Game 3 Discussion Thread: Florida vs Tennessee (Saturday September 16, 2023 @ 7:00pm EST

I take nothing from there game yesterday. Just like yesterday with Florida you can't take anything from it except we lined up and pushed Mcneese around just like Florida should have will find out Saturday how much they have really improved

I’m not sold on Tennessee this year. They’re fortunate they’ve played two terrible teams to start their season. I’m going to say the defense and swamp show up big and we win 31-21.

Good warmup on Saturday, seem to have corrected some issues from week 1. I too like our chances.

The main thing that scares me about this game is even though TN doesn't have a good defense (most starters are back for 2023) they are best at stopping teams that rely on their running game and have QBs that aren't threats to run much. They were the 2nd best rushing defense to GA in the SEC but were the worst pass defense except for Vandy last season. They bring the heat a lot with LB blitzes etc. Last year we had a bunch of yards but it was mostly Richardson with the RBs not getting much at all.

I am curious to see how Napier adapts also. Richardson was able to burn them deep a lot because his running ability gave him the time to let that develop. If they bring the heat like they do most games and our O line is anything like the Utah game we could be in big trouble. If he doesn't start rolling Mertz out in that scenario I will really question his judgment as Mertz isn't fast enough to avoid pressure like that and then roll out and scan the field. Another problem for us if Napier doesn't push more intermediate and deeper stuff is that attacking defense of theirs blows up many passing plays like we ran against Utah. I watched enough of Tenn last season to see attacking them on intermediate and longer passes is the way to score on them.

Some Napier quotes

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On Brandon Spikes and Mike Peterson speaking up about the rivalry:

Napier: “Yeah, no, there’s an element to that. Former players. They’re part of that, some of that history we study during training camp.”

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On the offensive line rotation with Lyndell Hudson:

Napier: “He’s the third tackle, very capable player. I think he’s impressed me. He did just show up in June, so there’s an element to that. I think he’s continuing to learn and grow and develop more knowledge of the system. I think every week he gets a little bit better. But, yeah, gives us a swing tackle there, which we didn’t have in the opener. Had some issues there.

“We get Kingsley back this week, which I think will be a positive. Look, Jake was player of the game. He played significantly better week one to week two. I think there’s some elements of that that’s helped us developing some depth.”

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On the potential of the Wildcat package with Eugene Wilson III:

Napier: “Every year you’re trying to take the skill players that you have and come up with unique ways. Who is your quarterback? Who are your skill players? What can they do? There’s no doubt that guy is good with the ball in his hands. There’s an element to every week we need to find ways for him to touch it.

“We’ve got a group of skill players. We’re going to build our system around the skill.”

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I saw where Tenner had a Players only Meeting today.

So I would expect a determined Tennessee team to show up in the Seamp on Saturday

So I hope this team takes to heart the trash talking from Milton!!

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But he has never been the Vol QB in Gainesville.

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Not as a starter.

He was a back up in 2021, and played in garbage time when the Vols lost 38-14.

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KingGator81

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Agree and welcome to the board

With how Tennessee plays defense the QB has hardly any time even if the O line is good. The only way the QB gets more than a couple of seconds is if they are able to run around and buy time. That pressure style does leave them vulnerable against passes down the field though. It's why they had one of the worst pass defenses in the country last season. It does help them contain the RBs usually however.