Palmetto Proving Grounds

This is the game that if our OLINE can step up Wilds should have lots of lanes. If our OL isn't opening gaps without the box loaded for what would seem like the first game in forever this year, we will see it go down to the wire.

Spurrier and Mangus need to move Alshon around this game. If he is just going to line up outside every snap we are just wasting his talent.

I'm not sure where everyone is getting that we're going to have one guy put up triple digits on the ground on these guys. The only SEC RB to do so thus far has been Rainey for UF. (108 yards, I believe) Richardson, Spencer Ware and Isaiah Crowell all had under 100 yards rushing.

The teams as a whole have rushed relatively well, but the main rushers (the guys that will get the between the tackle runs with few sweeps or tosses to the outside) have not hit big numbers against UT. The perimeter is where they seem to be vulnerable to this point on the ground. They seem to be weaker in the secondary than they have in a while and this has led to poor pass defense and poor perimeter run defense.

Of course, they may scheme to be more concerned with the pass against us now that Latt is out. And that could, as some have pointed out, open up those holes between the tackles. But history would definitely not be on our side to see our guy go in there and light it up against this defense. If we mix it up and plenty of guys get the ball on the ground, then our team can gain for decent yardage on the ground. But I don't see Wilds piling up 100 plus.

I see us rushing for about 165, but getting Wilds, Miles, Ellington, Byrd, and Shaw in on that. I think Wilds gets in the 70's on the night (not knowing how he'll hold up as the #1 guy, but having faith he'll hold his own). And if we do that, I think this game will go like many UT games have gone this year with us pulling away in the second half.

We win in a blowout.

My main concern is that UT will be able to run the ball up the gut vs. our defense. They have shown flashes of being very solid on O led by a solid OL even against the top two defenses in the country in LSU and Bama. But, at the end of their games, even vs. UGA, you look at the scoreboard and they have scored a dozen or fewer points. Control their running game and keep Da Rick Rogers from scoring on multiple big plays and I think we will be OK on D.

Offensively, I hope we take the UK game plan with us and throw it early and often.

I'm not sure I agree that they "blew us off the field in the first quarter." Five minutes in, we'd fumbled twice inside our own territory and were down 14-0. Then, our first possession of the second quarter, we did it again and went down 21-0. I'd say that we were the ones who blew us off the field in the first quarter (or first 17 minutes or so).

I could see your point if they were more talented than us. But they aren't. We are more talented on both sides of the ball and have much more depth. Playing above their heads will only make the game close. They can't beat us. But we can beat ourselves.

I think Bruce and Wilds will light them up

Agree with you 100% Kas. The only way we lose is if we beat ourselves.

If had to pick one stat...break even(at worst) on TOs in Knoxville .