By now, hopefully you have read our preview of the UT game and listened to our podcast on this upcoming game against the Tennessee Volunteers. Still want more do ya? Well you can read our responses to Checkerboard Chatter’s questions and now here is our questions on UT football answered.
Enjoy below with LOHD questions in bold and answers from the UT blogger. Do check out www.checkerboardchatter.com for your UT insight:
1. Is starting Justin Worley over Matt Sims the right move versus South Carolina and its highly ranked pass defense?
Yes, I think starting Worley now is the right move. That isn’t a reflection of what I think about South Carolina’s defense. I think the Vols would have struggled with the Gamecocks D even if Tyler Bray were still available. I think it’s a good move because we know what we have in Matt Simms. He is a tough guy and a solid leader and gives great effort, however he makes too many mistakes and doesn’t possess the accuracy needed to win SEC games.
Because we know the Vols will struggle against top opponents with Simms in the game I think Dooley made the right move in bringing Worley off the bench. It will be interesting to see what he does over the next few games. In my mind, the worst case scenario is that he is no better than Simms and Tennessee is no worse off for having started him. The best case scenario is he proves to be competitive against the best teams left on Tennessee’s schedule (South Carolina and Arkansas) and the Vols win the other remaining games (MTSU, Kentucky, Vanderbilt) and go to a bowl game at no worse than 6-6. I would love for him to play great and force Tennessee into a bit of a quarterback controversy heading into 2012. Only time will tell.
2. Tough for Derek Dooley coming in after Lane Kiffin and Phil Fulmer. What are the thoughts on Derek Dooley as the head man in Rocky Top and what does he have to do to get the program back where it once was?
I think the majority of the fanbase feels that Dooley is the right man for the job and that he is doing what is needed to get the Tennessee program back. The problem with all the changes at the top is that there will always be a natural amount of attrition when a coach leaves. When two coaches leave in a span of two years there is an abnormal amount. That is what Derek Dooley is facing now.
To give some perspective on the unique challenges that Dooley faces consider this: according to the roster on South Carolina’s official athletic site (Gamecocksonline.com), SC has 42 players who are listed as Juniors or Seniors. Meaning that in theory, they have 42 guys who have been in the program for at least three years (I realize there may be a transfer or two in there but you get my point). According to Tennessee’s official athletic website (UTSports.com), the Vols have 32 players listed as Juniors or Seniors. That’s 10 less players who are helping lead your team in practice, in the weight room, and obviously on game days. It has been that way with every SEC opponent Tennessee faces. Dooley has brought in a lot of good young talent, they just have very little experience and not very many really good upper classmen to face every day in practice.
I think Dooley is the right man for the job. I don’t think we will really see the fruits of his labor until 2012 and beyond.
3. What are the thoughts of Vols nation on what occurred with former Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia?
You will find a mixed bag of reactions from different Tennessee fans, but I’ll tell you I personally felt sad for Garcia when the news broke that he was kicked off the team. If a guy who has that much talent and opportunity can’t get his act together to the point that he can stay on a football team then he clearly has real issues. I honestly hope Garcia finds help and goes on to have a successful life in whatever career he chooses. I was a Stephen Garcia fan. I loved the way he played and the effort and passion he displayed on the field. My prayers are with Garcia and his family. Addiction is a real problem in our country and I hope he can find a way to get well.
4. The UT-South Carolina series has the second narrowest average margin of victory among all SEC matchups since 2000 (min. 10 games) at 9.0 points (UGA-SC leads with an 8.25 avg. margin). Why is UT and USC so close on average?
Interesting numbers. I would say that prior to the year 2000 these two programs were in very different places. Tennessee was the traditional power and South Carolina was inconsistent at best. Since 2000, however, the Volunteers have been on a decline while the Gamecocks have been on the rise under Lou Holtz and then Steve Spurrier. The decrease in that gap probably has a lot to do with why the games have been so close in that time span. I hope we have another close one Saturday night.
5. The Gamecocks are favored by 3.5. What does UT have to do to beat USC?
In my mind there are two key initiatives that Tennessee must execute if they hope to upset the Gamecocks.
First, they have to establish the run. While the Vols running game has been really bad this season it has shown improvement the last two weeks against Alabama and LSU. If Tennessee can run the ball somewhat effectively then that will take a tremendous amount of pressure off of a freshman quarterback who is making his first start against his home state school. Tennessee has made some changes to the offensive line in recent weeks. We’ll see if they have found the right formula to get things going on the ground.
Second, the Vols have to win the turnover margin. South Carolina is better than Tennessee, that is just a fact. If the Gamecocks have more possessions than the Vols I don’t see any possible way that Tennessee wins. If the Vols can force Connor Shaw into a couple of picks and maybe get into his head a little bit then perhaps they can have a shot to win the game.
