Why should we not be in contention next year?

#51
#51
Gruden comes off the firey guy who in college would cause players to not come to Tennessee.

There are plenty of passionate coaches who don't come off as pricks.
 
#52
#52
VolinArizona said:
Our talent level isn't average. We have continually had, on average, top 12 recruiting classes.

Our coaching is piss-poor.
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This year compared to year's past, it looks average to me. Especially D line. One factor in that could be poor coaching, but overall, I think the level has dropped at D-line for sure.
 
#54
#54
utvolpj said:
You're advocating a coach come to UT with no college HC experience and a questionable NFL record. All I'm asking for are reasons why that makes sense besides he screams loud.

(and to OWB: is skinny)
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it's a gamble i know. but it's someone different and someone i think we would have a very good chance at getting and knows the area and the setting. he took two different teams to the super bowl winning one of them. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have Bob Stoops, but that's a pipe dream.
 
#55
#55
volfanbill said:
it's a gamble i know. but it's someone different and someone i think we would have a very good chance at getting and knows the area and the setting. he took two different teams to the super bowl winning one of them. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have Bob Stoops, but that's a pipe dream.
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Someone different and knows the area? That really narrows down the search.

He took 2 teams to the SB but only 1 was his.
 
#57
#57
Everytime Tennessee has had a Heisman type QB,Heath Shuler,Peyton Manning, we have always managed to pull off great years.IMO, Ainge is knocking at that door and the rest of the team will follow his lead is my hope.
 
#59
#59
utfantilidie said:
Everytime Tennessee has had a Heisman type QB,Heath Shuler,Peyton Manning, we have always managed to pull off great years.IMO, Ainge is knocking at that door and the rest of the team will follow his lead is my hope.
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Heath Shuler lost to South Freaking Carolina.
 
#62
#62
I for one expect to hear from Morely, Coker, Bolden, Myers White, Hancock, Dre Mathis, Slick Shelley, and Gerald Williams next year.

It is put up or shut up time for the recruiting corps of 2004.
 
#63
#63
Lexvol said:
I for one expect to hear from Morely, Coker, Bolden, Myers White, Hancock, Dre Mathis, Slick Shelley, and Gerald Williams next year.

It is put up or shut up time for the recruiting corps of 2004.
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i believe gerald williams failed his test again. he won't be attending UT. i swore i heard that from rexvol.
 
#64
#64
Lexvol said:
I for one expect to hear from Morely, Coker, Bolden, Myers White, Hancock, Dre Mathis, Slick Shelley, and Gerald Williams next year.

It is put up or shut up time for the recruiting corps of 2004.
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Dre Mathis moved to DE. Hopefully a new DB coach will get Morley ready. Meyers-White will stay a backup, I think. Hancock will be playing, althought he's not from the '04 class. Gerald Williams I'm pretty sure will unfortunately never be a Vol.
 
#65
#65
kptvol said:
I should have been more clear. I meant that in 2000, we clearly worked out that Clausen was our man by the end of the season. That kind of resolution didn't occur this season. It still might, but we won't know till we roll into Cal.
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I really think Ainge will be the qb rolling into Cal next season. :thumbsup:
 
#67
#67
I am amazed at how many folks on this board are Ok with a 9 and 4 season. Prior to the bowl game, the argument was what was the difference in 10 and 2 and 9 and 3 and why should Fulmer get a raise at 10 and 2 and not 9 and 3. Well well well.

Many people have said on the radio and on this board "what is the big deal", "the bowl game did not matter" and "we had nothing to gain"....

All of those statements are bogus. You play to win whether or not it improves your ranking. You play for love and passion for the game. You play for pride. IMO playing in that bowl game did mean something. Tennessee could have ended the season on an up note. A win could have helped with recruiting, media hype and simply a good ending on a decent year. (and yes a higher ranking)

As it stands now, the vols got outcoached and out played by Penn State. I saw no passion, no pride and no excitement on the Volunteer faces on that field. It was a lack luster performance which has become indicative of the Fulmer regime in bowl games.

INow getting to next year..... IMO the Vols will be a contender. This is because both the offensive and defensive lines have a long way to go. You cant win in the SEC without a running game and defensive line.

Morever, the Vols are losing there top 3 receivers (I believe you can say good bye to Meach) and the remaining wide outs are not proven. That brings me to the running backs...... There may be some talent there however you have to have a line to see how good they can be.

IMHO I do not believe that the Vols will win another SEC ch under Fulmer however he is here for a while. I believe that there are a number of coaches who could pilot the Vols to 9 and 4.

