What's our excuse this year?

#51
#51
Excuses are different than reasons. When you try to explain why something happened you give a reason. Spun negatively, you can call it an excuse if it fits your agenda.
 
#52
#52
Excuses are different than reasons. When you try to explain why something happened you give a reason. Spun negatively, you can call it an excuse if it fits your agenda.
 
#53
#53
Excuses are different than reasons. When you try to explain why something happened you give a reason. Spun negatively, you can call it an excuse if it fits your agenda.
 
#56
#56
05_never_again said:
Oh, there will be plenty:

- Injuries (even if they occur nowhere to last year's extent)
- Had to break in a new QB
- Lost a lot of guys on defense (even though a lot of them that graduated/went to NFL didn't even play much last year due to injuries)
- New offensive coordinator
- Tough schedule (Florida, Alabama on the road, draw LSU from the West)
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Assuming there is a need for these "excuses", if they are not legitimate, what will be the real "reasons"?
 
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#58
#58
OP's post was obviously meant to ruffle feathers, which it did.

I'll take a shot at it since it's the summer and we have no idea how things will go: lack of killer instinct/head scratching decision making. Larry Scott is an unknown... will he be a big difference maker, or will CBJ keep the leash tight since Scott is an OC rookie for UT. The way CBJ described having multiple previous head coaches now on the staff, I'd like to think Scott will be given some leeway to call some plays.

When there's an opportunity to put an opponent away, will they? Or will they play not to lose like we've seen in the past. When UT is playing Florida this year and the ball is one foot out with ~55 minutes left, will they punch it in or take the three. This mindset contributed to the OU loss in 2015.

TL;DR - Will the team play to win, or play to not lose like we've seen in the past.
 
#59
#59
1chattyvols1 said:
Let's see:
Last year it was injuries. Before that it was Defensive Coordinator, growing pains, O'line, inexperience, (although that could technically be growing pains) lack of talent, Dooley, better coaches in the conference, etc.. The excuses seem to go on never ending.

For me, I'm gonna bet it'll be either "we lost so much talent to the NFL" or "our QB play is terrible". To answer this question, I'm going to go with QB because it's not like we've been unloading the talent as we did in the 90's. So, it's going to be difficult for even the most ardent fans to claim that.

You younguns haven't been around as long as some of us old timers so, you might not have heard all that we have. But, it seems like a cycle that revolves.

So, Volnation fans, what do ya'll think it's going to be this year? Vote away.
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most toxic fanbase in America is my vote. You are apart of it.
 
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#62
#62
This thread = Off season in full swing...

Oh, and a note for the youngins. Not all of us grow old and bitter.
 
#64
#64
05_never_again said:
That Butch and this coaching staff just isn't all that good.
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Why aren't they all that good?

I guess my point is, what is the point of being here if you're not going to discuss anything? If the answer is just "Butch and the staff suck", what's left to discuss?
 
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#66
#66
I'd say they're closer to middlin' than pure sucky. The real question is whether middlin' is good enough for this fanbase and I think that's what Finebaum was getting at in his interview that has been widely discussed in another thread. It may just be my and Paul's perception but seems like we've got a coalition of people in this fanbase who are satisfied with 8 or 9 wins a season. I generally see four groups in that camp.

1. We're at a point where almost any fan less than 25 years of age is going to have trouble visualizing the same sort of success for Vols football as the people above that age. There are exceptions for those who came from families that took kids the kids to games and whose parents made them eat and breathe it, but by and large if you're less than 25 you're not going to have much in the way of actual memories of how good this program is when it's rolling. These people understand that it has been better historically but they also see that the landscape has changed and they're not altogether convinced that we can get the lighting back in the bottle in today's SEC, particularly while Saban is here. These people just need to see some championships for themselves with mature eyes and they'll get it.

