Volunteer Roundtable Part II

Here is part two of our collaborative effort with Tennessee blog Corn from a Jar.

1) It's hard to keep up with what every team is doing during the regular season, but by now we've had time to look up some stats and get at least a general feeling about the opponent. Based on that, what do you know about Tennessee that might cause you to worry? Are there any specific players on offense, defense, or special teams that might cause match-up problems for your team?

After taking a closer look at Tennessee, I think Robert Meachem may be a tough receiver for the Nittany Lion secondary. At 6’3” he has a 3” advantage over Justin King who will be matched up against him. I doubt he will beat King deep, few have this season, but King is not the best tackler in the world and tackling a larger receiver like Meachem could be a problem.

Another worry I have is the defensive philosophy. Penn State had a difficult time manufacturing pressure with their down 4 and often had to rely on the blitz. DT Ed Johnson’s suspension means there will be even less pressure from the D line. Penn State’s only bad defensive performance came against Notre Dame when they chose to sit back in zone and let Brady Quinn pick them apart, I fear they may try and do the same against the Vols. Ainge could have a field day.

2) Moving from the boys on the field to the men on the sidelines, these two teams have the longest-tenured coaches in their respective conferences. As a Penn St. fan, what is your impression of Phillip Fulmer?

I think Fulmer is a pretty respectable coach on the field, he seems to always have his team ready to play and they are well prepared (last season being the exception). Tennessee has always been one of the powerhouses in recruiting and I think Fulmer has a lot to do with that. Off the field, well, let’s just say the EDSBS had done a good job of painting Fulmer in a less then flattering light.

3) Each team has played one of the BCS Championship Game participants, and we've each played some bottom-feeders, too. Based on what you know about the opponent, how does Tennessee compare to the teams that you faced during the regular season?

I would liken Tennessee to Notre Dame with a more athletic defense. The Vols offense is every bit as good as Quinn and the boys but ND’s defense just isn’t very good. Both ND and Tennessee have strong, efficient quarterbacks, big tough receivers and a pedestrian running game. Also, I was shocked to see that Tennessee is 118th in the nation in kickoff returns, I expected more from an athletic team.

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below and head on over to Corn from a Jar to get the Tennessee perspective.