First things first: When Russell made that monumental error at the close of the first half, he should have been benched. He did not produce anything tonight. The offense was all Joseph Addai. The scoring was Addai and the defense. Russell looked terrible. He is lost. But, let's not put it all on him. The coaching was terrible. No leadership on the sidelines. Tonight featured no game management, no clock management, terrible play calling, no adjustments at half time except a concerted effort on the coaches' part to figure out a way to lose a game they should have had in the bag. The defense was a retread of the DiNardo/Tepper days. Bo can say we fans don't know anything, but if that's so, we're in the same wagon with him, because it was apparent tonight what he knows doesn't amount to too damned much. Yeah, I know he doesn't go on the field, but that scheme of his is designed to let some rag armed kid from California eat his team's lunch and walk out of our house with a win. His defense played so soft in the second half some 1-AAA team from a podunk bible college could've beat them. Watching the second half reminded me of the old Saints teams that always figured out a way to lose games they should have won. And, yes, I know the db's played poorly, but he had two guys in the defensive backfield who played well, Landry and Francis. Francis was on the bench for the entire second half except for special teams play. What's up with that? I sure can't understand it, but then again, I'm just a fan and don't know anything. But, I do know one thing: we lost a game we should have won. All that talk about being aggressive and simplifying the defensive scheme is BS and just talk to cover up poor preparation and bad teaching. The players handled Saban's complicated defense and it worked because they were well taught. This new, simple scheme works, too, if you're playing against it. Will Muschamp, where are you? Please come home. The team came out in the second half looking prepared to lose, and Russell promptly contributed to the effort, capping that sterling effort he had on the last play of the first half. I'd sure like to see Flynn. He can't do any worse than Russell. At least he can run. This is not a good football team. It is not well coached. As I wrote after the ASU game, get ready for a long season. Florida and Bama are licking their chops, and I can't blame them at all. Hell, Mississippi State is even smiling tonight. We'd have trouble with Vandy. Losing really sucks, but it seems to me that we'd better get used to it, unless some real changes are made.
If the defense is simplified why are they SO CONFUSED? My favorite play was in the 3rd quarter... Clausen had 3rd and 15 from his own 13. Both our safety and our cornerback covered the man in the flat for 2 yards leaving the guy breaking down the field open. What was THAT all about? We don't cover the short stuff until it's 3rd and long? Pelini sucks. It only took 2 games to know it.
Well.. the theory there was correct.. one guy was supposed to have deep, the other short... Some of the laziness seems to be a reflection of the new laid back attitude brought by miles...
Drum roll please... I agree. I saw a very poorly coached team out there tonight. They came out in the 2nd half playing not to lose. JaMarcus took 10 steps backwards tonight. The way I feel right now, I don't see an automatic W on the remainig SEC schedule. Les has a long way to go to get my vote of confidence. As far as Pelini goes? I shudder to think that Tepper is back. He's not quite that bad, but, how many punts did Tenn. have tonight? That was a hallmark of the Tepper defenses. The opposition never f*cking punted! I am not a happy camper. I fear it's back to square one. Damn!
well the talent could wind up being wasted then. wonderful, world class speed wide outs, a stable of running backs with major heart, a QB that is a clone of AAron Brooks, a great O line, A pretty talented defense that is hand cuffed, a go get em cowboy attitude style head coach, a O coordinator that is a genius at times but then sits on the ball after a 14 point lead that makes me wonder if he went to the bathroom and left it on auto pilot. and a defensive coordinator that says the fans are clueless when in reality he needs a clue. :dis: :dis: :dis: this is great,, ok PLAY BALL!
They punted seven times in the first half. Your post should be limited to the second half. BTW, I begrudgingly agree w/ your post...right now. Need to simmer down some first to say for sure.
I meant that under Tepper the opposition never punted. I'm not angry, just disappointed. The main reason I'm troubled is that Rick Clausen picked us apart. If Ainge had been on target, they would have moved the ball in the 1st half as well. He was overthrowing open receivers. I had the radio audio and Hawthorne must have said something like "the QB has all day to throw" about 100 times. That doesn't bode well for games against QBs like Cutler, Leak and Croyle. I laighed at Arky letting that Bama receiver go uncovered in the end zone, but I saw that 3 imes last night. There was one play where the Tenn receiver dropped the ball and the entire left side of the field was unpopulated. That, my friends, scares the hell out of me.
:lol: I agree with Rex on this one, SabanFan as well with his latest post. :lol: I don't know if its the same play Rex is talking about but if the guy would'nt have fallen down to catch the ball he'd still be running! I was wondering if Tennessee was ever going to have to punt the ball.
