Saw this posted elsewhere. I sort of paraphrased and I can't vouch for the accuracy, but seems to jive with my recollection of the game. Short passes: 15/20 110 yds No sacks or turnovers (2 drops) Intermediate to Deep Passing Game: 5/21 for 31 net yards (includes penalty and sack loss of yardage) 7 sacks 3 Turnovers 13 of these were on 1st or 2nd down of those 13 plays: 2 completions, 3 incompletions (1 drop), 5 sacks, 2 holding penalties, INT Seems to paint a pretty clear picture of what we can and can't do, especially against decent DL and secondary.
We're due for it to start working. Obviously we can't just dink and dunk exclusively, but it's fairly obvious we shouldn't be having Worley throw very deep 50% of the time. Short passes, fast moving run plays, and the occasional deep pass to let North try and outmuscle someone would work for me.
I would like to see some similar stats for the season. Seems to me that short and medium in the middle of the field is there. We make some good plays like that and then we never return to it at all, except maybe once or at most twice just to remind us of how it works.
You know, it is possible to throw the ball past the line of scrimmage without taking a 9 step drop while the receiver makes a double move. I see other teams run slants and fades and all kinds of things that cause the DBs to go backwards, but some of those plays don't require holding on to the ball for 5 Mississippis. I think every now and then we might try one of those kind.
Ainge made a good point the other day about how Worley often takes far too many steps back when he's in the pistol or shotgun. It was something along the lines of "An NFL line would have trouble creating a large enough pocket to protect the QB when he's doing a seven step drop out of the pistol."
I don't know how accurate this is, but the Vol's problems seem to be known by the outside world. http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/5-sec-coordinators-could-be-fired/
Not too surprising folks are noticing. It only takes watching one game against an SEC opponent to see it.
Worley throws the worst deep ball of any UT QB I've ever seen and that probably includes some of the holders we've had who would service as the 5th string QB in a pinch. His long throws on Saturday were comically bad, nearly all of them off line and too short.
Worley can't throw a Go route to save his life; he looks like he might strain his vagina if he has to throw it longer than 25 yards. However, when he has time to take a three step drop, plant off his back foot, and drive his hips through the ball, he throws damn good crossing and post routes--25 yards and under.
Paints a clear picture. Run the ball, and get it to the WRs and TEs quick. Once ever so often take a shot with the field position and down and distance in favor. UT has to be more balanced to beat good teams but right now this is what you have to deal with.