early 2017 predictions

#76
#76
volfan1231 said:
I remember when these were posted before the beginning of this past season. The optimism was high! The expectations of going 10-2 or 9-3, winning the east etc.... I think in reality that with guys like Dobbs, Kamara, Barnette being gone 7-5 is going to be closer to reality. I hope they prove me wrong. We were pretty close to being 6-6 this year. A hail mary against Georgia & a fumble with App St saved us from that outcome
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AND we are 3 or 4 plays from being 11-1! TRUE STORY!
 
#77
#77
Cartervol said:
We've struggled against it just about every time we've played it. I remember Air Force running up and down the field on Johnny's defense. I cringe at the thought of playing them with what we have right now. They would rush for 1k yards in a single game..
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It's not comparable, that Air Force game was a complete trap game sandwiched between top 10 Cal and BCS champion Gators. We will have the entire offseason to get ready for the triple option. History shows that teams that play GT coming off a bye or in a bowl scenario usually do well. I hate that we are playing them and all their cut block bull**** offense. We don't need lineman out after week 1.
 
#78
#78
RDU VOL#14 said:
It's not comparable, that Air Force game was a complete trap game sandwiched between top 10 Cal and BCS champion Gators. We will have the entire offseason to get ready for the triple option. History shows that teams that play GT coming off a bye or in a bowl scenario usually do well. I hate that we are playing them and all their cut block bull**** offense. We don't need lineman out after week 1.
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The cut blocks suck.. Gets guys hurt. I'm just glad we have a whole offseason to prepare, from the looks of things right now we're going to need it.
 
#79
#79
Cartervol said:
The cut blocks suck.. Gets guys hurt. I'm just glad we have a whole offseason to prepare, from the looks of things right now we're going to need it.
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I actually think we're going to be okay next year. If we can just get and stay healthy then I think we will be okay. I understand being upset with how this season has turned out. I'm pissed. However, I think we have an opportunity to be pretty good next year. I actually think we could win the East next year. We'll probably be picked 3rd in the East, but we'll at least split with UF and UGA.
 
#81
#81
RDU VOL#14 said:
I actually think we're going to be okay next year. If we can just get and stay healthy then I think we will be okay. I understand being upset with how this season has turned out. I'm pissed. However, I think we have an opportunity to be pretty good next year. I actually think we could win the East next year. We'll probably be picked 3rd in the East, but we'll at least split with UF and UGA.
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The injury deal this year is something that doesn't happen often. Guys running off as well. The attrition rate has been rough this year. Losing your top 3 tackles though is the worst thing that happened besides Maybin. The depth worries me. We're seeing these guys weren't ready on both Oline and Dline and linebacker too, don't know how much you can improve in a years time but it needs to be significant..
 
#82
#82
terrypedigo said:
7-5 and if we get lucky 8 and 4 and trip to the Belk or Liberty Bowl, Butch is a 8 and 4 coach with a 9 win season every now and then, the truth hurts sometimes but that is who he is could be worse remember Dooley awaiting on Former Vol JIM BOB COTTER to come marching home in 20 18 he is a top OC WITH THE LIONS A LOT ON HERE WILL THINK THIS IS A JOKE BUT ONE DAY OLD jim bob cotter WILL LEAD THE VOLS.:eek:hmy:
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Cotter comes marching home:crazy::eek:lol::rock::eek:k:
 
#84
#84
Tough one to call.

Florida has 5 home SEC games and will probably have another game cancelled for lightning or a hurricane. Florida loses a ton of skilled players on Defense but that Oline will be very experienced and anchored by Ivey. Scarlett is a great RB. Great Punter/PK.

Georgia's best recruiting class will be Juniors.

We played a lot of FR and Sophs, so at least they will have game day experience and know how much they need to improve.

In theory, we can't possibly have as many injuries next season. Or penalties and turnovers.

I feel good about the backfield, DE, Oline, TE and WR positions. I would like more quality RB depth though.

I'm a bit concerned at LB but a healthy DK, Bituli and Jumper should be fine at MLB unless DK moves to OLB. McDowell should be good and can be great. Elliot Berry is starting to get the hang of it too.

DT and CB will be huge concerns. Safety and NB should be fine with Evan, Micah, Nigel and TK.

We'll have a great punter and a serviceable PK, with great returners.

