(cross-posted from Anchor of Gold)<\/p>\n
So here we are, sitting at 3-3 coming into the Army game for Homecoming. \u00a0I think we are sitting exactly where most folks expected us to be – winning the first three at home and then dropping two tough road games. \u00a0As for the Georgia game, I think most people would say it was a competitive loss, certainly more so than the two preceding it – and in all three games, a touchdown in the last minute of the first half obscures a pretty good 29 minutes of football in adverse conditions.
\nWorthwhile to consider the wins, too. \u00a0While we always should have beaten Elon – and the performance of their stud receiver made that a lot scarier than it ought to have been – the way in which we won the other two was a clear demonstration that things have changed. \u00a0Against UConn, we took their best shot, rallied, and came back to take charge of the game. \u00a0Against Ole Miss, once we got rolling, we never took our foot off the gas and very nearly delivered a beatdown for the ages; at the very least, we may add Houston Nutt to the collection of “coaches who lost their job because of Vanderbilt.”
\nWhat else? \u00a0We certainly miss Warren Norman, but Zac Stacy and Jerrod Seymour are certainly doing their best to take up the slack. \u00a0Next year, with Norman back and Brian Kimbrow in the fold\u2026the possible speed we could deploy next year would be unprecedented in our history. \u00a0Quarterbacking\u2026it looks like most of Dores Nation has settled on Rodgers, and I don’t doubt he will probably see the bulk of snaps Saturday. \u00a0Regardless of how you feel about Larry Smith, his nagging injury problems alone will probably make him the second option going forward. \u00a0I suspect that the arrival of Austyn Carta-Samuels (from my wife’s arch-rival high school, no less) will complicate matters, as will the presence of redshirt freshman\/recruiting coordinator Josh Grady.
\nDefense\u2026what can you say? \u00a0Fifteen interceptions. \u00a0The legacy of Corey Chavous and DJ Moore is safe in the hands of Heyward and Wilson, and Heyward’s change-up power on offense has bailed us out of more than one sticky situation this year. \u00a0Chris Marve is exactly what we expected, Tim Fugger is a bad mo–oh I can’t even. \u00a0Anyway, Tim is a BAD BAD MAN behind the line of scrimmage. \u00a0Guys are stepping up and doing work.<\/p>\n
The thing that really stands out to me, though – no sacks against Alabama. \u00a0I would have bet my house, my automobile, my sister, the complete contents of my liquor cabinet and my iPhone that we would never hold Alabama’s defense without a sack. \u00a0Hell, only one against Georgia. \u00a0Is it possible that Herb Hand is paying dividends at last? \u00a0The offense certainly seemed to have the measure of Georgia, barring that first disastrous triple-coverage end-zone pick.
\nSo what’s next?
\nI think, again, most folks were and are predicting 3-3. \u00a0Army at home: winner. \u00a0Kentucky at home: winner. \u00a0Wake Forest, on the road or at home or in the parking lot of the Green Hills Kroger: winner.
\nThat leaves the road games.\u00a0Of what’s left, I dread Arkansas the most. \u00a0Florida and Tennessee both have quarterback injury issues, and while we won’t be favored in either matchup, they suddenly look eminently steal-able, especially in a Neyland Stadium where fans may well have tuned out and checked out by mid-November. \u00a0At last check, Tennessee is getting even more points from Alabama in Tuscaloosa than we did.
\nSo, is 6-6 a successful first year? \u00a0I don’t know how anyone could think otherwise, especially coupled with the recruiting coups and the changed attitude and energy around the program. \u00a0There are things left to handle, of course. \u00a0Getting a packed student section from open gates to final gun is something that desperately needs to happen. \u00a0An indoor practice facility is something else we really shouldn’t be doing without in the new era. \u00a0The big-time recruits have to be kept in the fold all the way to National Signing Day.
\nBut for right now, the dream is alive and the future is bright. \u00a0Anchor down? \u00a0ANCHOR DOWN.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
(cross-posted from Anchor of Gold) So here we are, sitting at 3-3 coming into the Army game for Homecoming. \u00a0I think we are sitting exactly where most folks expected us to be – winning the first three at home and then dropping two tough road games. \u00a0As for the Georgia game, I think most people … <\/p>\n