Nope, Tennessee definitely isn't on Georgia's level yet
At halftime, it was a legitimate question.
Who’s the top-5 team with national title hopes?
After all, both Tennessee and Georgia had 5-star talent on the offensive line. Both had defensive-minded coaches with disciplined groups who made plays all over the place. Both had quarterbacks who made big-time throws that exceeded some rather pedestrian preseason expectations.
Perhaps you asked that aforementioned question at halftime. Maybe you were even bold enough to respond “Tennessee.” The Vols had their backs to the goal line and stood tall to preserve the lead. Tennessee had every reason to feel good going into the locker room with a lead, not to mention the longest active winning streak among Power 5 teams.
Georgia was undisciplined. The Dawgs snapped the ball into their own end zone and stupidly squirted water on the opposing quarterback to get an obvious 15-yard penalty.
And then the second half happened, and it was no longer a question.
Tennessee isn’t the top-5 team with national title hopes. That’s Georgia.
The Vols followed the same all-too frustrating second-half script that has been evident since 2017. One mental mistake after another, 1 coverage breakdown after another, 1 missed blocking assignment after another and 1 more deflating loss to a rival.
Including Saturday’s late dud, Tennessee has been outscored 82-12 in the second half against Georgia since 2017.
Woof.
To be clear, that was an UGA bark, not Smokey. Only one of those pups deserved to puff their chest after Saturday.
Again. It was the type of second half that should’ve made Tennessee fans see the difference. That is, the difference between a program that’s learning how to become great and a program that’s already great.
Great programs don’t have quarterbacks who turn the ball over 3 times in the second half like Jarrett Guarantano did. Whatever concoction Guarantano downed before Saturday’s game clearly ran out at halftime. The team that didn’t have a turnover in its first 10 quarters of football in 2020 was seemingly a turnover waiting to happen in the second half against Georgia.
Monty Rice, that’ll work. pic.twitter.com/UfxNYx4ZXv
— SEConCBS (@SEConCBS) October 10, 2020
And to be fair, yeah, that’s the No. 1 defense in the country. Georgia might’ve had some undisciplined plays in the first half, but to sustain drives on the Dawgs for 60 minutes, you need your offensive line to hold up. That didn’t happen, either. A whopping minus-1 rushing yard for the game was telling.
That didn’t feel like a different second half than last year’s did it? That hit from Monty Rice might not have been quite as bone-crushing as the one Brian Maurer took last year, but didn’t it feel like Guarantano didn’t have a chance in the second half?
It’s too bad for Guarantano because, for a minute, it felt like he was having a moment. The connection that he and Josh Palmer had in the first half was darn impressive. In the “who’s going to replace Jauan Jennings” discussion, Palmer has certainly answered that.
The problem, though, is that Guarantano needed to pitch a perfect game to beat that team. In his 4th try, he couldn’t do that.
The other problem was as great as this Tennessee offensive line has been to start the season, it takes a truly elite group to not be overcome by that Georgia front 7. Between Rice, Azeez Ojulari, Nolan Smith and about a dozen other guys, it always feels like one of them is getting into the backfield and wreaking havoc. It truly is an embarrassment of riches.
I mean, Georgia had 36 players on that defense who played 100 snaps last year … on the No. 1 defense in the country. That’s absurd. Georgia’s got so many dudes on defense that some of them are even making offensive plays.
Check that. They’re even scoring touchdowns.
Jalen Carter may be a defensive lineman, but he’s got the hands to bring in a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/Zci3qUDWWp
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 10, 2020
That’s where Tennessee is. Georgia could mess around like that and still win that game comfortably. It’s a 166-47 advantage for Georgia in those last 4 meetings. Tennessee’s nation-high losing streak against AP Top 10 teams is now at 34.
But does that mean the Vols’ winning streak was all fools gold? No, that’s not fair. The Vols found ways to win close games that they would’ve lost in the beginning of last year. They’re probably not in a place where they can lose a guy like Deandre Johnson in the first quarter (targeting) and beat an elite team on the road, either.
What Jeremy Pruitt is building is still something that Tennessee fans should be excited about. Don’t take for granted what it means to beat the teams you’re supposed to beat.
