ESPN Post-practice Power Rankings- Vols 6th

[Madscientistvol]

Did last season not teach you anything?

Tennessee will not need overtime to beat Appalachian State.

Tennessee will not beat Florida after falling behind by 21 points.

Tennessee will not beat Georgia gaining possession of the ball with 10 seconds left and needing a score.

Tennessee will not lose to South Carolina.

Tennessee will not lose the SEC East after beating Florida and Georgia.

Tennessee will not allow 600+ yards of total offense to Missouri, Kentucky or Vanderbilt.

Tennessee will not lose out on a trip to the Sugar Bowl because they get skull drug up and down the field by Vanderbilt and end up in the Music City Bowl.

Not Tennessee.....Not Florida.....Not Georgia.....not any team in the SEC East has earned the right to act like any game is a foregone conclusion.

Exactly, taking teams for granted or assuming wins is how someone messes around and gets beat by an FCS team. Every game matters, so every game needs to be treated like it matters.

 

[AV_12]

List is laughable. IMO. Auburn is still trash and the others aren't that impressive. LSU QB sucks as well. We will surprise next year

 

[KBVol]

Every loss is disappointing. What's your point?

Fire the HC any year we don't win 10. That's a great idea.

His point is about appropriate expectations, and that ours should be, at a minimum, equal to those of Georgia's.

You don't fire a coach for not getting to 10 wins in any given season, but you make very clear that 10 wins is the expectation, and if you're not getting there on a fairly consistent basis, especially when everything lines up for you to win AT LEAST 10 and make it to Atlanta, then yes, you'll eventually be sent packing with your golden parachute.

Finally, I think his larger point was, if you keep accepting mediocrity and failure as a large % of this fan base now clearly does, that's all you're ever gonna get.

 

[BigOrangeVols]

Barring injuries I think we will have a better season than last. It cannot be overstated how much having like 10 starters on crutches hurts your team. I don't care what your talent level is.

Hurts so bad we decided to lose to Muschamp once again and Vanderbilt

 

[KBVol]

We aren't losing to Florida. Stop it.

Please explain. We're 1-11 the last 12 and 7-24 the last 31 vs the Gators. I'd say given recent and damn near ancient history, the idea that we lose to Florida in Gainesville this year is the logical/pragmatic position to take.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Call me an idiot kool-aide drinker if you wish, but I think we win 10 games this year.

And I think we give Alabama a fight, unlike last season.

Our entire coaching staff is upgraded. We have two dawgs on offense with Kelly and Jennings who will both take lead roles. We should be healthier accross the board. And the chemistry of the team has improved significantly. Everyone who talks about this team talks about family - we're all in this together.

I think injuries and poor chemistry sunk us last year. Some cancers are gone and new coaches are in place and new offensive leaders will emerge.

This is going to be a great year for Vols fans.

 

[Iam4utalways]

His point is about appropriate expectations, and that ours should be, at a minimum, equal to those of Georgia's.

You don't fire a coach for not getting to 10 wins in any given season, but you make very clear that 10 wins is the expectation, and if you're not getting there on a fairly consistent basis, especially when everything lines up for you to win AT LEAST 10 and make it to Atlanta, then yes, you'll eventually be sent packing with your golden parachute.

Finally, I think his larger point was, if you keep accepting mediocrity and failure as a large % of this fan base now clearly does, that's all you're ever gonna get.

99% of our fan base accepts whatever we get. That's all we can do.

Accepting it is given, how we handle it is the question.

Every loss is disappointing, even if there is only 1 or 2, it will still be same. Should of, could of done this or that.

About all we can do is get behind our team and root them to victory. Or do all we can to dishearten the the ones that can make a difference, the players.

If we can go 10-2, then we should be able to go 11-1.

If we can go 11-1, then 12-0 shouldn't be impossible.

I know, I know, "Let's see if we can beat Vandy first."

 

[Burger]

99% of our fan base accepts whatever we get. That's all we can do.

Accepting it is given, how we handle it is the question.

Every loss is disappointing, even if there is only 1 or 2, it will still be same. Should of, could of done this or that.

