SEC Network Prediction

#178
#178
sjt18 said:
That's why this should be considered a test for Jones... and those should NOT be allowed as excuses for not performing. If he's done his job... by his own profession these guys who have been developing for 3 or 4 years should be ready to step in and play. UT is not young. If UT is inexperienced then the question needs to be asked, "Why"? Why wasn't the roster managed better?

I think we're on the same side. I actually expect good things this fall. I expect the Vols to surprise and embarrass the talking heads. I don't like all the pre-positioned excuses for failure.
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Agreed, this I believe is a final test. Even the ones that complain about the fan base accepting mediocrity seem to have put all their marbles on one season. when that one season disappointed, they act like we lost our only chance for a good season. Hows that for holding a program to a high standard? Some act like we're the only team to graduate players or change up the coaching staff. Doesn't every team break in a new starting QB every couple of years.

Its college football. In all of 47 years of following this team, it would be too much writing to list all of the teams that inexplicably exceeded expectations or the teams that fall flat while coming in a virtual all star team.
And that's just our team. It's the same every where.
 
#179
#179
jakez4ut said:
people are ready to embrace FL's defense because they had some injuries and a lot of guys got game reps they may not have gotten otherwise.

well the same is definitely true for us...in spades.

.
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Their heavily injured defense held LSU to 10, Georgia to 10, and Iowa to 3.

On the flipside, UT's heavily injured defense gave up 45 to Vandy, 37 to Mizzou, and 37 to Kentucky.



It's not a mystery.
 
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#180
#180
If UT goes 8-4/4-4 and doesn't win the division, the team goal won't be met and we either lost games to both of our top SECE rivals or to SECE teams less talented. We need to finally put together all that talent CBJ has recruited and win the division, which is probably going to take at least 9-3 and 5-3 or 6-2.
 
#181
#181
Another question...Do you guys really think these guys know? They will just wait and see like the rest of us...
 
#182
#182
Yeah, I don't know why people get so worked up about stuff like this.
TV personalities are just visual message boards.
 
#183
#183
BeardedVol said:
Because there is a difference between recruited talent, and developed talent. We have the advantage in the former, and a deficiency in the latter.
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There is no way to know this because the season hasn't even started yet. We have no idea if the new assistants are better/worse at developing players than the prior assistants.

It has to play out to be proven wrong or correct.

I feel we upgraded on the assistants so I'm betting on better developed players.
 
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#185
#185
46yrvol said:
Agreed, this I believe is a final test. Even the ones that complain about the fan base accepting mediocrity seem to have put all their marbles on one season. when that one season disappointed, they act like we lost our only chance for a good season. Hows that for holding a program to a high standard? Some act like we're the only team to graduate players or change up the coaching staff. Doesn't every team break in a new starting QB every couple of years.

Its college football. In all of 47 years of following this team, it would be too much writing to list all of the teams that inexplicably exceeded expectations or the teams that fall flat while coming in a virtual all star team.
And that's just our team. It's the same every where.
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So true. A couple of teams popped in my mind when I read this. First was the 1989 Vols, who started the year unranked but finished the season 11-1 and ranked eighth after beating tenth ranked Arkansas in the Cotton bowl.

The other was 2005 when the Vols started the year ranked number three and finished 5-6 with no bowl game.
 
#186
#186
sjt18 said:
Agree totally. I just don't want to hear the excuses of "well, not much was expected" if he fails. I really have a hard time relating to people who adjust the standard and expectation to assure Jones always achieves at least the minimum. UT fans have EVERY right to expect more than Jones has produced the last two years. I appreciate what he's done. But you don't promote or even keep managers who come up with good plans and hire good people if they don't execute the plan to expectations. The same goes for a coach.
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We may have the right, as fans, to have high expectations... but if the administration is not committed to winning are we smart to set high expectations?

CBJ looks to have a ceiling of 8-4 in the SEC. should Tennessee expect to do better based on the history of our program? Yes.

But if CBJ has a ceiling of 8-4 is he really the guy we should be pissed at or it it our administration...?
 
#187
#187
buckfama said:
There is no way to know this because the season hasn't even started yet. We have no idea if the new assistants are better/worse at developing players than the prior assistants.

It has to play out to be proven wrong or correct.

I feel we upgraded on the assistants so I'm betting on better developed players.
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We do know from the last 4 seasons that Jones' system/hires struggle to develop talent, and very few of our players ever seem to reach their maximum recruited potential.

