Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

[the red c]

Quote: Originally Posted by smpipkin

Are you going to use Lane vs Florida?

Yeah with Hurd out I'll have to rely on Lane mostly. Devrin Young and Derrell Scott will probably get a handful of carries also. Surprisingly, Lane has done pretty well this year so far.

[the red c]

Tennessee Volunteers 1-2 @ Florida Gators 2-0

Date: Saturday, September 21st, 2013
Time: 8:00 Central
Channel: SEC Network
Description: The Tennessee Volunteers open up conference play at the Swamp against long time rival, the Florida Gators.

Game Recap: If you've been following the Vols this season, you know that the team has struggled producing adequate production at the QB position. In the season opener, Dobbs got the start only to be benched halfway through the game. In came Justin Worley, who led the team to a huge 4th quarter comeback. But since then, Worley has struggled mightily. It didn't get any better against Florida. Worley threw three interceptions against the Gators as the Vols lost 38-18. After his third interception, Butch Jones elected to send in Dobbs to try and provide an offensive spark.

Dobbs was put in when the game was well in hand; however, he was the QB who was able to finally lead TN to a touchdown, throwing a 6 yard touchdown pass to Josh Malone late in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter he would connect with Marquez North on a 35 yard touchdown pass. While the two scores didn't have an impact on the game, it has provided a discussion on Rocky Top: should Dobbs be placed back in the starting role?

Against Florida, Dobbs was 11-17 for 155 yards with 2 touchdowns. Worley was an abysmal 13-25 for 110 yards and three interceptions. Dobbs also ran the ball for 61 yards on only 7 carries. With the struggling Volunteers now 1-3 on the year, head coach Butch Jones has a decision to make, stick with the senior Worley, or go back to his original decision and play the sophomore Dobbs.

Aside from the QBs, the team as a whole played decent. The defense played as well as it could considering the offense kept turning the ball over. There is still work to do on that side of the ball, but its clear through four games that the defense is this teams strong point.

For the first time all year running back Marlin Lane was kept under a 100 yards. He managed to pick up 63 yards on 19 attempts. The Gators understood quite well that if they could shut down Lane and the running attack, the Vols would be in trouble.

With four games in the books for Tennessee it is evident there is a lot of work to do if this team is going to get to a bowl game. Already sitting at 1-3, every game from here on out is crucial. The scary part, Tennessee still has to play #17 Georiga, #16 South Carolina, #1 Alabama, and #4 Auburn in that order. The pressure is on in Rocky Top.

Final: Tennessee 18, Florida 38

Up next: vs South Alabama 1-2

[smpipkin]

Start Dobbs

[the red c]

South Alabama Jaguars 1-2 @ Tennessee Volunteers 1-3

Date: Saturday, September 28th, 2013
Time: 12:00 Central
Channel: SEC Network
Description: The Tennessee Volunteers try to break a three game losing streak against the South Alabama Jaguars

Game Recap: The hot debate entering this weeks game against South Alabama was who would start at QB, Dobbs or Worley? Butch Jones chose the former and it turned out to be the right call. Dobbs completed 15 of his 24 passes for 127 yards, throwing 1 touchdown and 1 interception as well. He also ran the ball 13 times for 83 yards. Dobbs wasn't spectacular by any means but he did do a nice job of managing the game and taking what the defense gave him. And it didn't start out looking good.

South Alabama would take control of the game early as they raced out to a 17-0 lead in the 1st quarter. The Vols had no answer for the Jaguars and watched helplessly as USA tore them apart en route to the early lead. But the Vols knew they had plenty of time to stick to the game plan and fed the ball to Marlin Lane over and over again. Lane added another 100+ yard game to the season as he has 159 yards along with 2 touchdowns. HB Jalen Hurd sat out as he continues to rest his bruised shoulder.

The game was in a nail biter late in the fourth, with the Vols up only 27-20 before Michael Williams would intercept a pass and run it home for a 95 yard pick-six. If that play didn't seal the deal, South Alabama's QB fumbling the ball on the next possession and Tennessee receiving did.

Although the team spotted the Jaguars an early 17 points, Tennessee outscored the opposition 37-3 in the last three quarters. Josh Dobbs did a nice job of opening up the offense, protecting the ball, and leading the team to victory. 37 points is the most Tennessee has scored during regulation this season, so look for Jones to stick with the sophomore moving forward.

Final: Tennessee 37, South Alabama 20

[djp73]

not a great start, lots of work to do here

[the red c]

Quote: Originally Posted by smpipkin

Start Dobbs

Dobbs with the start, UT with the win.

Quote: Originally Posted by djp73

not a great start, lots of work to do here

Not a great start at all. That loss to Arkansas State is going to really haunt us down the road.

[the red c]

A look around the SEC

Here are the SEC standings entering Week 6. There are 8 teams ranked inside the top 25 (5 from the West, 3 from the East) and 4 undefeated teams left.

Key Games remaining the in SEC:

#1 Alabama
@ #12 Mississippi State, 11/16
@ #5 Auburn, 11/30

#5 Auburn
vs #24 Ole Miss, 10/5
@ #9 Texas A&M, 10/19
vs #15 Georgia, 11/16
vs #1 Alabama, 11/30

#9 Texas A&M
@ #24 Ole Miss, 10/12
vs #5 Auburn, 10/19
vs #12 Mississippi State, 11/9

#24 Ole Miss
@ #5 Auburn, 10/5
vs #9 Texas A&M, 10/12
@ #12 Mississippi State, 11/28

#12 Mississippi State
@ #13 South Carolina, 11/2
@ #9 Texas A&M, 11/9
vs #1 Alabama, 11/16
vs #24 Ole Miss, 11/28

#23 Florida
vs #15 Georgia, 11/2
@ #13 South Carolina, 11/16

#13 South Carolina
vs #12 Mississippi State, 11/2
vs #23 Florida, 11/16

#15 Georgia
vs #23 Florida, 11/2
@ #5 Auburn, 11/16

As you can see, each team has at least two games left against ranked opponents, and those are just the East teams. Some teams in the West still have to play 4 ranked teams. It is a gauntlet out in the West that features the likes of #1 Alabama and #5 Auburn. Not to mention Arkansas 4-1 and Missouri 4-0 have started out surprisingly well.

[the red c]

#15 Georgia Bulldogs 3-1 @ Tennessee Volunteers 2-3

Date: Saturday, October 5th, 2013
Time: 3:30 Central
Channel: ESPN2
Description: The Tennessee Volunteers look for the upset at home against the 15th ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

Game Recap: This one is one the Volunteers are going to want to forget and forget soon. The Vols were destroyed in a 48-14 drubbing by #15 Georgia. Tennessee got a few bad breaks in the first half and before anyone knew it the score was 31-7 Georgia with 5:44 to go in the 2nd quarter. From there the Bulldogs would cruise and wrap up a conference win over the lowly Vols.

Overall, the Vols played terrible. There was way too many turnovers and they were just clearly out coached and outmatched. Not to mention, anything bad that could happen, did happen. Interceptions off of tipped passes, multiple fumbles by Dobbs, and giving up 432 total yards of offense. It was simple not Tennessee's day.

Tennessee heads into a bye week going into week 7. And a much needed one at that. This loss drops the team to 2-4 halfway through the season. The magic number from here on out is 4, and the Vols need to reach it quickly. The Vols next four games: #11 South Carolina, #1 Alabama, #25 Missouri, and #3 Auburn. Somehow, someway the Vols have to win 2 out 4 here. If Butch Jones fails to do so, well his seat start to get hot?

Final: Tennessee 14, #15 Georgia 48 - Lost