where do we stand at the halfway point?

#1
Big Orange Captain

Big Orange Captain

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#1
Hard to believe but the season is now half over so we have two close SEC wins over scrub teams and a narrow loss to Georgia. Where do you think we finish? I got us going 9-3 just outside the playoffs we got less margin for error after losing to georgia and we need to win 2/3 out of Florida , Bama and OU. i think we beat OU at home but i don’t see us winning at Tuscaloosa or Gainesville and that will keep us out of the playoff.
 
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#4
#4
I don't know what to think of this team. I do not trust them yet. TSIO will be even bigger than usual imo.

I really hope that Bishop and Hobbs weren't seriously injured today, and that we get Jermod back.

Heupel's continued habit of going conservative with a modest lead is concerning. The defense routinely makes huge plays, but also gives up chunks of yardage like they're samples at Costco.

8-4 seems like a real possibility to me (although Oklahoma looked awful today), but think how differently we'd all feel if Gilbert had just made that kick, or a number of other things. We'll have a chance to finally put the Georgia game behind us next week.
 
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#5
#5
I think we played a team that was better than their record today and we’ve gotten healthy on defense. Not sure we win today without Hobbs. The defense is admittedly hard to watch at times but they also turn right around and take the ball back when needed. Brazzell was contained today yet we still scored enough. Would have had the UGA game if we just make that kick. We’re a borderline playoff contender in my opinion.
 
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#6
#6
We can outscore anyone else on the schedule, but an off night from the offense and we can lose to anyone left except NM State and probably Kentucky.

I don't think there's anything that's going to make the defense any better. Heupel needs to just embrace speed and power, and run warp speed offense every game all game. When we throttle down the offense struggles and the defense can't stop anyone no matter what the offense does, outside of random turnovers.

Normally if a team turns it over like Arkansas and Miss State they lose by 21 to 28 points. But our defense is just a disaster all but the moments we are speed rushing the QB or causing a turnover. (Usually because of the rush)

In a vacuum, with our offense, and number of TFL/Sacks/Forced turnovers we have this season, you'd guess we were 6-0 and we'd blown everyone out. But on 7 or 8 out of every 10 downs, the defense looks lost.
 
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#8
#8
At the risk of losing my “realist” status and becoming a nega, I say we lose two more. Simpson is the best QB in the nation and Bama is rolling. That’s going to be one. The second will be Florida or Oklahoma. Maybe both. We saw tonight Georgia isn’t what we thought they were and that actually hurts us.
 
#10
#10
VolArmy74 said:
We can outscore anyone else on the schedule, but an off night from the offense and we can lose to anyone left except NM State and probably Kentucky.

I don't think there's anything that's going to make the defense any better. Heupel needs to just embrace speed and power, and run warp speed offense every game all game. When we throttle down the offense struggles and the defense can't stop anyone no matter what the offense does, outside of random turnovers.

Normally if a team turns it over like Arkansas and Miss State they lose by 21 to 28 points. But our defense is just a disaster all but the moments we are speed rushing the QB or causing a turnover. (Usually because of the rush)

In a vacuum, with our offense, and number of TFL/Sacks/Forced turnovers we have this season, you'd guess we were 6-0 and we'd blown everyone out. But on 7 or 8 out of every 10 downs, the defense looks lost.
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This. Just go all out. Defense gives up a ton of yards but they also create turnovers so maybe a few of those can get the job done, but I don't think that we should ever go conservative--it absolutely grinds my gears.
 
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#14
#14
I don't know, but we are in the exact same position we were this time last year. 5-1. One SEC lost. One SEC win in OT. One clean SEC win. Last year our lost was to AR, a game we had no business losing. This year, our one lost is to Georgia in OT. So theoretically we are in a better position. We easily have a better QB. But honestly, it doesn't feel like it. We barely won aganist MS and AR, these were supposed to be our easy games. Maybe we beat OK and FL. But I can't help but feel we plateaued as a team. Maybe we go 10-2 and make the playoffs. Than what? Lose in the first round again? Heupel has done amazing things for the program but I feel like we've peaked. We can't beat Georgia. We can't make the SEC. We can't win a natty.
 
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#15
#15
TNCNGuy said:
I don't know, but we are in the exact same position we were this time last year. 5-1. One SEC lost. One SEC win in OT. One clean SEC win. Last year our lost was to AR, a game we had no business losing. This year, our one lost is to Georgia in OT. So theoretically we are in a better position. We easily have a better QB. But honestly, it doesn't feel like it. We barely won aganist MS and AR, these were supposed to be our easy games. Maybe we beat OK and FL. But I can't help but feel we plateaued as a team. Maybe we go 10-2 and make the playoffs. Than what? Lose in the first round again? Heupel has done amazing things for the program but I feel like we've peaked. We can't beat Georgia. We can't make the SEC. We can't win a natty.
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Talking heads, fans and others like to circle some SEC games as easy wins--no such thing in the SEC and the season thus far has proven that. We may and I say may soundly beat Kentucky but that's the only game left other than NMST that I see us winning handily.
 
