6 - 6 is not enough

#26
#26
6-6 and bowl eligible is an improvement from 2013 to 2014. I'll take it. Especially with the number of freshmen that had to step up and play and the number of underclassmen making big time plays that kept us in some of these ball games.

What's more impressive to me with this young team is how close they were to actually an 8-4 season and being in the discussion to win the east. A one point loss to UF and 3 points to UGA?

I am excited for the future of this team. Especially if Jones can pull another top 10 recruiting class to reload and build some more quality depth. WOW
 
#27
#27
Rome wasn't built in a day. 6-6 with the first Bowl game since 2010 is a damn good start. I think Tennessee goes 8-4 in 2015.
 
#28
#28
Eddie Vol Halen said:
The season is NOT over and that feels damn good. It's been over before December for far too long. This day has been the start of off-season threads for far too many seasons.

At the beginning of the season, I said 6 - 6 was not enough. This young Tennessee team should be ready to manhandle another non-SEC 0.500 team in the bowl game if we are on the right trajectory. Although the path to 6 - 6 was more tortuous than we imagined, we are there and we still have a chance to prove we can be a contender.

Today was hot garbage, but between our injuries and the loss of AJ, and the inconsistency any team playing this many freshman will have -- eeking out a win even against Vandy is critically important.

Right now, Butch and co still have big questions to answer going into Year Three (especially his Offensive coaching staff). I really see this bowl game as a "past is prologue" moment. Can we fix what is clearly broken on the team with 15 practices? Will we come out hungry and confident? Will we look like a prepared team with a clear identity?

Make no mistake, this is a huge bowl game for Tennessee. This is a clear inflection point. We still have a lot of questions surrounding Team 118, and this bowl game is going to shine a spotlight on the answers for years to come.
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6-6 is really impressive when you consider we had 0 returning starters on the O-line and D-line, started freshman & sophomores at basically every position and had the toughest schedule in college FB. 6-6 & 12 pts from 9-3. Huge strides in the rebuilding process! BRICK BY BRICK...

:loco:

TENNESSEEDUKE
 
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#30
#30
fade route said:
A "past is prologue" moment? Wut?
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If they don't get it done in the bowl game this year, I expect we'll see a lot more games like it in future.

We've had two years already of inexplicable losses, of really bad in-game management, of absolutely bonehead play-calling that has cost games, and yet I can still buy the argument that its a combination of youth, newness to the system, wrong players in system, etc.

If it happens in the bowl game, this bowl game,then the past will most definitely be prologue and we've been seeing exactly what we will get from here on out. And if so, at least Butch is stocking the cupboard for Gruden.
 
#31
#31
Agree that 7-6>6-7 but the bowl practices are what matters. Hopefully we come out fully healed and ready to take it too whoever but I'd call this a win of a season. They did what everyone expected and what everyone predicted. Good job guys
 
#33
#33
For the record (since some folks have clearly read the OP too fast) - I thought we were a 6 - 6 team at the beginning of the season, but I hoped we would over-achieve. The way it has played out to 6 - 6 has killed me because we left a couple of wins on the field this year, but we're on par. I'm thrilled about a bowl game.

I do see this "participation" bowl game as truly important. We were really banged up yesterday; we lost our team leader who may be in trouble which makes a football game pale in comparison.

I want to see what this staff can do now that the season is over. We've got time to mend up, to find new leaders for next year, to fix the obvious problems. We should be hungry and desperate for a bowl win. All those freshmen who played are (essentially) sophomores now. We need to see one of our best performances of the season. It would do everyone a world of good.
 
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#34
#34
itsallvols said:
offense staff doesn't play a down, we knew these guys was going to be in-season learning so why at the end of the season do we think they should be ready for the nfl. It took 3 + years for our last freshman group to mature, and it will be the same here.

Lt we are playing a guard
rt we are playing a 1 leg lt
center we are playing 2nd game starter
rg is a true freshman
lg is playing his 1st full year

they are working against red shirt seniors, seniors and juniors for the most of the year.

Big difference getting an ol in the weight room to stop the punch and maintain their feet and balance...its one of the toughest positions on the field.

You have inside gap, outside gap and bull rush to defend and it maintain your feet.
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should be required reading!
 
#35
#35
It is a measure of how far we've fallen that we're all relatively happy to have reached six wins and a (fairly) crappy bowl game. We've basically been Vandy for the last, what, six or so years--and at a disadvantage trying to rebuild in a powerhouse conference with, typically, four teams in the national top 10 every year. It isn't easy.

