I'm reading this as a sarcasm blue font comment. Ironically you, Biopsyman are one of the 8 anti-crowder posters who together posted over 1,000 messages each calling for a replacement making it look like a social media outcry to replace a seasoned veteran upperclassman.
We will need a proven veteran in the hostile swamp at Center next week. I'm very concerned that those same Oline errors we saw in late 4th Qtr drives against OU will return in tense situations and cost us the ballgame against FL.
We've got some experienced talent on offense--and yet our passing game against ou was terrible and we essentially got out-coached by the sooners. We've got some potential playmakers/playmakers in Pearson, Malone, Howard, Kamara, Hurd and Dobbs. That's a pretty nice collection of skill talent--and I've left out the TE and North. It is time to go out and make some plays, and I'm not just talking about against non-conference teams. It's time to start lighting it up a little, no?
oops...Stoops out coached him too
I don't want to hear this any more than the rest of you, but anger and frustation aside . . .
These are the facts:
1) OL - Tennessee was 64th in career OL starts, before the Jackson injury. With Jackson gone we are tied for 100th in FBS. That is if you count Crowder's starts and not those of Thomas who is the guy playing most snaps at center.
2) We were 66th in lettermen returning before the key injuries at OL and DL.
3) We are 86th in the percentage of offensive yards gained returning.
4) We were 45th in the percentage of tackles returning before the key DL injuries and suspensions - and counting McNeil as active (we don't know how that will shake out). This would have qualified as a strength 2 months ago.
5) Our 2-deep class experience rank was 87th - again this was before key hits to our depth.
Those are the facts. Depth is building but not restocked by any stretch of the imagination. Depth and experience was a key factor against Oklahoma and perhaps the critical factor.
This doesn't mean the coaches are absolved of their part in our losses, nor does it make this situation any easier to swallow.
Those are just the facts.
The reason people thought so highly of Tennessee before the year, and may still be correct, is because Tennessee was going to be vastly more experienced than everyone else. They may be young, but they played.
Just returning their QB set them apart from over half the SEC.
Ya'll can correct me if I am wrong, but Tennessee returned 19 or more of the 22 starters from last season. Something like that. In this day and age in college football, that does not happen.
In addition, we've seen several teams play, granted in a limited sample of games.
Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Kentucky.....these are not teams that a "good" football team should have any problems with.
The youth excuse shouldn't fly anymore.
Nope, the only one with no depth to cover injuries and fielding 64% of its players who had never seen a college field before and STILL called to win the east and hyped to an in achievable point by talking heads. Everyone with any sense told you guys ... This is not the year... 2016 is the year.
Even with last week, we could go 8-4 or 9-3. Sounds like improvement to me. I'm just trying to figure out what you're advocating for.
Nothing. Just fighting against the sheep and sentiment that Butch is all knowing and infallible.
This staff can't get to 9-3.
I'll gladly take all your monies in that wager..... Yes, monies....
Ohio State won a national championship with a team younger than this.
Save it, OP.