Vol football is in good hands

[Jaws]

That first half is a precursor of what can/will be. I thought UT looked very well-coached on both sides of the ball, the players were disciplined and motivated and UT more than held their own against one of the top teams in the SEC/Nation. That was the most well-coached UT team I’ve seen since 2016 for sure.

Heupel’s offense is hard to deal with. They’re going to move the ball on people. And when Huepel gets a really skilled QB, they’re going to be an elite offense. That’s not a shot at Hooker, but can you imagine a Matt Corral type running this UT offense? I predict TN will win a game or two they’re not supposed to this year. And I also think if UT fans give Huepel enough time, he’s going to have UT contend in the SEC East. It may take 3-5 years, but Huepel knows what the hell he’s doing with offensive football. Going forward, TN has to win these “50-50” games against the SC/KY/Missouri’s of the world, and then find a spot to go out and pick off one of the big ones.

As for Florida, I continue to be amazed at Mullen’s ability to adapt his offenses to fit his personnel. To go from one of the greatest finesse and timing passing offenses in school and NCAA history, to then stop, completely flip it around, and now become an offense that leads the country in rushing, a mauling, ground and pound style rush attack, is amazing.

I think both UF and UT are in really good shape with their current head coaches.

 

[Rocky Top Raby]

Oh my god enough of these coach worshipping posts after we get obliterated by our rivals once again. Arkansas is in good hands, we are a joke until proven otherwise.

 

[Jaws]

Oh my god enough of these coach worshipping posts after we get obliterated by our rivals once again. Arkansas is in good hands, we are a joke until proven otherwise.

Pruitt was a joke. Heupel is not.

 

[Remy]

We didn't cover a 17.5 spread and we're in good hands?!? That could only come from a gator.

 

[Switch 625]

If only our receivers had good hands.

 

[Cafego's Ghost]

Fear not. Lest there be any doubt, this is a well coached team that simply lacks depth and talent. We were out of gas in the mid-3rd quarter but what do you expect with only 71 players? I watched the Johnny Majors rebuild and it took him 5 years. But after 5 years we were quite the team. If you build it they will come. If this guy can recruit just a little bit we will be fine. And boy did the kids from Tennessee play hard. That is the key in my view, keep a good corps of Tennessee kids with a vested interest. I say year one and two will be painful, but year three in the Swamp will be a 4 quarter game.

 

[Special Ed]

It's Heupel, not Huepel.

 

[Jaws]

We didn't cover a 17.5 spread and we're in good hands?!? That could only come from a gator.

Just trying to give an honest assessment of what I witnessed in person. There was nothing fluky about the closeness of that first half. These two teams were toe to toe and evenly-matched.

Yes, Florida pulled away comfortably in the second half but not once over the last 4-5 years, have I sat back and said “damn, UT has a plan and is capable of beating our butts” like I was saying in that first half.

If you people fire Heupel prematurely you’re NEVER going to recover. NEVER. As in, we’re all dead and gone before we see a UT team win the east again.

I don’t have a dog in the hunt, you can do whatever you want, but I think patience and understanding is the right move here.

 

[Jaws]

It's Heupel, not Huepel.

Noted, no disrespect intended.

 

[aaronvol]

That first half is a precursor of what can/will be. I thought UT looked very well-coached on both sides of the ball, the players were disciplined and motivated and UT more than held their own against one of the top teams in the SEC/Nation. That was the most well-coached UT team I’ve seen since 2016 for sure.

Huepel’s offense is hard to deal with. They’re going to move the ball on people. And when Huepel gets a really skilled QB, they’re going to be an elite offense. That’s not a shot at Hooker, but can you imagine a Matt Corral type running this UT offense? I predict TN will win a game or two they’re not supposed to this year. And I also think if UT fans give Huepel enough time, he’s going to have UT contend in the SEC East. It may take 3-5 years, but Huepel knows what the hell he’s doing with offensive football. Going forward, TN has to win these “50-50” games against the SC/KY/Missouri’s of the world, and then find a spot to go out and pick off one of the big ones.

As for Florida, I continue to be amazed at Mullen’s ability to adapt his offenses to fit his personnel. To go from one of the greatest finesse and timing passing offenses in school and NCAA history, to then stop, completely flip it around, and now become an offense that leads the country in rushing, a mauling, ground and pound style rush attack, is amazing.

I think both UF and UT are in really good shape with their current head coaches.

Jaws, I appreciate your sentiment. Let me clear this up for you. If we kept beating you every year and came on your site and mentioned this time and time again it would get annoying. I am ok, but many are done with these conversations. Imagine if you will almost 20 yrs. of McElwain and losing to Tennessee all those years. Then some UT fans come on and says, "I like where you guys are headed. You will contend in several years, just be patient. Just beat the teams you need to and then one day you may be able to get one from us."

 

[memvol]

Oh my god enough of these coach worshipping posts after we get obliterated by our rivals once again. Arkansas is in good hands, we are a joke until proven otherwise.

Did Arkansas look like they were in good hands while they won 3 games last year?

Oh, the irony of coach the coach worship comments…

 

[Jaws]

Jaws, I appreciate your sentiment. Let me clear this up for you. If we kept beating you every year and came on your site and mentioned this time and time again it would get annoying. I am ok, but many are done with these conversations. Imagine if you will almost 20 yrs. of McElwain and losing to Tennessee all those years. Then some UT fans come on and says, "I like where you guys are headed. You will contend in several years, just be patient. Just beat the teams you need to and then one day you may be able to get one from us."

