Vols are the 6th best team in the SEC behind...

#26
#26
cgrish said:
I think it all depends on who our qb is. With good consistant qb play I think we can compete for the sec championship next year. If qb play is as inconsistant next year as this year imo we will have the about the same amount of wins as this year.
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If we were to list 3 keys then you have listed the 1st key. The other two are 1) can this team replace Jennings and Calloway. Palmer returns. Can Brandon Johnson have a big senior year? Does a #3 and possibly #4 WR develop?

Key 2) is how big of a loss is our seniors on defense? They have been the backbone to this turn around. Our DL should be fine but losing Taylor and Bituli will hurt. Then Nigel has played at as high of a level that we haven't seen in years at DB after starting slow.
 
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#28
#28
Next year is Pruitts year to prove we are an SEC competitor. Doesn't mean we have to win the East, although that'd be nice. We just have to compete in every game, no blowouts unless we are the ones blowing someone out. I'm hoping we can beat one of Alabama, Georgia, or Florida. Oklahoma would be a good win, but not as important as beating those upper tier SEC teams.
 
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#30
#30
This year we are better than Vandy, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Arkansas and both Mississippi schools. That's an improvement. I would still put us behind everyone else.
 
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#31
#31
Being mid-pack in the SEC is improvement. The last several years we were bottom tier. With bowl , I want to see 9 or 10 wins next year. We are a long ways from elite, there are still some head scratchers like Ga. St. in our future. We are building depth, size and speed. The turn around is not as fast as we fans would like but I think we are at least going in the right direction.
 
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#35
#35
FlipVol87 said:
You dont need a running qb.
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Of course, I don't, I don't play on a football team nor own one. :)

Seriously, sure you can get by without a running QB but you're overlooking what I said.
A QB with lead feet is a strong DL's favorite treat.
Unless you have an elite and experienced OL, the defense will eat.

Dobbs was exceptional but when you can't protect the QB (i.e. JG) and he can't or won't run, you lose the majority of your games. UT's non-running QBs had quality OLs but we also had exceptional runners too like Holloway and Robinson. UT isn't the only university that had nonrunners get beat up when the OL couldn't protect them.
 
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#38
#38
PulaskiVolFan said:
I like it!! I'm also going to predict 2-2 vs the big4 next year and hoping for 3-1. History says we'll go 0-4 but times are changing I feel.
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Not with Chaney's offense. Look at what each team in the playoff is running. Basically they run the same thing. High octane that’s gets big yardage and points. The old guard is done. Butch’s offense, at its best, is light years better than this.
 
#42
#42
I don't see the point of declaring that we are ready to compete with the big dogs of the SEC. Only thing to do is go out and prove it. We could easily be another season of recruiting and development away or this thing could take off next year. Beating the also rans of the league doesn't put us at that level but it's better than were we came from.
 
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#43
#43
tnutater said:
Being mid-pack in the SEC is improvement. The last several years we were bottom tier. With bowl , I want to see 9 or 10 wins next year. We are a long ways from elite, there are still some head scratchers like Ga. St. in our future. We are building depth, size and speed. The turn around is not as fast as we fans would like but I think we are at least going in the right direction.
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I agree here, and we'll at least be in position to start winning some of the games vs upper tier teams. But, we haven't yet, so I'm going to still put us behind Bama, LSU, UGA, AUB, FL, and about even w/ TaM, until we prove we can do it. Assuming D keeps it's upwards trajectory, winning some of these games next year will depend upon: JG showing up every game as a SR leader (or other QB shows out). Replacing WR losses (think we'll be OK here w/ Gibbs, Keyton, Palmer, and potential frosh). Figuring out how to be a top 50 rushing team (one stellar game by Gray doesn't make a season).
 
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#44
#44
ColinS said:
I don't see the point of declaring that we are ready to compete with the big dogs of the SEC. Only thing to do is go out and prove it. We could easily be another season of recruiting and development away or this thing could take off next year. Beating the also rans of the league doesn't put us at that level but it's better than were we came from.
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I seriously think the rest of top tier is just waiting for us to be relevant again. None of them like being beaten by us, but most all appreciate that SEC football experience is just better when UT is good.
 
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#45
#45
Not sure next year we can make a run at SECE, but do believe in two years we are regularly in the conversation. It looks like with Pruitt here we are going to recruit OL and DL and not get stuck in situations where we don’t have depth.
Next year I feel like we have depth now in all positions, but are still young.
 
#46
#46
PulaskiVolFan said:
LSU, Georgia, Florida, Auburn and Alabama. It sure is nice to have our name back competing with those 5, question now is can we keep it up for more than 1 or 2 seasons and when do we start putting up wins vs Fl, Ga and Al.
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Huh? Maybe Auburn based on beating them last year, but come on. Not yet.
 
#47
#47
Roustabout said:
Not with Chaney's offense. Look at what each team in the playoff is running. Basically they run the same thing. High octane that’s gets big yardage and points. The old guard is done. Butch’s offense, at its best, is light years better than this.
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Ha, tell us how you really feel. I despised Butch’s offense. I thought it wasn’t our identity but I can understand your perspective. I think many teams were close with a similar profile to us currently but injuries or sub-elite qb play were the difference maker.
 
#49
#49
cgrish said:
I think it all depends on who our qb is. With good consistant qb play I think we can compete for the sec championship next year. If qb play is as inconsistant next year as this year imo we will have the about the same amount of wins as this year.
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I think your QB statements are true for any team, not just our Vols. Once in awhile a team can win really well with average to poor QB play, but not often and nearly never championships be it conference and not likely national.
 
#50
#50
9876543vol said:
I don't think a running QB is necessary to become a better team.
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It’s not, but it can be like a cheat code. Say 2 QBs are equal passers, but one can also scramble - that adds two whole dimensions to your offense that opposing D’s must account for.
 
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