About all we can do is get behind our team and root them to victory. Or do all we can to dishearten the the ones that can make a difference, the players.

If we can go 10-2, then we should be able to go 11-1.

If we can go 11-1, then 12-0 shouldn't be impossible.

I know, I know, "Let's see if we can beat Vandy first."

Money talks.

 

[chargervol]

Please explain. We're 1-11 the last 12 and 7-24 the last 31 vs the Gators. I'd say given recent and damn near ancient history, the idea that we lose to Florida in Gainesville this year is the logical/pragmatic position to take.

That's the best part about breaking a streak, it's the end of something.
We are not 1-11, we are 1-0.

 

[Iam4utalways]

Money talks.

I know right.

What am I gonna do? Stop going to games and spending my money on Vol related stuff.

I'm not, I'm not even gonna try.

It sucks to lose, we all know that. It's smoking a victory cigar as you walk out of Bryant Denny Stadium, that's what brings me back.

There's only a small slice of Vol fans that were at Ga for the Hail Mary, I bet they never forget it, I hope I never do and I wasn't even at the game.

I'm guilty, I'm gonna make every game I can, if I find a Vol item that gets my attention I'll probably end up buying or even better get it as a gift.

If you haven't been to the Dollar Tree lately, go in, get a basket, stroll thru picking up 1 of anything Orange and see what happens. There is no telling what you will find.

Hang in there Volnation.

I think we are on the right track.

Go Vols!

 

[KBVol]

99% of our fan base accepts whatever we get. That's all we can do.

Accepting it is given, how we handle it is the question.

Every loss is disappointing, even if there is only 1 or 2, it will still be same. Should of, could of done this or that.

About all we can do is get behind our team and root them to victory. Or do all we can to dishearten the the ones that can make a difference, the players.

If we can go 10-2, then we should be able to go 11-1.

If we can go 11-1, then 12-0 shouldn't be impossible.

I know, I know, "Let's see if we can beat Vandy first."

99% of our fan base was in no way accepting of what we got last season after the bad losses to SCar and Vandy. Easily half was infuriated after losing to Vandy, and the other half was silent for a few days before coming back and again telling the other half how they weren't actual fans if they didn't agree that Jones had actually done a really good job playing with 5th teamers and walkons all year long.

It's why Jones is getting extra criticism and scrutiny this offseason and why radio personalities/former players are scoffing at the idea that Jones and his agent have reportedly approached Currie about a raise and extension, despite already having 3 years remaining on his current contract.

We do indeed have to accept what ultimately happens each season as none of us can (obviously) directly make the decision to fire a coach. But just as the fan base was up in arms and vocal (and absent at home games) about Dooley needing to go, the same will happen in fairly short order if Jones continues to fall short of expectations.

 

[KBVol]

That's the best part about breaking a streak, it's the end of something.
We are not 1-11, we are 1-0.

Okay, so if we lose to Florida this year, we're not 1-1 vs them the last 2 seasons?....only 0-1?

 

[RikidyBones]

Please explain. We're 1-11 the last 12 and 7-24 the last 31 vs the Gators. I'd say given recent and damn near ancient history, the idea that we lose to Florida in Gainesville this year is the logical/pragmatic position to take.

I'm one of the guys that believed the mental side had a negative impact on Tennessee the last few years. We led in the fourth quarter the last three years. Two of them we had a mental lapse across the board to give up the win. We could just as easily be on a 3 game winning streak. We beat them with the worst S&C arrangements I've ever seen, without our all SEC LB and CB, etc.

Mental hump is gone. Now we believe that no matter the score, we can come back and stomp the Gators. We lost our talent but they lost a massive chunk if not more then us, it was at least equal.

I see us better in the trenches than Florida and they are finally branching out to play a fully competitive game before us, for once. That'll win this game for Tennessee.

It's simply my opinion. You are welcome to yours.

 

[KBVol]

I'm one of the guys that believed the mental side had a negative impact on Tennessee the last few years. We led in the fourth quarter the last three years. Two of them we had a mental lapse across the board to give up the win. We could just as easily be on a 3 game winning streak. We beat them with the worst S&C arrangements I've ever seen, without our all SEC LB and CB, etc.

