Can we realistically expect improvement next year?

#101
#101
CR-vol said:
Just to add to concerns, there'll surely be some coaches on staff getting poached in the off-season. Hopefully Heup can fill those gaps too.
Click to expand...
I'm not so sure about that. Not many going to poach our D coaches at this point, and most of JH's assts came with him, so they have a degree of loyalty...and have more to prove for bigger opportunities in a year or two. I personally think we're safe for next year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TBvol
#103
#103
njvols said:
I'm not so sure about that. Not many going to poach our D coaches at this point, and most of JH's assts came with him, so they have a degree of loyalty...and have more to prove for bigger opportunities in a year or two. I personally think we're safe for next year.
Click to expand...

I hope you're right.
 
#104
#104
Berry4Heisman14 said:
I expect us to hit the portal hard
Click to expand...

Recruiting has changed going forward or until the portal rules change. Schools now have to recruit positions of need in two places: Portal for immediate impact and H.S. for future impact (save 4-5* that are ready now but they are rare). How we do in the portal this year will define the 2022 season. How we do in recruiting H.S. talent will dictate how we do in 2+ years.

Takes time but CJH has made a tatement for us this year. Exciting offense with immediate playing time possible!
 
#105
#105
VFLCodyGBO said:
With our expected departures (don’t have a list, but it includes several starters) can we expect this team to take a step forward? Our recruiting hasn’t been great the past 2 cycles (counting the current) and that may change between now and signing day, but I just don’t see anything saying we should expect a large uptick in capability. I think holding our ground should be the expectation, recruit better, and start improving year 3 or 4 at the latest.
Click to expand...

the portal changes everything IMO. It is extremely difficult to project the following season for any program until after signing day and we see what happens with transfers. It could be May or June before the transfer picture clears up in order to make a valid judgement.

A statement right now, could be completely reversed next June based on those transfers. Not just in and out of UT, but our opponents also. For example, Rattler knows Beamer at South Carolina. How much could he improve that program? Not saying he goes there but just an example.

Way to early to predict improvements or getting worse. JMO
 
  • Like
Reactions: SN-A-C Orange and GreyWolf1129
#106
#106
yes. Significantly. Thanks to the portal, we can bring needed talent onto the team day 1. this is a team that has tasted success. They are 100% bought in to thier coach. They have swagger. We finish 2nd in the East next year. If Georgia has an inexplicable fall apart, which they have been known to do, We could find ourselves 1st in the SEC.
 
#107
#107
VFLCodyGBO said:
With our expected departures (don’t have a list, but it includes several starters) can we expect this team to take a step forward? Our recruiting hasn’t been great the past 2 cycles (counting the current) and that may change between now and signing day, but I just don’t see anything saying we should expect a large uptick in capability. I think holding our ground should be the expectation, recruit better, and start improving year 3 or 4 at the latest.
Click to expand...
Except we don’t lose several starters. Not sure where you got that from.
 
#108
#108
We clearly aren't in a spot for immediate ascension, regardless how good heup is. Shula recruited well. Saban went 6-6 in year 1 because his guys were adapting to "the process". Same exact thing at UGA for Kirby. The talent was there, being developed.

Who is on the long list of players currently being redshirted at TN that will be studs? How's recruiting looking due to the NCAA cloud?

Heup can obviously coach offensive ball. The team has clearly bought in and played hard each week. Banks has done an admirable, if not great, job with the defense considering what he's got at his disposal. There's not been one game we've not been competitive in this year.

Continue to beat the little 4 (Vandy, UK, Scar, Mizzou) next year and forward. That gets you to 7, maybe 8 wins with OOC. Possibly 9 with a bowl. Recruit. Reshirt. Develop. Repeat.

That's the only path. Because there is not a legacy class out there for Heupel to accelerate the process.
 
