Can Someone Remind Me Why We Are So Worried About WVU Again?!?

#151
#151
TL,DR
But in response to OP title, we aren't worried. But it'll be a good measuring stick coming off Tennessee worst season ever with a new coaching staff.
 
#152
#152
I don't know about "being worried" but there's more reason to believe Tennessee loses that game than wins it. First game under new coaching staff against a Power 5 opponent on the heels of going 1-8 against Power 5 opponents.
 
#154
#154
BeardedVol said:
WV had the 28th ranked defense in 2015, and 37th in 2016 using S&P+. They were 97th using the same model last year, so yeah I'd say last year is the outlier at the moment.

The WV game does not make or break Pruitt, regardless of the outcome.
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Their KU game is on youtube. You should watch it. KU, one of the worst teams in FBS... whose other high rushing game for the year was 147 yds vs Cent Mich... who only broke 100 yds rushing in 5 of their 12 games... line up and ran right down WVU's throat.

This game is a statement on Pruitt. People set the bar too low for Jones too.

PS- what difference do "rankings" make when the yards are what they were? They don't. And they were 65th in '14. That included you can't call last year an "outlier".
 
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#155
#155
UT will be the underdog. And rightfully so. On paper, and by almost any metric that the prognosticators use, WVU is the better / favored team. It is what it is. WVU might well win this game. Pick your spread. They're the favorite. I wouldn't bet against WVU in this one.

I also would not bet against UT. Coach Pruitt, and this staff, have been winners at every level, and every stop along the way. Not always right out of the gate...but always. Some things take time, and rebuilding UT Football to it's traditional place on the SEC and national stage, is going to take time. One, two, three years, who knows?

Here's what I do know, or think I know: We hired a proven winner, for once...and he hired another bunch of proven winners. In time, the wins will come. They might not start in Charlotte, but they will start. And once they start...look out for UT.

We're on our way back. Not there yet, but on our way. The WVU game will simply be a measure of how far we've come, and how far we have yet to go. That, and nothing more.

Go Vols.
 
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#156
#156
NCVOL327 said:
Good or Bad? Dana Holgorser is listed on several sites as coach on the hot seat.
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Dana has been the coach since 2011 and has been mediocre since WVU hung 70 something on Clemson in the Orange Bowl in his first season. That game alone bought him a few years. Considering this should be the best team he's had, another 7 win season and he might get fired.

I don't know who WVU would hire though. It's probably tough to recruit kids from PA and Ohio and convince them to play away games ~1500 miles away.
 
#157
#157
Why am I worried? We went 4-8 last year and begin this year with a first time HC against a ranked team. Not insurmountable, but enough to have reasonable concern. I definitely think we have a shot, but I'm not about to guarantee a victory. Better to be humble than arrogant.
 
#160
#160
I enjoy being the underdog. It reminds me of a certain bowl game in 1985...I still think Miami is licking their wounds, lol! GBO!
 
#162
#162
sjt18 said:
True. I assume he's developed but in just the little I watched from last year those tendencies were still there.


I think I would make the announcers sick of saying "UT off tackle for 4 yards." Their 3 DL's play small. Their DE's I think are in the 270 range. They use smallish LB's and often have them cover a OT. I swear I don't understand why teams don't just run right at the outside shoulders of their two DE's every play.
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270 lb. DE is fine. Clemson has played with much smaller to great success.
 
#165
#165
TheDeeble said:
We were terrible last year. It was the culmination of bad decisions, coaching, and strength and conditioning.

Pruitt would have to be a miracle worker to overcome all of that in one offseason. ETSU, UTEP, Charlotte. Those are the only games where I don't think we should be too worried as of now.
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Deeble Downer! IMO 😀
 
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#166
#166
DownTheField said:
I don't know about "being worried" but there's more reason to believe Tennessee loses that game than wins it. First game under new coaching staff against a Power 5 opponent on the heels of going 1-8 against Power 5 opponents.
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Auburn went 3-9 in 2012 then went 12-2 in 2013 (losing in the NC), not saying we're going to the NC but just because we changed coaches doesn't mean we're screwed
 
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#168
#168
OleRockyTop said:
Auburn went 3-9 in 2012 then went 12-2 in 2013 (losing in the NC), not saying we're going to the NC but just because we changed coaches doesn't mean we're screwed
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This all day. I think Pruitt and the Vols have talent. Will they be able to develop and use it with the time they have? The odds say probably not but I have a feeling Pruitt will get everything this team has out of them the day they play WVU. It may not be enough but I think the Vols will get better as the season rolls along, time will tell.
 
#170
#170
It is football and all our coaches can coach. Keep it simple, minimize the errors and play smash mouth. Yea we win.
WV has no magic. They are probably trying to keep their players fro getting the bug head. The players most likely see us just like last teras team. It is the only film they have to see.
 
#171
#171
Remember, for 75% of the team, this will be the first time they have played in Charlotte on Labor Day weekend. We have the talent. Coaching will win or lose the game.
 
#174
#174
orangemadam said:
Grier may not have had the best record last year, but if he really is a Heisman type QB, I don't think we can keep up with their offense.

The QB is often overlooked in how important he is to the total picture. If Grier is Heisman material, he will make a difference of at least 3 additional wins, and I think UT will be one of those. Don't overlook the fact that Grier also has another year of experience under his belt. If we were to play them in Dec., then I think we could beat them with our young DB's gaining experience. But with this being the first game and us with young DB's and new coaching staff, I see a game in the neighborhood of 31-24 or so.
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Because the Vols lost to Mizzou, Kentucky and Vanderbilt last season.
 
#175
#175
Jaws said:
Because Tennessee has been horrible and underwent a complete coaching change, UT was particularly bad on defense, while West Virginia was pretty good overall and very good on offense.
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I watched SEC Nation yesterday. The narratives for our respective teams during this upcoming season were unfolding.
For Tennessee it was brutal 5 game stretch and unknowns.
For Florida it was AR-15s, Mullen's stealth GUN policy, and cartoon characters doing dumbbell presses.
Fwiw I'll take the relative dignity of the Tennessee narrative.
 
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