Shots Across The Bow

Speaking of the Undead

It's football time in Tennessee, and the Vols are ready to take the field.

Maybe.

The weather forecast is for rain on Saturday, and we all know how well Casey performs when it's wet.

The offensive and defensive lines should be much improved, which will help, and Banks provides a breakaway threat at wide receiver, something we lacked last year. Of course, Banks won't make much of a difference if Casey can't get the ball to him, or if Sanders calls his usual conservative game.

This is the last chance for Sanders in my book. I was hard on him last year, but there's no doubt that injuries caused some of his problems. But a good Offensive Co-ordinator needs to be able to react to those injuries, and work around them. Sanders didn't do that. It will be interesting to see how he does this year.

Fulmer has to take a lot of heat for last year as well. He allowed a couple of hot shots to destroy the team. That cannot happen again. The team is saying the right things coming oput of practice, but I'll have to see how it translates on the field before I become a believer again. Apparently I'm not alone, since, for the first time that I can remember, the season opener still had not sold out 3 days before kickoff.

The biggest obstacle facing the Vols this year is their schedule. Even a squad which improved greatly over last year's effort could still wind up with 4 or 5 losses.

Saturday's game against fresno State will be a real test for the team. Do well, and the season promises to be an exciting one, win or lose. Falter, win ugly or lose, and it will be a long frustrating season.

Again.

Vols on top 24-14

Posted by Rich at August 28, 2003 12:49 PM | TrackBack