Realistically Optimistic Season

[TNnative]

At least he had the balls to make a prediction. What's yours?

Have you seen his prediction history? He might as well be a eunuch.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I know on paper it doesn't make sense that we will be better, but I actually think we will be better. The swing games are UGA and LSU. We have to win these games, we cannot split and win the division. It's not out of the realm of possibility that when LSU comes to town in November that both teams have only 1 loss. I'm not predicting this, but I think it could happen. And guess what? I'm going to be at a ****ing wedding if it does happen.

 

[IknoxvolsI]

Kamara fit the offense better no doubt. But I do chuckle every time Hurd is mentioned now. I understand the feelings toward a guy that walks off before it's done. And he deserves whatever flak comes with that. But as Doug Matthews said, look at the records, it's not like he didn't give UT anything during his time here.

Dude had second most carries all-time of all Tennessee RB's. He should have alot of yards. Do that with Kelly and he'll have more yards. Even as bad as Houston and Riggs were they would have large yardage!

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

If we can run the ball like the 2015 team, 9 wins will be no problem. And we have the O-line to do it with big Trey and Co. I am also very excited for Dormady (if he wins the job). When he was running the offense, it looked so smooth. Effortless. One game at a time, though. Swat the Yellow Jackets and go from there.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Not a real fan.

 

[Teeman]

I don't often agree with you But in this case I do. We have the talent if our guys can stay healthy we should be pretty good this year.

We have a lot of players with potential, but according to the recruiting data, we don't have the talent GA, Bama, and LSU have. It's not even close. We are comparable to Florida.

 

[Remy]

We have a lot of players with potential, but according to the recruiting data, we don't have the talent GA, Bama, and LSU have. It's not even close. We are comparable to Florida.

UGA is depending on an all freshman OL or guys who could not break the starting lineup behind an OL which the staff wanted to bench but were better than what was behind them. They had a healthy Chubb and Michel last year and lost to GA Tech and the gators. Chubb & Michel are both back, how good you think they'll be this year?

 

[Teeman]

The talent on the roster.

We have 2 starting caliber NFL QBs (Quinten Dormady and Jarrett Guarantano). A starting caliber NFL RB in John Kelly and a highly regarded recruit in Ty Chandler with great potential. 2 starting caliber NFL pass catchers in WR Jauan Jennings and TE Ethan Wolf. Improved talent along the offensive line with 5 star stud Trey Smith plus improved experience with 3 seniors projected to start (Jashon Robertson, Coleman Thomas, and Brett Kendrick).

On defense, we have a defensive line that is filled with highly regarded 5 stars like Kahlil McKenzie, Jonathan Kongbo, Shy Tuttle, and Kyle Phillips as well highly sought after 4 stars like Darrell Taylor and Alexis Johnson. Then we have an experienced senior like Kendal Vickers who has gotten better every year. The pure talent we have on the defensive line is as good or better than everyone in the SEC not named Alabama. At linebacker we have 3 NFL caliber players in Darrin Kirkland Jr., Daniel Bituli, and Austin Smith. And finally on the backend we are loaded with untapped potential from great athletes like Justin Martin, Micah Abernathy, and Nigel Warrior. All 3 can be high level NFL prospects.

We might have question marks when it comes to coaching. But there is no question with regard to talent on this roster. We are a top 5-10 team in the country based on TALENT. Our recruiting rank backs this up.

Most of the guys you listed have either been inconsistent due to injuries or are unproven. I won't even argue with you on your NFL assessments. That's your opinion. As far as recruiting rank though, in 2016 and 2017, according to Rivals we were 15th both years. We had a good year in 2015, with the 5th best class. In 2014 we were 5th and signed 31 players. Over half of whom are no longer with the team, so I'm not sure what our final ranking would be. Our 4-year average is not top 5-10. Bama, GA, and LSU, however, had top 10 rankings all four years.

 

[Evet Vols]

We have a lot of players with potential, but according to the recruiting data, we don't have the talent GA, Bama, and LSU have. It's not even close. We are comparable to Florida.

Ga may have a slight edge but ga is notorious for doing less with their talent.

 

[BruisedOrange]

...And guess what? I'm going to be at a ****ing wedding if it does happen.

Not a real fan.

You've no right to make that accusation.

Might be his wedding. (...but he'd better be wearing an orange tuxedo.)

 

[Teeman]

UGA is depending on an all freshman OL or guys who could not break the starting lineup behind an OL which the staff wanted to bench but were better than what was behind them. They had a healthy Chubb and Michel last year and lost to GA Tech and the gators. Chubb & Michel are both back, how good you think they'll be this year?

I agree with you on the OL, but we have seen what Sam Pittman can do. They also signed a really good OL class. They have issues at WR too. Their toughest games are on the road, but they don't play Bama or LSU. To answer your question, I don't see them making the playoffs, but they will be better than last year and should win the East.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

You've no right to make that accusation.

Might be his wedding. (...but he'd better be wearing an orange tuxedo.)

That'd make it doubly bad. May as well turn in the fan card if you let the significant other start dictating how you spend your Fall Saturdays right out of the gate. I've engaged in some standoffs with family on this issue. Some of them thought I was bluffing. They were wrong. We still love each other but they don't ask me to do anything on gamedays unless it involves watching the game.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

That'd make it doubly bad. May as well turn in the fan card if you let the significant other start dictating how you spend your Fall Saturdays right out of the gate. I've engaged in some standoffs with family on this issue. Some of them thought I was bluffing. They were wrong. We still love each other but they don't ask me to do anything on gamedays unless it involves watching the game.

