If Butch loses to Ga Tech out of the gate

[Iam4utalways]

We've played a bunch of nobodys in our openers under Butch and won with a fumble recovery last year and the Bowling Green score was not indicative of how the game actually went. They torched our DBs and threw for over 400 yds. Team looked unprepared and the VN posts during that game reflect that. Everyone thought so. I guess we should give Butch credit for handling Austin Peay and Utah State. Yippie

App St was a poor indicator for the season.

Many lost confidence that we would beat Fl and Ga that night which we did.

After the loss to SC and Vandy many said "I told you so.".

Same was said after the Ohio game as well.

All these opinions about how games and seasons will play out, it's silly to say, "I told you so.", as if anyone really knows.

Nobody predicted how the Florida game would play out, don't even try to claim you knew 14 points would be scored in the last 20 seconds of the Ga game.

I like our chances:

8 should be wins(gimmie).

3 toss ups.

1 underdog game.

Get it done Vols.

This could be the best off season ever.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

We've played a bunch of nobodys in our openers under Butch and won with a fumble recovery last year and the Bowling Green score was not indicative of how the game actually went. They torched our DBs and threw for over 400 yds. Team looked unprepared and the VN posts during that game reflect that. Everyone thought so. I guess we should give Butch credit for handling Austin Peay and Utah State. Yippie

Fade, you're right, particularly about the BGSU game ... but don't jump on Flatiron for talking about those four games in particular. Flatiron didn't pick them out, the guy who mischaracterized them did. Flatiron was just setting the record straight.

 

[njvols]

So, as long as we're playing the "what if" game again...what if UT lost all it's out of conference games: GT, Ind. St, U Mass, S. Miss, and lost one SEC game, going 7-5, but SEC E champs. Guess I'd take it but would bring my burning mattress all the way to ATL.

 

[buckfama]

"Negas" recognized he cruited good too.....but so far we only got MCB and Taxslayer championships!? Their is more to it than cruitin.

Look, championship type coaches don't worry bout what others.think. They planning on turning their ballers loose. CBJ was to worried about what the papers and media said about him. He wants us to be proud that we even make.bowls. That's fine if your Cincy or measuring against Dooley. At UT....we are neither.

I really hope im wrong and he proves.me wrong. "Prove" is the key word

I wouldn't put you under the "nega umbrella" simply because I don't see you lashing out at everyone who has anything positive to say.

You feel about the same way I do. I HOPE he gets his act together and figures out the GameDay thing because if he doesn't then we are back on the hunt for a new coach in a couple of years. The program has had enough instability, to the point it was crippling the program and no one even wanted the job.

Do I honestly think he will figure it out on his own? No. But I do think he has finally surrounded himself with some quality, experienced assistant coaches and he can let them do their job and not micro manage.. ala Dabo.

If we do go on the hunt then who replaces him? This is a strange time in college football. For all the parity among teams now there are still only 4, maybe 5 coaches that will consistently compete for league titles and the CFP every year. None of those coaches are gonna leave where they are. What other big name is out there? Chip Kelley? That's about it.

So until CBJ gets his act together or gets fired and the board or the Haslam's pony up the money for a super coach we are stuck where we are. That's why I wish him the best and refuse to complain incessantly about his shortcomings.

 

[majorvol]

Seems like ol'Urban lost a season opener one time ..
Then what happened?

 

[Iam4utalways]

So, as long as we're playing the "what if" game again...what if UT lost all it's out of conference games: GT, Ind. St, U Mass, S. Miss, and lost one SEC game, going 7-5, but SEC E champs. Guess I'd take it but would bring my burning mattress all the way to ATL.

Three of the OOC games I would be fine with starting all backups and see what they can do.

 

[Iam4utalways]

I wouldn't put you under the "nega umbrella" simply because I don't see you lashing out at everyone who has anything positive to say.

You feel about the same way I do. I HOPE he gets his act together and figures out the GameDay thing because if he doesn't then we are back on the hunt for a new coach in a couple of years. The program has had enough instability, to the point it was crippling the program and no one even wanted the job.

Do I honestly think he will figure it out on his own? No. But I do think he has finally surrounded himself with some quality, experienced assistant coaches and he can let them do their job and not micro manage.. ala Dabo.

If we do go on the hunt then who replaces him? This is a strange time in college football. For all the parity among teams now there are still only 4, maybe 5 coaches that will consistently compete for league titles and the CFP every year. None of those coaches are gonna leave where they are. What other big name is out there? Chip Kelley? That's about it.

So until CBJ gets his act together or gets fired and the board or the Haslam's pony up the money for a super coach we are stuck where we are. That's why I wish him the best and refuse to complain incessantly about his shortcomings.

