Thoughts from Titans vs Lions - Defense

In order to properly look at the defense from this game you have to consider the Titans defense was on the field way too long. Certainly the Titans offense scored a lot of points but the final tally includes two  touchdowns from the defense.We have to get some semblance of a running game in order to give the defense more of a breather especially in these close hard fought games.

Let me begin by saying I really don't understand some of the decisions our coaching staff makes. I fail to understand why we give TONS of repetitions and gameplay to two guys at positions in camp and preseason on the defense and then we don't even play them there and yes I'm talking about Tommie Campbell and Pannell Egboh. To make matters worse we end up releasing Egboh after giving him all those snaps and playing time! Inconceivable.

Our defensive line isn't getting a lot of sacks but I think their play is better than advertised. This is particularly true when you consider we have NO defensive end rotation. I do not have access to snap count but our starting ends Derrick Morgan and Kamerion Wimbley play the majority of the snaps. However, one thing is interesting to me and that is that our defensive ends primarily seem to use a 4 point stance. I am going to keep an eye on this and watch because it does seem to me that Wimbley gets off the snap a tad bit quicker when he is in a 3 point stance. I rarely ever seen Morgan use it. Major shoutout to both our starting defensive ends for carrying a very heavy load and still balling out. Salute!!

 
I really love our defensive tackles and I think Mike Martin gets better every single snap. Still, Karl Klug is absolutely getting screwed and it makes me sick. One interesting thing I noticed is that we started the game with Casey at right DT and Marks at left DT. We did it again a few more times I hope we see it again. It's a nice changeup and seems to be pretty effective.

Will Witherspoon had a better outing at middle linebacker this week than he did at San Diego but we are missing Colin McCarthy. McCarthy is a big part of our run defense and is simply a ball hawk. The Titans defense is just not the same without him. Akeem Ayers is another guy who just gets better every single game. He has a sack, one tackle for a loss and ended the day with 16 tackles (10 solo). We are watching him grow up and possibly seeing a future superstar in the making and boy is it fun to watch. Zach Brown played pretty well for a rookie.

Jordan Babineaux is a better safety than Robert Johnson and it isn't even close. I fail to see how this coaching staff thinks that Johnson should start. Babineaux is also a guy who runs to the ball no matter what and he is one of the hardest players on special teams. Major salute to him for being such a good player and setting such a good example for other guys. Michael Griffin continues to be a bit of an enigma. He played much better in the first half than he did the second and overall has played pretty well this year. Still, you would like to see more from him and hopefully we will.

Alterraun Verner had a really nice game with an interception and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Jason McCourty continues to be a solid guy. I really like Ryan Mouton and have been pulling for him but at this point I just can't see why he is playing nickel. The coaching decisions are really starting to be head scratchers. Put Tommie Campbell in there let him play either the nickel or cornerback and move Verner to nickel when in that package. Another option would be to use Coty Sensabaugh in that fashion. Sensabaugh was really good in limited action against the Lions and clearly deserves more playing time.

I know a lot of people who think the defense didn't play that well but when you consider the time they spent on the field I think you have to consider how different things are from a couple of seasons ago. We are clearly a much better defense now than we have been in a while. Detroit had the ball 40:36 while the Titans had the ball 27:49. I will look at the offensive stats in another post but the running game has to do better. We must be more balanced and if we are the defensive numbers in my opinion will improve.

The Recruiting Fix: Running back U?

There really wasn't enough info to warrant doing a Recruiting Fix last week so we have skipped a week, but there's plenty of info here. Let's get right to it.

Derrick Henry says the Vols made a huge push but he still has Alabama out front for the moment. He came to the Florida game to watch how we used the running backs and noted there was a need for a running back of his caliber. I still think all signs have him committing to Alabama. He announces at 3:30 EST on Friday.

Derrick Green was another high profile running back present for the Florida game. He was hosted by Curt Maggitt and A.J. Johnson who he called “good guys” and said they spoke highly of the program.

He told Rivals "I like the way they use their backs, they have a lot of inside runs but they also throw a lot of screen passes," he said. "They need a running back, that's what the coaches told me. I talked to coach Dooley and Graham about that and they said they need a big, power back to make a difference."

