what really matters in 2012

[99gator]

just curious to see everyone's thoughts on the following items listed. most everyone is excited about the thought of tyler bray slingin the ball around to rogers, hunter and patterson. however, the 2012 season will go as far as the improvement in other areas of the team goes. so, i was trying to get the general thoughts from the board as to whether you anticipate these things improving, why, and how much. i thought this board could use some actual football banter. so, here we go, in no particular order.

1. the running game.

2. pass rush

3. special teams

4. safety play

5. creating turnovers

i can mention a few other things, but these were the glaring problems (outside of injuries), imo, in 2011 that need to improve if tennessee is going to make the leap forward that vol fans are hoping for.

[BallerVol]

Imo, besides injury of course, there is one thing that will decide our win total. THE RUNNING GAME. I don't care how we do it, whether it is through screens, draws, or straight up power I. Regardless, if the Vols can establish an run game that is decent(not even great, just decent/consistent)then i think the team can win 9 or 10 games. If not, our win total shrinks to 7 or 8. Now, this is just my opinion, and although 10 wins is optimistic, but it is possible with a consistant run game. To me, that was a difference in games last year, and will be a deciding factor in many this year.

[BallerVol]

Sick!!

[BallerVol]

well i guess #1 lol

[voldawgforever]

This board has actual football banter. You should go to gatornation and support them. They're gonna need ya.

Kick rocks

Pop the clutch

Git from here

[IBlvNTmWrk]

We should be able to improve in areas 1, 2, and 4 without even trying... That's how bad we were last year. The question is how much we will improve.

[JD05]

Originally Posted by 99gator

just curious to see everyone's thoughts on the following items listed. most everyone is excited about the thought of tyler bray slingin the ball around to rogers, hunter and patterson. however, the 2012 season will go as far as the improvement in other areas of the team goes. so, i was trying to get the general thoughts from the board as to whether you anticipate these things improving, why, and how much. i thought this board could use some actual football banter. so, here we go, in no particular order.

1. the running game.

2. pass rush

3. special teams

4. safety play

5. creating turnovers

i can mention a few other things, but these were the glaring problems (outside of injuries), imo, in 2011 that need to improve if tennessee is going to make the leap forward that vol fans are hoping for.

1. The Running Game: This offensive line is unproven and so are our RB's but with the addition of Pittman and Graham I think it will be improved but again their all unproven. It's hard to say they will be a success until they actually are a success but I do see them being better in 12 than 11. How could you get much worse in the running game I guess is my point.

2. Pass Rush: I think this will be our biggest improvement which will in turn get our defense off of the field and our offense more opportunities to have the ball.

3. Special Teams: I think Palardy has gotten a kick blocked already this spring. I'd pull his friggin scholorship and start the freak over. No improvement forthcoming IMO.

4. Safety Play: will be a lot better due to DL creating a mess in the backfield and opposing QB's making stupid mistakes due to the aforementioned DL.

5. Creating Turnovers: Turnovers are created by the DL getting into the backfield. They don't have to get a sack but pressure creates TO's baby.

Good thread. This is the kind of topics I like. Straight football talk. Not coach talk.

[Cyclopskiller]

Whip tha $&#+ out yalls azz

[99gator]

Originally Posted by Catbone

I see where your coming from, but its always nice to have an outside opinion

my original post was also intended to solicit opinion as opposed to providing opinion.

i did make an opinion on 5 things i thought needed to improve (which i believe most would generally agree upon). but, after doing so, offered no opinion of my own.

[gnm53108]

#1. The running game will see vast improvement. Why? Jay Graham. Going from not having a rb coach to having a VERY good one.

My # 2 is the other side of that. Can we stop people from running it down our throats? (no homo jokes please). I honestly dont know if we'll see improvement here or not. Crucial for sucess tho.

[volfan0320]

The running game will probably be our most improved part of our football team.....y ?,because I don't think it could get any worse than last year. I think neal will have a good year and put up some good stats. Lane will be 2 years removed from injury. We have bourque that may be able to contribute. I also think the backs will be catching more balls and making an impact in the passing game with bray finally throwing some check downs

Next,.the kicking game must improve if this team is gonna win ball games. Palardy says its the first time he's not been nagged by injury, we'll see

We have to force more turnovers. Last year we didn't have many picks it all .wasn't our leading int guy a mlb? I believe so. I think our d will be much more aggressive.

Our d I think will help us more in 2012. i know its our first year in a new system and there will be growing pains, but last year the bend not break crap just didn't cut it for us with making big plays.

The biggest reason I see in 2012 being a great year......... We have experience and depth all over the field and play makers at skill positions.

Last thing ill say is were gonna have to get a couple receivers to step up early in the season until Hunter gets back in the swing of things. It may be Patterson,maybe its Clear or.Rivera,or pig comes in and makes plays early. I also think Croom can have in impact early on and Dallas could have a break out year. I think he can be a solid slot.guy.. really I'm just excited about how good we can be and this good be our return to competing for the sec east.... GBO

[omghulkhands]

Just play better in the second half, that is all we really needed to do last year.

[Georgia Peach]

Originally Posted by omghulkhands

Just play better in the second half, that is all we really needed to do last year.

Yes!

[99gator]

Originally Posted by UTodd01

There's nothing worse than an idiot correcting an obvious typo on a ****ing message board.

Even worse? Coming to the defense of a guy who has been trolling this forum for weeks.

GTFO!

all i did is basically ask for your opinion.

if you don't think those five areas were a problem, you can share that opinion. i can't speak for the other six losses on the season, but all 5 of those things contributed to tennessee losing to florida in 2011.

negative yards rushing.

didn't get to brantley.

palardy missed a fg and tennessee had a punt blocked

chris rainey catches a 2 yard pass and goes 80 for a touchdown because no one on the back end of tennessee's defense got him to the ground

tennessee lost the turnover battle to a team that was -12 in turnover ratio on the season.

i admit to throwing a few jabs around here and there. guilty as charged. but, some of you really need to separate potential "smack" from a critical post from someone who isn't a volunteer fan that has an understandable rationale behind it.

[Volview]

Originally Posted by omghulkhands

Just play better in the second half, that is all we really needed to do last year.

I think the added depth will vastly impove the 2nd half play.