I watched the Louisville game last night and wow. I saw aggressive play calling, bone jarring hits, great individual effort and excitement. The same goes for the Oklahoma game.
 
#68
#68
I feel another 3 or 4 loss season coming, as things stand right now.


We may have three running backs returning next year, but take a closer look...Coker has injury and off-field troubles, Foster is inconsistent and has problems holding onto the ball...along with off-field problems, Hardesty really hasnt shown much of anything all year.

Receiver is well-documented. Its hard to depend on underachieving sophmores and juniors or unproven freshmen. If Meachem does come back (which I think he will) I think we will still need at least one to step up, because he'll be seeing constant doubles.

We're losing our best linebacker and our top three DTs on defense, so we might be even weaker up the middle. We're also losing both current starting corners. We dont know how Fellows is going to be, we dont know if Berry will be able to start, and a lot of people arent that crazy about Morley (though Im still pretty high on him).

And losing Wilhoit really might be our biggest loss, especially when you consider how close our games have been.


Honestly, what positions do you think will be better next year? I think Qb, O-line for sure, maybe linebacks overall. What positions will be worse? Secondary, receivers, kicking. The two unknowns for me are running backs and d-line. We need a running back to step up and keep the job. We need someone at d-tackle to step up and cause pressure.

Looking at the schedule, we have two hard road games in the beginning of the season. Yeah we might be favored at Cal, but its a cross-country trip, first game, and they will want to beat us very badly after hearing about their loss to us ALL year. Uf and Arkansas look like losses. Then its up to if we can beat uga, bama, usc, kentucky...all who will be better next year. I think we'll lose one of those.

I could be wrong though. Maybe all the receivers will gell, or one of those 5-star freshmen comes out and shines. Maybe Berry will start and show why he's the best corner out of high school. Maybe the coaches will play Bolden all game and he'll dominate. Maybe Coker will stop letting this merry-go-round at rb continue, seize the job and then stay healthy and out of trouble. If two of those things happen, I think we're a two-loss team. If all of those things happen...we might be able to do something special. But they're all ifs. We just have to wait and see.
 
#69
#69
I am feeling good about the offense in 2007. Yes we loose WRs but this is college football and I beleive we have some emerging tight ends to pick up the slack as a new recieving corps makes their bones. The running backs are deep, improving and hungry and an experienced quarterback has emerged. And for those of you that think the players don't care, I would say Foster was crushed by the fumbles. I beleive this will temper him and I am not sure he was healthy most of the year. Others on board here closer to the situation think the O-Line has great potential for development. Besides that their are indications from players and coaches of an awareness of problems that need to be addressed. I think its a solid foundation for a Championship caliber year.
 
#70
#70
We were told by Fulmer himself LAST YEAR that the "problems" had been addressed.

I like Foster hoever he has had problems fumbling since he arrived at UT.

What big nasty's does UT have on the Oline. The one freshman who played against Penn State got pushed around so much they had to go back to the previous starter.

Tenn has a lot of problems. They still have discipline problems.
 
#73
#73
VolinArizona said:
Why? Gruden's not a nice gent from what I've seen, and he is probably the most overrated head coach in the league. He's not very good, IMO.

Now, if you wanted to talk about Norm Chow, Bobby Petrino, Ron Rivera, etc, I would love to do so.
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Norm Chow is to Jon Gruden what dog feces is to prime rib. You're smarter than the post above VIA. Ask the Raiders how much they miss Jon Gruden.
 
#74
#74
I would argue that your team improved this year and may well improve again next year, but its all relative. To be more successful in the SECE and then the SEC, you not only have to get better but you also have to get better quicker and more deeply than your competition.

And I see Florida, South Carolina, LSU, and to a more limited extent Arkansas, UGA, and maybe Auburn geting better, and getting better faster, than UT.
 
#75
#75
hatvol96 said:
Norm Chow is to Jon Gruden what dog feces is to prime rib. You're smarter than the post above VIA. Ask the Raiders how much they miss Jon Gruden.
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I probably have a bit of bias against Gruden. I don't like him. I don't think he's a welcoming personality, and I would personally find myself depressed at a signing like that. Chow isn't a good example for my main point, so let me try again, in a more general sense.

Gruden isn't the only successful, passionate, disciplined, and good coach out there, and there are plenty of them who would be easier to deal with.

My worry with Gruden would be recruiting.

An important question I want to know about is if Gruden also plays the role of personnel choices in Tampa? If he does, the regression from 2002 is a bit worrisome.

Then again, I don't think he'd be a serious candidate, anyway.
 
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