He said also that Tiny Richardson pulled him aside and personally pitched him why he needs to play for the Vols.

"He told me what they were trying to build there, how important I was to their future and how much he wanted to block for me. It was a great speech honestly, I was really honored. To do that for a recruit after a tough loss was amazing. I want to go to a school that needs a big running back to play right away."

That certainly favors the Vols, I think. With a good showing in October when he is set to announce, I think we have a real shot at getting Green.

AJ Turman was also at the game. I really like him to be a part of this class when all is said and done. He didn't have a lot to say about the game except that he enjoyed himself and was impressed by the crowd. He was at FSU for the Clemson game and plans to visit UGA.

I expect he will commit once his round of visits are up but there is information out there that he is already a silent commit to the Vols. Things can change, but this is the information I have as of now.

Tight end Lucas Wilson said he had been looking forward to the game all week.

"Really, the atmosphere was unlike anything I had been to before,” he told Rivals. “I've been to some ACC schools but nothing like it was at Rocky Top," Wilson said. "Just how the atmosphere was, it was something different that I hadn't experienced before."

He says he plans on announcing in the next couple of weeks.

JUCO wide receiver Johnathan Rumph was here for the Akron game.

He says the Vols are sticking out the most to him right now. He really likes the offense and believes he can come in and help next year.

He still has visits to Georgia and Arkansas lined up but hopes to decide in the next month.

Yannick Ngakoue, now here's a guy to keep an eye on. Committed to Maryland but has since opened it back up. We reportedly finished second to Maryland so it's definitely worth watching. He's from the DC area and also reports interest in West Virginia, Maryland, Miami and South Carolina.

He has a great relationship with Coach Sal and likes how he could fit into our scheme.

"My ultimate goal is to be on the field and I'm looking for a situation that I can thrive in. I want to find a situation that can take me to the next level,” he told Rivals.

This guy is a big time playmaker and a guy who would be the best linebacker commit we have if we can land him. He and teammate Derwin Gray, a 4 star offensive tackle also committed to Maryland, plan on being here for the Bama game. They have a couple of 2014 teammates as well including Jalen Tabor, a highly recruited cornerback with offers to Alabama, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee.

Marquez North is the caliber receiver we have to continue to recruit. He had a great time on his Florida visit.

"The visit was good, that was the loudest place I've ever been and I've never seen so many people in one place," said the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder. "The atmosphere was really good and I got to speak to coach Dooley. I like the way they use their big receivers and they tell me that both Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson could leave early so I could step in right away and be that big receiver for them," per Rivals.

Tennessee is going to be in this one to the end which is encouraging. He really wants to play early and has the ability to step in right away and do so. He really likes Jay Graham who is recruiting him and likes our wide receiver-friendly offense. This one will not be over until closer to signing day. A good season with 7-8 wins and a bowl win would make a huge impression.

There's really not much to say about Jalen Ramsey. He enjoyed his visit, but I think it was just for fun even if it was on his own dime. Some say he went to see Florida more than Tennessee. I don't think he backs off his USC commitment and if he does, he likely ends up at Florida and not here. Time to move on.

Cornerback Shaq Wiggins who is committed to Georgia says he will still take visits among them Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

Running back David Williams will official for the Bama game. Starting to look like we are full at running back which would push him toward South Carolina.

Kendell Beckwith is a guy to keep an eye on at jack linebacker. He will take an official to UT and it really depends on what position he wants to play I think, as to where he goes. Some think he's set for LSU at OLB others say he's a better fit at jack in Bama or UT's scheme. We have to land a guy for jack linebacker in this class and Beckwith is one possibility. We have to make an impression on his visit.

Watch 2014 kicker Aaron Medley. Many say he'll be the top rated kicker in the Nation in 2014 and word is he's a UT fan. He is definitely on the Vols radar. He's from Lewisburg, TN.