2. Next, there are a group that I'd refer to as the gun shy fans. Some think firing Fulmer was our undoing because it unleashed instability, something that must be avoided at all costs. Others think there's a reasonable chance that the next head coach will be another Dooley and immediately take use right back down to the bottom of the East. Basically, these are the people who don't deal well with change and aren't risk takers.

3. Next are the truest fans in our tent and I mean that with all sincerity. These are the people who might take a swing at you for saying something critical of the program, including the coaches. They will defend the head coach with all their energy right up until the second he isn't the head coach anymore at which time they will immediately blame whatever problems the program then has on the guy that they were ready to go to war for a minute earlier while simultaneously voicing full throated support for the new guy even if they don't know anything about the new guy.

4. Finally, there is the group that knows we can be better, is willing to take some risk to get there, and doesn't intend to name their first born after the head coach. This is the group where I think most of us reside(d). Anyone who thinks the die is cast and is ready to move on from Butch was probably part of this group at one time. The people who are still in this group are looking at signs of incremental improvement and see an opportunity for more improvement that outweighs the risks and costs associated with change.

Maybe this isn't germane to the discussion. It just helps me to categorize things so I can better visualize the fact that most of us come from the same place and are not so far apart in our opinions.
 
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#67
#67
1chattyvols1 said:
Let's see:
Last year it was injuries. Before that it was Defensive Coordinator, growing pains, O'line, inexperience, (although that could technically be growing pains) lack of talent, Dooley, better coaches in the conference, etc.. The excuses seem to go on never ending.

For me, I'm gonna bet it'll be either "we lost so much talent to the NFL" or "our QB play is terrible". To answer this question, I'm going to go with QB because it's not like we've been unloading the talent as we did in the 90's. So, it's going to be difficult for even the most ardent fans to claim that.

You younguns haven't been around as long as some of us old timers so, you might not have heard all that we have. But, it seems like a cycle that revolves.

So, Volnation fans, what do ya'll think it's going to be this year? Vote away.
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Whiney Negavols
 
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#68
#68
Behr said:
Why aren't they all that good?

I guess my point is, what is the point of being here if you're not going to discuss anything? If the answer is just "Butch and the staff suck", what's left to discuss?
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If they underachieve this year (something like 6-6), I'm not sure what else there is to conclude.

Butch has recruited at a high level, and the East has been there for the taking, but if we are still middling I'm left to conclude that Butch is a good recruiter and program administrator/representative but a poor talent developer and gameday tactician.
 
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#70
#70
Will all the negavols make excuses for why we kicked everyone asses or will they enjoy a good season of football?
 
#73
#73
chatt-townVOL said:
lol I feel the same way.

I can anti-Butch with the best of them, but come on OP. Why write off 2017 already?
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Has CBJ hit his ceiling? Hope not, maybe the coaching upgrades and scheme tweaks will produce better results. Good coaches change with the times and hire good staff to implement changes, CBJ has done just that. It's wait and see now. Think we'll be better this season.
 
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#74
#74
VolunteerHillbilly said:
QB will be a catch 22 because Jones could start QD at the beginning of the season with poor results, then switch to JG after the Bama game and see 4-5 wins + bowl game. I think he steers clear of using QB as an excuse. Probably going to talk more about breaking in new guys due to NFL attrition because it's a way to toot the horn in a positive way while also throwing out an excuse.
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That's how Bray came to be. It is what it is but thought that was unfair.

Your second part is why I said either loss to NFL (rebuilding) to lower expectations.
 
#75
#75
05_never_again said:
If they underachieve this year (something like 6-6), I'm not sure what else there is to conclude.

Butch has recruited at a high level, and the East has been there for the taking, but if we are still middling I'm left to conclude that Butch is a good recruiter and program administrator/representative but a poor talent developer and gameday tactician.
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Yea, I can agree with that.

I started typing my response and decided I really didn't care enough to discuss it. This is a stupid thread and has no business being discussed.

My intention wasn't to argue or pick a fight, fwiw.:hi:
 
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