This team is hobbled by youth, inexperience and injury--and if we play anybody decent in the bowl we'll probably get beat. So I for one will not have great expectations for the next game. It will be nice to get some extra practices in---nearly of which should be devoting to improving our pathetic passing game. We need to be able to execute a half a dozen quick, simple pass plays; get the freakin' TEs involved, get rid of the ball. We do not pass protect well enough for any QB to stand in the pocket; one of our linemen gets beat quickly on every play. I am a Dobbs supporter, but he's got a long, somewhat odd throwing motion that I think hurts his passing. He seems to wind up before throwing, delaying his release, and the stiff-armed action surely affects some of his throws. He throws the ball fine sometimes, and then other times--viz last night, you go, 'what was that?' I think the lack of protection has rattled him a bit. You can't relax in the pocket when you have come to expect a DL charging at you moments after receiving the ball. In any case, try to improve the pass game and we can all look forward to next year.
 
#36
#36
Eddie Vol Halen said:
The season is NOT over and that feels damn good. It's been over before December for far too long. This day has been the start of off-season threads for far too many seasons.

At the beginning of the season, I said 6 - 6 was not enough. This young Tennessee team should be ready to manhandle another non-SEC 0.500 team in the bowl game if we are on the right trajectory. Although the path to 6 - 6 was more tortuous than we imagined, we are there and we still have a chance to prove we can be a contender.

Today was hot garbage, but between our injuries and the loss of AJ, and the inconsistency any team playing this many freshman will have -- eeking out a win even against Vandy is critically important.

Right now, Butch and co still have big questions to answer going into Year Three (especially his Offensive coaching staff). I really see this bowl game as a "past is prologue" moment. Can we fix what is clearly broken on the team with 15 practices? Will we come out hungry and confident? Will we look like a prepared team with a clear identity?

Make no mistake, this is a huge bowl game for Tennessee. This is a clear inflection point. We still have a lot of questions surrounding Team 118, and this bowl game is going to shine a spotlight on the answers for years to come.
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very well said eddie. the sad thing is though 65% of volnation is ready to give jones a lifetime contract for a 500 season. with his coaching lacking terribly this year, I just think that is a horrible decision.
 
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#37
#37
Eddie Vol Halen said:
If they don't get it done in the bowl game this year, I expect we'll see a lot more games like it in future.

We've had two years already of inexplicable losses, of really bad in-game management, of absolutely bonehead play-calling that has cost games, and yet I can still buy the argument that its a combination of youth, newness to the system, wrong players in system, etc.

If it happens in the bowl game, this bowl game,then the past will most definitely be prologue and we've been seeing exactly what we will get from here on out. And if so, at least Butch is stocking the cupboard for Gruden.
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please spill water on your key board.
 
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#38
#38
They really only left 1 win on the table. Offense wasn't the problem at Georgia, turnovers and playing Peterman for 3 or 4 series was the problem. No one was going to bottle up a healthy Todd Gurley for a whole game.

The grind of a season and losing a lot of key pieces caught up with them. No outside threat and no Hurd was why their options were limited yesterday. By the end of next year we'll probably know what we have in this staff and where it needs to get better.
 
#39
#39
Cartervol said:
They really only left 1 win on the table. Offense wasn't the problem at Georgia, turnovers and playing Peterman for 3 or 4 series was the problem. No one was going to bottle up a healthy Todd Gurley for a whole game.

The grind of a season and losing a lot of key pieces caught up with them. No outside threat and no Hurd was why their options were limited yesterday. By the end of next year we'll probably know what we have in this staff and where it needs to get better.
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To me, that's a win the coaches left on the field for that very reason.

This is very rare, but we should have gone with a 2-QB system the entire year. A Worley - Dobbs one-two combination would actually have made this an 8-win year with a lot of upside.

99% of the time you go with 1-QB always. However, given the limitations of our O-line, the way the strengths and weaknesses of both QBs offset each other, it's clear a structured 2-QB system would have really helped this team now. Possible 9-win team if the coaches work that properly.

Not that I trust Bajakian to work that properly at this stage. Bajakian and Mahoney are definitely in the dock starting with the bowl game and going into Year Three.
 
#40
#40
Unless something changes in the 15 practices, we will be 6-7 this season. I am very happy we are bowl eligible (I don't agree that 6-6 deserves a bowl, but that is another topic). I hope the guys can figure it out.
 