There were a lot of 2014 guys present for the Florida game. More than I can list. Quarterback Will Grier was there. He's one of the top Qbs for the '14 class. Of course Todd Kelly Jr. was there and we made quite an impression on defensive back Rashaan Gaulden who had Vandy as his leader prior to the game.

It is great that these guys have an early interest in Tennessee. The coaches are laying the groundwork for a special class next year.

Misplaced Anger: Blame the NFL and Management Not the Replacement Refs

In case you haven't noticed, there is a major controversy regarding the lockout of the "regular" NFL officials and the use of replacement referees. Most of my interaction with the reaction toward the job the replacements have been doing comes from social media, primarily twitter. Just a reminder but you can follow me on twitter @MeSharona. If the reaction I have seen is a barometer, the overwhelming consensus is that pretty much everyone hates the replacement referees, and they are wrong.

The NFL and its owners made a business decision to lockout the officials that have been officiating the game for many years, and opted to replace them with replacements who obviously have not officiated in the NFL. The replacements officials have families to feed just like you and me, and that they are ill equipped in some cases to handle the pressure really isn't their fault. No, its the fault of a greedy system that failed to properly manage the situation and to train and equip them to succeed. Moreover, let's face it and call it like it is in that we are all complicit in that we continue to support and watch the game.

While we are at it the use of the term "scab" really grinds my gears too. I am in complete support of unions and the rights of American employees but to place blame on someone who is simply trying to feed their family in my opinion is wrong. You want to be mad be mad at the corporate greed that led to the lockout in the beginning, or on the greed that compelled the NFL and its collective management to throw the replacement referees to the proverbial wolves. Furthermore, some of the replacements actually do a good job.

Having said all that, let's face it the replacement referees that were selected for the Packers vs Seahawks game were completely inept. The litany of blown calls would take a lifetime (hyperbole) but the worst offense was to be found on the last play of the game. A play that decided the outcome. A play the officials completely botched and ultimately got wrong.

If the NFL truly cares about the product it puts on the field, and the so called "integrity" of the game, the replacement referees who were responsible for this debacle will never see an NFL field again in a professional capacity. Furthermore, it will conduct a review of those who do not do a good job and will take measures to ensure the replacement referees who see the field are trained and qualified to perform the job.

The Recruiting Fix: Florida Week

It's Flordia week, people! That's going to be the focus in this Recruiting Fix. I wish there was more info, but if you've been following me on Twitter, you know I've been tweeting out most big news when it comes to me.

Here is what I have as far as a vist list for Florida. It may not be complete and some guys may not make it in, but this is the best I could do.

RB David Williams 4*
RB Derrick Henry 4* official
RB Derrick Green 5* official
OL Dan Skipper Commit
LB Corey Vereen Commit
LB Jermaine Grace 4* official
WR Matt Riley NR
S Vonn Bell 4* unofficial
NT J Dunaway Juco
DE Demarcus Walker 4*

LB Dominic Zanca commit
ATH Jalen Reeves- Maybin 4* commit
S Kameron Miles 4*commit
WR Eldridge Massington 4*
CB Will Earley 3*
CB Jalen Ramsey 5*USC commit unoffical

2014 DB Todd Kelly Jr.

WR Marquez North 4* unofficial

DT Rod Crayton should be there

2014 QB Will Grier

2014 CB Nick Glass UGA commit

2015 DB Rico McGraw

Basketball recruits

G Robert Hubbs 5*

F Jonathan Williams III 4*

C Austin Nichols

Miami defensive tackle commit Keith Bryant plans to visit the Vols after the season for an official visit so that he can spend more time with the coaches. This is one of those Miami commits the coaches are making sure they have inroads with in case of major sanctions to that school.

Oklahoma is the only other school that will get a visit from Bryant.

DeVondre Campbell, the UT linebacker commit, plans official for Akron. His WR teammate Jatavius Stewart may come with him.

Altee Tenpenny who is committed to Alabama may be waivering on that commitment somewhat and the Vol coaches have put themselves in a good position if a decommitment comes. The thought is if Alabama takes another running back commitment, then Tenpenny likely looks around. With Henry all but done to Bama in my and most experts' opinion that is a likely scenario. We'll just have to see how it all plays out. He's a legit prospect though and he would see the field early here.

