The CheckerBoard

To me, Dooley is saying he and Sal don't need to call 3-4 Alabama type plays with our TN players....yet. That's a learning experience for Sal and Coach. We ain't got the first 25 draftees for sure, so let's do better with the calls to match our guys.

Wouldn't the GA game have made that apparent?

We had 2 weeks to prepare for MSU. Our players didn't learn as much as the coaches thought they had.. happens all the time when installing a new system.

One throw in the 4th there was 4 guys within 5yd of the receiver, and a couple had a chance to knock it down or defend it and they seemed to wait til he caught it then tackle him.

It seems like when the defense gets on the field lined up they start thinking way to much about the play call that they actually forget what they have to do. Ive noticed that the corners get confused on who they are supposed to cover also then the ball snaps and they are nowhere near ready. If they could eliminate all the mental mistakes and recognize the play call and know exactly what they are supposed to do without having to overthink about it they would be alot better off. Until then we are gonna get the same old defense we have had the last few weeks imo.

Its like any sport. You go on the road, the home team gets pumped up by the crowd and the enormity of the game. They go on a run and you, as the visiting team, have to weather the storm and then respond. We did that. We just needed one more stop and the ball back. That is the next step for this team. There were also a few plays we can't have like Young's fumble or Rivera's miss hap on the kick off. On the road, plays like that costs you games. In every loss, we have been about 3 plays from victory. We just need those plays to favor us. I think Alabama affords us this opportunity. We are under dogs and no one expects us to win. Go Vols!!!

I hope you're right, and I'd like to believe it -- but given what I've seen so far this season, that feels kind of like blind faith to me.