After last night, I'm convinced that this staff is going to succeed

#1
NighthawkVol

NighthawkVol

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#1
Four games in, and I see a team that fights for 60 minutes (which wasn't the case last year) and believes in itself and this staff (definitely not the case last year). I also see a master play-caller in Heuepl. He has WRs running open consistently, but QBs either miss them or (more often) receivers drop passes.

I was wondering why they're trying to sign 5 WRs in this class, given how that looked to be a strength of this team going into the season. We're seeing why. They need some guys who can catch the ball.

The biggest issues remain penalties and self-inflicted wounds. "That's on Heupel's lack of discipline!" many of the negative fans scream. This team hasn't been disciplined, penalty-wise, for awhile. We can't expect every bad habit to be undone and fixed in year 1, especially while they're also learning new systems. This is a building year: Heupel is installing systems, changing culture, and putting a team on the field that fights/believes. We'll see a lot more progress in Year 2.

Consider what Sam Pittman is doing in Year 2 at Arkansas. Know what their record was in Year 1? It was 3-7. Now they're undefeated and about to be ranked in the top 10. Know where they rank this season in fewest penalty yards per game? 121st out of 130. Some of our fans think that because Heupel hasn't fixed every problem in 4 games, he's Dooley, part 2. It's absurd.

So going forward....we were never expected to beat Florida by anyone. I didn't expect to be a missed FG away from being tied at the half, either. The two biggest games of the season are coming up: Missouri and South Carolina. Win those two and 6 wins is in the bag. We should beat SC and I give the Vols a slight edge over Missouri after yesterday. Further, Kentucky is certainly looking a lot more winnable. Last night, I saw a team that can win 7 games, IF they don't suffer any major injuries. 6 wins was my hope going into the season. 7 would be fantastic. Then give these QBs an entire offseason to develop more after having played a season in this system, bring in some transfers at key positions, and I think you could see a takeoff season in Year 2. And hopefully, the WRs figure out how to catch or we find some who can.
 
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#4
#4
GregAmsler said:
Four games in, and I see a team that fights for 60 minutes (which wasn't the case last year) and believes in itself and this staff (definitely not the case last year). I also see a master play-caller in Heuepl. He has WRs running open consistently, but QBs either miss them or (more often) receivers drop passes.

I was wondering why they're trying to sign 5 WRs in this class, given how that looked to be a strength of this team going into the season. We're seeing why. They need some guys who can catch the ball.

The biggest issues remain penalties and self-inflicted wounds. "That's on Heupel's lack of discipline!" many of the negative fans scream. This team hasn't been disciplined, penalty-wise, for awhile. We can't expect every bad habit to be undone and fixed in year 1, especially while they're also learning new systems. This is a building year: Heupel is installing systems, changing culture, and putting a team on the field that fights/believes. We'll see a lot more progress in Year 2.

Consider what Sam Pittman is doing in Year 2 at Arkansas. Know what their record was in Year 1? It was 3-7. Now they're undefeated and about to be ranked in the top 10. Know where they rank this season in fewest penalty yards per game? 121st out of 130. Some of our fans think that because Heupel hasn't fixed every problem in 4 games, he's Dooley, part 2. It's absurd.

So going forward....we were never expected to beat Florida by anyone. I didn't expect to be a missed FG away from being tied at the half, either. The two biggest games of the season are coming up: Missouri and South Carolina. Win those two and 6 wins is in the bag. We should beat SC and I give the Vols a slight edge over Missouri after yesterday. Further, Kentucky is certainly looking a lot more winnable. Last night, I saw a team that can win 7 games, IF they don't suffer any major injuries. 6 wins was my hope going into the season. 7 would be fantastic. Then give these QBs an entire offseason to develop more after having played a season in this system, bring in some transfers at key positions, and I think you could see a takeoff season in Year 2. And hopefully, the WRs figure out how to catch or we find some who can.
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I agree!! This staff can scheme receivers open, now we just got to clean up the drops and over throws.
 