Mental hump is gone. Now we believe that no matter the score, we can come back and stomp the Gators. We lost our talent but they lost a massive chunk if not more then us, it was at least equal.

I see us better in the trenches than Florida and they are finally branching out to play a fully competitive game before us, for once. That'll win this game for Tennessee.

It's simply my opinion. You are welcome to yours.

You're certainly welcome to your opinion, was just curious how you formulated yours. I sure hope you're right, that the mental hump nightmare of the last 40 years is gone. I'm just a little more cynical when it comes to our series with Florida....I need to see another game or two before I'll believe it that issue is in the past and we can get to a legit give and take series with the Gators. Got a lotta scar tissue when it comes to our difficulties beating UF after all these years, despite that wonderful, glorious comeback when last year.

 

[chargervol]

Okay, so if we lose to Florida this year, we're not 1-1 vs them the last 2 seasons?....only 0-1?

I think it's usually just called defending winners/champs/victors whatever. You can reference their streak a thousand times, we're still the ones defending.
We just beat them in September. If you believe seeing our next game a victory for them as being "pragmatic", that's ok, we all have opinions.
It's just when we discussed this in the past, you said you wouldn't stop doing that until we actually beat them. Well, we beat them. A little confidence seems at least acceptable

 

[KBVol]

I think it's usually just called defending winners/champs/victors whatever. You can reference their streak a thousand times, we're still the ones defending.
We just beat them in September. If you believe seeing our next game a victory for them as being "pragmatic", that's ok, we all have opinions.
It's just when we discussed this in the past, you said you wouldn't stop doing that until we actually beat them. Well, we beat them. A little confidence seems at least acceptable

I also said that after 40 years of heartbreak/lopsided results, that I'd need more than one win to fully believe we've turned the corner. Thrilled that we broke the streak, that we're currently 1-0, but we have a lot of ground to make up. And I was actually trying to put a positive spin on things by suggesting we'd be 1-1 the last 2 years rather than 0-1 if we lose this year.

 

[chargervol]

I also said that after 40 years of heartbreak/lopsided results, that I'd need more than one win to fully believe we've turned the corner. Thrilled that we broke the streak, that we're currently 1-0, but we have a lot of ground to make up. And I was actually trying to put a positive spin on things by suggesting we'd be 1-1 the last 2 years rather than 0-1 if we lose this year.

I understand. But it has to start with the 1st win and we finally got that. 99 had a point about how hard it is to call any of these SEC games a win.

And the point 88 made about the mental block was always one of your biggest belifs. No denying that is no more. It's not like they just blasted us out of the water the previous 12 years. Usually a highly competitive game. So being equal, I say we lean for our team.

As far as 0-1, the previous post said we were 1-11 and the last 31 yrs. True, but there's also the all time and most recent. All just numbers till we play again.

 

[Backwards K]

If we do better this season than last season, after all the guys we lost, it would be pretty hard to complain. (Although I'm sure some will still manage to)

"All the guys we lost"? Vols played the last half of the season with no real defensive tackles, only one linebacker, and a mash unit in the defensive backfield. Also, played Alabama with no offensive tackles and played SCarolina and a couple other games with only one running back.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

True, but the reverse can be said as well. Florida is losing a lot of talent as well, especially on defense. Muschamp's defensive recruits are basically gone. They are breaking in a young quarterback behind a questionable offensive line.

True and if we were returning Barnett and a Vereen then I would say that would be a great situation for us. However those guys are gone. As much as I like Taylor, Kongbo and Phillips, I dont see either one of them as being a true sucessor to Barnett.

I get the feeling our pass rush is not going to be good this year. If Franks is anywhere close to as good as hyped then we are in trouble. UF has playmakers on offense and unless our secondary does a complete 180, then its going to be a rough game. I mean Appleby lit our secondary up last year.

 

[PowerT.]

thats about right

 

[PowerT.]

6th in the SEC & 3rd in the East is not high.

I thought We were 1st in east and 3rd or 4th in SEC last year