The CheckerBoard

Just think........

Every 2 weeks we might add a solid playmaker etc.

Croom then........Pig.........then maybe Bowles (maybe after more reps/bye week).........then Downs (and Harris at backup LB)

Downs is out at least until the 'Bama game. Dislocated patella's are significant and painful. And once they occur, they're more likely to occur again.

If I were UT, and no more injuries occurred at TE, I certainly wouldn't push him back before the Mizzou game.

And Bullard was fine...kinda hoped they might do that at TE since they have pretty good OL depth and Bullard is supposedly a good run blocker (though he got whipped at least twice tonight).

Just think how many key players have not played in a long time bc of injury or bc of youth/ juco:

Bray- sick or hurt last 2 games and was RUSTY then

Neal @ RB- moved to WR........never started.

Patterson- 1st game Juco

Hunter- hurt

Tiny- 1st start.....played very little

and any other WRs not ZR's

Then on D:

Sentimore- 1st game start/ juco

McCullers- same

Lathers- hurt all of 2011

Brewer- hurt most of late 2011

Moore @ S vs nickel last year a lot (never started really)

*Then add everyone in our 2 deep.............we are young in terms of bigtime PT and esp starting in big games.......but talented and will improve every snap. Not many of our team is like J. James or Dallas Thomas (who started his 1st game at LG.......LOL).

The NC State crowd was taken out of play once Tennessee got that safety and touchdown. They were seriously outnumbered by UT fans, and by the time the game ended, it was probably 95% Vols left.

I do have to revise my prediction for this season based on what I saw tonight - now thinking 9-3 is a legitimate possibility.

Also, the streak of UT winning when I'm at the game continues...

I actually like the two threads being separate (game and post game). Just my opinion... :-)

That's a big reason why I upped up my win prediction to 9-3 minimum.

This may be true, but it's an extremely different style of defense. Once we get to SEC-level athletes, there also will be a TON more big plays against the D if things aren't massively cleaned up. Georgia might have scored 45 tonight against Tennessee.

After this game performance and then next weeks game the Vols should win easily, I look for the Florida game to be sold out now. Should be rockin

Noticed the same thing. I'm wondering if Palermo is favoring McCullers for run stopping situations and Hood for pass rush.

How about Eric Gordon last night! He has shown flashes of what he is capable of over the years, but I think CSS found a great way to let him shine. The "Star" position looks like a great fit.

He played aggressive and tackled well.

My only concern was on goal line,.I believe it was Gordon that over pursued on both TDs that
allowed NC States RBs to cut back and score