Tenn Game Plan

[MAD Doctor]

Moonshine's numbers don't look good, but I'm not sure of the strategy/enthusiasm/quality that their opponents brought to those games. We obviously need to play solid D and special teams to give us any chance, and to come out strong and smart early. We need a confidence booster early on, such as a Vol turnover or a surprise play. We can't win on gimmicks, but a "gadget" play while the score is close doesn't show desperation, but the attitude of playing to win. Regardless of how good they are going to be, they'll have plenty of rust in the first half/game. Hoping Taylor shows the poise he was missing last year at Death Valley and the receivers are efficient with their catches. Running the ball controls the clock, and is our strength, and we have to stick with it. We don't need a hundred catches, but a few at the right times.

[CornCobPipes]

Hurd IS a MONSTER!

[EastHallApp]

As far as avoiding true bad games, UT was one of the more consistent teams out there last year. Their offense wasn't great against North Texas, but it was still a shutout that was basically over by half. South Carolina was the only one that was really closer than expected, and SC lost some other close games to good teams.

I think moonshine is right - based on last year's track record, there's no reason to expect UT to lay an egg against us.

[VFL25]

I'll give an opposite point of view here. I think UT will come out and run the ball until yall show you can stop it. From what I've read on here about Apple St.'s D we may have to do other things. But I would imagine unless we have to open it up, we'lll run the ball the majority of the game. Especially with the RB depth we have.

I'd do nothing but run as well if we had a 6'4" 240lb RB. Jalen Hurd is a monster.

He is nothing short of that. He hasn't gotten his due as much because of other guys in the SEC like Chubb, Fornette, and Henry. Hopefully this year he'll get his due.

Just for fun:

[ashugh]

I too am sick of hearing about the Michigan game, but using it as an example it will take the passing game to open up the running game. Armanti was Armanti and we had experienced and fast receivers, and it took that to loosen up their D. The good part of that, Satt designed that game plan and was calling those plays. I just wish we had more experience to go with the speed at receivers. But, I really like what this group can grow in to.
All that said, I would be totally shocked if we can line up and run the ball from the start. UT, IMO, will load up the box and make our receivers and Taylor prove they can beat them.

[bigdaddyg]

How about we just punch them in the mouth right off the bat! Figure we will lose the toss and their kicker will be amped up and will put one in the seats. Throw a bomb first play so it takes a while to hear Rocky Top!

[AppSt94]

I know that their D line is good and they have talent abound, but we do have two NFL prospects on our O-line in Collins and Gossett.

[EastHallApp]

I know that their D line is good and they have talent abound, but we do have two NFL prospects on our O-line in Collins and Gossett.

Probably Nunn too.

[mountaineerman]

I know history has shown poor performances against p5 but we made history last year and we have depth at every position. I expect to win and I am confident coaches and players are thinking the same way. If we lose I don't think it will be by much TWO WEEKS!

[CornCobPipes]

NEERS vs. TEARS be there!

[WilliamDuVOL]

Hi guys. I come in peace as well. I typically converse with opposing fan bases before our openers. I made friends with USU and BGSU posters in years past.

I'm very excited for this game, and while I do believe it will be a victory for us (shocker I know), I also believe it will be closer than many of our more delusional fans will be comfortable with.

In reference to the two posts above about NFL caliber O linemen, I'm excited that your program is bringing in and developing talent. I actually watched the App State / Ohio bowl game last year to get a feel for both teams, and I loved your uniforms for that game. The black unis were really cool. That being said, we do face NFL caliber linemen week in and week out in the SEC, and many have said that one of our pass rushers, Derek Barnett, is one of the most disruptive players they have gone up against. Iowa left tackle, Outland Trophy winner, and number 5 overall pick in the last draft Brandon Scherff had to hold Barnett constantly to stop him.

What kind of pass rushers do you guys face in a typical season? I watch as many games as I can in a weekend, and I will be following along with you guys after our game, as is my yearly custom for OOC games.

[ASUGoose]

First play of the game, go with the deep ball on a pump-fake double move and get on the scoreboard early and often! I remember so vividly the Clemson D game-plan where they rarely ever had a safety deep and we never even tried testing the deep ball until second half. Open up the run and spread-option game via the pass early is going to be required for us to have any chance of an upset special.

[boonetown1]

First play of the game, go with the deep ball on a pump-fake double move and get on the scoreboard early and often! I remember so vividly the Clemson D game-plan where they rarely ever had a safety deep and we never even tried testing the deep ball until second half. Open up the run and spread-option game via the pass early is going to be required for us to have any chance of an upset special.

If our WRs can get seperation with their speed, I believe we can open up for the run. This team has ALOT of speed, so we'll see....

[Yosef10]

Hi guys. I come in peace as well. I typically converse with opposing fan bases before our openers. I made friends with USU and BGSU posters in years past.

I'm very excited for this game, and while I do believe it will be a victory for us (shocker I know), I also believe it will be closer than many of our more delusional fans will be comfortable with.