Fair enough.

 

[MyVolsDropped]

If only our receivers had good hands.

Why does this whole thread sound like an All State commercial

TN either needs to partner with All State and let them help find receivers. Or our receivers need to sign a deal with Butterfingers.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

Yeah, classy post but....you probably wouldn't be here if there was an ounce of concern that the Vols might finally be on the right track. Thanks anyway. Mullen is truly a better coach than I hoped he would be.

 

[aRmo]

I think he’s a good offensive minded coach. But he has to learn to clean up the penalties. It haunted him at UCF aswell. Florida was beatable last night. If Callaway had caught the ball on 4th and 5 he would have scored and changed the momentum of the game. Drops and not being disciplined is haunting us.

 

[TJVol95]

Oh my god enough of these coach worshipping posts after we get obliterated by our rivals once again. Arkansas is in good hands, we are a joke until proven otherwise.

Penalties and poor adjustments as well as key drops and missed field goal. Mullen is a way better coach hands down. We will get destroyed by GA and Bama. It will be ugly!

 

[AurantiacoFan]

Did Arkansas look like they were in good hands while they won 3 games last year?

Yes. It does not take a great memory to remember there was consistent national and regional accolades at how well the pigs were playing and competing.

Coach of the Year Conversation in Year 1

National Publication Discussing Year 1 Momentum

ESPN article on first year turnaround

 

[DaddyChad]

It was much closer than I expected, if players executed it would’ve been even closer imo like the FG miss and Calloway drop. Heupel gave us a chance with much less talent vs Florida. That said we had a lot of penalties and clock management was atrocious at times. Really think the success or failure of Heupel will be decided in how he recruits at this point.

 

[sechamp2012]

I remember when Coach Saban said UT is in good hands with Derek Dooley for years to come. He's doing a great job, just after whitewashing us. These people laugh all the way to the Bank. With NIL all the best players will go to the highest paying teams so what used to be a 5-year rebuild may not even be a rebuild for the have nots. It's a bad time to be down to 70 scholarship players in the SEC, no matter how good the coach is. Get used to seeing the same 4 or 5 teams at the top for years to come.

 

[Jaws]

Yeah, classy post but....you probably wouldn't be here if there was an ounce of concern that the Vols might finally be on the right track.

I absolutely would be here, Lord-willing.

 

[Sarms58]

I have to agree. I was surprised that we were able to hang with the Gators yesterday. Offensive play calling/strategy is very good - we still have execution issues (as we always will) but those are easier to correct than bad coaching. On the defensive side, as others have pointed out, since we lost the defensive guru head coach the guys play with much more passion. Obviously we ran out of gas in the second half but this game was not the 50+ blow out I feared. The Gators scored a late TD to cover the spread. This team looked much improved from the one that couldn’t run the ball against Pitt. And Hooker is the QB - no real doubt anymore. We might make six wins but we will have to continue to improve - we’re not gonna just line up and out talent too many teams.

 

[WestTennesseeVol]

These moral victories are giving me some major Butch vibes

 

[OrangeAllDay]

I remember when Coach Saban said UT is in good hands with Derek Dooley for years to come. He's doing a great job, just after whitewashing us. These people laugh all the way to the Bank. With NIL all the best players will go to the highest paying teams so what used to be a 5-year rebuild may not even be a rebuild for the have nots. It's a bad time to be down to 70 scholarship players in the SEC, no matter how good the coach is. Get used to seeing the same 4 or 5 teams at the top for years to come.

Bro UT boosters have money. I mean look at Fulky. As much as I love the guy, he’s no where near the best player on the basketball team, and he’s raking in the money from endorsements. Honestly our rebuild is probably easier with the new NIL in my opinion. Hell our 3 rd string quarterback has an endorsement t-shirt deal. You act like we’re ETSU or something.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

That first half is a precursor of what can/will be. I thought UT looked very well-coached on both sides of the ball, the players were disciplined and motivated and UT more than held their own against one of the top teams in the SEC/Nation. That was the most well-coached UT team I’ve seen since 2016 for sure.

Heupel’s offense is hard to deal with. They’re going to move the ball on people. And when Huepel gets a really skilled QB, they’re going to be an elite offense. That’s not a shot at Hooker, but can you imagine a Matt Corral type running this UT offense? I predict TN will win a game or two they’re not supposed to this year. And I also think if UT fans give Huepel enough time, he’s going to have UT contend in the SEC East. It may take 3-5 years, but Huepel knows what the hell he’s doing with offensive football. Going forward, TN has to win these “50-50” games against the SC/KY/Missouri’s of the world, and then find a spot to go out and pick off one of the big ones.

As for Florida, I continue to be amazed at Mullen’s ability to adapt his offenses to fit his personnel. To go from one of the greatest finesse and timing passing offenses in school and NCAA history, to then stop, completely flip it around, and now become an offense that leads the country in rushing, a mauling, ground and pound style rush attack, is amazing.

I think both UF and UT are in really good shape with their current head coaches.

Well you could say the program was in good hands after Pruitt beat Auburn in his first year.

 

[memvol]

Yes. It does not take a great memory to remember there was consistent national and regional accolades at how well the pigs were playing and competing.

Coach of the Year Conversation in Year 1

National Publication Discussing Year 1 Momentum

So, if 3-7 is gonna garner coach of the year conversations, Huepel is on track at 2-2. Pittman is a hell of a motivator that hired the best coordinators out there.

This team is 4 games into a new season and if you don’t see the difference between this years team and last then you are who Johnny said you are.