So, after all is said and done after week 1, do you feel more confident or less

[volsboy]

confident going into the OU game. I honestly feel a little less confident in a Vols victory. I was on the yahoo football message board and OU fans can't wait for the big WR's to go against our DB's. They were actually laughing at how bad Mosely was burned, and how  often. I think that is something that can be fixed this week. Plus how many points will we be able to generate against a legit DL like the Sooners have? They have one of the best RB's in the country in Perine. If they can run easily against us, it could be a long day. That would open up their passing game against what looked like some terrible secondary play by the Vols. What say you guys? I thought we would beat them by 2 td's. OU scored easily on an inferior team yesterday. I will just be happy if we win by one.

[Black Diamond Vol]

If we're going to make snap judgements after one game, then how about the facts that OU only led Akron 17-3 at halftime?  Or that Perine only ended up with 33 yards rushing?  Against Akron.  

We have things to fix.  So do they.  

None of it matters in the grand scheme of things, though.  Because I've been reading UF forums and I've learned that their blowout win over a 2-10 mid-major clearly hails the arrival of a new dynasty.  Nobody is getting within 5 TD of the mighty gatah this year.  The rest of us are just playing for second place.

[crockettman]

You can't get too high or too low over the first game of the year against a weaker opponent..You win,you learn and you move on..There are 11 more games to be played..Work on the obvious and prepare for the next one..I think it's going to be a nail biter and the Vols will pull it out late..Vols win..31-27 but I hope we pound the $hit out of them!!

[Creek Walker]

I was going to point out what BDV said. Oklahoma got on track in the third quarter, but prior to that I wouldn't say they exactly "scored easily," and Akron isn't nearly the team that Bowling Green is (though, to be fair, Akron's defense is probably better than Bowling Green's).

I feel no better or worse about our chances than I did before. I don't think Tennessee will beat Oklahoma, but I think we've got a realistic chance of being them vs. the blind optimism that we've been forced to approach big games with the past few years. I feel a little less confident about our defense but a little more confident about our offense. I thought the O-line and Dobbs were the biggest question marks on offense and both performed well vs. Bowling Green.

[Black Diamond Vol]

I was going to point out what BDV said. Oklahoma got on track in the third quarter, but prior to that I wouldn't say they exactly "scored easily," and Akron isn't nearly the team that Bowling Green is (though, to be fair, Akron's defense is probably better than Bowling Green's).

I feel no better or worse about our chances than I did before. I don't think Tennessee will beat Oklahoma, but I think we've got a realistic chance of being them vs. the blind optimism that we've been forced to approach big games with the past few years. I feel a little less confident about our defense but a little more confident about our offense. I thought the O-line and Dobbs were the biggest question marks on offense and both performed well vs. Bowling Green.

FWIW (and that's probably not much), BG won by 17 AT Akron last year.

[PirateVOL]

I haven't had a chance to look at any of the OU game yesterday.  Hopefully I can  see some clips this week to see how their version of the Air Raid offense works.

[midtnvol]

I feel a bit less confident. I thought our defense would throttle BG with the exception of a few long pass plays. As disappointed as I was in our coverage, I was shocked by their ability to run the ball so well. I've been wrong before. I expect vast improvements for week two.

[PirateVOL]

I feel a bit less confident. I thought our defense would throttle BG with the exception of a few long pass plays. As disappointed as I was in our coverage, I was shocked by their ability to run the ball so well. I've been wrong before. I expect vast improvements for week two.

To a great extent their ability to run was due to two main causes:  DEs crashing in with no LB support (see formation requiring nickel and dime packages) and the play of the Mike linebacker IMO.

BTW, the VOLS have a historical inclination to allow their DEs to get hooked inside dating back the regular occurrences during the Chavis years.

[RIPLEYVOL]

VOLS will win by 2 scores!  Don't know which 2, but it will be by 2.

[VinnieVOL]

I feel a bit less confident. I thought our defense would throttle BG with the exception of a few long pass plays. As disappointed as I was in our coverage, I was shocked by their ability to run the ball so well. I've been wrong before. I expect vast improvements for week two.

Same here. 

[Volznut]

Having watched both teams - Oklahoma needs to run the ball better or they won't win. Their QB isn't as good as BG, but they have good WRs. Their OL doesn't look very physical, and they play inexperienced OTs, which should make our DEs salivate.

UT needs to do nothing except shore up the safety play. The CBs really didn't have horrible coverage, their QB made perfect passes and they had no safety help.

[PirateVOL]

Having watched both teams - Oklahoma needs to run the ball better or they won't win. Their QB isn't as good as BG, but they have good WRs. Their OL doesn't look very physical, and they play inexperienced OTs, which should make our DEs salivate.

UT needs to do nothing except shore up the safety play. The CBs really didn't have horrible coverage, their QB made perfect passes and they had no safety help.

To your later point, I think #6 starting will go a long ways to correcting the issue.  To be fair, Berry was making his first start and I believe future results will be better

[Volznut]

Yeah I am not down on Berry but he did tip off the QB on which way he was going - nothing film study won't cure.

[HerbTarlekVol]

I've said all along that I expect 8-4, with one of those losses to Oklahoma.

I don't feel any differently today. 

[BanditVol]

Having watched both teams - Oklahoma needs to run the ball better or they won't win. Their QB isn't as good as BG, but they have good WRs. Their OL doesn't look very physical, and they play inexperienced OTs, which should make our DEs salivate.

UT needs to do nothing except shore up the safety play. The CBs really didn't have horrible coverage, their QB made perfect passes and they had no safety help.

Until the middle of the 2nd quarter I think the lack of safety play was deliberate.  Our coaches left Mosely on an island and I guess thought he could handle it.  I am thinking we may have underestimated the speed of Dieter a bit, based on not giving him much cushion at the line.