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#7
#7
Rocky Top Raby said:
Yay for moral victories and assumptions because that's all we ****ing have
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Pretty sure we have.seen this thread after 4 games for each coach since Fulmer.

At least they're a little more entertaining now if Hooker stays healthy. And in some aspects better than I expected. I expected expected D to SUCK.
 
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#9
#9
GregAmsler said:
Four games in, and I see a team that fights for 60 minutes (which wasn't the case last year) and believes in itself and this staff (definitely not the case last year). I also see a master play-caller in Heuepl. He has WRs running open consistently, but QBs either miss them or (more often) receivers drop passes.

I was wondering why they're trying to sign 5 WRs in this class, given how that looked to be a strength of this team going into the season. We're seeing why. They need some guys who can catch the ball.

The biggest issues remain penalties and self-inflicted wounds. "That's on Heupel's lack of discipline!" many of the negative fans scream. This team hasn't been disciplined, penalty-wise, for awhile. We can't expect every bad habit to be undone and fixed in year 1, especially while they're also learning new systems. This is a building year: Heupel is installing systems, changing culture, and putting a team on the field that fights/believes. We'll see a lot more progress in Year 2.

Consider what Sam Pittman is doing in Year 2 at Arkansas. Know what their record was in Year 1? It was 3-7. Now they're undefeated and about to be ranked in the top 10. Know where they rank this season in fewest penalty yards per game? 121st out of 130. Some of our fans think that because Heupel hasn't fixed every problem in 4 games, he's Dooley, part 2. It's absurd.

So going forward....we were never expected to beat Florida by anyone. I didn't expect to be a missed FG away from being tied at the half, either. The two biggest games of the season are coming up: Missouri and South Carolina. Win those two and 6 wins is in the bag. We should beat SC and I give the Vols a slight edge over Missouri after yesterday. Further, Kentucky is certainly looking a lot more winnable. Last night, I saw a team that can win 7 games, IF they don't suffer any major injuries. 6 wins was my hope going into the season. 7 would be fantastic. Then give these QBs an entire offseason to develop more after having played a season in this system, bring in some transfers at key positions, and I think you could see a takeoff season in Year 2. And hopefully, the WRs figure out how to catch or we find some who can.
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I 100% agree with you on this post sir...Very well said...I think we finally have a staff that "gets it" and I think the team sees that as well...Gonna take a little time to get his own players in here but I think CJH is going to do good things here...He seems to genuinely care.,,,One other thing i noticed, The players didn't look scared against UF, they came at them and smacked them in the mouth and never stopped...they were just outmatched...Lots of fight I loved it!
 
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#11
#11
I didn’t see 60 minutes of fight. I did see improvement and feel the players are giving a good 85% as a team. I am encouraged about the future.
 
#13
#13
GregAmsler said:
Four games in, and I see a team that fights for 60 minutes (which wasn't the case last year) and believes in itself and this staff (definitely not the case last year). I also see a master play-caller in Heuepl. He has WRs running open consistently, but QBs either miss them or (more often) receivers drop passes.

I was wondering why they're trying to sign 5 WRs in this class, given how that looked to be a strength of this team going into the season. We're seeing why. They need some guys who can catch the ball.

The biggest issues remain penalties and self-inflicted wounds. "That's on Heupel's lack of discipline!" many of the negative fans scream. This team hasn't been disciplined, penalty-wise, for awhile. We can't expect every bad habit to be undone and fixed in year 1, especially while they're also learning new systems. This is a building year: Heupel is installing systems, changing culture, and putting a team on the field that fights/believes. We'll see a lot more progress in Year 2.

Consider what Sam Pittman is doing in Year 2 at Arkansas. Know what their record was in Year 1? It was 3-7. Now they're undefeated and about to be ranked in the top 10. Know where they rank this season in fewest penalty yards per game? 121st out of 130. Some of our fans think that because Heupel hasn't fixed every problem in 4 games, he's Dooley, part 2. It's absurd.