Derrick Ansley was at Jalen Ramsey's game Friday night. They haven't stopped recruiting Ramsey. Ansley is putting in work here and it's starting to pay off. We get Ramsey on an unofficial visit for Florida. Chance to make a big time impression.

The coaches are confident about Derrick Henry for what that's worth. He'll be here for the Florida game and we have a real good chance to impress. I still say Bama and I'm not sure there will be room for Henry which is a good problem to have. I cannot see us taking 3 running backs although there will likely be 3 who want to come to UT. I wouldn't say it's out of the realm of possibility but it's unlikely.

Brent Hubbs of Volquest says we are in the top 2 for Derrick Green who is taking his official here for the Florida game. We have a chance to make a huge impression here. I believe Michigan is his other favorite team. I think we are closer to home which helps and the depth chart looks better. This is a guy who would be our starting running back this year if he could just skip his senior year. If only! He would be a huge get.

We also look very good for AJ Turman who may even commit on his visit this weekend. I think these running backs are realizing the holes are closing fast and a spot may not be available if they wait too long.

Things are heating up with Marquez North another visitor for the weekend festivities. He will be an unofficial visitor and later in the year take an official visit to see the Vols. The key with North is his dad. He seems to be running the show. I don't think he's coming on this trip. We have to get him here and get him on board. Then we have a real shot and this kid is a gamebreaker. He's the kind of receiver we need in every class to continue the Wide Receiver U tradition.

Carl Lawson who is committed to Auburn called Sal Sunseri the other night according to an insider and may be a surprise visitor for the Florida game. We'll have to see if he shows up. He would be an amazing flip if we are able to pull it off. Best prospect in the nation for the Jack linebacker position in my opinion.

Linebacker Jermaine Grace will be there as well for an official visit. He has Miami #1 right now but UT coaches are hoping to change that this weekend. Would be a huge pull. He's a legitimate big time prospect.

DeMarcus Walker who committed to Alabama recently is said to be coming to the game as well. I don't see stealing him from Bama, but it's nice to get these high profile guys on campus. Show them why Tennessee is a top school.

Sorry for this one being so short. Much of the focus is on the Florida game this weekend. I think we'll have plenty more to talk about next week, recapping all of the visits and getting some quotes from recruits hopefully. Stay tuned to me on Twitter and follow the blog @BIYLF so you don't miss any articles.

SEC Power Rankings: Week two

#1 Alabama (2-0)

Bama did nothing to unseat themselves from the top spot in the rankings with a win over Western Kentucky. It will be interesting to see the Arkansas team that shows up in this next match-up between SEC West opponents.

#2 LSU (2-0)

LSU handled a Washington team which some thought foolishly had a chance at an upset. The tigers show that they have no real weaknesses and they are going to be a team to contend with all year long.

#3 Georgia (2-0, 1-1)

Georgia manhandled Mizzou on Saturday showing that "Old Man Football" is the way to win in this league. They face tougher tests later in the season but the next two weeks are probably wins. Could UT and Georgia both be undefeated headed into their match-up? It's possible.

#4 Tennessee (2-0) +1

Tennessee moves up a spot not based on their stellar play against an over-matched opponent, but by virtue of Arkansas' lousy game against Louisiana-Monroe. This weekend will be the real defining moment to determine if they belong this high in the rankings.

#5 Florida (2-0, 1-0) +1

Florida may move up next week with a win over UT, or down on this list with a loss. I think 5th is a good place to put them until we know more about them which we will after this weekend. They impressed on defense, but gave up sacks against A&M. They are also down a few players this week which hurts.

#6 South Carolina (2-0, 1-0) +2

South Carolina's back up QB Dylan Thompson played well but they played East Carolina. Not necessarily a marquee opponent. I still think this is a little high for them, but they make sense here for now.

#7 Mississippi State (2-0, 1-0) +5

MSU drubbed Auburn, but Auburn looked terrible. Their QB played an awful game and their defense failed to stop MSU's more pro style spread approach this year. I don't know if Auburn is just that bad or MSU is that good, but they make sense for now at #7.