At the same time, how sustainable is that message if Tennessee’s 2020 rivalry games still feel like lopsided affairs by day’s end?
I don’t have an answer for that. That depends on how these games play out. Getting totally dominated by rivals in the second half certainly wouldn’t bode well for the Pruitt vision in Year 3. It would say to the masses: “Nope, we’re still on that level yet.”
That’s what the last 30 minutes of Saturday felt like. Tennessee isn’t a complete team. Georgia might not be a complete team just yet, but clearly, it’s much closer to making that claim than the Vols.
Some will tell themselves that the Vols are so close based on a halftime score against Georgia, or a momentum swinging goal-line play with Guarantano going rogue against Alabama. Some will just say it’s about getting a quarterback. Sure, maybe that’s it. But Tennessee still can’t stay on the field with Georgia for 60 minutes.
As the clock winded down on another Tennessee loss to Georgia on Saturday, Vols fans experienced something that they hadn’t felt in nearly a full calendar year — a loss. That was the Alabama loss. We wondered then if Tennessee would be any closer to being on that level a year later.
If you watched the last 30 minutes on Saturday, that answer was painfully obvious.
Not yet, Tennessee. Not yet.
Brutal….
I’m glad Jalen Carter wanted to get out of Florida. That kid is a beast.
But I read somewhere that they were going to run it down Georgia’s throat. Something something O-Line. Back into your hole vol fans
Note, I waited until we won the game to talk a bunch of smack. There is a lesson in there somewhere.
Yeah well, Georgia sucks
At least you showed up to comment. Props to you sir.
Patience guys – Pruitt is making progress. Last year they lost to GA State. This year they get beat by a 4th string, 5’10 walk on. Pruitt needs a raise.
LOL!!!
well if “Georgia sucks”, then UT swallows!!
Smack talk should come before the game. Sportsmanship and respect afterwards. Cowardly to only talk trash after a win
Oh I said they would win. Certain trolls who have yet to show up told me over and over why I was wrong. They have yet to show. They were in here talking at halftime of the Arkansas game though. Now…Nothing. That is cowardly my friend.
Several have shown and complimented UGA, said they were wrong, etc. Trolls like gwhite won’t because they’re trolls.
Thats fair…the trolls know who they are.
OK, so where’s the clown that exclaimed Stetson was a “Game Manager” and didn’t have a chance against the 4 year stud ? You said you would take your medicine.
Tennessee is a good team and Pruitt has them playing tough. In a year or two, if they continue to improve like they have, they’ll absolutely be playing for championships.
They will. Next year, you will see Harrison Bailey from Marietta High School. Unless Guarantano gets hurt, he will be the next QB. He’s a stud and will probably have the best OL in college football blocking for him.
I agree, Boxster. Anyone paying attention can see that UGA, FL, and TN are going to be waging quite a battle for the East in a couple of years.
For sure
yeah, well their “best O-line in the SEC and maybe the country” THIS year, couldn’t do jack squat vs the UGA d-line! absolutely WORKED their butts, and the vol RB’s couldn’t run anywhere!
Momentum is a monster. It bit us in the butt from the start of the game and through the first half. Give TN their due kudos for capitalizing. They had momentum and confidence along with winning in the trenches.
Then, halftime happened and Coach Smart threw a bunch of @&$# words and chewed the players out in the locker room…
Their front 7 played very well against a suspect UGA o-line. I’m mildly interested in their game against Florida, but I feel like JG is one of a couple of QBs in the SEC that Grantham could successfully gameplan for.
Agree, but JG has some weapons and they will run the ball on that UF middle school defense. That narrative for UT v UF may change.
Give Tennessee credit for playing the Dawg’s tough. The game didn’t start out good for GA, and you can’t give an under dog a gift like that. UT will only get better and they will upset someone this year.
Give credit to the best defense in the land. This UGA defense is a beast. The offense did enough but is still a work in progress.
I love Zamir White, but I think it’s time to give Milton and others some more reps. It looks like White is still slowed by his knee injuries. Maybe with more time he will be able to get his burst back.
GOOODAWGS!
