football Fanatic 9 months ago
Aren't they always? lol.
The Raycom announcers are the worst by a mile though, thank God UT only has a game or two on there this year.
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