#8 Arkansas (1-1) -4

Arkansas may have been looking past Louisiana-Monroe to the Alabama game, but they lost their signal caller Tyler Wilson in the game. No timetable for his return, but it is clear he makes the offense go and clearly the offense is all they have.  I give them the benefit of the doubt here somewhat because a healthy Tyler Wilson and they are a better team.

#9 Missouri (1-1, 0-1) 0

Missouri played well the first half and really started to hang with Georgia. The upset was looking likey, but their lack of depth showed big in the second half and I believe while they are not one of the worst teams in the league, they will struggle against teams with better depth.

#10 Texas A&M (1-1, 0-1) +1

A&M moves up simply because Vandy is moving down this list. They haven't shown yet that they can hang with even a mediocre SEC team for four quarters. But they aren't the worst team in the league.

#11 Auburn (0-2, 0-1) -4

Auburn looked inept on offense and it is clear they have real problems. They made Mississippi State look like a top 5 team in the SEC and I don't think they are. I didn't expect this fall but there's no question they are not good and their season may end badly.

#12 Ole Miss (2-0) +2

They played well against a UTEP team that gave a top 10 Oklahoma team a game. We will know a lot more about Ole Miss after they face Texas this weekend.

#13 Kentucky (1-1) 0

They beat Kent State and continued to show that Max Smith is a good enough quarterback to get something going this year. That may not be enough with a porous defense to beat even the lowest of the SEC teams they will face this year. They have another winnable game against Western Kentucky this weekend.

#14 Vanderbilt (0-2, 0-1) -4

Northwestern exposed Jordon Rodgers and the Vanderbilt offensive line this past weekend. I really thought Vandy would win that game but reality smacked them in the face. Same Ole Vandy.

Around the SEC links: Florida week edition

• Big injuries around the SEC for week 3.

• One man to blame for Arkansas loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

•  Look for Georgia cornerback Malcom Mitchell to get more work on offense this week.

• James Franklin surprised by offensive slump.

• Arkansas fan sings to injured players. This is bizarre.

• Auburn's problems come down to lack of developed talent.

• Vanderbilt could reopen QB competition.

• Gators' identity: 'We're going to grind it out.'

• Tagging along with Mike Slive (good read)

• Week 2 report: Georgia State.

• Tennessee offense: Dooley will 'pump the brakes' against Florida

• Franklin says his play calling OK.

Keys to the Georgia State game

#1 Pass rush lanes

We have to be more disciplined with our pass rush lanes. This is especially important when facing the dual threat QB and will be another big key to a victory over Florida next week. If we do this, we will limit or eliminate runs by the quarterback and put more pressure on the passer.

#2 Running between the tackles

We simply have to do more of it. Sweeps are fine mixed in with a basic run game, but you cannot make them the bread and butter of your run game. We were pretty effective when we did it against NC State especially with Marlin Lane. I would like to see more of it first, then we can talk about how to improve upon it. Run blocking has to continue to get better and I think it will.

#3 Defensive communication

I think this was a first game deal more than anything and we seemed to communicate much better in the second half. Prentiss Waggner said the first busted play was just a missed hand signal between he and Byron Moore. They worked it out on the sidelines and fixed the problem. It's good that those issues show up early so that you can get them corrected and get them behind you. I expect fewer big plays against Ga State from the first team defense.

#4 Get Cordarrelle more involved

He looked like our best offensive weapon Friday night, and getting him the ball in creative ways will be huge down the stretch. I don't expect to show all our wrinkles vs. Ga State, but getting CP involved however we can is important. He needs to get more precise with his routes for sure. Then he'll be open more frequently.

#5 No drops from Hunter

Hunter has never been one to drop passes and I think the rust from being away from the game showed a little bit against NC State. He needs to settle down and concentrate on the ball more. Being at home against a team we should out-talent easily is just what the doctor ordered. This is a good tune-up for the Florida game for him because you do not want those missed opportunities against a good Florida defense. We will need every one we can get.