Zeus played slow today and I was surprised the coaches didn’t pick up on that. Slow to the hole. No burst. Milton looked really good. May be the next RB star to emerge. Put some glue on his hands.
“The team that didn’t have a turnover in its first 10 quarters of football in 2020 was seemingly a turnover waiting to happen in the second half against Georgia.”
Georgia’s defense may have had something to do with that, Connor.
What… ever.
Keep blowing UGA all you want;,Guarantano blew this game all by himself. So tired of watching someone who has had 15 second chances try to prove himself.
Georgia has an elite defense, no doubt. That said, EVERY DAMM TIME this guy faces even an above average defense he looks like a deer in the headlights.
THAT’S what happened.
What can you say, it’s utk !!!
Look, the only offense last year that beat Georgia’s Defense was LSU. (The South Carolina game was an everything went wrong game and the Offense didn’t show up…The Defense played well enough to win.)
That is what it will take to beat this team. a 2019 LSU level offense or the team laying an egg. The later could happen…it seems to every year, but who has that level offense if they don’t? The Gators? Exposed. Bama? Maybe, but they are getting all they can handle from ole Miss.
Georgia beat Tennessee on every level. they were outmatched. Better and improving…sure, but not at the level that the Vol Trolls had been trumpeting all week. They were in the game for a half because Georgia couldnt get out of their own way. THAT’S what happened
LOL. It’s almost comforting that you’re still as delusional as you were before.
Consistency is key.
ummmm, WHY exactly did he “blow this game by himself”??? you do realize MOST professional QB’s have trouble with unrelenting pressure, and that’s what this poor kid had the entire game, honestly. UGA just stunted more and EXPOSED that vaunted O-line UT has hahahaha I mean, they absolutely DESTROYED the best O-line in the SEC and maybe the country!! lmao
Hanging all this on JG is Vols’ fans way of maintaing the belief that they are just one player away from being back. Blaming JG allows them to continue the delusion they have the best O-line in the country and the best RB duo in the conference.
i think you nailed it with that comment.
Zeus played slow today and I was surprised the coaches didn’t pick up on that. Slow to the hole. No burst. Milton looked really good. May be the next RB star to emerge. Put some glue on his hands.
Well that UGA is the best defense in college ball I’ve seen in a long time. They raked JG nearly every passing attempt. That was crazy. Props to UGA. I will say this was TN’s worst performance this year meaning UGA didn’t really get Tennessee’s A game or even B game for that matter so many penalties and undisciplined football. That is definitely due partly to the defense of UGA but anyways, Tennessee isn’t quite there yet however, I do see the Vols taking down Florida at the end of this year. Maybe next year TN will match UGA.
Congrats UGA. You were definitely the better team today. We hung in for a half, but all credit goes to your defense. It was as advertised. A 4th string, walkon QB who handled himself well. We are making progress, but we are not there yet. Good luck the rest of the season.
I said this on another article and I’ll say again…
Pruitt will have UT pushing Florida out of second best in the East within a few years and UT will be pushing UGA for first not long after that.
Pruitt is building something great along the trenches. All he needs is the right skill positions and more depth. That will take time but as long as UT doesn’t bail on him, it’ll happen.
No he won’t. Have you actually looked at their recruiting class? It’s mostly 3 stars and low-level 4-stars.
He’s not going to do anything but Tennessee to an 8-win plateau year-in and year-out.
Tennessee doesn’t have the in-state recruiting to be able to hang with Georgia, and Pruitt’s big mistake was bringing a predictable poor play caller in Jim Chaney (who is also a terrible recruiter) to run his offense. Also, Will Friend, as Dawg fans also know, ain’t a great o-line coach, either.
Even at the end of the 1st half, despite the score, I felt like Tennessee was just barely surviving the Georgia onslaught. Had a gift of a TD and two shots down the field that went for TDs. Otherwise nada.
That D is nasty. 40 years in the wilderness ends this year for Georgia.
I tip my mask to you, Bulldogs.
Thanks, Friv. Strong showing you guys had. Now, take it to SEC East’s, soon to be, 3rd place team… after y’all finish with them.
Good game, Vols. Your guys played tough, with a lot of spirit. Y’all are a better team than our defense made you look. I bet With confidence that you’ll beat Auburn. And I’d only have you as a slight under to UF. UA? I’m not sure any of us have a real chance there.
