Ranking 15 Teams Capable of Winning 2017/2018 National Championship

#201
#201
MakeTNGrtAgain said:
So if Ga. Tech licks us do we fall to 16th?
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Was talking to LSU buddy of mine and he said they had same worries when they played them a few years ago first game. He said they brought in a specialist and worked on assignment football keys all summer and drilled them. Granted LSU D arguably different level than UT but I wonder/hope we are doing the same.

Cmon Butch this is your year to shine! Time to rise to the top, not rise to the upper middle! Go Vols!
 
#202
#202
08Vol said:
Butch has given a breakdown of the play. It wasn't a Hail Mary which is everyone go deep and just toss it in that direction. This was a play 100% designed to go to JJ. UGA rushed 3 and dropped 8. Dobbs was under no pressure so he was able to look at Malone running to the right of the field. Malone was our top target and a decoy. By Dobbs looking it pulled a deep safety to the right corner of the end zone and the corner that had Malone out of the play so 6 on 3. Josh Smith stood at the goal line facing away from Dobbs to catch a deflection which pulled a defender to shadow him so 5 on 2. UGA had put their tallest player in who had no idea what to do, he literally stood at the back of the end zone, removing himself from the play so 4 on 2. Jason Croom got beside JJ and boxed out 3 defenders, pushing them away and not even making a play for the ball. This left the hungriest receiver on the field in a 1 on 1 jump ball situation. If that play had happened 10 times we easily catch it over 50%. Dobbs said his only concern was that he threw it too deep since JJ was supposed to be at the front of the end zone.
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Bob Kessling needs you in the booth.
 
#203
#203
KBVol said:
"Very strong defense"?? I really hope so, but after what we saw last year, the second worst UT defense I think I've seen in my lifetime, I don't think we can predict that.
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"Very strong defense" was a little hard to type considering, like you mentioned, a not so good effort last year but I'll give it a pass with it being Shoops first year and our upgrades with position coaches this offseason. Losing the best DL in school history doesn't help either, but I'm thinking collectively, this will be a very good unit this year. We've got the playmakers and the system is in place now. This is the most unknown I've been about a season in a very long time.
 
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#204
#204
checkerboards09 said:
"Very strong defense" was a little hard to type considering, like you mentioned, a not so good effort last year but I'll give it a pass with it being Shoops first year and our upgrades with position coaches this offseason. Losing the best DL in school history doesn't help either, but I'm thinking collectively, this will be a very good unit this year. We've got the playmakers and the system is in place now. This is the most unknown I've been about a season in a very long time.
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The biggest monkey with the defense besides injuries were the lack of big plays. I don't think we hit double digits ints as a team.
 
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#205
#205
Burger said:
The biggest monkey with the defense besides injuries were the lack of big plays. I don't think we hit double digits ints as a team.
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Yeah I don't think we did either. Idk if it was due to teams running more or our DE's getting constant pressure with hurries and sacks, but I'm just getting the feeling of a lockdown defense with who we have returning and an established system.
 
#206
#206
checkerboards09 said:
"Very strong defense" was a little hard to type considering, like you mentioned, a not so good effort last year but I'll give it a pass with it being Shoops first year and our upgrades with position coaches this offseason. Losing the best DL in school history doesn't help either, but I'm thinking collectively, this will be a very good unit this year. We've got the playmakers and the system is in place now. This is the most unknown I've been about a season in a very long time.
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Honest question. Who are the playmakers?
 
#208
#208
KBVol said:
Honest question. Who are the playmakers?
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Established playmakers are DK Jr, TK Jr, and Tuttle. Tons of potential and talent includes Kongbo, K Mac, Warrior, and Phillips. That's playmakers and potential stars at every level of the defense.
 
#209
#209
08Vol said:
Butch has given a breakdown of the play. It wasn't a Hail Mary which is everyone go deep and just toss it in that direction. This was a play 100% designed to go to JJ. UGA rushed 3 and dropped 8. Dobbs was under no pressure so he was able to look at Malone running to the right of the field. Malone was our top target and a decoy. By Dobbs looking it pulled a deep safety to the right corner of the end zone and the corner that had Malone out of the play so 6 on 3. Josh Smith stood at the goal line facing away from Dobbs to catch a deflection which pulled a defender to shadow him so 5 on 2. UGA had put their tallest player in who had no idea what to do, he literally stood at the back of the end zone, removing himself from the play so 4 on 2. Jason Croom got beside JJ and boxed out 3 defenders, pushing them away and not even making a play for the ball. This left the hungriest receiver on the field in a 1 on 1 jump ball situation. If that play had happened 10 times we easily catch it over 50%. Dobbs said his only concern was that he threw it too deep since JJ was supposed to be at the front of the end zone.
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If you don't think that was a Hail Mary, you need to quit watching football.
 