So going forward....we were never expected to beat Florida by anyone. I didn't expect to be a missed FG away from being tied at the half, either. The two biggest games of the season are coming up: Missouri and South Carolina. Win those two and 6 wins is in the bag. We should beat SC and I give the Vols a slight edge over Missouri after yesterday. Further, Kentucky is certainly looking a lot more winnable. Last night, I saw a team that can win 7 games, IF they don't suffer any major injuries. 6 wins was my hope going into the season. 7 would be fantastic. Then give these QBs an entire offseason to develop more after having played a season in this system, bring in some transfers at key positions, and I think you could see a takeoff season in Year 2. And hopefully, the WRs figure out how to catch or we find some who can.
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I give you a like,,, however I have limited hope for year two. I realize I have highlighted this part of a sentence from it's total. I just don't think these guys can overcome a lifetime of bad habits, and just lack of ability.
Ark. had a lot more good depth when Pittman took over.
Due to the environment that prevails in college football (all sports) I think that recruiting will become more difficult (not to mention the NCAA problem) and transfers that we will have wanting to come will in most likelihood be someone else's second or third best or a malcontent. Neither will be of much help getting us to where we want to be.
 
#18
#18
Catbone said:
Based on his track record he won't which is unfortunate because I think he's got a good scheme. Oh well.
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I think there are a lot of factors.

I think he's going to get offensive players and/or the offense will be fine because that's him, that's what he does and he will produce offenses. I think people will want to play in that system.

On the defensive side of the ball, I think it will depend on something people really haven't discussed on here. I think it may, don't know, depend on how well he can keep the staff together.

I think one thing that has hurt Tennessee that people have not discussed is staff turnover. People have talked about that regarding the head coach. But, it has seemed like the head coach at Tennessee has lost half of his assistants every year as well.

He's got facilities, the SEC, playing time, and the chance to be a hero to sell to kids. I'm sure he can sell them on NIL opportunities as well. But, the next Tennessee team to make it to a NY6 bowl, beat Alabama, win the East, etc., will be treated like Gods.

I believe and have said for awhile that Tennessee can get it done and be "back", but it won't happen overnight and even the "right guy" is going to need some time. We all just have to see if Heupel is the right guy, but I would bet heavily he's better than Dooley, Jones, and Pruitt (I know, not saying much)
 
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#21
#21
Unless Heupel can learn to recruit better then this staff won’t last long. Tennessee looked like a JV team last night against Florida of course losing like 30 players in the transfer portal doesn’t help either but Heupel needs to go hard on the Juco route to make up for the talent defiency and build more depth. Florida rotating their defensive guys and keeping them fresh and we couldn’t do that. We will never compete with the big three by recruiting mainly 3 star and 2 star guys and no the coaching them up only goes so far too when Bama and Georgia are basically fielding semi pro teams.
 
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#23
#23
CAVPUT said:
Your key point is about the injuries. I don't care who the opponent is but if we take our starting center and QB off the field, all bets are off going forward. Right now I don't know if either or neither will be ready to play these next 2 games.
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Fair observation. It’s hard to predict what we will look like down the road. But it’s somewhat fortunate that 2 of our most important swing games (in terms of getting to 6-7 wins) are the immediate 2 games. Also, the off week before Kentucky is timely. We should beat South Alabama and Vandy regardless, so those 3 games are the true determinants of what kind of season this is. Getting to/through them with. Onomatopoeia injuries is key.
 
#25
#25
Other_Guy said:
Pretty sure we have.seen this thread after 4 games for each coach since Fulmer.

At least they're a little more entertaining now if Hooker stays healthy. And in some aspects better than I expected. I expected expected D to SUCK.
Click to expand...

Which coach schemed as well offensively as Heupel after 4 games? Any answer you give is wrong.
 
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