I deeply disagree with many things you say, but on this we see perfectly eye to eye.

My daughters know better than to plan for weddings on any Saturday in the fall. :good!:

 

[csheaton]

Things we should be able to rely on...
1.OL depth. Ability to run block and move the ball on the ground
2. A few veteran WR/TE mixed with really talented young guys who have already made some plays. Good mix there
3.Linebacker depth
4.Safety depth
5.Punter, (coverage teams have also been a strong point throughout the Jones tenure)

Things I am optimistic about...
1. QB. Dormady looks good so far
2. DT. IF Tuttle and McKenzie are fully healthy. We know we have a solid guy in Vickers, and I am optimistic about Crosby, and Johnson after conditioning with the Rock this summer.
3. LB's, I see 5-7 guys that can play meaningful snaps in the SEC, and If any of the freshman like Ignont, or Reid are ready to play it's just gravy.
4. Darrell Taylor
5. Gaulden and T Kelly being solid at the very least.
6. Coaching upgrades, S Wiggins
7. Nigel Warrior
8. Medley inside 40 yds

Things I worry about...
1. The health of this team in key positions, particularly D line and LB. McKenzie, Tuttle, Sapp. (Also the health of E Berry). Kirkland and Phillips should be good to go.
2. Running back depth
3. Defensive End depth/inexperience
4. Cornerback depth/talent
5. Ability to generate a pass rush
6. OL pass blocking
7. Medley outside 40 yds

Overall, fairly optimistic.

 

[The Artful Dodger]

Most of the guys you listed have either been inconsistent due to injuries or are unproven. I won't even argue with you on your NFL assessments. That's your opinion. As far as recruiting rank though, in 2016 and 2017, according to Rivals we were 15th both years. We had a good year in 2015, with the 5th best class. In 2014 we were 5th and signed 31 players. Over half of whom are no longer with the team, so I'm not sure what our final ranking would be. Our 4-year average is not top 5-10. Bama, GA, and LSU, however, had top 10 rankings all four years.

I thought people stopped using Rivals a while ago. Why not use the 247 composite so you get an average of every service?

 

[The Artful Dodger]

Most of the guys you listed have either been inconsistent due to injuries or are unproven. I won't even argue with you on your NFL assessments. That's your opinion. As far as recruiting rank though, in 2016 and 2017, according to Rivals we were 15th both years. We had a good year in 2015, with the 5th best class. In 2014 we were 5th and signed 31 players. Over half of whom are no longer with the team, so I'm not sure what our final ranking would be. Our 4-year average is not top 5-10. Bama, GA, and LSU, however, had top 10 rankings all four years.

I'm not siding with D4H, but 15+15+5+5=40/4= 10th best. So, technically (if those rankings are correct) they are a top ten recruiting program over the last 4 years.

 

[CardsNVols]

I'm still going with 7-5.

 

[The Dog]

I thought people stopped using Rivals a while ago. Why not use the 247 composite so you get an average of every service?

Because the 247 composite is garbage. It makes no sense, 3 sites had our 2015th class ranked 15th or better, including 247 non-composite rankings which had us at 11th and the 247 composite had us finishing at 17. How does that add up?

 

[Teeman]

I'm not siding with D4H, but 15+15+5+5=40/4= 10th best. So, technically (if those rankings are correct) they are a top ten recruiting program over the last 4 years.

I did the math, but I was taking into account the fact that over half of the 2014 class is no longer with the team.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

That'd make it doubly bad. May as well turn in the fan card if you let the significant other start dictating how you spend your Fall Saturdays right out of the gate. I've engaged in some standoffs with family on this issue. Some of them thought I was bluffing. They were wrong. We still love each other but they don't ask me to do anything on gamedays unless it involves watching the game.

Haha. Not only am I married, I got married on the bye week before we played Bama in 2015. Duke was also a bye week that weekend and UNC had a noon game at Wake Forest that day. To most of my groomsmen that was a big deal too. The best part?it was my wife's idea. She's an awesome lady. She knew I would never get married on a day the Vols were playing. She is a Vol also, we met on campus and the rest is history.

 

[Teeman]

I thought people stopped using Rivals a while ago. Why not use the 247 composite so you get an average of every service?

Yes, thank you. A composite would be better. I just pulled up Rivals because it was the first one that came to mind.

 

[IknoxvolsI]

We have a lot of players with potential, but according to the recruiting data, we don't have the talent GA, Bama, and LSU have. It's not even close. We are comparable to Florida.

I'd like to see us have a back that can break a long one against Bama or anothe prime program. Or, a WR that has the wheels to out run the secondary of said schools.

 

[LA Vol]

So UT will finish between 5-7 and 10-2 and CBJ will either get a big raise and extension or a quick boot?

 

[VFL-82-JP]

So UT will finish between 5-7 and 10-2 and CBJ will either get a big raise and extension or a quick boot?

That's about as tightly as you can shrink-wrap the collective VolNation vision of the future, yep. Heh.

 

[VolRoger]

You were doing fairly well until the last two paragraphs.....wth??

It's called being 56 years old and watching the Vols for 47 of those. Believe me I've went through droughts before with this team but nothing like this. I frankly don't have another rebuild in me to go through as a fan. I can understand very few on here agreeing with me, especially if you are a few years younger. My alma mater had a huge opportunity to dominate the East the last two years and couldn't do it. Yhey had a great chance to win it all in 1990, 1999 and 2001 and couldn't get it done. The fall is too beautiful in East Tennessee for me to spend my free time cursing a football team for ruining yet another weekend in October.