Dobbs 4 Heisman
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This has been one of the most hotly debated questions over the last couple of months around here. Many have claimed that the 2015 Vols are simply too young to compete at the highest level. Is a team with so many freshmen and sophmores in its two-deep depth chart capable of winning a national title? Lets see by looking at the last 2 national champs (Ohio State and Florida State).
Here is a two-deep depth chart of the 2014 national champion Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio States two-deep depth chart vs. Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Freshmen: 13
Sophmores: 9
Juniors: 12
Seniors: 10
Total: 44
50% Freshman/Sophomores
50% Juniors/Seniors
Here is a two-deep depth chart of the 2013 national champion Florida State Seminoles: Florida State Releases First Depth Chart of the Season | Seminoles Chant
Freshmen: 8
Sophmores: 12
Juniors: 14
Seniors: 12
Total: 46
43% Freshman/Sophomores
57% Juniors/Seniors
And now the way too early projected depth chart for your 2015 Tennessee Vols: Predicting Tennessee's Starters at Every Position for the 2015 Season | Bleacher Report (I made two changes to this projected depth chart that I thought were more likely: (1) Josh Malone in place of Jonathan Johnson; and (2) Shy Tuttle in place of Kendall Vickers)
Freshmen: 8
Sophmores: 17
Juniors: 10
Seniors: 11
Total: 46
54% Freshman/Sophomores
46% Juniors/Seniors
Now I'm not saying Tennessee will win the national title next year. Nor am I saying THEY SHOULD. All I'm saying is the notion that we need a depth chart dominated by juniors and seniors is simply FALSE. Ohio State and Florida State did not win the last 2 national titles because they were experienced. They won because they simply had better TALENT. And alot of that talent was young and inexperienced. Many freshman and sophomores were key to both teams winning. A two-deep depth chart made up of ~50% Freshmen/Sophomores if more than capable to playing at the highest level.
Here is a two-deep depth chart of the 2014 national champion Ohio State Buckeyes: Ohio States two-deep depth chart vs. Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Freshmen: 13
Sophmores: 9
Juniors: 12
Seniors: 10
Total: 44
50% Freshman/Sophomores
50% Juniors/Seniors
Here is a two-deep depth chart of the 2013 national champion Florida State Seminoles: Florida State Releases First Depth Chart of the Season | Seminoles Chant
Freshmen: 8
Sophmores: 12
Juniors: 14
Seniors: 12
Total: 46
43% Freshman/Sophomores
57% Juniors/Seniors
And now the way too early projected depth chart for your 2015 Tennessee Vols: Predicting Tennessee's Starters at Every Position for the 2015 Season | Bleacher Report (I made two changes to this projected depth chart that I thought were more likely: (1) Josh Malone in place of Jonathan Johnson; and (2) Shy Tuttle in place of Kendall Vickers)
Freshmen: 8
Sophmores: 17
Juniors: 10
Seniors: 11
Total: 46
54% Freshman/Sophomores
46% Juniors/Seniors
Now I'm not saying Tennessee will win the national title next year. Nor am I saying THEY SHOULD. All I'm saying is the notion that we need a depth chart dominated by juniors and seniors is simply FALSE. Ohio State and Florida State did not win the last 2 national titles because they were experienced. They won because they simply had better TALENT. And alot of that talent was young and inexperienced. Many freshman and sophomores were key to both teams winning. A two-deep depth chart made up of ~50% Freshmen/Sophomores if more than capable to playing at the highest level.