Cheer up Tennessee, you play us in a few weeks and we are horrible, not that it matters.
Just curious, how was the Gator offense exposed? They punted once today and had a fumble at the worst possible time. Hardly exposed. The defense, that’s a different story.
This was in response to kirkm1976 above.
I don’t think it was exposed as bad…just not good enough to overcome that defense.
Last year LSU’s offense allowed their defense to figure it out and it was playing very well by the end of the season. The Gators defense doesn’t look like it is getting better week to week.
So I meant the team as a whole. The gators don’t need a great defense with what they can do on offense, but they do need the occasional third down stop.
Where do they get better?
why are you here???? go away, gayturd
Good game Dawgs. Georgia has the best D in the country hands down. They completely shut us down in second half. I wish y’all luck against Bama next week. I will say that I think this is the year of the Dawg. I also believe that the Vols will finish 2nd in the East this year. Despite Saturday’s stumble in Ga, Pruitt has done an awesome job recruiting and coaching these players up. People sometimes forget just how bad of a situation he was hired into. He had 2 weeks to put his first class together, the players that he inherited was underdeveloped, decimated by injuries, and had a broken losing culture. There wasn’t too many coaches even willing to take on the job of turning this program around, but here we are.
43-14 last season. Georgia loses their QB, who should have stayed and almost the entire Oline. UT brings back almost everyone but the receiving corp and poached a starting O lineman from their rival. 44-21, so explain all this progress. Didn’t Butch recruit well?
0 and 7 against UT’s big 3 rivals, and the fans act as if they hired Lombardi. SMH.
Hi Butch
If UGA literally doesn’t give UT a TD on the second snap and kicks a FG instead of chasing points in the 2nd Quarter it’s a 47-14 game. That’s just complete unforced errors. If Pickens doesn’t extend their drive by acting like a 6yo it’s 47-7.
PC is correct. It could have been REAL ugly.
I had it at 51-14, which is what it should have been!
Can’t stand Georgia. Why? Their stupid ass fans.
I suspect going 2-9 in the last 11 games against UGA has more to do with your hurt feelings than the fans.
Mountain Dog come talk to us if you ever get 9 in a row on us..lol You got two losses coming from Bama if you win the east and still an upset lurking from someone we beat or will beat. Mizzou could have beat us in that second half with those turnovers and fumbles.. All from one guy.
another crybaby clown on SDS, with lame comments like, “come talk to us if you ever get 9 in a row on us”! hahahaha seriously? that’s all you have? and then this clown hangs his hat on UT’s BIGGEST rival beating UGA?? true clown! jawja OWNS the vols NOW, so nobody cares about the 9 in a row in the 1990’s hahahaha. all time series is where it should be, in UGA’s favor
we actually have some great fans, and the vol fans I saw and spoke with today had nothing but good things to say about us! too bad YOU suck, you crybaby loser!
Look how obnoxious and over the top all the articles and posts where on UTs SDS. “Best offensive line in the country.” “Jeremy Pruitt best this and best that….” “Tenn has won 8 in a row….blah blah” , said a zillion times with never a mention that none of the 8 were ranked in the top 35.
Pruitt has gotten a complete pass for losing to Ga St, BYU and going 0-7 against the big 3, with no game closer than 3 TDs. I juat wish Georgia had actually played well.
mikebbd, it will certainly be enough to run and throw on Bama. Your D isn’t neat level. We have a better shot at you than we did with UGA. UGA did all the could do on offense with SB. UGA made some mistakes but simply capitalized on JG’s mistakes. But its still a team that can be upset through the air and probably will..MSU, Mizzou,SC and Uk have QB’s good enough to do it.
SORE LOSER !!!
Shonuff VFL: “When we play FLA at the end of the year, it will be for the SEC East Championship. Remember it. Write it down. Take a picture. We will beat GA nest week.” (Yes, he wrote nest instead of next…)
So I remembered, wrote it down, and took a picture. I wonder what he has to say, now?