#6 Sacks

Sure we got to the quarterback 12 times and that's great, but we need sacks from our linebackers and defensive ends. The ends got good pressure Friday but never really got to the quarterback. It would be good to see this improve this week and I think it can. 

#7 Stay healthy

I doubt we see much of Herman Lathers this game I think the coaches will closely monitor his playing time if he sees the field at all. Curt Maggitt is another who is banged up and will have to be monitored. We need both of those guys as close to 100% as we can get them for next weekend. No real way to go about preventing another injury but if we can get through the game with no real injuries that would be awesome. 

Around the SEC links

• James Franklin says if you're tired we'll pull you off offense not special teams.
• Arkansas Head Coach files for bankruptcy.
• Gator line rushes to protect.
• Vanderbilt trying to find #2 back.
• Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin cops-out on punishment.
• Robert Nkemdiche not solid to Clemson? Says he's 3 and done.
• Gurley tries to stay on straight and narrow at UGA.
• Running back Alvin Kamara names top 2.
• Nick Saban rants.
• Shaw could be gametime decison.
• Gator coaches studying 3 times as much film as normal.
•  Vanderbilt won't pass up long ball.

The Recruiting Fix: Make it Official

Welcome back. Our first post-NC State Fix. Winning that game is huge for recruiting. In the Atlanta area which is a hotbed, on National TV and the only game in town. Everyone watching and UT shows out. It's big. But bigger is doing it for a season. Carrying that success over to SEC play. I think we can do some damage this year. I think South Carolina has become a winnable game. We will win some SEC games and maybe even compete for the East.

A lot of prospects to get to so lets get started.

Carver-Columbus WR Marqui Hawkins said he is a “solid” commit to the Florida Gators but will visit other schools. He said he will definitely take official visits to Tennessee and North Carolina, and maybe Clemson and Auburn.

Jalen Ramsey will official to Tennessee for the Florida game. That game is becoming HUGE with far-reaching implications not only in this class but in next. Flipping Ramsey from USC and Tee Martin will be hard, but it would be a nice surprise.

Also visiting the weekend of the Florida game: David Williams, Jermaine Grace and the guy below.

S Vonn Bell has narrowed it down to Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Clemson and Vanderbilt. He plans on taking all five official visits.

Bell will be here for the Florida game so there's another top recruit we have the opportunity to impress.

I cannot see Bell signing anywhere but UT if we continue to be competitive.

DE Naiim Mustafa who is committed to Georgia will official to UT the weekend of the Bama game. It will be a good atmosphere. Maybe we can show something on the field to peak his interest.

FSU commit Deadrin Senat (defensive tackle) is trying to set up an official visit to Tennessee. He has to approve it through his coach which I think is BS. He stays in contact with Ansley and says Tennessee has a chance.

We may not be out of it entirely for North Carolina wide receiver Marquez North. Recent news says that UNC leads but he talks to Graham more than any other coach besides the UNC guy. His dad is the key in his recruitment. We have to win him over.

Keep an eye on Brian Walker, a cornerback committed to UNC. He is trying to make it here for the Florida game. Top 200 player on Rivals. Teammate of WR Marquez North.

2014 Linebacker Dillon Bates, son of former Vol Bill Bates says he has no timeline for a commitment. He has visited South Carolina, Tennessee, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech. Of those visits, Tennessee and South Carolina stood out.

He said he felt at home at Tennessee, the coaches were very welcoming, and he liked the new facilities. Seems like he's already building a rapport with Sal Sunseri.

Dillon wants to see Tennessee again during the season as well as South Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Clemson.

Wide Receiver Paul Harris announced recently that he will be an early-enrollee. Huge news for a receiving core that will be in need of experience at the position next year.

Defensive tackle Rod Crayton says he may decide on a school in the next couple of weeks. His top 4 are Mississippi State, Arkansas, Tennessee, and LSU. I really think it's a UT/LSU battle.

Right now, Tennessee leads. This kid had 18 tackles in his first game this year. Wow.

Tight End Beau Sandland has 4 of his 5 Official Visits already scheduled. He's already visited Nebraska, and he plans to visit Ole Miss, Florida, and he's visiting Oklahoma this coming weekend.

