State's Blueprint to Beating Tennessee? Steal NIU's strategy.

Seriously. NIU played really smart the first half. Shortened the game. Less plays mean more variability. More variability means the "better talent" can lose more often. Lot easier to beat the better guy across 100 plays than across 200 plays.

With that. Let's look at how this game started and how Tennessee - Arkansas started last year.

First drive:
NIU - 10 plays, 63 yards, 5:19 clock, 3 points
Ark - 16 plays, 74 yards, 9:12 clock, 3 points

Both teams took the opening kickoff and said they were going to bleed as much clock as possible - shortening the game. Pushing it towards 120 play/game average.

Playing a "quick strike" team like Tennessee - keeping away from their offense is key. Keeping them from getting in rhythm. Heupel runs a lot of the same concepts as Lebby as they're from the same coaching tree. So defense will need to not get burnt. We've seen quite a bit of that happening lately but for things to work out like we need we need a similar thing to happen - where Tennessee gets only 3 plays in the first quarter. Arkansas last year did it - we can do it.

We showed this past weekend that we can flip the switch to grind it out ball control offense.
13 plays 75 yards 5:53 - TD
15 plays 54 yards 7:47 - FG

Also a couple of 40ish yard 8 plays drives ending in TDs.

The ideal scenario is to be midway through the second quarter up 14-0 or even 10-0 and having run 30 plays to Tenneseee's 3. That's absolutely something possible in a vacuum. This gets Tennessee on their heels and pressing. Then it's more likely to cause more ****ups and Punts. I don't think the quick strike strategy against Tennessee and then hoping they 3 & Out 3 straight times in the first quarter will be successful. Different mindset down double digits in the second and having a rowdy crowd screaming at you.

If we can get this type of start, then it feels winnable. And this type of start is completely possible against Tennessee. Their defense is not that good.

I truly think with the crowd - if we get to the 4th quarter and are within a score - this team might get willed to victory. Especially if we're both under 30. If it's a 40 and over game, then I fear Tennessee will boat race us.

Arkansas won 19-14 against this high flying attack last year. Totally possible for us to do so as well.

Limiting possessions is a good idea if you are outgunned. We need to receive the kickoff to try to establish the flow of the game.

Looking at the stats we should be able to pass against them.

Limiting possessions is good but we have to have long sustained drives…that end in points. 6-9 minutes off the clock with 0 points won’t help because TN will score…a lot

If TN decides they want to just throw the ball instead of running it. That may keep us in the game longer. If they decide to be balanced I doubt we stand a chance of keeping it close. Shapen is a one read Qb. Once they take it away we're screwed. I expect Shapen to be sacked 7 or 8 times because his 1st read is gone and he refuses to throw the ball away.

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Originally Posted by bulldawg28

If TN decides they want to just throw the ball instead of running it. That may keep us in the game longer. If they decide to be balanced I doubt we stand a chance of keeping it close. Shapen is a one read Qb. Once they take it away we're screwed. I expect Shapen to be sacked 7 or 8 times because his 1st read is gone and he refuses to throw the ball away.

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Welcome to the Kiffin offense everyone drools over.

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Originally Posted by Todd4State

Limiting possessions is a good idea if you are outgunned. We need to receive the kickoff to try to establish the flow of the game.

Looking at the stats we should be able to pass against them.

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McCoy being out helps. But we're outgunned on defense strength / depth. Limiting time helps mitigate that. Escaping the first quarter playing 3 plays on defense would be huge for the second half.

Tennessee gave up 17, 24, and 26 points to teams that almost certainly have worse offenses than us. I'm not worried about scoring, we'll just have to stop them more than they stop us.

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Originally Posted by bulldawg28

If TN decides they want to just throw the ball instead of running it. That may keep us in the game longer. If they decide to be balanced I doubt we stand a chance of keeping it close. Shapen is a one read Qb. Once they take it away we're screwed. I expect Shapen to be sacked 7 or 8 times because his 1st read is gone and he refuses to throw the ball away.

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A very accurate take.

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Originally Posted by Quaoarsking

Tennessee gave up 17, 24, and 26 points to teams that almost certainly have worse offenses than us. I'm not worried about scoring, we'll just have to stop them more than they stop us.

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They have had injuries in their Secondary that is killing them. They beat Georgia if they have their starting CB's. I dont know how healthy they will be Saturday- but their front on D is pretty good

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Originally Posted by Tater

Welcome to the Kiffin offense everyone drools over.

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Yep.

I think our defense seeing this offense in practice all the time might help us out some too.

Especially on stuff like tempo and things like that.

I think our DBs are better than we thought they would be. However our DL still is a work in progress. How many injuries have we sustained on the line so far this year?