1998 vs. 2001 Defense

#26
#26
well 98 did lead UT to a title, so I understand

but I remember that 01 D had all kinds of future NFL players

Albert Haynesworth, John Henderson, Gibril Wilson, Jabari Greer, etc.

Sean Ellis, Darwin Walker, Deon Grant, and Pro Bowler Al Wilson had fairly lengthy NFL careers
 
#27
#27
This isn't even a point of discussion amongst UT fans. The answer is 98, and it isn't even close. Let me offer a similar question: Which NFL team made the better draft pick of a QB in the 1998 NFL draft: Indianapolis or San Diego?

Not quite exactly the same comparison because both sides had many positives in their respective years.

A similar question would be closer to being along the lines of "which team made the better qb draft pick in 2004: the New York Giants or the San Diego Chargers?"
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#28
#28
Not quite exactly the same comparison because both sides had many positives in their respective years.

A similar question would be closer to being along the lines of "which team made the better qb draft pick in 2004: the New York Giants or the San Diego Chargers?"
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im a big fan of national championship trophies and super bowl rings
 
#32
#32
im a big fan of national championship trophies and super bowl rings

Then you'd obviously go with the giants got a better deal with eli manning, but what the chargers got still wasn't terrible.

Just like the 01 defense was good enough that it doesn't just need to be tossed to the side like I guess the 07 defense might fall here, I've never really kept up on what our worst defense might be
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#34
#34
Oh yes. Bingo. Game, set, match pretty much

.....why in the world did A&M end up getting the NC that year in that kind of a landslide?
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Because southern football was viewed as a novelty in the more populous areas of the country, and A&M had played Villanova and St. Mary's which put them in front of a lot more media.
 
#35
#35
Al Wilson and company wouldn't have allowed Matt Mauck to run all over them. Those LB's were just nasty.
 
#36
#36
Then you'd obviously go with the giants got a better deal with eli manning, but what the chargers got still wasn't terrible.

Just like the 01 defense was good enough that it doesn't just need to be tossed to the side like I guess the 07 defense might fall here, I've never really kept up on what our worst defense might be
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yes - although its not 100% because of Eli, but once a super bowl winning qb, always a super bowl winning qb. that and i personally dont care for Rivers, although he is a good qb for sure.

Al, Raynoch and E-Mo make this one easy though
 
#37
#37
1998 had
Shaun Ellis, Darwin Walker, Billy Ratliff, Raynoch Thompson, Al Wilson, Eric Westmoreland, Deon Grant, Dwayne Goodrich, and Fred White
2001 had
John Henderson,Will Overstreet, Al Hayensworth,Andre Lott, Eddie Moore, Julian Battle, and Fred Weary
hmmm I am drawing a blank.

I guess that answers your question!

Haha but seriously the LB Corp alone makes 1998 better

1998
Ellis, Coleman, Walker, Terry
Westmoreland, Wilson, Thompson
Goodrich, Johnson, White Grant

2001
Jackson, Henderson Haynesworth, Overstreet
Moore, Stevenson, Whiteside
Lott, Greer, Battle, Baker
 
#41
#41
WhatIfSports: Free Online Simulation Games, Sim Leagues, Sim Games

Neutral Field and 70 gametime temp
No precipitation
No wind

1998 Vols win 55-13

Boxscore

I know this doesn't answer a question about defense just thought it was interesting

Well if you set the play books according to the their offensive styles it comes out a little differently. I think a safe assumption is that the 98 team favored the run and although Travis Stephens had an extremely good year in 2001 I set the 2001 offense as favor pass.

Temp: 75
Wind: Light
Field: Neutral
Score: 98 Vols: 17 01 Vols 20

Box Score: WhatIfSports.com: College Football Boxscore
 
#42
#42
Well lets put it this way go back to the Vandy game in 98' and watch the hit that was put on the Vandy Wide out. I want to say it was Erick Westmoreland but I'm not for sure it may have been that another dude cant spell his name his inital was R.T. Our D hasnt hit like those guys since those guys played. And by the way the 98' teams wins easily cause that was when Fulmer coached and didnt try to run out the clock.
 
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#43
#43
Oh yes. Bingo. Game, set, match pretty much

.....why in the world did A&M end up getting the NC that year in that kind of a landslide?
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Didnt we lose to USC in the Rose bowl? I think if we had won we would clearly have been national champs. I might be wrong about that though.
 
#44
#44
Didnt we lose to USC in the Rose bowl? I think if we had won we would clearly have been national champs. I might be wrong about that though.

Yes and no. Yes we did lose to USC in the rose bowl.

However, back at that time the polls chose the national champions at the end of the regular season; the bowl was like a bonus game (in a similar way to how the pro bowl is)
 
#45
#45
Because southern football was viewed as a novelty in the more populous areas of the country, and A&M had played Villanova and St. Mary's which put them in front of a lot more media.

it still baffles me is though that they would have received no attention after having won the championship the year before; none of the polls, even the smaller ones, gave it to UT. you'd think one of them would

(a bunch did in '38, but I really don't see a game - opponent-wise - on the '38 that seems like it would really have garnered national opinion)
 
#46
#46
Yes and no. Yes we did lose to USC in the rose bowl.

However, back at that time the polls chose the national champions at the end of the regular season; the bowl was like a bonus game (in a similar way to how the pro bowl is)

Ok thanks. :hi: Did not know that. Very interesting.
 
#49
#49
1998
Ellis, Coleman, Walker, Terry
Westmoreland, Wilson, Thompson
Goodrich, Johnson, White Grant

2001
Jackson, Henderson Haynesworth, Overstreet
Moore, Stevenson, Whiteside
Lott, Greer, Battle, Baker

Here's what my 98 preseason Athlon mag says:

"But it is on defense where the Vols could see a major drop-off. Six starters must be replaced and questions remain about the health and availability of the Vols' two best defensive linemen, Billy Ratliff and Shaun Ellis."

On the 2001 D, I remember both Baker and Greer looked shakey at times early in their careers, but they learned and by the end were drafted into NFL.
 
#50
#50
Here's what my 98 preseason Athlon mag says:

"But it is on defense where the Vols could see a major drop-off. Six starters must be replaced and questions remain about the health and availability of the Vols' two best defensive linemen, Billy Ratliff and Shaun Ellis."

On the 2001 D, I remember both Baker and Greer looked shakey at times early in their careers, but they learned and by the end were drafted into NFL.

Ratliff had the knee issues and had the temp paralysis issue during practice the previous season and Ellis was coming off the car wreck..
 

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