#111
#111
My concern is centered around the line of scrimmage. Those guys need to be redshirted and developed, and we’re starting from a position of weakness in terms of depth. This first OL class isn’t full of talent, on paper, aside from Nichols. The DL class is in the same boat. I like Joshua Josephs and James Pearce, but DT is thin and not in excess of talent. The unfortunate situation is that we will likely have to bring in less talented OL/DL and play them earlier than we’d like. JUCOs and Transfers may buy us some time but HS prospects have to be the foundation
 
  • Like
Reactions: GreyWolf1129
#112
#112
wmcovol said:
Vol fans need to be realistic. A step back MIGHT be in the future to rebuild long term.

This continues to be a major rebuilt. The NCAA thingy makes it a bigger challenge than normal rebuild.
Click to expand...

This X 1000
The NCAA thing has, IS and Will cause damage to our program and the rebuild.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigOrangeTrain
#113
#113
TAF said:
Next year starts the whole "CJH needs 3-5 years to get HIS recruits in..." talk.

Then in 4-5 years...at 7-5...we get Gruden Rumors...

Rinse & Repeat...

WELCOME to Tennessee Football in the New Millennium!

eeyore.gif
Click to expand...
If there is a coach we've had that deserves that time frame, it's Heupel.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wmcovol
#114
#114
wmcovol said:
Vol fans need to be realistic. A step back MIGHT be in the future to rebuild long term.

This continues to be a major rebuilt. The NCAA thingy makes it a bigger challenge than normal rebuild.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. That’s why the old adage of a coach only gets 3 years has to be thrown out the window. I kind of expect a step back offensively next year. We are losing our 2 best WRs and if Tillman leaves that’s all of our best ones. We are losing our best OL and DL. We are losing a lot next year.

Yes the portal is there but we can’t fill every hole with the portal. Fans are gonna have to understand that at some point we are gonna have to sit back and accept the 3-5 year rebuild.
 
  • Like
Reactions: wmcovol and Vol865
#116
#116
Zvols said:
My concern is centered around the line of scrimmage. Those guys need to be redshirted and developed, and we’re starting from a position of weakness in terms of depth. This first OL class isn’t full of talent, on paper, aside from Nichols. The DL class is in the same boat. I like Joshua Josephs and James Pearce, but DT is thin and not in excess of talent. The unfortunate situation is that we will likely have to bring in less talented OL/DL and play them earlier than we’d like. JUCOs and Transfers may buy us some time but HS prospects have to be the foundation
Click to expand...

This. It starts...it always starts...with the OL and DL. Yes, you can mask a certain degree of weakness up front with stellar play behind the Iines, but sooner or later that gets exposed. The litmus test is this: When you need it, can you line up and get a 4th and 2? And when your opponent is facing 4th and 3, can you line up and stop it?

This offense would be / will be much more effective and dangerous when it has a line it can trust. And this defense will play a lot better when it has a 2-deep stout front 4.

Call me "Captain Obvious", because it's just that simple.

Go Vols.
 
#117
#117
Did you realistically expect improvement this year after the bad Pruitt press, all the departures, the new coaching staff, the new QBs, etc……?
So why would it be so hard to believe even more improvement next year?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volview
#118
#118
TAF said:
Next year starts the whole "CJH needs 3-5 years to get HIS recruits in..." talk.

Then in 4-5 years...at 7-5...we get Gruden Rumors...

Rinse & Repeat...

WELCOME to Tennessee Football in the New Millennium!

'
Click to expand...

What is impressive about CJH is he is not saying, "Wait till I get my guys in here."

He says things like, "I love competing with the guys I have."

It may sound subtle, but it is the right kind of attitude to build a team.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigOrangeTrain
#119
#119
I think the transfer portal will start working in UT's favor instead of stripping out half of the talent and depth.
 
#120
#120
Volview said:
What is impressive about CJH is he is not saying, "Wait till I get my guys in here."

He says things like, "I love competing with the guys I have."

It may sound subtle, but it is the right kind of attitude to build a team.
Click to expand...

What’s also impressive he isn’t saying he will get 25 guys in here that will play. Also, he doesn’t coach not to lose. He seems to coach to win.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volview
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top