rocky top buzz
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So your first thought is going to be to call me an idiot, so let me clarify. I am not saying UT "will" win the east, and I'm not even saying there is a great probability that they will. I am saying they "can" win the east. Lets break down the division by team:
- Florida: Tennessee broke the streak in 2016 and in 2017 1 play made the difference in possibly winning. 1 play where Florida committed multiple fouls that were not called. Let me re-state this; the WORST UT TEAM EVER could have beat florida last year if not for 1 play. Yes I know they have a new coach, but I don't expect Mullen to have the success in year 1 that he had at MSST after several years. And lets remember he was not their first choice so the fan base will turn on him quickly if things don't start great. The type of player that chooses UF (entitled) is not the same personality who chooses MSST (something to prove) and I don't think he has the personality to handle them.
- Georgia: When I look at Kirby Smart I see a coach like Phil Fulmer; a good coach who will succeed on how good a staff he has. Georgia was very lucky this year, they only had 1 starter injured (Eason) and had a very capable backup, and in that offense until the last game he really was a game manager. Their 2 graduating RB's carried the load. Auburn showed the blueprint to beat them, but we all know it's tough to beat the same team twice in a season. Georgia loses 31 seniors plus any juniors who go to the NFL. Yes they have a good class coming in but this could certainly be a rebuilding year for them. Georgia ran over the worst SEC East in history; I don't expect that will continue.
- South Carolina: I think Muschamp has learned a lot from his time at Florida, but the only reason he won over UT last year is because he had Butch's number. 15-9, does that really sound like a juggernaut? Tennessee still has more talent than SCAR, and they barely won last year. Beating SCAR gave Tennessee a resurgence a few years ago and can do so again in 2018.
- Mizzou: I don't really know what to make of Mizzou. If you look at talent they simply don't have the atheletes to hang with UT or Georgia or Florida. But they did last year beating UT and UF and hanging with UGA. Their players fit their mold much like GT has players that fit what they do even if they aren' 5 stars. Mizzou loses Heupel and his high powered offense and with the talent differential, UT should win this game most of the time.
- Kentucky: Once again UT should always out-talent the cats. I don't make much of Mark Stoops, he is a decent coach but I don't think he will out-scheme Pruitt. This is a game the players should be up for and I expect big things.
- Vandy: This may be the biggest shocker of all. Vandy and UT battled for worst in the East last year, and vandy looked head-and-shoulders above the Vols. Yes, there was an interim coach involved but the year prior Tennessee was embarrassed by vandy and you can't blame that on an interim. Injuries and this game being the end of the season have been contributors to the last 2 losses, but simply put, for Tennessee to get where they want to get they have to consistently win this game.
- BONUS - Auburn: Last time Gus got a big contract extension was after the 2013 BCS loss. HE followed that with a 8-5 season. He got a big contract after the bama win and proceeded to overlook your 2017 National Champion UCF Knights in the peach bowl. Auburn is certainly the more talented team right now but how motivated is Gus? He is fat and happy and would be easy to overlook UT.
Simply put, there is a path to success in 2018. The SEC East was bad last year and the West really wasn't all that much better. I'm not posting this to say I think Pruitt will be the 2nd coming of Neyland but I am saying I think this team is a better team than 4-8 and they have a chance to prove it.
- Florida: Tennessee broke the streak in 2016 and in 2017 1 play made the difference in possibly winning. 1 play where Florida committed multiple fouls that were not called. Let me re-state this; the WORST UT TEAM EVER could have beat florida last year if not for 1 play. Yes I know they have a new coach, but I don't expect Mullen to have the success in year 1 that he had at MSST after several years. And lets remember he was not their first choice so the fan base will turn on him quickly if things don't start great. The type of player that chooses UF (entitled) is not the same personality who chooses MSST (something to prove) and I don't think he has the personality to handle them.
- Georgia: When I look at Kirby Smart I see a coach like Phil Fulmer; a good coach who will succeed on how good a staff he has. Georgia was very lucky this year, they only had 1 starter injured (Eason) and had a very capable backup, and in that offense until the last game he really was a game manager. Their 2 graduating RB's carried the load. Auburn showed the blueprint to beat them, but we all know it's tough to beat the same team twice in a season. Georgia loses 31 seniors plus any juniors who go to the NFL. Yes they have a good class coming in but this could certainly be a rebuilding year for them. Georgia ran over the worst SEC East in history; I don't expect that will continue.
- South Carolina: I think Muschamp has learned a lot from his time at Florida, but the only reason he won over UT last year is because he had Butch's number. 15-9, does that really sound like a juggernaut? Tennessee still has more talent than SCAR, and they barely won last year. Beating SCAR gave Tennessee a resurgence a few years ago and can do so again in 2018.
- Mizzou: I don't really know what to make of Mizzou. If you look at talent they simply don't have the atheletes to hang with UT or Georgia or Florida. But they did last year beating UT and UF and hanging with UGA. Their players fit their mold much like GT has players that fit what they do even if they aren' 5 stars. Mizzou loses Heupel and his high powered offense and with the talent differential, UT should win this game most of the time.
- Kentucky: Once again UT should always out-talent the cats. I don't make much of Mark Stoops, he is a decent coach but I don't think he will out-scheme Pruitt. This is a game the players should be up for and I expect big things.
- Vandy: This may be the biggest shocker of all. Vandy and UT battled for worst in the East last year, and vandy looked head-and-shoulders above the Vols. Yes, there was an interim coach involved but the year prior Tennessee was embarrassed by vandy and you can't blame that on an interim. Injuries and this game being the end of the season have been contributors to the last 2 losses, but simply put, for Tennessee to get where they want to get they have to consistently win this game.
- BONUS - Auburn: Last time Gus got a big contract extension was after the 2013 BCS loss. HE followed that with a 8-5 season. He got a big contract after the bama win and proceeded to overlook your 2017 National Champion UCF Knights in the peach bowl. Auburn is certainly the more talented team right now but how motivated is Gus? He is fat and happy and would be easy to overlook UT.
Simply put, there is a path to success in 2018. The SEC East was bad last year and the West really wasn't all that much better. I'm not posting this to say I think Pruitt will be the 2nd coming of Neyland but I am saying I think this team is a better team than 4-8 and they have a chance to prove it.