Swapping out 80% of your staff is not a guaranteed path to success, and a single summer and fall camp may not be enough time for the new assistants to 'gel' in the system and have a significant impact on the team. Jones' himself mentioned that even with Rock taking over S&C, we still aren't where he hoped we wold be at this point; that's not a knock against Rock just the reality of the situation.
 
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#188
#188
BeardedVol said:
We do know from the last 4 seasons that Jones' system/hires struggle to develop talent, and very few of our players ever seem reach their maximum potential.
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So glad you joined in, Bearded. We have....

...okay...

...I'm sorry, I just totally lied. My bad.
 
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#192
#192
SkiDaddy said:
Okay. Lets say he goes 8 and 4 this year. Georgia, Florida, Bama, and LSU are on next years schedule. Maybe he goes 9 and 3 next year. Is that acceptable? I am just thinking out loud. I don't know the answers. Just some thoughts. Some where down the road he needs to go 10 and 2 or 11 and 1.
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Lsu is not
 
#193
#193
BeardedVol said:
We do know from the last 4 seasons that Jones' system/hires struggle to develop talent, and very few of our players ever seem to reach their maximum recruited potential.

Swapping out 80% of your staff is not a guaranteed path to success, and a single summer and fall camp may not be enough time for the new assistants to 'gel' in the system and have a significant impact on the team. Jones' himself mentioned that even with Rock taking over S&C, we still aren't where he hoped we wold be at this point; that's not a knock against Rock just the reality of the situation.
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No.. it's not a guaranteed path to success but it does show that Butch recognized some weaknesses and has made a conscious effort to fix them.

Just like the S&C situation last year. Several were ready to string Butch up because we didn't have one but as it was later revealed he had no choice. His bosses were saying no to a hire.


So what would you rather have? A coach that is oblivious to his deficiencies and continues on with the same staff, the same plan, the same results or someone that seems to always be proactive to becoming better, building a better team?

Butch seems to be checking the right boxes in growing as a coach.

And again.. no guarantees on the players being better developed this year but then again they may surprise. Again, no way to know until the season starts.
 
#194
#194
secking said:
Respect a lot of what you say or bring, but this isn't true. Last year's team had 85 Butch signees. It doesn't take 5+ years to flip a roster. First two classes, myself or the guy on the corner could have recruited a top class to Tn, immediate PT at an SEC school, a powerhouse, blue blood program at that. You can flip a room in two years and by year 5, that room should be ready to lead.
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Give me a break. You make it sound so easy. Guess thats why TN,FL,GA,TXam,LSU,AUB,ARK & anyone not named Bama all have questions & concerns & potential hot seat questions. When you get done resurrecting the football program you think you can lend a hand to Barnes, Warlick & the new baseball coach?
 
#195
#195
v011s said:
Their heavily injured defense held LSU to 10, Georgia to 10, and Iowa to 3.

On the flipside, UT's heavily injured defense gave up 45 to Vandy, 37 to Mizzou, and 37 to Kentucky.



It's not a mystery.
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i get that. but the point was really just the experience factor. not necessarily saying it's going to translate in to a top 10 defense this year. just that it may not be "more of the same", as we saw down the stretch last season.
 
#197
#197
we could easily be 4-1 after GA game..UF is the biggest game of the year we need to win that on the road then come back in beat GA if that happens then u looking at a 5-0 record top 10 after week 5..lol 5-0 is very much possible, but u will know a lot about this team on week 1
 
#198
#198
I truly believe we will be undefeated heading to Tuscaloosa against an undefeated #1 Alabama. I'm not sold on Georgia or Florida this year. A weak O-line for Georgia and a talented, but not elite, defense for Florida with no quarterback will be the story.

The schedule sets up nicely for a 10-2 season.
 
#199
#199
zeppelin128 said:
I truly believe we will be undefeated heading to Tuscaloosa against an undefeated #1 Alabama. I'm not sold on Georgia or Florida this year. A weak O-line for Georgia and a talented, but not elite, defense for Florida with no quarterback will be the story.

The schedule sets up nicely for a 10-2 season.
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Beating Georgia last year was fun to watch, but that was luck. Florida has a few guys who can play QB. McElwain is playing the same game Butch is in terms of a QB "battle," and if you ask any Vol fan they're confident that either Dormady or JG will get it done. Florida will be fine at QB... hell, they've won the east twice now without one.

I admire your enthusiasm, but this season is a crapshoot. All that said, I hope I can come back to this thread going into the AL game and say, "You were right!"
 
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