I think we are way to late to get in on this guy which sucks because he's an amazing prospect and we really need help at the position. We'll see if we cannot get that last official visit and make some magic happen.

Sandland plans on deciding in December.

Linebacker Jermaine Grace has set up an official visit the weekend of the Florida game. He told 247, "I know they’ll be in my top five, so I want to see more about them, how the coaches are during the game and how the players respond."

CB Mackensie Alexander has not seen the Vols yet despite at one point being committed to them, but he plans on taking an official here and we are in his top list of schools. He talks to the Vols' staff regularly especially cornerbacks coach Derrick Ansley.

RB Alvin Kamara says his top 2 are Georgia and Alabama. No school has the edge. He also says that other schools still have a chance.

Kamara plans to official to Oregon.

Juco lineman Edwin Delva, who holds a Tennessee offer, was scheduled to see the Vols play Georgia State this weekend, but his visit was pushed back until later in the year.

He is likely a fall-back option at this point.

2014 athlete Jalen Hurd has been invited to the 2014 US Army All American Bowl.

Georgia freshman Sheldon Dawson will interview with the NCAA Friday, according to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal’s Kyle Veazy.

Dawson’s high school coach said that “Dawson expects the topic of conversation to be about Mississippi State.”

That's not all.

Last week, Mississippi State acknowledged in a press release that it was investigating “a potential recruiting irregularity” with the NCAA.

Apparently there is something going on with Will Redmond and a car. This is all according to the AJC.

Tennessee recruited, depending on who you talk to, both of these guys last year. It will be interesting to watch this and see if anything comes of it. Redmond picking Mississippi State was somewhat a surprise last year, though many say his offer to Tennessee wasn't a committable one.

Sorry but that's all. Follow me on twitter @sabanocchio for the latest and the blog @BIYLF.

SEC Power Rankings: Week One

#1 Alabama

With a resounding defeat of Michigan Saturday night in Dallas, Alabama retains the top spot in our power rankings. They looked sharp especially in the running game and on defense rushing for 232 yards and holding Michigan to just 14 points. Denard Robinson was held in check for most of the night and Alabama freshman T.J. Yeldon ran for 111 yards.

#2 LSU

Zach Mettenberger took a shot in the early portion of the game which caused him to miss some plays in a 41-14 victory over North Texas, but he did return and looked okay. The rushing game was on point Saturday with running backs Kenny Hilliard and Alfred Blue each topping 100 yards, helping the Tigers jump out to an early lead. I saw no reason to move them from the #2 spot in the rankings based on what they did this weekend.

#3 Georgia

Georgia clearly missed their 4 suspended defensive players on Saturday, leading only 24-16 over the Buffalo Bulls at halftime but looked better after the half. Freshman RB Todd Gurley looked to be a fine replacement for dismissed Isaiah Crowell rushing for 100 yards and returning a kick 100 yards for a score. We will know much more about Georgia after next weekend and a game against SEC newcomer Missouri.

#4 Arkansas

Arkansas' defense looked to be their biggest flaw allowing a 14-7 lead early against Jacksonville State and 21 first half points. The offense showed why Tyler Wilson is a Heisman contender, however. He went 19 of 27 passing for 327 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-24 win. The defense is going to have to be much better in SEC play.

#5 Tennessee

The Vols deserve a top 5 ranking after week one and a 35-21 victory over a North Carolina State team many had picked to challenge for the ACC title. The game was not as close as the score. Tennessee had another TD stolen from them when replay officials decided not to overturn a fumble at the goal line which clearly was across the goal line. Cordarrelle Patterson scored twice, once on a deep pass from Tyler Bray over David Amerson, the much heralded corner for NC State and on an end around play which went 67 yards.

#6 Florida

Though Florida looked piss-poor on offense and at times defensively against Bowling Green. Muschamp swapped QBs for most of the first half before settling on Jeff Driskel who played the entire second half. The downhill running game looked good as Senior running back Mike Gilleslie carried the ball 24 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns. That was really the brightest spot on a team that may be headed for a downward slide on this list. Texas A&M will give Florida a better test.