In reference to the two posts above about NFL caliber O linemen, I'm excited that your program is bringing in and developing talent. I actually watched the App State / Ohio bowl game last year to get a feel for both teams, and I loved your uniforms for that game. The black unis were really cool. That being said, we do face NFL caliber linemen week in and week out in the SEC, and many have said that one of our pass rushers, Derek Barnett, is one of the most disruptive players they have gone up against. Iowa left tackle, Outland Trophy winner, and number 5 overall pick in the last draft Brandon Scherff had to hold Barnett constantly to stop him.

What kind of pass rushers do you guys face in a typical season? I watch as many games as I can in a weekend, and I will be following along with you guys after our game, as is my yearly custom for OOC games.

Barnett will probably be the best pass rusher any of our OL guys have played against. However, I'm semi-optimistic on this front and thats mostly due to us only giving up 1 sack against Clemson last year and they had a 1st and 2nd round pick on the DL, with Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd, respectively. While last year we were able to protect our QB relatively well against Clemson, we had major issues opening running lanes for the backs. Our run game is the bread and butter of the offense. Unfortunately, I see that trend continuing against your front 7. I'm with you in the thinking that UT will win this one, but it will be (hopefully) closer than many UT fans believe at the moment.

Note: Pro Football Focus, an analytics based website, ranked App's offensive line as a unit, 3rd in the country, only behind Stanford and Notre Dame. This will be put to test on Sept 1 inside Neyland.

To answer your question about the pass rushers we face; the Sunbelt had one DE drafted last year (and he was from App State) and one LB drafted. I guess relative to the SunBelt GaSou & Ark State have good pass rushes but relative to the SEC it's pretty weak. UT will be the best D we see this year by far.

[EastHallApp]

Yeah, Sun Belt defenses are generally pretty awful. We're basically the '85 Bears of our league in that regard. Usually the better teams win on the backs of their offenses.

[WilliamDuVOL]

Thank you both for the replies. As I mentioned I will definitely be following along with you guys after this game regardless of outcome.

That's pretty impressive considering Clemson's DEs were beasts last year. Hopefully your O linemen all have career years, starting after the UT game of course.

[SpeedkingATL]

Hi guys. I come in peace as well. I typically converse with opposing fan bases before our openers. I made friends with USU and BGSU posters in years past.

I'm very excited for this game, and while I do believe it will be a victory for us (shocker I know), I also believe it will be closer than many of our more delusional fans will be comfortable with.

In reference to the two posts above about NFL caliber O linemen, I'm excited that your program is bringing in and developing talent. I actually watched the App State / Ohio bowl game last year to get a feel for both teams, and I loved your uniforms for that game. The black unis were really cool. That being said, we do face NFL caliber linemen week in and week out in the SEC, and many have said that one of our pass rushers, Derek Barnett, is one of the most disruptive players they have gone up against. Iowa left tackle, Outland Trophy winner, and number 5 overall pick in the last draft Brandon Scherff had to hold Barnett constantly to stop him.

What kind of pass rushers do you guys face in a typical season? I watch as many games as I can in a weekend, and I will be following along with you guys after our game, as is my yearly custom for OOC games.

I can pretty much echo what others have said. Using last years Clemson game as a reference point, App actually held their offense in check pretty well EXCEPT for a couple of long passes. On offense, App's turnovers turned a closely played contest into a orange crush in last 10 minutes of the first half. App ran the ball well in the second half against the mixed 1 and 2 units for the Tigers and Apps defense held their own pretty well with Ronald Blair, App's senior DE having an excellent game (now with the 49ers). If App can limit the turnovers and shorten the game with some success running the ball it can be a contest. As good as App's D should be I would be surprised if UT doesn't score at least 28-30 points. UT will have by far the best talent App lines up against this season. Hopefully App can be as good as we all hope they can be and we are treated to a good contest. If UT has a few turnovers as with any opponent, anything can happen. I'm really interested to see how App's D performs against a very good UT offense with a mobile QB. Hopefully App's speed on the outside can cause some issues as I truly thing our NT and middle LB's can hold their own.

I've always wanted to attend a game at UT and I will be there for this one. Look forward to the atmosphere of SEC night game.

[NattyBumppo'sRevenge]

First play of the game, go with the deep ball on a pump-fake double move and get on the scoreboard early and often! I remember so vividly the Clemson D game-plan where they rarely ever had a safety deep and we never even tried testing the deep ball until second half. Open up the run and spread-option game via the pass early is going to be required for us to have any chance of an upset special.

If our WRs can get seperation with their speed, I believe we can open up for the run. This team has ALOT of speed, so we'll see....

I think how good we can be this year depends mostly on the WR's. My hope, too, is that the speed of the WR's will open everything up for the offense and take us to the next level. It will also be cool getting the human highlight reel back this year.

[APPdiesel]

Gotta play wide open from play 1. I hate the way we've played in the last few P5 games...we play conservative and get behind 2 touch downs and it's over.

[AtlAppMan]

The reason we got behind in Clemson game was not due to conservative play calling but rather 3 turnovers in 4 possessions. That will kill about any team against a CFB playoff opponent.