ESPN says UT is 1 of 5 who Improved Playoff Chance

#1
VolFootballIsLife

VolFootballIsLife

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#1
According to the mother ship, we are among the Top 5 Teams who improved playoff chances with 2016 recruiting class. I agree.

Five teams that improved their 2016 playoff chances on signing day - On The Trail- ESPN


Five teams that improved their 2016 playoff chances on signing day

Tennessee
Ohio State
Michigan
Florida State
Clemson

Tom Luginbill
ESPN Staff Writer

The competition to climb ESPN’s class rankings on signing day was thrilling, but how will it translate to a run to the 2016 College Football Playoff? For a handful of teams, the 2016 additions could translate in a major way:

Tennessee Volunteers

While we have always felt the hype heading into the 2015 season was premature for the Tennessee Volunteers, it may be warranted in 2016. This class adds a big piece of that puzzle in the form of a corner they flipped on signing day in ATH Tyler Byrd -- this was a huge need for the Vols. Both Byrd and Marquill Osborne should see the field quickly. Tennessee also got more help in the trenches via both the junior college level and the high school ranks, with the likes of DE Jonathan Kongbo and OT Ryan Johnson. It’s these areas where championships are built. Across the board, Tennessee added to a young but already experienced roster, and with a softer schedule and more mature players to finish close games we expect this group to be the front-runner to win the SEC East and make it to Atlanta -- at a minimum.

Go VOLS!!
 
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#7
#7
I do like the sentence "Across the board, Tennessee added to a young but already experienced roster, and with a softer schedule and more mature players to finish close games we expect this group to be the front-runner to win the SEC East and make it to Atlanta -- at a minimum."

At a minimum.......
 
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#10
#10
3 of the 5 have already been in the playoff. Michigan and TN are the darlings right now. i think Michigan has a much easier road than we do (in general).
but i don't think there's any doubt that we have an opportunity in front of us in 16.
 
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#11
#11
It's time to get back to the business of winning championships. This year going to Atlanta needs to be the floor. Anything else is a disappointment. I don't even care about the record as long as we play for the SEC at the end of the year. Once we start winning the East consistently the rest will take care of itself.
 

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#12
#12
depends on how you define "consistently".

we're 5-20 against Florida in the last 25, and they're our 1st conf game every year.

so we can't continue that trend and expect to win the East consistently. can we make it an "every other year or two" thing against Florida and then take your chances agaisnst the rest of the schedule? yeah, i think that should be a realistic scenario.

if we're averaging going to ATL 1 every 3-4 years, likely having to split that up between FL, GA, and some combination of MO, USC every now and then, i think i'd be ok with that.

we just can't be chasing it after the 1st conf game every year like we've been apt to do.
 
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#14
#14
jakez4ut said:
depends on how you define "consistently".

we're 5-20 against Florida in the last 25, and they're our 1st conf game every year.

so we can't continue that trend and expect to win the East consistently. can we make it an "every other year or two" thing against Florida and then take your chances agaisnst the rest of the schedule? yeah, i think that should be a realistic scenario.

if we're averaging going to ATL 1 every 3-4 years, likely having to split that up between FL, GA, and some combination of MO, USC every now and then, i think i'd be ok with that.

we just can't be chasing it after the 1st conf game every year like we've been apt to do.
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This is certainly an acceptable scenario. I would like to be going to Atl every 2 or 3 years. That would be where I see it if we start beating UF on the regular.
 
#15
#15
Now is the time to make a move on florida.....

1) they are getting beat consistently recruiting instate by F$U
2) Their offense is going to be young the next TWO years at least
3) Their coaching situation will get shaky as they struggle to win at the level gator fans expect
4) Tennessee has a good florida presence on staff with Gillespie, Scott and Azzani
 
#17
#17
I'm wondering what the definition of "softer" schedule is to ESPN.
 
#18
#18
Grand Vol said:
I'm wondering what the definition of "softer" schedule is to ESPN.
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biggest Road game is @ GA, and who knows how good they'll be, not that they'll suck...but safe to say they have ?'s to answer.

aTm doens't look right now to be a serious contender for anything

Bama and what looks to be on paper, a not so good FL team coming to K'town.

MO, VT and USC all breaking in new coaches, and are not as talented as UT will be this year.

take away the brand names, and the schedule isn't all that daunting.

on paper the only team that we're probably not better than or equal to, top to bottom is Bama.

we're probably equal to GA, and dare i say better than everyone else.

that's not to say we'll go 11-1. but what disadvantages we might have, will be in most cases, negligible.

there's not a game on the schedule we're not capable of winning. period.
 
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#19
#19
jakez4ut said:
3 of the 5 have already been in the playoff. Michigan and TN are the darlings right now. i think Michigan has a much easier road than we do (in general).
but i don't think there's any doubt that we have an opportunity in front of us in 16.
Click to expand...

So now the Michigan/OSU game has me pulling for the same meteor/earthquake/typhoon/plague/nuclear weapon release as the Bama/Florida game.
 
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#21
#21
RollerVol said:
So ESPN loves us now and we love ESPN? Hard to keep up in here...:)

GO VOLS!
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If we start winning, they'll jump on the bandwagon so quick their studio will spin, that's what they do. Maybe it'll take some attention off that pit that sits below middle Tennessee on the map
 
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#22
#22
With all this new talent, and a weak SEC east, the Vols should be able to dominate the division and meet up with alabama in the SEC title game. With an upset, UT's in the final 4!
 
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#25
#25
jakez4ut said:
biggest Road game is @ GA, and who knows how good they'll be, not that they'll suck...but safe to say they have ?'s to answer.

aTm doens't look right now to be a serious contender for anything

Bama and what looks to be on paper, a not so good FL team coming to K'town.

MO, VT and USC all breaking in new coaches, and are not as talented as UT will be this year.

take away the brand names, and the schedule isn't all that daunting.

on paper the only team that we're probably not better than or equal to, top to bottom is Bama.

we're probably equal to GA, and dare i say better than everyone else.

that's not to say we'll go 11-1. but what disadvantages we might have, will be in most cases, negligible.

there's not a game on the schedule we're not capable of winning. period.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more :good!:
 
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