Game Day coming to Third Saturday in October matchup

[Volbound1700]

If I'm Tennessee I absolutely want Bryce Young to play. If both Tennessee and Bama lose to Georgia you don't want the excuse of "well Bama didn't have Bryce Young" to be used when they get picked over you for the final playoff spot

That is being talked about on VolNation with fans saying they hope he plays.

I really don't care either way at this point. As crazy as it sounds, I think there is too much emphasize being put on Bryce Young. I think it will come down to whether Tennessee can put pressure on QB (BY or not) and whether the secondary can do just enough to keep the WRs from making a lot of good plays (I am confident Alabama will score on us several times, Bryce Young or not).

 

[TaikoTiger]

Bringing the Baylor offense to the SEC, interesting.
The way Tennessee spreads it's WRs out is unique to the SEC and poses a different threat to secondarys in the SEC as the WRs have so much room in the middle of the field to operate.
It takes some speedy WRs and a good QB to operate which Tennessee has right now

 

[TaikoTiger]

Listening to Josh Pate, Alabama's best bet would be to put pressure on Hendon Hooker with their defense and force turnovers. I agree with that take. Alabama's defense is going to have to find way to put pressure on Tennessee and force throws/mistakes.

Putting pressure with only 4 is the key. Blitzing and taking numbers away from the backfield is not what you want vs the offense Tenn is running. On top of that, Hendon Hooker is great working and making throws in the pocket, escaping the pocket, making quick decisions and knowing where to go with the ball

That is being talked about on VolNation with fans saying they hope he plays.

I really don't care either way at this point. As crazy as it sounds, I think there is too much emphasize being put on Bryce Young. I think it will come down to whether Tennessee can put pressure on QB (BY or not) and whether the secondary can do just enough to keep the WRs from making a lot of good plays (I am confident Alabama will score on us several times, Bryce Young or not).

Tennessee defense is what it is. The way Tennessee can win this is similar to LSU did in 2019, win in a shootout. Score and put pressure on Bama to do the same every drive.

 

[batchaps4me]

Tennessee defense is what it is. The way Tennessee can win this is similar to LSU did in 2019, win in a shootout. Score and put pressure on Bama to do the same every drive.

I am not sure about that because Bama has a tendency to get penalized a lot on the road and manage to stay behind the sticks. The crowd can greatly enhance UT's D.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

That is being talked about on VolNation with fans saying they hope he plays.

I really don't care either way at this point. As crazy as it sounds, I think there is too much emphasize being put on Bryce Young. I think it will come down to whether Tennessee can put pressure on QB (BY or not) and whether the secondary can do just enough to keep the WRs from making a lot of good plays (I am confident Alabama will score on us several times, Bryce Young or not).

Too much pressure on Bryce Young playing or not? You remove Hooker from Tennessee and you are forced to use Milton and the spread would change by 10 points I'd bet.

Young isn't just another QB -- he was the Heisman winner last year. You see the enormous difference in Bama's offense with the backup in.

 

[Volbound1700]

Too much pressure on Bryce Young playing or not? You remove Hooker from Tennessee and you are forced to use Milton and the spread would change by 10 points I'd bet.

Young isn't just another QB -- he was the Heisman winner last year. You see the enormous difference in Bama's offense with the backup in.

Everyone has somewhat thrown on Tennessee to date. I am thinking Milroe throws fairly well on Tennessee's secondary. It really isn't about QB with Tennessee's defense but rather the inability/lack of speed for our secondary to cover opponent's WRs. It is going to come down to those 3rd/4th down plays that we had similar to the games against Florida and LSU.

 

[fishinabarrel]

Everyone has somewhat thrown on Tennessee to date. I am thinking Milroe throws fairly well on Tennessee's secondary. It really isn't about QB with Tennessee's defense but rather the inability/lack of speed for our secondary to cover opponent's WRs. It is going to come down to those 3rd/4th down plays that we had similar to the games against Florida and LSU.

There is a difference between "being able to throw on you" (Millroe) and treating you secondary like Swiss cheese (,Bryce Young)

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

Everyone has somewhat thrown on Tennessee to date. I am thinking Milroe throws fairly well on Tennessee's secondary. It really isn't about QB with Tennessee's defense but rather the inability/lack of speed for our secondary to cover opponent's WRs. It is going to come down to those 3rd/4th down plays that we had similar to the games against Florida and LSU.

Come on now -- you can't possibly believe this. That'd be like Michigan saying to Ohio State that it isn't a big deal if Stroud is out for their matchup, as their backup can throw fairly well.

Young is a Hesiman winner who will be a top 10 pick in the NFL draft next year. The drop off from one to the other is enormous. Just like it'd be enormous if Hooker went down for Tennessee and you had to start Milton.

 

[Volbound1700]

There is a difference between "being able to throw on you" (Millroe) and treating you secondary like Swiss cheese (,Bryce Young)

Both may do it. Watch how we play defense. AR threw on us. It is a prevent, bend don't break type defense because our secondary is our biggest weakness.

What they will do is try to blitz to make the QB throw away fast or get a sack that gives them more buffer. The CBs and Safeties will play off the WRs to prevent getting beat long.

Alabama will throw slants on us and short passes. That is going to work often. I don't care who the QB is. Once they get about Tennessee's 30 yard line is where it will matter. The field is shorter and you can screen the WRs.

