Benchwarmer
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Many of us are pretty optimistic about the upcoming season. Many on here have us beating Florida and Georgia. And I also think that is quite possible, but definitely not a given. I would like to explore the reasons for the optimism. What is it about team 121 that makes you confident? Is it just the hopeful optimism that most fans of most teams have going into the season? An optimism that I also feel. Or does the optimism have real legs to stand on? (Yes, I know there was a thread about this earlier).
Those with unbridled optimism may think I'm a pessimist, but I like to think of myself as a realist. But flame away if you feel the need to vent. I want to hear from you if you have some honest reasons that can stand up under scrutiny, as opposed to just hopeful optimism.
Playing devil's advocate for the moment, consider the following.
We have an offensive coordinator who has never called plays during a game before. There is some uncertainty anytime someone has not done something before. And will he be a better strategist than Mike Debord? The jury is out on that, IMO. We scored more offensive touchdowns than anyone in the SEC last year. That is a pretty high bar for Scott to follow with a new quarterback.
Our probable starting quarterback had some nice throws last year when he had a chance to play, but did the other aspects of his game excite you? How much better will he be this year with the total package of being a QB? How much has he benefited from Coach Canales?
There is some uncertainty there, IMO. There will be times when he will not look like a seasoned veteran, and we should be prepared for that. How will he perform under pressure?
Why do you think our defense will be one of the better ones in the SEC, if you think that? Are there real reasons that our defense should be, say, in the top five in the SEC? I think there could be a significant fall-off between the starters and the 2nd string on defense.
Does our 2nd string give us a chance to compete, since games are often won or lost because of the backups?
Have you looked at other team's defenses and compared them with ours?
This late into fall practice, it seems they are still looking for someone to step up at cornerback. Justin Martin has had a good camp, from what I hear. But we need four people who can play.
With the questions about the offensive line coming out of practice, is there more reason for confidence than just saying that they should be better this year?
Until they start playing, we really don't know how good our wide receivers will be apart from Jennings. And we need six good ones, not one good one. Do we have them?
I think we have a lot of uncertainty about the running back position behind our starter. I don't think any of us really know if we have a solid #2 and #3 back until we start playing.
Who are the dominant players on our team that create mismatches with other teams' players? Is there anyone right now--not will there be by December--but right now, who you would consider a top five player at his position in the SEC? I can think of two. Evan Berry and Trevor Daniel.
Is there any position group for the Vols that you would consider to be top five in the SEC? Most preseason magazines don't seem to think so. But they could be wrong.
I realize that every team other than Alabama has question marks. And it is often how the question marks play out that determines how good a team will be. I think Auburn could be a very good team if the question marks play out in their favor this year.
I'll be honest. I think Georgia on paper may have fewer question marks than we do. I also don't think Florida will be as bad as some of you think they will be. Can we beat them? Sure, we can. But my confidence level that we will is not as high as some posters.
I can see a lot of potential for team 121 to be good, even SEC East championship good. But a lot has to come together for them to realize that potential. My greatest concern is how good the backup RB's will be. Perhaps they will be good in time, but we need them to be good by Florida.
I honestly don't see us as having any glaring weaknesses, if all the position groups play like I expect them to. I think we are a pretty balanced team in the sense that we may not have any great position groups, but they may all be good enough. I have a hopeful optimism, but there is still a lot of question marks that won't be answered, except on the field.
Go Vols! Realize your potential.
Those with unbridled optimism may think I'm a pessimist, but I like to think of myself as a realist. But flame away if you feel the need to vent. I want to hear from you if you have some honest reasons that can stand up under scrutiny, as opposed to just hopeful optimism.
Playing devil's advocate for the moment, consider the following.
We have an offensive coordinator who has never called plays during a game before. There is some uncertainty anytime someone has not done something before. And will he be a better strategist than Mike Debord? The jury is out on that, IMO. We scored more offensive touchdowns than anyone in the SEC last year. That is a pretty high bar for Scott to follow with a new quarterback.
Our probable starting quarterback had some nice throws last year when he had a chance to play, but did the other aspects of his game excite you? How much better will he be this year with the total package of being a QB? How much has he benefited from Coach Canales?
There is some uncertainty there, IMO. There will be times when he will not look like a seasoned veteran, and we should be prepared for that. How will he perform under pressure?
Why do you think our defense will be one of the better ones in the SEC, if you think that? Are there real reasons that our defense should be, say, in the top five in the SEC? I think there could be a significant fall-off between the starters and the 2nd string on defense.
Does our 2nd string give us a chance to compete, since games are often won or lost because of the backups?
Have you looked at other team's defenses and compared them with ours?
This late into fall practice, it seems they are still looking for someone to step up at cornerback. Justin Martin has had a good camp, from what I hear. But we need four people who can play.
With the questions about the offensive line coming out of practice, is there more reason for confidence than just saying that they should be better this year?
Until they start playing, we really don't know how good our wide receivers will be apart from Jennings. And we need six good ones, not one good one. Do we have them?
I think we have a lot of uncertainty about the running back position behind our starter. I don't think any of us really know if we have a solid #2 and #3 back until we start playing.
Who are the dominant players on our team that create mismatches with other teams' players? Is there anyone right now--not will there be by December--but right now, who you would consider a top five player at his position in the SEC? I can think of two. Evan Berry and Trevor Daniel.
Is there any position group for the Vols that you would consider to be top five in the SEC? Most preseason magazines don't seem to think so. But they could be wrong.
I realize that every team other than Alabama has question marks. And it is often how the question marks play out that determines how good a team will be. I think Auburn could be a very good team if the question marks play out in their favor this year.
I'll be honest. I think Georgia on paper may have fewer question marks than we do. I also don't think Florida will be as bad as some of you think they will be. Can we beat them? Sure, we can. But my confidence level that we will is not as high as some posters.
I can see a lot of potential for team 121 to be good, even SEC East championship good. But a lot has to come together for them to realize that potential. My greatest concern is how good the backup RB's will be. Perhaps they will be good in time, but we need them to be good by Florida.
I honestly don't see us as having any glaring weaknesses, if all the position groups play like I expect them to. I think we are a pretty balanced team in the sense that we may not have any great position groups, but they may all be good enough. I have a hopeful optimism, but there is still a lot of question marks that won't be answered, except on the field.
Go Vols! Realize your potential.