If anybody thinks we will come out "guns a blazing" will most likely be disappointed. CBJ is conservative and wants to force a team to beat us rather than our own mistakes causing us to lose.

 

[BeardedVol]

App St was a poor indicator for the season.

It was actually a pretty good indicator for the season. We came out every game looking unprepared, struggling with every opponent regardless their talent level, and outside of the TN Tech game, we didn't have 4 quarters of quality football in any single game. What we saw in the App State game repeated itself throughout the season.

The 2016 season was some ugly football.

 

[RollerVol]

Volnation will go into full meltdown mode just like after every loss. We'll have to dedicate several threads designated for "safe spaces".

no one will get any sleep...all the mattresses will be burned...

PS. no worries...we got this...:yes:

GO VOLS!

 

[njvols]

I wouldn't put you under the "nega umbrella" simply because I don't see you lashing out at everyone who has anything positive to say.

You feel about the same way I do. I HOPE he gets his act together and figures out the GameDay thing because if he doesn't then we are back on the hunt for a new coach in a couple of years. The program has had enough instability, to the point it was crippling the program and no one even wanted the job.

Do I honestly think he will figure it out on his own? No. But I do think he has finally surrounded himself with some quality, experienced assistant coaches and he can let them do their job and not micro manage.. ala Dabo.

If we do go on the hunt then who replaces him? This is a strange time in college football. For all the parity among teams now there are still only 4, maybe 5 coaches that will consistently compete for league titles and the CFP every year. None of those coaches are gonna leave where they are. What other big name is out there? Chip Kelley? That's about it.

So until CBJ gets his act together or gets fired and the board or the Haslam's pony up the money for a super coach we are stuck where we are. That's why I wish him the best and refuse to complain incessantly about his shortcomings.

Great post, and I think most feel like this. We are certainly going to be dismissed by most as threats to the SEC E crown, but also think we have a real chance to sneak up and surprise some folks...as long as we can pull it all together. I'd personally like Butch to pull a little Lou Holtz "whoa is me...we're not too good", but not sure Butch can pull it off in media.

 

[Iam4utalways]

It was actually a pretty good indicator for the season. We came out every game looking unprepared, struggling with every opponent regardless their talent level, and outside of the TN Tech game, we didn't have 4 quarters of quality football in any single game. What we saw in the App State game repeated itself throughout the season.

The 2016 season was some ugly football.

To being taken to OT by App St indicated we should have been blown out by all SEC teams and VT. That didn't happen. We run a conservative game plan due to CBJ being conservative. To say we we unprepared may not really be the case, it could be we ran base offense and defense to get a feel for how the opposition would react.

CBJ believes in "grind it out" football. No reason to throw it around the yard when 3 yards in a dust cloud can get it done.

Being predictable has hindered our success. That does need to be corrected and never use "Behind the chains." again.

Go Vols!

 

[IknoxvolsI]

So, as long as we're playing the "what if" game again...what if UT lost all it's out of conference games: GT, Ind. St, U Mass, S. Miss, and lost one SEC game, going 7-5, but SEC E champs. Guess I'd take it but would bring my burning mattress all the way to ATL.

If that scenerio happens all of the Neagas will still be in force saying "Butch backed into it like Fulmer" or "the East was weak as water" or "Jones got lucky".

Ya'll know how it is.

 

[Iam4utalways]

If that scenerio happens all of the Neagas will still be in force saying "Butch backed into it like Fulmer" or "the East was weak as water" or "Jones got lucky".

Ya'll know how it is.

Depends on the SEC game we lose. If it was against a west team we wouldn't be backing in.

 

[buckfama]

If anybody thinks we will come out "guns a blazing" will most likely be disappointed. CBJ is conservative and wants to force a team to beat us rather than our own mistakes causing us to lose.

I feel like you do sometimes. It's like CBJ comes out and tries to get a feel for what the other teams D will allow rather than running his stuff and imposing his will on the opponent. Fulmer did the same thing at times it seemed. Played not to lose instead of to win.

I say come out with your beat stuff and see if they can stop it. If they can't you got their D on their heels and keep pouring it on. There is no such thing as running up the score... it's their job to stop you. Maybe CBJ needs to let someone else script the first few series and see if that works.

 

[BeardedVol]

To being taken to OT by App St indicated we should have been blown out by all SEC teams and VT. That didn't happen. We run a conservative game plan due to CBJ being conservative. To say we we unprepared may not really be the case, it could be we ran base offense and defense to get a feel for how the opposition would react.

CBJ believes in "grind it out" football. No reason to throw it around the yard when 3 yards in a dust cloud can get it done.

Being predictable has hindered our success. That does need to be corrected and never use "Behind the chains." again.

