Mizzou Vs. Vandy

[moguy1973]

Wow, 25th ranking for not playing anyone worth anything...that's surprising..

Off topic though, what was up with the color of the Vols uniforms this week?

[ozark trout fisher]

Wow, 25th ranking for not playing anyone worth anything...that's surprising..

Whatever. Mizzou just beat an SEC team by 23 on the road that won nine games last year. And Indiana, the other worthless team we beat, beat up on Penn State. That said, I won't defend this team anymore, because it should be obvious to anyone that pays attention to college football that they are good, borderline elite. At a certain point, wins speak for themselves. IF people can not get excited about a 5-0 team that has obliterated every team they've played, then they are simply never gonna be pleased. Or, more likely, they just really don't like Mizzou and choose to nitpick at every accomplishment.

[moguy1973]

They just haven't impressed me against some of the teams they've played, especially in the first half of a couple of the games. Then they've pulled away by wearing the smaller teams down with their size and depth. The Vandy game was the first one that they really took control of the game early.

But I guess that's what good teams are made to do, wear down the other team and pull away in the end.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Personally I think it takes 3 or 4 good teams to get a handle on a teams potential. Even a loss to good team can often be overcome, but you need to beat several quality teams to get attention in the polls.

[Justin Spencer]

Polls mean nothing right now, but having two ranked SEC teams playing each other will help ratings and make everyone more money, right? That's why I think they are ranked, but the offense sure has me excited.

[stlfisher]

They are beating teams they are supossed to beat and look to have a chance against the top teams in the division. I am not sure what more you could ask for at this point. It seems silly to nitpick. 8-4 seems like the worst they could do at this point.

[Justin Spencer]

They are beating teams they are supossed to beat and look to have a chance against the top teams in the division. I am not sure what more you could ask for at this point. It seems silly to nitpick. 8-4 seems like the worst they could do at this point.

Don't Jinx us! The way Franklin plays we are one play away from Mauk, then we hit the reset button.

[ozark trout fisher]

Don't Jinx us! The way Franklin plays we are one play away from Mauk, then we hit the reset button.

At this point we are at least getting into a bowl game even in that nightmare scenario.....unless you're thinking we'll lose to Kentucky.

That said: James Franklin is a contender for being the SEC's best quarterback (yes, if you look at the numbers he's right there with Johnny Manziel, Aaron Murray, Zach Mettenberger, and well ahead of the rest.) But the guy thinks he is a fullback, even after last year's injuries. No one has taught him how to slide apparently and he barrels through defenders for a few extra yards WAY too often. It shows a hugely admirable will to win, but it almost can't last much longer. He has got to protect himself better, even if it means having to punt after a 3rd and long instead of getting the first down.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Isn't there a guy name McCarron, or something like that in the SEC? In many years of being engrossed in college ball the one dependable thing is the inability to predict. Teams that you think will go undefeated don't, there are always some teams who do better and predictability never exists.

[ozark trout fisher]

Isn't there a guy name McCarron, or something like that in the SEC?

To me, McCarron is a solid QB on a great team. He doesn't usually win his team the game (the A&M game was an exception when looking at his whole career, though a big one), but also never gets in the way with turnovers or other mistakes. That is the old way in the SEC and there's not a thing wrong with it. But obviously it's changing rapidly with guys like Murray, Manziel, Franklin, and Mettenberger who can put their teams on their back and carry them. This is a quarterback league like the Big 12 in year's past, if not better due to sheer volume. Soon, even Alabama will have to get truly dynamic QB play if they are going to stay atop the league in the years to come. A lot of SEC games are going to finish with scores like 45-38 from now on, I think.

For now in McCarron they have the one of the best "game managers" in the history of college football but he is being rapidly eclipsed (IMO) by several SEC quarterbacks who bring a more diverse skill set to the table.