Tenn took advantage off their opportunities in the first half (kudos to them) and UGA shot itself in the foot (with the bad snap and going for it on 4th and 1 on about their own 35.) All the while we played well below par offensively and where only down 4 at the half. Not a flawless victory but in this crazy season I’ll take 1 point wins in every game.
No,DSGB 11 thats pretty much all you can do on offense. At least against a TN D that isn’t out there for 60 plus snaps. Your still a team that a passer can upset in your secondary. And if you win the east that’ll be two losses against Baman and one of these other teams will upset you. SC, Mizzou, MSU, UF maybe UK.. Without the JG turnovers and without us scoring at all in the second half, you barely win this game, if you in fact would have in that scenario. UGA did alot wrong but it did also the most it could do with SB. We needed a Maurer or Bailey for this type of game. TN and UGA are still looking at 2 or 3 losses on the season.. I’d give us a better shot at Bama than I would UGA, minus JG in all game.. If you can hang with Bama next week and not get blown out, your a top five team sir..
dude, just go away…you are a complete EMBARRASSMENT to real vol fans that know football! seriously, you are TERRIBLE at whatever it is that you think you are doing with these ridiculous comments! take your whooping and go away!!
Apart from our defense, that game would have been another +7 for Georgia and -7 for Tennessee. And don’t forget the times they held Georgia to FGs instead of touchdowns.
Apart from a couple of great strikes from JG down the field, Tennessee might not have scored at all.
I still think the program is pointed in the right direction. But we’re not going to gain any ground so long as this staff insists upon sticking with JG for the next decade. I mean, when a guy coughs it up 4 times leading to score after score, what do you have to lose with a change?
Pruitt went against what he did last season. He never once considered pulling JG one the nerves thing hit. Could Bailey or Maurer been any worse? Nope. We’d at least had a shot at big plays down the field. Pruitt never committed to establishing a passing game in this game. It was needed to open up the run and it would have. We could have put up 30 on UGA I think Pruitt hadn’t done this. “he’s our guy no matter what”, when there’s at least 2 better long ball arms ten feet from him. Bama would have lost by the same score if you cough it up four time and turn it over through the air a time or two.. It lead to many UGA points. And our D was on the field for how long? Great D until you get in the 60 plus snaps range. Is UGA top 5? Their D certainly is. But that offense isn’t. If TN drops one against Bama but wins out, will have two losses. If UGA wins the east, they will have two losses against Bama. UGA is still a team that can be upset to SC,Mizzou, UK or UF, maybe a MSU. UGA adjusted in the second half, TN came into the second half with the wrong game plan and made no adjustments in the second half. This TN o’line deserves a better passer if they want to beat very good teams. Its time to give Baiely, Maurer or Shrout a shot in a year that prios a year anyone can come back (next year).
oh my gosh the more I read your RIDICULOUS comments, the more I realize you know NOTHING about football! “could’ve put up 30 on UGA”????!! dude, just stop
Like a Moth to the fire…GWhite returns to the site of the troll. Literally nothing you so obnoxiously proclaimed all week came true. You said theyd run up and down on Georgia. They had -1 yard rushing. The “Best O Line in the Country looked like smelly garbage”
On what planet it Tennessee going to win out except for Bama? Kentucky, A&M, Arkansas and Florida remain for you guys (I’l give you Vandy). None of those are automatic. I thing the Gators and A&M will be favored to win.
We can say it was more TN than it was UGA in the win. Can’t lose a Deonadre Johnson and win. Can’t lose three fumbles and turn it over through the air. Can’t run on UGA if your not throwing at a higher caliber. UGA will lose to Bama, maybe twice if they win the east. But also, look for another Mizzou, UK or SC upset of this team, maybe UF. You beat UGA’s D with the pass, you beat them. Plenty of coaching issues in this game on TN. Abandoned the pass and never really committed to it, to open up the run. You can run on UGA, you just have to have a much higher level of pass and commitment to do so. TN’s D could only last so long but the goal line stand before half was a compliment to how good this D is. You just can’t be out there for nearly 60 or plus plays before fatigue sets in. With Bailey ready or Maurer this was a D TN could have put up 30 plus on. A great game UGA, be sure to make the check out to JG..lol
you should go away. with all of your bad predictions heading into this game…..you’ve proven how little you actually comprehend with the game. now you’re giving more predictions? again, you should go away.
