Biggest Remaining Challenge Every Power 5 Coach Faces This Offseason

#1
dduncan4163

dduncan4163

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Biggest Remaining Challenge Every Power 5 Coach Faces This Offseason | Bleacher Report

Tennessee Volunteers

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Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Butch Jones


Being mentally prepared for expectations
The offseason hype train has made a stop each of the last few years in Tennessee's backyard, but this time around it's camped out in Knoxville. The Volunteers won their final six games of 2015 and are ranked in the top 10 by most national media outlets.
It's almost impossible for Butch Jones to keep his players completely shielded from these expectations, but by reminding them that everything has to be earned, he can keep these projections from fostering overconfidence. All he needs to do is point to another front-loaded schedule to show them how everything can blow up if the Vols aren't ready for the early challenges.
Tennessee's first seven opponents this fall made bowl games a year ago, and its first four SEC opponents (Florida, at Georgia, at Texas A&M, Alabama) might be the hardest stretch of any team in the league
 
#2
#2
If we can get through that 4 game stretch with at least 3 wins we will be in Atlanta.
 
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#4
#4
What's up with this false narrative that we have gotten lots of hype the past few years? I feel like preseason expectations have been pretty accurate recently, with maybe the exception of 2012.

Last year some people named us as a dark horse in the east, but most said loads of potential, but still a year away.

I just don't get this, "Tennessee is over hyped every year," thing.

But anyways, I agree that if we make it through that stretch at 3-1 we go to Atlanta. 2-2 might even be enough.
 
#5
#5
If we make it to bye week 7-0 or even 6-1, I'll probably start worrying more then. It would be easy to get lax after that and then drop a game or two to teams we shouldn't.
 
#6
#6
I'm sorry but that's not the biggest challenge. These guys are extremely confident in their abilities and the players are expecting nothing less than finishing this year in Tampa. I haven't seen this much confidence in our guys since the 90s and early 2000s. That's why I'm so excited. They were confident last year but just couldn't close the deal a few times. I think that NW game is a prime example of how confident they are. They knew they had a legitimate chance at being in the playoff but missed out because they couldn't close and they took their frustration out in that game. There's a reason a lot of people are expecting big things out them this year. The biggest challenge will be getting over the 4th quarter struggles. It's absurd to think that they will allow the hype and expectations get to them. Our guys are battle tested and will not allow outside things to be a distraction.
 
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#7
#7
I'm with you 22. The mental approach of this team and coaching staff is spot on.

Confidence in what can be accomplished along with the reality of missed opportunities.

We have a stacked team that from everything I've heard they have been working to improve.

2016 is a fun year.

See you in Tampa.

Go Vols!
 
#9
#9
Illuminutty27 said:
What's up with this false narrative that we have gotten lots of hype the past few years? I feel like preseason expectations have been pretty accurate recently, with maybe the exception of 2012.

Last year some people named us as a dark horse in the east, but most said loads of potential, but still a year away.

I just don't get this, "Tennessee is over hyped every year," thing.

But anyways, I agree that if we make it through that stretch at 3-1 we go to Atlanta. 2-2 might even be enough.
Click to expand...


Apparently if you are a dark horse pick, you underperform if you don't overproduce
 
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#12
#12
His biggest challenge is Florida. It all starts there. Failing to get it done with arguably his best team and the heat gets turned all the way up.
 
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