I understand Young is a lot better QB but I think Alabama's WR play will be more impactful (along with OL play). If WRs continue to get open and make plays in 1-on-1, the QB will just need to throw the ball up. Any QB can do that. That is why Florida and LSU QBs both had big games. No matter which QB plays against Tennessee, I am banking on that QB having at least 300 yards passing. Key is if you can keep them out of end zone/points.

 

[Volbound1700]

Putting pressure with only 4 is the key. Blitzing and taking numbers away from the backfield is not what you want vs the offense Tenn is running. On top of that, Hendon Hooker is great working and making throws in the pocket, escaping the pocket, making quick decisions and knowing where to go with the ball


Tennessee defense is what it is. The way Tennessee can win this is similar to LSU did in 2019, win in a shootout. Score and put pressure on Bama to do the same every drive.

I agree with this for the most part. Tennessee is going to have to score at least 30 points (maybe more) to win this game.

 

[Volbound1700]

@NewPhoneWhoDis , another thing to keep in mind is Bryce Young (if he plays) may not be 100% and Tennessee has hurt already two QBs this season. I think it is risky to play an injured BY if you are Alabama.

Alabama can lose this game and still win the National Title.

If they play Bryce Young, I am not sure he survives the entire game unless his injury is not as bad as being reported.

In fact, my greatest fear with Alabama is that they just win up front and run over us on the ground. That would be the worse result. This happened in 2016.

 

[Volbound1700]

People talk a lot about the streak but but keep in mind that Alabama has held the #1 ranking every season except for 2007 in that run, won multiple national titles, and has been pretty much in the mix every season since 2009. The entire SEC and the rest of the Nation, in general, have been dominated by Alabama.

SEC records against Saban

Auburn is 5-10
Arkansas is 0-16
Florida is 1-8
Georgia is 2-7
Kentucky is 0-5
LSU is 4-12
Ole Miss is 2-13
Mississippi State is 1-14
Missouri is 0-4
South Carolina is 1-2
Texas A&M is 2-9
Vanderbilt is 0-4

So it isn't like Tennessee is the only team to have severely struggled against Saban.

 

[BadMotoWeazal]

This may be the best chance for the volunteers to beat Alabama since Lane Kiffen had a couple of game-winning field goals blocked

 

[Volbound1700]

This may be the best chance for the volunteers to beat Alabama since Lane Kiffen had a couple of game-winning field goals blocked

We came close in 2015 in Tuscaloosa but Alabama kind of let us stay close with mistakes/bad play. We had chance to win towards end of game.

 

[BadMotoWeazal]

I feel that anything can happen in this game

 

[CoalTrain]

I wish I felt better about it but I have seen UT’s defense and… well… they make Pete Golding’s defenses look like the ‘85 Bears.
On the other side , the offense is going to need to score 30+ to have a shot and that’s possible but the offense has also struggled at times vs the likes of Pitt so..

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

@NewPhoneWhoDis , another thing to keep in mind is Bryce Young (if he plays) may not be 100% and Tennessee has hurt already two QBs this season. I think it is risky to play an injured BY if you are Alabama.

Alabama can lose this game and still win the National Title.

If they play Bryce Young, I am not sure he survives the entire game unless his injury is not as bad as being reported.

In fact, my greatest fear with Alabama is that they just win up front and run over us on the ground. That would be the worse result. This happened in 2016.

It sounds like you are trying to convince yourself the best thing for Alabama is for Bryce Young not to play. I don't see Young sitting, even if he is at 75%, because 75% Young is much better than their other options, unless the True Freshman is ready to sling the ball all over the field.

Bama will need to score -- Milroe isn't a guy who is going to sling it all over the field. We shall see though. It should be a great game.

 

[fordman84]

People talk a lot about the streak but but keep in mind that Alabama has held the #1 ranking every season except for 2007 in that run, won multiple national titles, and has been pretty much in the mix every season since 2009. The entire SEC and the rest of the Nation, in general, have been dominated by Alabama.

SEC records against Saban

Auburn is 5-10
Arkansas is 0-16
Florida is 1-8
Georgia is 2-7
Kentucky is 0-5
LSU is 4-12
Ole Miss is 2-13
Mississippi State is 1-14
Missouri is 0-4
South Carolina is 1-2
Texas A&M is 2-9
Vanderbilt is 0-4

So it isn't like Tennessee is the only team to have severely struggled against Saban.

A&M's number has to include meetings prior to our time in the SEC, right?

 

[Volbound1700]

It sounds like you are trying to convince yourself the best thing for Alabama is for Bryce Young not to play. I don't see Young sitting, even if he is at 75%, because 75% Young is much better than their other options, unless the True Freshman is ready to sling the ball all over the field.

Bama will need to score -- Milroe isn't a guy who is going to sling it all over the field. We shall see though. It should be a great game.

This is why you would be like Butch Jones as a coach. Butch thought the same thing in 2016 with Josh Dobbs against South Carolina (he wasn't 100%) and you came out with a big L.

What is Alabama going to do next year without Bryce Young? You need to have all your players ready to go at all times.

 

[Volbound1700]

A&M's number has to include meetings prior to our time in the SEC, right?

Nope but it does include the loss last week.

The graph I saw was from the start of 2021 (prior to last season) so I had to add Alabama's wins and losses (only Aggie and Georgia) to the results. I also added Arkansas, Vandy, and A&M's losses this year.