Good thing about schedule is that it spaces out our tough games. Bad news: 2 best SECwest team as usual (LSU, at bama). at Fl, KY, Mizzou. SCAR, Vandy and Georgia at home. Georgia Tech will be a tough offense to prep for but it might help us to better play the run against other teams (angles and reads).

Maybe with Dobbs just graduating, it will be just like the season after Peyton graduated!
 
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#85
#85
HuntlandVolinColo said:
Tough one to call.

Florida has 5 home SEC games and will probably have another game cancelled for lightning or a hurricane. Florida loses a ton of skilled players on Defense but that Oline will be very experienced and anchored by Ivey. Scarlett is a great RB. Great Punter/PK.

Georgia's best recruiting class will be Juniors.

We played a lot of FR and Sophs, so at least they will have game day experience and know how much they need to improve.

In theory, we can't possibly have as many injuries next season. Or penalties and turnovers.

I feel good about the backfield, DE, Oline, TE and WR positions. I would like more quality RB depth though.

I'm a bit concerned at LB but a healthy DK, Bituli and Jumper should be fine at MLB unless DK moves to OLB. McDowell should be good and can be great. Elliot Berry is starting to get the hang of it too.

DT and CB will be huge concerns. Safety and NB should be fine with Evan, Micah, Nigel and TK.

We'll have a great punter and a serviceable PK, with great returners.

Good thing about schedule is that it spaces out our tough games. Bad news: 2 best SECwest team as usual (LSU, at bama). at Fl, KY, Mizzou. SCAR, Vandy and Georgia at home. Georgia Tech will be a tough offense to prep for but it might help us to better play the run against other teams (angles and reads).

Maybe with Dobbs just graduating, it will be just like the season after Peyton graduated!
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At the time we played them A&M and Bama were the two best West teams this year. Next year those two teams could very well be the two best West teams again when we play them. I know Bama will be one of the two. LSU should be pretty good too. We get no breaks on scheduling on that deal. We need to draw Miss St every now and then. Heck i'd take Ole Miss right now.
 
#86
#86
OP prediction is possible, but so is another 8-4. All depends upon QB. Is JG Deshawn Watson clone, or Dormandy a top tier passer? Lightning rod QB who can pass can be the true difference. OL back, and RB's more than adequate. All this assuming D returns to form. Also, need QB coach, and DB coach who can teach DB's to turn their heads on incoming passes.
 
#87
#87
daniel3417 said:
Anyone predicting more than 8 wins is an idiot. You don't get better by losing Dobbs, Kamara, Barnett, Vereen, or Sutton. Not to mention the leadership of JRM, even though he barely played. There is absolutely no reason to believe Butch is going to take some drastic step forward with a downgraded roster, at least in terms of experience.

7-5 and a new coaching search.
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Based on whose staying and who is healthy this will be the starting lineup not counting any freshmen:

TE Wolf
LT Richmond
LG Robertson
C Coleman
RG Jones
RT Hall
WR Jennings
WR Malone/Callaway
WR Byrd
QB Dormady/Guaratano
RB Kelly
PK Medley

DE Phillips
DT Vickers/McKenzie
DT Tuttle
DE Kongbo
WLB McDowell
MLB Kirkland
SLB Smith
CB Martin
CB Moseley
SS Kelly
FS Warrior
NB Golstyn
P Daniel
 
#88
#88
I predict that CBJ jones doesn't figure out that the main problem with the program is a head coach that can't figure sh*t out
 
#90
#90
daniel3417 said:
Anyone predicting more than 8 wins is an idiot. You don't get better by losing Dobbs, Kamara, Barnett, Vereen, or Sutton. Not to mention the leadership of JRM, even though he barely played. There is absolutely no reason to believe Butch is going to take some drastic step forward with a downgraded roster, at least in terms of experience.

7-5 and a new coaching search.
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If you are going to be an rude, at least be correct: we lost Bill Duff, Marcus Nash, Terry Fair, Trey Teague, Leonard Little, and PEYTON FRIGGIN MANNING in '97 ALL OF WHICH WENT TO THE NFL AND PLAYED that year. You can't count Sutton OR Maybin this year. They aren't cheerleaders. They are football players and they didn't play.

What matters is the OP's point and that is WHO IS COMING BACK?