#41
#41
Eddie Vol Halen said:
To me, that's a win the coaches left on the field for that very reason.

This is very rare, but we should have gone with a 2-QB system the entire year. A Worley - Dobbs one-two combination would actually have made this an 8-win year with a lot of upside.

99% of the time you go with 1-QB always. However, given the limitations of our O-line, the way the strengths and weaknesses of both QBs offset each other, it's clear a structured 2-QB system would have really helped this team now. Possible 9-win team if the coaches work that properly.

Not that I trust Bajakian to work that properly at this stage. Bajakian and Mahoney are definitely in the dock starting with the bowl game and going into Year Three.
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Worley was having a great game and we ran the ball well against UGA. It was turnovers and defense that killed us in that one.
 
#42
#42
The Tall Gguy said:
Unless something changes in the 15 practices, we will be 6-7 this season. I am very happy we are bowl eligible (I don't agree that 6-6 deserves a bowl, but that is another topic). I hope the guys can figure it out.
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You don't even know who the opponent is. :wacko:
 
#45
#45
VolsRule said:
if ut gets ND in a bowl--bad matchup. Hopefully they get an easier team they can beat.
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Based on what is Notre Dame a bad match up?

  • 11/08/14 at Arizona State TV Tempe, Ariz. L, 55-31
  • 11/15/14 vs. Northwestern TV Notre Dame, Ind. L, 43-40
  • 11/22/14 vs. Louisville TV Notre Dame, Ind. L, 31-28
  • 11/29/14 at USC TV Los Angeles, Calif. L, 49-14

They are in a downward spiral and will care very little about playing in a lower tier bowl game after starting 6&0 and then losing 5 of 6 with the only win coming in a tight game vs Navy. They are 69th in total defense. 85th in rushing offense. They are a good passing team and pass a LOT which means a lot of drop backs and opportunities for Maggitt and Barnett(ND is 85th in sacks allowed). They are 70th in sacks per game and we are 18th. We match up VERY well with them.
 
#47
#47
Quote:
Originally Posted by VolsRule View Post
if ut gets ND in a bowl--bad matchup. Hopefully they get an easier team they can beat.

FBtime said:
Based on what is Notre Dame a bad match up?

  • 11/08/14 at Arizona State TV Tempe, Ariz. L, 55-31
  • 11/15/14 vs. Northwestern TV Notre Dame, Ind. L, 43-40
  • 11/22/14 vs. Louisville TV Notre Dame, Ind. L, 31-28
  • 11/29/14 at USC TV Los Angeles, Calif. L, 49-14

They are in a downward spiral and will care very little about playing in a lower tier bowl game after starting 6&0 and then losing 5 of 6 with the only win coming in a tight game vs Navy. They are 69th in total defense. 85th in rushing offense. They are a good passing team and pass a LOT which means a lot of drop backs and opportunities for Maggitt and Barnett(ND is 85th in sacks allowed). They are 70th in sacks per game and we are 18th. We match up VERY well with them.
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USCal's sched is lighter than ours of course and were 8-4, but also they started/played 3 Fresh on the OL that game, and all season actually I believe. Our OL simply must step it up somehow in '015 and I'm sure the Staff knows this.
 
#49
#49
Advol said:
OK, I get it. 6-6, 7-5 is around what was expected.
Butt the newsmedia is waaaaay overkilling this. If you pick up the Newsless today you would think we are going to the Super Bowl. The only positive is the additional practice time for these young men.
I wonder how many of the Sheep will actually show up to "the" Bowl.
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Baaaaahaww. Baaaaàahaw. That's sheep for I will be there.
 
#50
#50
The Tall Gguy said:
We have not shown that anyone that should be an easy win will be.
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What games did you have pegged as 'easy'? I only had three games that fit that category.

I had the easy games, in order from easiest to easy, as Chattanooga, Utah State, and Arkansas State. UT won those games by 35, 31, and 15 (total margin of victory is 76 points). I would say that is considered taking care of business.

Of the SEC games, the 'easy' games were against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. UT won by 7 and 34 (total margin of victory is 41 points). Winning by 7 is still a win, and there have been much better UT teams that have had closer games against Vandy teams with similar records.

Were you saying that UT should have had an easy win against Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Missouri, Ole Miss, or Georgia? I would say that some of those games should (could) have been wins, but none of them should have been easy wins.
 
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