#7 Auburn

Auburn lost their opener in a hotly contested game against Clemson in the Georgia Dome, but they did show improvement over last season. I think they'll fare much better in SEC play.

#8 South Carolina

South Carolina looked one-dimensional on offense vs. Vandy. Their defense also was not able to get critical stops to shut the Commodores down. They may be better and Vandy is just that good. Remains to be seen.

#9 Missouri 

 Mizzu could climb on this list after next week with a good showing against Georgia at home. They looked good in the opener winning 62-10 over SE Louisiana.

#10 Vanderbilt

Vandy looked explosive at times on offense though they will likely struggle to rush the passer this year. They nearly upset South Carolina who had no business being ranked in the top 10.

#11 Texas A&M 

A&M had their game vs. Louisiana Tech cancelled due to hurricane Isaac. They open at home against Florida this weekend.

#12 Mississippi State

MSU will open the SEC against Auburn this weekend. They have not won a conference opener since 1999.

#13 Kentucky

Good news if you're a Kentucky fan is that the offense looked improved over last year. They will not beat anyone playing as poorly on defense as they did vs. Louisville.

#14 Ole Miss

Although they won their opener, it was a cupcake and really tells us little about what kind of season Ole Miss is going to have. I think they will struggle to win an SEC game.

Thoughts from Tennessee vs NC State – Defense

I raved about the offense in my blog post here ->http://breatheifyoulovefootball.blogspot.com/2012/09/thoughts-from-tennessee-vs-nc-state.html. The Vols defense was better than I expected but it does exhibit a Dr. Jeckle/Mr. Hyde feel to it. We did rotate a lot on defense. The secondary struggled at times as the safeties appeared to have communication issues with other defensive backs and the linebackers. Still, there was a lot to like about the defense. 

The Vols switched from a 4/3 base defense to a 3/4 base defense this year. Once players get used to the new system I think we will have a high caliber defense. After week 1 we are tied at the top with 4 interceptions. The defensive line played much better than expected and our linebackers played really well.

Initially, the secondary struggled a bit with the safeties not always coming in to assist when needed. This appeared to be communications issues that can be addressed and corrected.

On the defensive line it appeared to me that Mo Couch had the best night. Darrington Sentimore was active as was Marlon Walls. It was hard sometimes to get good camera angles but I didn't think Daniel McCullers was very active. 

Of the linebackers, Curt Maggitt is an absolute beast. He was literally everywhere and had a stellar game. Really, all the LB's who saw action did well. AJ Johnson did extremely well. Unfortunately, Herman Lathers who was also having an excellent game went out with a right shoulder injury. He was replaced by Dontavious Sapp who immediately got to the quarterback and then had a tackle for a loss.

Eric Gordon is a superstar in the making. he is a bit undersized at 5' 9" but he plays much bigger and finished with 4 tackles and 1 interception. Prentice Wagner had a nice game as did Brian Randolph. Byron Moore is a mixed bag. He struggled at times but did end the night with 8 tackles and an interception. Brent Brewer had the hit of the night and hopefully could see some time at linebacker as well.

Individual group stats are listed below:

DL – Darrington Sentimore stats not available yet, Maurice Couch 5 solo tackles and 1 tackle for a loss of 3 yards, and Marlon Walls 1 tackle and 1 assist. 

LB's - Herman Lathers 5 total tackles 3 solo and 2 assists, Dontavious Sapp 1 tackle and 1 tackle for a loss of 4 yards, AJ Johnson 3 tackles and 1 assist, Curt Maggitt 4 tackles, 1 assist, 1 forced fumble and 1 sack for an 18 yard loss, Jacques Smith 3 tackles and1 assist. Willie Bohannon did fine in relief and Channing Fugate played extremely well on special teams.

DB’s – Eric Gordon 4 tackles and 1 Interception, Prentice Wagner 4 tackles and 1 assist, Brian Randolph 7 solo tackles and 1 assist with 1 tackle for a loss of 2 yards, Byron Moore 8 tackles and 1 interception, and Brent Brewer with 4 tackles.