PTheRicker its what will happen my friend. Nothing wrong with expecting your team to play well.. The only games i’m ever wrong about with TN are against teams that i “hope” JG does not lose for us. The first half proved we could beat you without those mistakes one player, our QB made. You will lose to Bama, maybe twice if you win the east and another upset by another team. Its my prediction but I haven’t been wrong concerning that in years. JG was the deciding factor in this game. Not your D. I predicted half this game right.. and it took a JG collapsed for you to win.. plain and simple.
I will also add that as good as our O’line is,they haven’t had the conditioning due to the rona and absences. But your o’line, nowhere near where it was last year. You couldn’t get one yard for a score at the goal line. SB was only effective after the TN was out there playing overtime snaps. Both TN and UGA will have 2 or 3 losses on the season.. It just it what it is..
Easy to blame JG. -1 yd rushing and on passing downs, the Dawgs pass rush made that “great” OLine look like blocking dummies.
As for next week, Georgia-Bama, unless Golding is fired this week, no need in playing the game. He made Ole Miss look like the Bill Walsh 49ers.
dude, our oline was MUCH better than that vaunted “best in the SEC and maybe the country” oline for UT, so gtfo with your nonsense. you are a troll. the td that should have happened at the end of the half was Zeus’ fault, not the oline…they opened an easy hole for him and he missed it
Same UT pitfalls. Lack of discipline and turnovers. Guarantano can’t get through a game without having a bad spell. Protect the darn ball. That Senior LB Johnson with the obvious and unnecessary targeting call hurt bad. Have to have more discipline than that.
Good ole rocky top woooooo!! Lost sec leader in sacks on first drive turned ball over three times ran for negative yards. Come on dawgs ur proud after that we lost to ga state and BYU last year remember saying that over and over you guys were worried still don’t lie!
huh???? you’re reaching, homie. try harder next time. that “we have the best O-line in the SEC and maybe the country” BS was comical. UGA dline absolutely OWNED those overrated little girls, the ENTIRE game. and losing that one player had zero effect, so quit trying to make excuses. they literally GAVE your boys a td to start the game, and basically GAVE up an easy 7 at the end of the half, and STILL whipped that a$$ by 23. face it, UGA is still 30 points better than UT hahahaha
GG, Dawgs. The UGA D is as advertised.
Like most message boards, 10% are lost on both sides of the fence. This was not a 50-7 game. TN should not have beaten GA. This could have been close but the talent level and probably coaching, aren’t comparable.
Possible: Chaney is actually pretty boring. UT seems to be the only team with zero sexy or creative plays every week.
Probable: JG is still a great practice QB capable of losing to anyone.
The calls leaned in GA’s favor. GA was getting away with more grabs. TN has some questions PI calls on Def early to extend GA drives. Don’t toss a player for the headbutt. I understand the rule, but…
Other than the botched snap, lady luck leaned GA pretty convincingly. The strip fumble in Q3 that fell into the center’s hands, which would have ended a scoring drive. How many of those Stetson passes shoulda been picked off? I was sure it would happen, but not one. It may be tough for GA to win a natty with him. They’ll need Daniel/other to beat Trevor Lawrence.
Losing our best pass rusher on series two was brutal.
Anyone mention the dirty hit on our DL? :(
Once the Vols became one dimensional, this game was over. GA rightfully teed off and JG and Chaney are NOT capable of beating that.
TN has two great RBs – but they don’t get them the ball in space or use them well, IMO. That’s on Chaney who “knows how to make the most of talent”. I think he’s a name only. Need a youngster, but not sure that’s Pruitt’s mantra.
I was impressed with the Vols’ D. That’s promising. It’s a long season.
I cannot wait to see JG go (please go after this year), but the scary version…is he really is the best option on the roster. He’s looked better this year, but he has a very low ceiling for a tough kid.
I will leave with this: GA fans are the new TN fans. I still think the Vols get a big win this year over one of the big 3. NO ONE in the SEC is bulletproof, but GA’s D could be enough.
GL folks – Hope the Vols keep the new streak going versus UK this week. Be safe – God bless.