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#16
#16
I think we will likely be 10-2. I am worried about Bama next week. Texas showed us how we can beat Oklahoma and proved that the Sooners were not as good as the experts made them out to be. And I know that "The Swamp" is a tough place to play, but they have trouble with scoring a lot of points and I think that we can put quite a bit up on them. While Vandy will be tough, I think that we will still beat them. I think that we'll lose one more and still be able to make it into the playoffs.
 
#17
#17
#1fulmerite said:
At the risk of losing my “realist” status and becoming a nega, I say we lose two more. Simpson is the best QB in the nation and Bama is rolling. That’s going to be one. The second will be Florida or Oklahoma. Maybe both. We saw tonight Georgia isn’t what we thought they were and that actually hurts us.
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And they also didn't look to impressive against an FCS Austin Peay team, either.
 
#18
#18
#1fulmerite said:
At the risk of losing my “realist” status and becoming a nega, I say we lose two more. Simpson is the best QB in the nation and Bama is rolling. That’s going to be one. The second will be Florida or Oklahoma. Maybe both. We saw tonight Georgia isn’t what we thought they were and that actually hurts us.
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I feel better about Oklahoma at home than I do Florida in The Swamp. Florida kinda found their groove and they're better than their record implies. Mateer doesn't look the same after his injury--now in true Tennessee fashion I'm sure he will be on point when they play us. I agree next week will be a very tough game at BDS. I don't even really know what the game plan would be. I say our best chance of winning is all gas no breaks on offense and hopefully Heupel has some tricks up his sleeve that he saw FSU exploit in week 1.

Also, I still say we beat Georgia by 14 had we just kept cruising on offense. I know Josh was trying to give the defense a rest but the conservative drive up 21-7 kinda put Joey in a funk and made the offense lull for a quarter and a half.
 
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#19
#19
Vol in Buckeye Land said:
I don't know what to think of this team. I do not trust them yet. TSIO will be even bigger than usual imo.

I really hope that Bishop and Hobbs weren't seriously injured today, and that we get Jermod back.

Heupel's continued habit of going conservative with a modest lead is concerning. The defense routinely makes huge plays, but also gives up chunks of yardage like they're samples at Costco.

8-4 seems like a real possibility to me (although Oklahoma looked awful today), but think how differently we'd all feel if Gilbert had just made that kick, or a number of other things. We'll have a chance to finally put the Georgia game behind us next week.
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Yeah, have to find a way to do something off turnovers. Throwing two low percentage bombs on one series for 3 and out, and then another sequence of 3 and out on another turnover. You at least need a first down. The good news is there are no SEC teams who are like Bama/UGA teams in past 5-6 years, but bad news is that there are alot of good teams who can beat you any week. 10-2 is possible but w/ this D, it feels more like a 9-3 at best team. Just gotta keep winning the next game and see where things end up. Some said this week is separation Saturday but think it's this week. Cluster of one loss teams will start to separate this time next week.
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#23
#23
TNCNGuy said:
I don't know, but we are in the exact same position we were this time last year. 5-1. One SEC lost. One SEC win in OT. One clean SEC win. Last year our lost was to AR, a game we had no business losing. This year, our one lost is to Georgia in OT. So theoretically we are in a better position. We easily have a better QB. But honestly, it doesn't feel like it. We barely won aganist MS and AR, these were supposed to be our easy games. Maybe we beat OK and FL. But I can't help but feel we plateaued as a team. Maybe we go 10-2 and make the playoffs. Than what? Lose in the first round again? Heupel has done amazing things for the program but I feel like we've peaked. We can't beat Georgia. We can't make the SEC. We can't win a natty.
Click to expand...

This program is nowhere near “peaked.” We still have some recruiting limitations lingering from Pruitt for crying out loud.

Also, we have gone from bottom feeders to competitive with every team on our schedule. Clearly moving in the right direction.
 
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#24
#24
cherokeeeVOL said:
I think we played a team that was better than their record today and we’ve gotten healthy on defense. Not sure we win today without Hobbs. The defense is admittedly hard to watch at times but they also turn right around and take the ball back when needed. Brazzell was contained today yet we still scored enough. Would have the UGA if we just make that kick. We’re a borderline playoff contender in my opinion.
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Vols don't have great defense by any stretch....they struggle with teams with good RBs Arky, Miss St, and Ga .
We didn't stop a run to right side of defense all day Sat....not optimistic Sat
@ Bama but can hope for good guys..
Go Vols!!!!!
 
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