Go Vols!

Hind site makes it real easy to go back and reverse-predict the season outcome.

Lack or preparation, struggling for 2+ quarters in most games.
Undisciplined game play, 73rd lowest penalty yards per game.
Struggling against opponents with inferior talent.

All in the opener, and all repeated several times to varying degrees throughout the season.

 

[IknoxvolsI]

I feel like you do sometimes. It's like CBJ comes out and tries to get a feel for what the other teams D will allow rather than running his stuff and imposing his will on the opponent. Fulmer did the same thing at times it seemed. Played not to lose instead of to win.

That dude was notorious about that! Especially versus Florida after Peyton graduated!

Three and punt and play defense and hope for luck.

 

[Iam4utalways]

I feel like you do sometimes. It's like CBJ comes out and tries to get a feel for what the other teams D will allow rather than running his stuff and imposing his will on the opponent. Fulmer did the same thing at times it seemed. Played not to lose instead of to win.

I say come out with your beat stuff and see if they can stop it. If they can't you got their D on their heels and keep pouring it on. There is no such thing as running up the score... it's their job to stop you. Maybe CBJ needs to let someone else script the first few series and see if that works.

Being conservative is often considered "playing not to lose", it may very well be just that, but often times conservative play calling is just what a team needs to get their mind right. Gone are the days where they can know what we are about to do and it still work.

When the zone read turns into a delayed hand off and everybody knows it, why be surprised that it don't work.

Our ice the game with a 1st down or 2 has been the worst aspect if our game plan. I can only remember it working once since Butch has been here. Honestly our score or lose offense has been weak as well.

Maybe those trends will change this year.

I like our chances.

 

[Iam4utalways]

Hind site makes it real easy to go back and reverse-predict the season outcome.

Lack or preparation, struggling for 2+ quarters in most games.
Undisciplined game play, 73rd lowest penalty yards per game.
Struggling against opponents with inferior talent.

All in the opener, and all repeated several times to varying degrees throughout the season.

It looked like 120 was over confident most of the season. As if they were like "we got this", and lacked focus and sense of urgency due to having the mind set that they were the better team and they would find a way to win.

After pulling out wins against App St, VT, Fl, and Ga that supported that line of thinking.

119 started strong and wilted, 120 did most of their work in the 2nd half, here's to 121 putting together complete games and running the table.

I like our chances.

 

[buckfama]

Being conservative is often considered "playing not to lose", it may very well be just that, but often times conservative play calling is just what a team needs to get their mind right. Gone are the days where they can know what we are about to do and it still work.

When the zone read turns into a delayed hand off and everybody knows it, why be surprised that it don't work.

Our ice the game with a 1st down or 2 has been the worst aspect if our game plan. I can only remember it working once since Butch has been here. Honestly our score or lose offense has been weak as well.

Maybe those trends will change this year.

I like our chances.

I think you can still play conservative and impose your will on the other team but it takes a stout defense to work. If you run 3 yards and a cloud of dust and have to punt, and your defense can't stop the other team then it's time for a philosophy change. I think Jones wised up enough last year to see that. I think it explains a lot of the slow starts and come from behind wins. Maybe he is evolving as a coach and learning some new things.

Hopefully this year he has these guys primed and ready and let's Scott run things a little more wide open from the get go, especially with all the questions on D.

 

[volfannbama]

If Butch loses to Georgia Tech in our first game, what do you, fellow Volnation members, think our season will be like?

Just curious why you keep making threads like this?

 

[Iam4utalways]

I think you can still play conservative and impose your will on the other team but it takes a stout defense to work. If you run 3 yards and a cloud of dust and have to punt, and your defense can't stop the other team then it's time for a philosophy change. I think Jones wised up enough last year to see that. I think it explains a lot of the slow starts and come from behind wins. Maybe he is evolving as a coach and learning some new things.

Hopefully this year he has these guys primed and ready and let's Scott run things a little more wide open from the get go, especially with all the questions on D.

You may be disappointed with the game plan. I don't see him allowing that with a new QB.

My money is on Rock. I'm counting on him to put an edge on 120.

 

[buckfama]

You may be disappointed with the game plan. I don't see him allowing that with a new QB.

My money is on Rock. I'm counting on him to put an edge on 120.

You're right... I may be.. wouldn't be the first time. Lol

 

[Iam4utalways]

You're right... I may be.. wouldn't be the first time. Lol

The good news is with our talent we may be able to run the table while having a conservative game plan.

 

[buckfama]

The good news is with our talent we may be able to run the table while having a conservative game plan.

I think it hinges on Shoop and how well he and the new assistants gel.

 

[vol-un-tear]

I will break something that's for sure!