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#210
#210
checkerboards09 said:
Tuttle, Warrior, Gaulden, Philips, TK Jr., McDowell, Kirkland, McKenzie, Vickers and that's just off the top of my head. Those are all good-very good players right there.
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Our turnover stats for last year:

11 Interceptions
10 Fumble Recoveries
9 Force Fumbles

Those numbers are absolutely horrible. Our individual INT leaders were Todd Kelly Jr. and Micah Abernathy with two. I would say over half of our big plays are gone with Barnett and Vereen if not almost all of it.

Right now Micah Abernathy is our biggest playmaker with 2 picks, 3 fumble recoveries, and 3 tfl. We have a severe shortage of playmakers on defense. I would possibly say TKjr and Abernathy are the only ones we have.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/tennessee/2016.html

I'll add this to make you guys laugh. Derek Barnett had the most sacks, TFL, 2nd in pass deflections, third in picks, and first in forced fumbles.
 
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#211
#211
08Vol said:
Butch has given a breakdown of the play. It wasn't a Hail Mary which is everyone go deep and just toss it in that direction. This was a play 100% designed to go to JJ. UGA rushed 3 and dropped 8. Dobbs was under no pressure so he was able to look at Malone running to the right of the field. Malone was our top target and a decoy. By Dobbs looking it pulled a deep safety to the right corner of the end zone and the corner that had Malone out of the play so 6 on 3. Josh Smith stood at the goal line facing away from Dobbs to catch a deflection which pulled a defender to shadow him so 5 on 2. UGA had put their tallest player in who had no idea what to do, he literally stood at the back of the end zone, removing himself from the play so 4 on 2. Jason Croom got beside JJ and boxed out 3 defenders, pushing them away and not even making a play for the ball. This left the hungriest receiver on the field in a 1 on 1 jump ball situation. If that play had happened 10 times we easily catch it over 50%. Dobbs said his only concern was that he threw it too deep since JJ was supposed to be at the front of the end zone.
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Wow! You must be an attorney

You can also get to the store across the street by going in the opposite direction around the globe.

Yes. It was a Hail Mary.
 
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#212
#212
08Vol said:
Butch has given a breakdown of the play. It wasn't a Hail Mary which is everyone go deep and just toss it in that direction. This was a play 100% designed to go to JJ. UGA rushed 3 and dropped 8. Dobbs was under no pressure so he was able to look at Malone running to the right of the field. Malone was our top target and a decoy. By Dobbs looking it pulled a deep safety to the right corner of the end zone and the corner that had Malone out of the play so 6 on 3. Josh Smith stood at the goal line facing away from Dobbs to catch a deflection which pulled a defender to shadow him so 5 on 2. UGA had put their tallest player in who had no idea what to do, he literally stood at the back of the end zone, removing himself from the play so 4 on 2. Jason Croom got beside JJ and boxed out 3 defenders, pushing them away and not even making a play for the ball. This left the hungriest receiver on the field in a 1 on 1 jump ball situation. If that play had happened 10 times we easily catch it over 50%. Dobbs said his only concern was that he threw it too deep since JJ was supposed to be at the front of the end zone.
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Thank you, that was a nice breakdown, plus a vicarious thrill to savor once again.
 
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#213
#213
checkerboards09 said:
Tuttle, Warrior, Gaulden, Philips, TK Jr., McDowell, Kirkland, McKenzie, Vickers and that's just off the top of my head. Those are all good-very good players right there.
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Warrior has the best potential to be an outstanding playmaker imo.....Followed by DKJr imo. The others are good players to varying degrees, but I don't know if I'd say they are "playmakers". Maybe Gaulden to a decent extent....TKJr has at times shown a good nose for the ball/good instincts but he's not overly athletic. KMac definitely not to this point.

The guys you listed are certainly gonna play and be counted along (with Abernathy and Kongbo and Taylor), but I don't think they're all the kind of SEC playmakers that constitute a "very strong defense".....at least they haven't shown themselves to be thus far. Jmho.
 
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#214
#214
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
(1) We'll go 11-1 in the regular season winning the SEC East.

(2) We'll win the SEC championship game against Alabama avenging an earlier loss.

(3) We'll beat Ohio State for the national championship.
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You should start your own sports book service.
 
#215
#215
08Vol said:
If that play had happened 10 times we easily catch it over 50%.
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There aren't many threads where D4H is outdone with exaggerations. You win this one.

Including screens, quick slants, etc, QB completion percentages approximate 50% (usually about 10% higher). Surrounded by defenders, JJ snagged that ball from about a 2 foot window after the longest pass Dobbs probably ever attempted in a game. That was a catch for the ages and doesn't happen more than a couple times out of a hundred.

Had we not crapped the bed at the end of the season, it would be the miracle that broke our SECE title drought.
 
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#216
#216
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
(1) We'll go 11-1 in the regular season winning the SEC East.

