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Vols: Prediction For Western Carolina Game

By Randy Sharber

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The Vols will use this to cure the hangover that is Oklahoma. Prediction?….Pain!

I usually do not like games that are such mismatches that it is just not any fun. Tell that today to 103,000 Vol fans that have sold out the stadium to see the Catamounts come to town. It is the Christians and the Lions today in Neyland, Biblically speaking of course.

Let me simplify this one with a simple math explanation. Tennessee is “greater than” Western Carolina. Now in new age Common Core math that may look a little more like “Tennessee is equal to Western Carolina although they are inherently better, however, Tennessee should not feel superior to Western Carolina in any way. To sum up the problem, Tennessee is further left of the equal sign than Western Carolina, so that way we all can win”.  I think I saw that problem in a new math book not long ago .

No, this one should be looked at as a tune up for Florida. In particular, it should be a tune up for the “throwing” game as Butch Jones likes to call it. It should also be used for the Tennessee placekicking team as a confidence builder.

It will be tempting to run the ball for over 500 yards against this team. The Citadel put up 300 on them last week. But that is not what Tennessee needs. Jalen Hurd hung a hundred on the Sooners last week. He is the first back to do so in several years. The running game is not an issue right now. The passing game is an issue.

Quite frankly it has been an issue for a few years now. When is the last time you have seen a Vols receiver hit in stride with the football that was not thrown by a punter or a placekicking holder on fakes? Been a while huh?

Tennessee’s scheme is suspect to me. The Vols have the most talented receiving corp in the conference without question. But every catch they make they seem to have their backs to the sideline, or their backs to the end zone, and stationary at that. The completions seem to come on a Dobbs scramble where the receivers sit down in the secondary and catch the late arriving pass as they stand there.

Now, Dobbs can flat throw the football. Yes, he has accuracy issues in about one pass each game. The receivers are fast and strong. It can not all be on the offensive line can it? Today the Vols need to make huge strides in  their timing in this aspect of the game. Tennessee can not throw the ball when they have to at this point. That is disturbing. They have to find a rhythm.

Where are the quick slants that allow the receiver to catch and run? Where are the crossing patterns that allow a Von Pearson or Pig Howard to catch the ball in front of them and run? Where are the long fly patterns that give a receiver like Marquez North or Josh Malone a “chance” to make a play? Where is the deep flag pattern that Steve Spurrier threw at Florida to win multiple SEC championships? We have the guys that can do it.

They may throw them, but Dobbs overthrows the receiver by 10 yards in most cases, not even giving a chance. It looks like it is by design. Just make sure they know we can throw deep seems to be the message. Well, no you can’t. Your receiver must get an opportunity to catch the dang ball.

Look, they have the quarterback to spin it and the receivers to catch it. It is not always the problem of the Offensive line not giving Dobbs time. It is not always the receivers are “not winning their one on one matchups to get off of the line of scrimmage”. Get a scheme that helps these guys. Throw with some sort of rhythm, and quickly.

Is there a better receiver in football than Julio Jones of the Falcons? He is bigger, stronger, and faster than all other receivers and defensive backs. He has a hard time releasing against press coverage sometimes. So the Falcons use motion to free him up. There is a freebie for the Vols staff. I won’t even charge.

The Vols coaching staff needs to trust their kids. Tennessee has one turnover in two games. That turnover was a tough one last week. It had no chance of completion. I get that they want to be careful with the football.  It is a maxim. But sometimes you have to have some fun and let the kids play. Last week the Vols played tight from the half on. It was evident we didn’t want to lose the game. We just didn’t wan to win it either.

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It will be tempting to turn around and hand the ball to Hurd today and watch him run for 300 yards. He could do it easily. The Catamounts gave up 300 yards rushing to The Citadel last Saturday. Jalen Hurd is left of the equal sign to The Citadel’s backs you can be guaranteed. I’ll stop the political stuff.

The Vols defense will take out their frustration today. If you think Derek Barnett has gone after the quarterback before, wait until today. You will see a Kahlil McKenzie highlight of him putting at least one offensive lineman on his fanny today. Kyle Phillips will make a splash in the absence of Curt Maggitt. Look for Corey Vereen to have a big day. The Vols will not give up points until Smokey and the Cheerleading unit takes over the defense in the fourth quarter.

But here is what you do if you are the Vols today. Number one do not let Cam Sutton return a punt. He will score every time. That won’t help the cause. Tell him to fair catch it, or better yet, catch it and run back to your own one yard line every time so you get 99 yards to work with each drive. That is what the “throwing game” as Butch calls it needs.

As a matter of fact, after the 35 – 0 halftime lead today, you may want to stop a drive short every once in a while and get the placekicking team on to see if they can actually hit one. That will be huge next week against Florida. Count on that right now. If we miss one, we lose next week.

I don’t want to be disrespectful to Western Carolina. These are not the Washington Generals that the Harlem Globetrotters faced every time they played. Dobbs will not pull the pants down of their middle linebacker while Jalen Hurd throws a bucket of glitter at their head coach. These guys will play well and they will play hard. They just aren’t as good. Of course Jacksonville State and Toledo heard that last week as well.

But this will be a huge game for Tennessee today. I still look for Hurd and Kamara to go over 100 each in only 12-15 carries each. I look for Dobbs to approach 250 yards passing with touchdowns to Howard, Malone, and Jennings today. He had better get the ball to Marquez today or else North is going to become disinterested. He has been open on many occasions so far.

Tennessee wins 55-7 today. They pile up the offense at will. But they had better get the passing game in shape today. That is what they must do, and what they must come out of this game with. Confidence that they can throw it on time accurately, and that they can catch it when thrown to them. No drops, no bad throws, no excuse. Get it done. Tennessee big 55-7

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