Vols: Groundhog Day 2015
The Vols celebrated Groundhog Day 2015 as always. With a loss.
I don’t even know what to write. Another epic collapse for Butch Jones and his Tennessee football team. It is like watching Bill Murray’s Groundhog day. It just keeps happening year after year. I don’t know how much more Tennessee fans can take. I’m serious.
The Vols lost again after taking a 13 point lead into the third quarter. Tennessee was 15 minutes away from ending the 10 year losing streak to the Gators. However, they gave the game away when there was no possible way to lose it.
I can guarantee this. From here until the end of football time, a loss that occurs in the fourth quarter when you are up by two touchdowns will be referred to as “Butched”. It will go like this…
“Did you watch the game the other night? Can you believe they Butched that one like that?”
This one will be hard to spin for head coach Butch Jones. I’m sure he will say that Florida deserves the win because they made one more play than we did. We need to learn how to close. We will get back to the practice field to get better on Monday. I like the resolve of this team. It is a learning experience. Most of our guys had never seen Florida. Most of the guys had never been on a trip. Most had never stayed in a hotel. Yada yada yada.
More from Butch Jones
- Butch Jones’ Mentor, Brian Kelly, Says He Led Notre Dame “Poorly” Last Season
- Tennessee Daily Briefing: SEC Network Makes Fun Of Butch Jones
- Vols Head Coach Butch Jones Gets Trolled With Wikipedia Page
- Vols Passing Game Is A Mess
- Vols Football: Steady Improvement Is Noted
One thing he can’t say they have never done, was blow a thirteen point lead in the fourth quarter, because they all had. Now, they probably had not before playing at Tennessee.
I don’t want to get on the team too much. They played ok. Not great. Just ok. Josh Dobbs had a good day. Jalen Hurd had a really good day. and Alvin Kamara had a ok day. Other than that, I can’t really say much.
Dobbs was the Vols leading passer, rusher, and yes, even receiver. Receiver? Dobbs caught a touchdown pass from Jauan Jennings on a throwback that went for 58 yards. No other receiver had more yards for the Vols. Pitiful.
Dobbs was spectacular on the day running the ball. He was less than good throwing. It is a problem for Tennessee going forward. They scare no one in the passing game. I don’t remember a Tennessee team as bad as this in the passing game.
Jalen Hurd was again a beast today. He took shot after shot from the Gator defense. Late in the fourth quarter every time he carried the ball a Gator would lay on the field only to be carted off to his sideline. He had 102 yards on 28 tough, tough carries. I thought he ran as hard as a back can run. Too bad it is in another losing effort.
Getting back to the collapse. It really was inexcusable. Jones made several blunders. I can’t say it nicer. I want Jones to do well, but this is beyond anything imaginable as a head coach at a major university.
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First of all as Tennessee scored to push their lead to 12, everyone in the football world knew Jones would go for two to push the lead to 14. No. Jones elected to kick the extra point to go up 13. Everyone in the freaking State of Tennessee knew what was coming next.
The worst came later in the game though. Faced with fourth and long time and time again, Butch Jones decided to sit back in coverage and trust his secondary to make a play. Ok, seriously? You have a quarterback that was barely able to walk, and you rush three? No you don’t.
I caught this on the first few crucial fourth and longs. I just knew the Vols would bring the house as the quarterback of Florida was hurting. He was limping and holding his arm. I was also worried that Jones might take a time out to help the quarterback regain his wits. He was very good at taking timeouts to help Florida.
No, he decided not to bring the pressure. Tennessee rushed three. This is where the Vols (under Jones) Mantra took full swing. Play not to lose at tall costs. It must be a maxim by now. I’m sorry, but if you want to win, you bring the pressure. You blitz everyone.
You put the quarterback on his butt and he can’t throw the ball. That is how you win. You can’t sit back and hope. This was a bad decision once. Five times? That is coaching malpractice.
So I will wake up again tomorrow exactly has I have done too many times as a Tennessee fan. I know exactly what to do. I won’t read the paper. I won’t read facebook. I won’t watch Sports Center. I will go to Church and ask God why. I fully expect Him to answer. “Because you didn’t blitz”.