Can Someone Remind Me Why We Are So Worried About WVU Again?!?

[Bubbs]

Look. I know the Will Grier hype is in full effect but he went 7-3 in the Big 12. They went 7-6 overall. Look at their schedule. It was a joke. They lost to every half decent team they played. Their O-Line returns 4 starters. Their O line was overmatched against quality competition. David Sills had 18 TDs against nobodies and didn't catch a single one after Grier went down. The defense struggled all year. They gave up 200+ yards on the ground in the Big 12. That was a healthy West Virginia team at full strength. Lol

Then look at all the injuries and drama we had last season. O line was decimated. Kirkland Out. Jennings Out, Chance Hall Out. No position group stayed healthy throughout the year. Down to third string on the O-line. Kids playing out of position. Incompetent leadership. Shoop couldn't get guys to learn the defense and we don't acknowledge just how terrible of an offensive coordinator Larry Scott was. You all saw it too. Team giving up on the coach because they knew he was gone towards the end of the year. That coaching staff was a cluster.

I just can't see how with a healthy UT team and at least adequate coaching we don't blow these guys out of the water. We brought over a veteran coaching staff with proven ability and I know stars don't tell the story but out of 22 projected starters I want to say about 18 or 19 of these guys are 4 star recruits or better. Over the past four years we've averaged a recruiting ranking of 14.75. Meaning give or take we are a top 15 team talent wise.There is no shortage of talent or experience on this roster. Outside of Will Grier we're leaps and bounds better at almost every position. I don't see why we're dampening our expectations. We can easily win 8 or 9 games this season without the Lyle handicap.

 

[orange parmejohn]

I don't think we will blow them out of the water, but I think we have a great chance of winning this game. I believe our offensive and defensive lines are both going to unleash years of pinned up frustration on WVU.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Because we potentially will be starting two true freshmen at corner and they have one of the best QB/WR tandems we'll face all season.

 

[chargervol]

What I got from the OP:
Focus on the record of WVU.
Focus on the record of WVU opponents.
Now completely disregard the record of UT. But I get ya OP.

I'm not worried about losing, it's not a factor in the bigger picture for me. I just want to see if I'm watching a true fb team coached by a true coach.

 

[Jester7968]

I don't think we will blow them out of the water, but I think we have a great chance of winning this game. I believe our offensive and defensive lines are both going to unleash years of pinned up frustration on WVU.

This is what I want to see! Pent up frustration unleashed!

 

[VFL-82-JP]

4-8 in 2017.

That is why we will worry about every game we play this year against Power 5 level competition. Yes, even the Vandy game (unless we're 8-3 or better at that point).

You don't like it, I don't like it. No Tennessee fan likes it.

But that's where we are right now.

That's why.

 

[TAF]

4-8...new...unproven head coach...completely new staff...lost a few key upper classmen...haven’t been relevant in 17 years...
Need more?

 

[BearCat204]

Threads like this normally age well

 

[Behr]

What I got from the OP:
Focus on the record of WVU.
Focus on the record of WVU opponents.
Now completely disregard the record of UT. But I get ya OP.

I'm not worried about losing, it's not a factor in the bigger picture for me. I just want to see if I'm watching a true fb team coached by a true coach.

Me too monkey boy, I so hope to see that in every game.

 

[tobybeast]

It is Battered Vol Syndrome!! It is rampant with what seems like games that we "should" have won and lost due to bad decisions, poor coaching ect.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I know a boy
He lives in a tree
He don't like houses
"cause he's a monkey
He wants ver...aaaaa...city

[youtube]

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

I believe that our pass rush will be sick! And, I mean that in my nineteen year old son's vernacular. I think Coach Pruitt will cut off the head of the snake.

Note to JG - Listen to Adam Ant - "Stand and Deliver"

 

[valoisvol]

I agree with OP UT will win this game
They will be prepared and ready

 

[Advol]

Can Someone Remind Me Why We Are So Worried About ______________ Again?!?
Bubber, I would suggest yur gonna have a long season. UT should be worried bout...……..you fill in the Blank for a couple of years.
Fill in yur data stream with UT Stats from last 2-3 Seasons.
I don't know of anyone on the schedule we aint worried bout.

 

[VolBricks]

No one really knows what UT is at this point. We have some talent that has not been coached well. We have a new offensive and defensive scheme. The players Butch recruited do not fit the new schemes put in place by Pruitt. Do you blame anyone for not wanting to give us the benefit of the doubt? CBS Sports has WVU ranked 20th in the preseason poll, they have UT ranked 74th. No body wants to rank UT high and then have the team fall on its face again this year, they would rather rank us low and then later say "I thought this team could be good ......"

 

[1974Vol]

Can Someone Remind Me Why We Are So Worried About WVU Again?!?

Here's 4 reasons I can think of off the top of my head
1. Vandy has beaten the Vols 4 of the last 6, and took us to the wood shed last year
2. Kentucky punched us in the mouth and took our lunch money last year
3. Umass a team that was FCS until 2013 took us to the 4th Qtr with the game in doubt
4. The 2017 team lost more games than any team in UT history

I could go on but you know we're Tennessee and WVU is probably too scared to practice just thinking of what will befall them come Labor Day weekend.

 

[TN Outlaw]

SI has WV ranked 10th i believe

They are getting alot of love, UT isn't, just the way I like it. Playing a team expected to do big things is still a good reason for concern.

