Tennessee Vols Offense – Can’t Look Back Now

The Tennessee Vols can’t look back now. The Missouri game is over. Yes, it ended in a bizarre way, but it also ended in Tennessee’s sixth loss of the season. The Vols can not afford to let this one give them a hangover as Vanderbilt looms this Saturday in a game that is important to gain back the momentum, gain back the “big brother” title against the dreadful team from West End, and gain back Tennessee’s bowl status which was a given for 30 years up until 2010.

The Vols laid a big egg Saturday in Knoxville. The offense was exposed for what it is by a Missouri defense that is really good up front. After back to back 5oo yard performances, Tennessee could manage only 279 yards during the entire game. 31 of those yard came on a surprise fake field goal that saw walk on holder Patrick Ashford hit walk on Alex Ellis over the middle for a touchdown that put the Vols up briefly over the Tigers.

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The Vols simply could not get in a rhythm. The offensive line allowed the Tigers defense to put pressure on the quarterback that was reminiscent of the Oklahoma onslaught. Quite frankly I am just glad Josh Dobbs is still healthy. Dobbs was harassed all night long. Not only did he not have time to throw, but the Vols did not have time to run. The read offense was stuffed at the point where Dobbs hands to Hurd or decides to keep. Sometimes it would have been possible for Tigers Shane Ray or Markus Golden to take the hand off from Dobbs themselves.

It was frustrating to watch. Bajakian’s offense continued to run into the teeth of the Missouri’s strength which were the defensive ends. The Vols continued to give the ball to Hurd running horizontally to the line of scrimmage. There was no hole for him to cut into. The defensive ends were too fast.

Here is where I have a problem with this offense. This offense is based on deception. It is based on trying to confuse the defense, not overwhelm. It does not dictate to the defense. In other words, it does not say here we come and you can’t stop us. Missouri had been hammered by a Georgia offense that lined up with their backs in the I formation and ran straight at them. Indiana did the same thing. We tried to finesse them, which had not worked. Let’s just tell it like it is…this was a horrible game plan.

I realize that the line is having a tough year. I said myself that I thought the loss of Mack Crowder would be more significant to the performance of the team than the loss of AJ Johnson due to depth concerns. It played out that way. But if Bajakian does not put in a package that puts Dobbs under center and a fullback in front of Hurd for the coming SEC seasons, he is committing coaching malpractice. Hurd is a hard runner. He is surprising physical for his stature. Use him in this manner please. Short yardage situations require this. It will become even more evident in the seasons to come when Tennessee is more competitive with the Georgia’s, Alabama’s, and Missouri’s of the SEC and need to run clock at the end of the game to secure a win. Mark my word.

As stated, Tennessee needs to look forward. They have a date in Nashville with a team that has quit. Vanderbilt has a coach with no direction or future. The entire Vandy team is reeling and looks like they just want the season to end. Vandy lost to Mississippi State 51-0.  The Dore’s could not stop any aspect of the State offense. They could not stop the run, and they could not stop the pass.

However, this is a pride game. The Commodores have a two game win streak over the Vols. That is something in my 52 years of life have never had to say. Vandy’s strength is their defensive line and linebackers. Tennessee’s weakness is their offensive line. This will come down to who wants it the most. Tennessee has much to play for. Vanderbilt has nothing to play for. They are done. The Vols can hook up a possible Liberty Bowl berth with a win. The Vols desperately need to get this done.

The Vols need to get to a bowl game. They need the extra practices. They need to show improvement over last season for recruiting momentum. They need to re-establish dominance over the in state rival Vanderbilt. The fan base needs to be rewarded as well. Tennessee will end up third in the country in attendance. What other 5-6 team gets that kind of love from its fans?

So the Vols can’t look back, they can only look forward. Vanderbilt can not match up with Tennessee’s receivers. They are simply terrible in the secondary. However, the offensive line will have to keep this defensive front out of the backfield. It must give Dobbs and Hurd the time to at least run the read option. If it can do this, Tennessee fans should be happy come Saturday evening. If not, I don’t even want to think about the consequences.