Do the Vols Have a Shot at the SEC championship and a good bowl game?

#3
#3
Yes I think they have a good shot. Once again, the UF game will be a major factor in going to the Sec title game.
 
#11
#11
I think youd be a fool to think we dont have a shot...now whether it actually happens or not is a different story...
 
#14
#14
if ainge has a monster season, our d-line and o-line play good, our newcomers who are expected to make big contributions do just that, and Foster or Coker establish themselves as the number one back then i dont see y there's no reason we cant be a national title contender
 
#20
#20
If the new WR's step up, the o-line and d-line step up, the new guys in the secondary step up, a RB steps up, If colquitt can kick field goals and we find someone that can return a kick more than ten yards.
We should be fine.
 
#25
#25
You asked for an opinion... I'm more optimistic than several here.

USC should make the competition a quartet this year but have a rough schedule including about trips to UT, UGA, LSU, and Arkansas if I remember right. They get UF at the worst time- end of the season.

UGA has question marks but like UT a favorable conference schedule (at least about as favorable as it gets in the SEC). They don't play LSU or Ark but do play Bama and Aub.

UF is very young especially on defense. Beginning in the 3rd week: UT, @Ole Miss, Aub, @LSU, off week, @UK, UGA, Vandy, @USC... They could very easily be 1-3 in conference before their inexperienced players on defense even begin to get a clue. Their strength is the OL but they aren't deep there either.

UT has a favorable schedule in conference with UF and Bama expected to be the only difficult road games. They get UF early which should be an advantage for the offense... and though others disagree, I think the defense as well since UF won't have SEC speed timing down yet.

I personally don't think the OL is a huge ? for UT this year. They probably have more talent and game experience than they've had in a few years. I think McNeil has the potential to be one of the best ever SEC centers.

QB should be solid 3 deep.

RB looks to be solid but Coker needs to get his head on straight or else Hardesty needs to come on. I don't have confidence that Foster has the talent to be anything more than serviceable. He is definitely not the caliber of back who can be the feature playmaker.

WR is probably the best position to lack experience at. Talent makes up for most of it if you simplify what they have to do. I'd be surprised if Jones, Vinson, and O'Neal (if healthy) don't get on the field very early. Rogers, Hancock, and Taylor all have an opportunity to break out... but if they don't, they won't. This year is their chance. The others have the talent to leave them behind if they don't get established.

TE's are solid. They need to be thrown to. If UT does stick with the no huddle, I look for the TE's to be split in physical mismatches against CB's fairly often. The Cottams are both said to be in the 4.6 range at 6'8". A fade to either guy from a 6'6" Ainge should be a gimme.

The DL is still a question mark but Long's comments in KNS concerning Mapu made me feel alot better. I think he will play well, Bolden will improve, Dan Williams will be the first back-up, and Langley will be brought along. I think they've got Fisher in for some time at DT too. The DE's should be solid with experience and talent.

LB's are good and deep.

The secondary lost experienced players in Morley and Fellows. However Berry is listed as the second fastest newcomer behind O'Neal and showed a nose for the ball in the Army AA game. The Juco transfers will probably impact immediately. It sounds as if some of the other guys have come along too.

On the down side, the secondary could flop and that will be huge if the DL isn't significantly better than last year. The OL needs to run block alot better... I'm depending on McNeil playing like the all-conference caliber player I think he is. Lastly, it might not have been the run "blocking" last year... maybe none of the backs are any good. I saw plays where it looked like all three made mistakes and missed holes. Coker gives indications of being a head case. And... maybe it is Fulmer and what he's done isn't enough. I think he's made the right moves but maybe the game has passed him by.

There you go...
 
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