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

Our QB play is the big worry to me for the entire season. I believe most everything else is going to continue to get better. As far as WVU, Dana Holgorsen is going to have a good offense and will score points. But that being said, teams with good coaching has kept them at bay. That game is going to tell us a lot about how our season will play out.

 

[Booker512]

I don’t take them lightly, Will Grier and those big WRs they have vs our secondary will be interesting to watch.

But I think the key to this gas is our run game. If we can run the ball at will, we will probably win the game. The best way to beat a offensive team like WV is to win the time of possession. Just eat the clock.

 

[bigorangecrush89]

Look. I know the Will Grier hype is in full effect but he went 7-3 in the Big 12. They went 7-6 overall. Look at their schedule. It was a joke. They lost to every half decent team they played. Their O-Line returns 4 starters. Their O line was overmatched against quality competition. David Sills had 18 TDs against nobodies and didn't catch a single one after Grier went down. The defense struggled all year. They gave up 200+ yards on the ground in the Big 12. That was a healthy West Virginia team at full strength. Lol

Then look at all the injuries and drama we had last season. O line was decimated. Kirkland Out. Jennings Out, Chance Hall Out. No position group stayed healthy throughout the year. Down to third string on the O-line. Kids playing out of position. Incompetent leadership. Shoop couldn't get guys to learn the defense and we don't acknowledge just how terrible of an offensive coordinator Larry Scott was. You all saw it too. It looked worse than a blind toddler's coloring book. Team giving up on the coach because they knew he was gone towards the end of the year. That coaching staff was a cluster.

I just can't see how with a healthy UT team and at least adequate coaching we don't blow these guys out of the water. We brought over a veteran coaching staff with proven ability and I know stars don't tell the story but out of 22 projected starters I want to say about 18 or 19 of these guys are 4 star recruits or better. Over the past four years we've averaged a recruiting ranking of 14.75. Meaning give or take we are a top 15 team talent wise.There is no shortage of talent or experience on this roster. Outside of Will Grier we're leaps and bounds better at almost every position. I don't see why we're dampening our expectations. We can easily win 8 or 9 games this season without the Lyle handicap.

I envy your optimism, but even Nock fricking Saban went 7-6 in his first year at Bama. Smart went 7-5. And Smart walked into a much better situation. Pruitt is going to outdo both of those guys? History strongly suggests that this year will be rough and a bowl game should be the goal. I think people predicting 8-4 or even better are setting themselves up for disappointment and these are probably the same folks who will be the "fahr everybody" crowd when their unrealistic expectations arent met.

 

[KBVol]

Can Someone Remind Me Why We Are So Worried About WVU Again?!?

Here's 4 reasons I can think of off the top of my head
1. Vandy has beaten the Vols 4 of the last 6, and took us to the wood shed last year
2. Kentucky punched us in the mouth and took our lunch money last year
3. Umass a team that was FCS until 2013 took us to the 4th Qtr with the game in doubt
4. The 2017 team lost more games than any team in UT history

I could go on but you know we're Tennessee and WVU is probably too scared to practice just thinking of what will befall them come Labor Day weekend.

I get your general point and agree. But using the Ky game as proof is wrong. They in no way punched us in the mouth nor did they take our lunch money. They were very fortunate to beat the worst UT team in 100+ years.

Tennessee had 10 more first downs, 445 total yards (75 more than Kentucky) and that was with Ty Chandler’s 75 yard td run getting called back. Kentucky scored the game-winning td that put them ahead by 1 point with less than a minute to play.

Good overall point, awful specific example.

 

[peaygolf]

I get your general point and agree. But using the Ky game as proof is wrong. They in no way punched us in the mouth nor did they take our lunch money. They were very fortunate to beat the worst UT team in 100+ years.

Tennessee had 10 more first downs, 445 total yards (75 more than Kentucky) and that was with Ty Chandler’s 75 yard td run getting called back. Kentucky scored the game-winning td that put them ahead by 1 point with less than a minute to play.

Good overall point, awful specific example.

Didn't punch UT in the mouth...but a loss to UK is still a sick uppercut to the chin.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Can Someone Remind Me Why We Are So Worried About WVU Again?!?

Here's 4 reasons I can think of off the top of my head
1. Vandy has beaten the Vols 4 of the last 6, and took us to the wood shed last year
2. Kentucky punched us in the mouth and took our lunch money last year
3. Umass a team that was FCS until 2013 took us to the 4th Qtr with the game in doubt
4. The 2017 team lost more games than any team in UT history

I could go on but you know we're Tennessee and WVU is probably too scared to practice just thinking of what will befall them come Labor Day weekend.

So, the Mayan calendar was off by five years.

 

[Vfl2407]

I agree with OP UT will win this game
They will be prepared and ready

Both teams will be prepared and highly motivated.
They have better overall talent than we do on offense.
We do on defense.

 

[OnlyGodForgives]

Tennessee has a virtually winless record against the Big 10/12 over the last twenty years. teams such as Kansas State, Oklahoma, and former members Missouri and Nebraska virtually swept TN when they were part of that conference and afterwards in the case of the Tigers. Grier is a pre-season Heisman frontrunner, and as usual the TN fanbase has been writing checks and expecting the players to cash them with their on-field results. If you think positive remarks reach players and recruits, you better believe all the low-brow ad hominem attacks against the state and its fanbase have reached the attention of the West Virginia contingent. But by all means keep that up.