Let's stick with the comparison of our '98 team for measure. I think Dormady has as much PT if not more than Martin had. IF we get Kamara back he will do very well with our returning line. I don't know enough about our OL or DL line in '98 to draw a comparison but the recruiting profiles and experience levels are there. But I don't think Kamara, Kelly, Fils-Aimes (sp?) would be as good as Henry, Lewis and Stephens (I know we lost Lewis early). I keep hearing smack talked about Todd Kelly but he played hurt toward the end of the year. He is pretty good, but not as good as Grant was. Kirkland has a long way to go to replace Wilson as does Malone to replace price and Jennings to replace Wilson. But Malone, Jennings AND Smith are nice targets. Then you have Wolfe who is OK. Not sure who we had then, but pretty sure it wasn't Whitten. I don't think we have anyone as good as Lott was at DB, but I agree Byrd needs to be moved back to DB. Also, Bama went 7-5 that year. So, while I think we have some talent coming back, I think it is unlikely we will improve that much. I am in wait and see mode.

All this said, I worry about how much our offense will be exposed without Dobbs. Many of his yards were picked up on blown plays. Next year will be very telling about our scheme and player development. But I believe Butch has earned the right to go another year and if we end up 8-4 but looking really pretty for 2018, I am not writing him off.

Do I agree with some that more ownership and less cliches should be included in Butch's press conferences? Yes. But I care more about what happens on the field. I also think he is a good guy who has done a lot for our program when it comes to academics and beyond.

Anyways I'm off point now. Cheers.
 
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#91
#91
GT - toss-up (D must dramatically improve in offseason and will be starting new QB on big stage)
Indiana State - W (does Larry Bird have eligibility left?)
@UF - L (in the Swamp with a new QB in first real road start spells disaster)
UMASS - W
UGA - toss-up (this could be season turning point and a bad loss here puts CBJ on real hot seat)
USC JR - W
Bama - L (this game could be ugly)
UK - toss-up (UK is much improved, UT isn't)
Southern Miss - W
@Mizzou - W
vs LSU - L
Vandy - W (probably a toss-up)

Anywhere from 8-4 to 5-7 is a possibility. Hard to know until QD or JG get under center for first real snaps. Anything better than 8-4 would be surprising after what I saw from CBJ and staff this year.
 
#92
#92
tallyho said:
Based on whose staying and who is healthy this will be the starting lineup not counting any freshmen:

TE Wolf
LT Richmond
LG Robertson
C Coleman
RG Jones
RT Hall
WR Jennings
WR Malone/Callaway
WR Byrd
QB Dormady/Guaratano
RB Kelly
PK Medley

DE Phillips
DT Vickers/McKenzie
DT Tuttle
DE Kongbo
WLB McDowell
MLB Kirkland
SLB Smith
CB Martin
CB Moseley
SS Kelly
FS Warrior
NB Golstyn
P Daniel
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Zero depth at RB behind Kelly.
 
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#94
#94
I think next year is a struggle. Getting to a bowl game is probably the ceiling of expectations for me. If we couldn't win the east this year, I see no chance that we win next year. Could be a big recruiting year, but then again, then year was supposed to be legendary, so I don't know. 5-7 at worst, 7-5 at best, IMO.
 
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#95
#95
I don't/won't have high hopes for a Butch jones coached team until proven otherwise. I see next year as a wildcard year, I wouldn't be surprised to see 5-7 or 10-2.
 
#98
#98
Certainly AK returning would help...a lot.

However, sometimes when you have a heavily SR/ upperclassmen laden team like this season the coaches don't put as much emphasis on the "basics". Next year, there will be a lot of new faces and I could see UT winning the East.

I could see a team similar to the '14 team as far as discipline goes but with more talent across the board leading to a 9-3/ 10-2 record.
 
#100
#100
I see next year being very dismal. 5-7 Is a definite possibility. Based on our "improvements this year" and having to replace our upperclassmen...

vs. GT L
vs. Indiana St W
@ UF L
v.s UMass W
vs. UGA L
vs. USCjr W
@ Bama L
@ UK L
vs. Southern Miss W
@ Mizz W
vs. LSU L
vs. Vandy L

I really hope we beat Nebraska because next year can be bad. Our shining spots are def RB and WR. But can we develop our WR talent? Will there be a qb who can get them the ball? Will the Oline assist Kelly?Is Fils-Aime ready? Will Chandler be ready? Debord getting replaced? Will Shoop stop blitzing so f****ing much and leaving 15 year passing gaps open every play?

Too many questions to make this type of prediction
 
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