(2) We'll win the SEC championship game against Alabama avenging an earlier loss.

(3) We'll beat Ohio State for the national championship.
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Now, THAT'S an off-season perspective. :good!:

During the long in-between, renew and replenish one's spirit. Leave reality for the start of the season.
 
#217
#217
kiddiedoc said:
There aren't many threads where D4H is outdone with exaggerations. You win this one.
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Respectfully, I disagree. You mischaracterize the quoted post and poster. As for D4H, we should all appreciate his example of off-season detachment from reality and flights of fancy and indulge some ourselves before the start of the season. It does renew the spirit and refresh one for the season to come.

*Disclaimer: That D4H does not appear to abandon his revery during the season is immaterial to this discourse.
 
#219
#219
08Vol said:
Butch has given a breakdown of the play. It wasn't a Hail Mary which is everyone go deep and just toss it in that direction. This was a play 100% designed to go to JJ. UGA rushed 3 and dropped 8. Dobbs was under no pressure so he was able to look at Malone running to the right of the field. Malone was our top target and a decoy. By Dobbs looking it pulled a deep safety to the right corner of the end zone and the corner that had Malone out of the play so 6 on 3. Josh Smith stood at the goal line facing away from Dobbs to catch a deflection which pulled a defender to shadow him so 5 on 2. UGA had put their tallest player in who had no idea what to do, he literally stood at the back of the end zone, removing himself from the play so 4 on 2. Jason Croom got beside JJ and boxed out 3 defenders, pushing them away and not even making a play for the ball. This left the hungriest receiver on the field in a 1 on 1 jump ball situation. If that play had happened 10 times we easily catch it over 50%. Dobbs said his only concern was that he threw it too deep since JJ was supposed to be at the front of the end zone.
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50%, huh.

Why not run it all the time?
 
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#221
#221
08Vol said:
Butch has given a breakdown of the play. It wasn't a Hail Mary which is everyone go deep and just toss it in that direction. This was a play 100% designed to go to JJ. UGA rushed 3 and dropped 8. Dobbs was under no pressure so he was able to look at Malone running to the right of the field. Malone was our top target and a decoy. By Dobbs looking it pulled a deep safety to the right corner of the end zone and the corner that had Malone out of the play so 6 on 3. Josh Smith stood at the goal line facing away from Dobbs to catch a deflection which pulled a defender to shadow him so 5 on 2. UGA had put their tallest player in who had no idea what to do, he literally stood at the back of the end zone, removing himself from the play so 4 on 2. Jason Croom got beside JJ and boxed out 3 defenders, pushing them away and not even making a play for the ball. This left the hungriest receiver on the field in a 1 on 1 jump ball situation. If that play had happened 10 times we easily catch it over 50%. Dobbs said his only concern was that he threw it too deep since JJ was supposed to be at the front of the end zone.
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"Easily catch it (a Hail Mary pass) over 50% (of the time)"?? Wut?? Nah, not a chance.
 
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#222
#222
Actually, 100% of the time. Because that exact play, under those exact circumstances, is only ever going to happen once in this universe. And JJ catches the ball every. single. time.

Just like Billy Ratliff is going to force Clint Stoerner's fumble 100% of the time.

Let's just celebrate the awesome plays that help bring our lads to victory and cause us fans to jump up and down with happiness.
 
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#223
#223
99gator said:
50%, huh.

Why not run it all the time?
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I didn't mean it like "it will work 50% of the time so we should run it 10 times a season." More like when Princeton upset UCLA in the tourney and their coach said "if we played UCLA 100 times they might win 99. But we won tonight."
That TD was a result of a play drawn up by the coaches during the off season, practiced by the players, and executed to perfection by everyone on the field. There wasn't as much luck involved as many on here want to believe.

Fans will say "Well if it works then UT should use it more"
First off, Penn State threw a lot of jump balls last year and it made their offense look amazing at times. So some teams do. Most coaches value no turnovers more than a big play. Ball security is the most important thing for a QB. If a QB has 2 targets, one for 30 yards w/ a 25% chance of an int or one for 7 yards and 5% chance of an int then the coach wants him to take the 7 yard throw. This logic is thrown out during the 2 minute drill which is why we see teams that haven't been able to move the ball start hitting big plays. Also why there are more turnovers then.
 
#225
#225
The Artful Dodger said:
Tennessee didn't lose 8 games, with Dooley as coach, much less talent on the roster, and with playing Bama at #1 and LSU at #2. It's not gonna happen. Just stop man.
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That does not mean anything. I think with our schedule and roster 7 or 8 wins is a reasonable expectation. Having said that, Butch has a proven track record of losing several games he should have won and it remains to be seen if that will change. Then if you factor in key injuries or off the field issues we could easily be looking at a 4 or 5 win season.
 
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