Here's what I can't seem to understand

#1
VolFreakJosh

VolFreakJosh

“Don’t you put that evil on me Ricky Bobby!”
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#1
The expectations are really high for this 2016 UT football team. I have high expectations for them and about 90% of everyone else on here does too. Here's what I can't seem to figure out.

We're sitting at 2-0 right now. We played two tough opponents so far against Appalachian St. & VTech. They're not on the same level as Bama, Clemson, Houston, most of us agree on that. But those were two teams who gave us a really good test run. App. St. is projected to win their conference this year and VTech has a really well coached defense under Bud Foster so you really can't say that they were "terrible" opponents. With the way some of our fans are acting, you'd think that we're sitting at 0-2 right now. You'd think that we're the only program in the country who's struggled against lower tier schools this season. Sometimes teams just have bad games. That's part of the nature of the game of football.

There's much needed improvement on this team. I can point out a whole lot of issues that needs to be fixed right now. That doesn't mean the coaches can't resolve these issues. We're not even half way through the season yet and a whole lot of fans are already giving up on our team. This reminds back in the Dooley days where most of us had that loser mentality just like his football teams. We never believed he could win another game in the SEC cause he was just a horrible coach. Most of us can agree that Butch wasn't our first choice for a new head coach but you can't ignore the facts with how he's changed the culture of this football team.

1st year: 5-7
2nd year: 7-6 (Taxslayer Bowl Win)
3rd year: 9-4 (Outback Bowl Win)

He's brought us back from the laughing stock of the SEC to true Championship contenders. He's recruited well and built a lot of depth that we've lacked from some time. He's not perfect by any means. He's made a lot of questionable coaching decisions that made us scratch our head but no coach is perfect.

Like I said before, we're sitting at 2-0 right now and you can't get no better than that to start the season. The season is NOT over yet and personally I feel like all this negativity that's been floating around the last couple of weeks, is unecessary. I've probably counted over 50 threads that was nothing but bashing the coaches or the team in general. Call me a "Sunshine Pumper" if you want but I guess I'm the only one who's not panicking over these last two games just because we didn't play our best. I see this team's real potential and once SEC play starts, you'll see a big difference. I'm still sticking with my prediction. 10-2 and a shot at the SEC title. And not just because I want to see this team win but I also want Butch to prove all the fans wrong that he can meet expectations this season.

Let's look forward to rest of the season instead of dreading it. Go Vols.
 
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#4
#4
VolFreakJosh said:
The expectations are really high for this 2016 UT football team. I have high expectations for them and about 90% of everyone else on here does too. Here's what I can't seem to figure out.

We're sitting at 2-0 right now. We played two tough opponents so far against Appalachian St. & VTech. They're not on the same level as Bama, Clemson, Houston, most of us agree on that. But those were two teams who gave us a really good test run. App. St. is projected to win their conference this year and VTech has a really well coached defense under Bud Foster so you really can't say that they were "terrible" opponents. With the way some of our fans are acting, you'd think that we're sitting at 0-2 right now. You'd think that we're the only program in the country who's struggled against lower tier schools this season. Sometimes teams just have bad games. That's part of the nature of the game of football.

There's much needed improvement on this team. I can point out a whole lot of issues that needs to be fixed right now. That doesn't mean the coaches can't resolve these issues. We're not even half way through the season yet and a whole lot of fans are already giving up on our team. This reminds back in the Dooley days where most of us had that loser mentality just like his football teams. We never believed he could win another game in the SEC cause he was just a horrible coach. Most of us can agree that Butch wasn't our first choice for a new head coach but you can't ignore the facts with how he's changed the culture of this football team.

1st year: 5-7
2nd year: 7-6 (Taxslayer Bowl Win)
3rd year: 9-4 (Outback Bowl Win)

He's brought us back from the laughing stock of the SEC to true Championship contenders. He's recruited well and built a lot of depth that we've lacked from some time. He's not perfect by any means. He's made a lot of questionable coaching decisions that made us scratch our head but no coach is perfect.

Like I said before, we're sitting at 2-0 right now and you can't get no better than that to start the season. The season is NOT over yet and personally I feel like all this negativity that's been floating around the last couple of weeks, is unecessary. I've probably counted over 50 threads that was nothing but bashing the coaches or the team in general. Call me a "Sunshine Pumper" if you want but I guess I'm the only one who's not panicking over these last two games just because we didn't play our best. I see this team's real potential and once SEC play starts, you'll see a big difference. I'm still sticking with my prediction. 10-2 and a shot at the SEC title. And not just because I want to see this team win but I also want Butch to prove all the fans wrong that he can meet expectations this season.

Let's look forward to rest of the season instead of dreading it. Go Vols.
Click to expand...

Fyp
 
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#5
#5
You're right. Most rational people realize this. But there is valid reasons for concerns. The oline, playcalling, Jumper even playing let alone starting...ect ect. It's how you act over these concerns. Being concerned is fine, but at the end of the day you should be happy we are 2-0 right now. Instead of saying garbage like "We'll be lucky to win an SEC game with this oline" "VT gave the game away, WE ARE SO LUCKY. We suck" "Florida is going to kill us" "7-5"

People need to chill the hell out. We're 2-0. Fought through the adversity so far. Just breathe. Lets see how it goes.
 
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#12
#12
the week before we play Vandy well be 11-0, won every game by a touchdown, and people will still be upset. 2-0 is what matters as long as that continues to grow.
 
#13
#13
The issue I see with the OP is that while Jones has moved UT from point A to point B just as he said.... there are VERY serious questions as to whether he can move from where they are to championship level.

Use a NASCAR analogy. He's built one of the best garage of cars on the track but can he now drive them to win championships....? Building those cars, testing, having a great crew, having a well conditioned driver.... all vital. But you still don't win races except by performing on race day.

The remaining questions about Jones are about his ability to compete with the best coaches on game day.
 
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#14
#14
TennesseeRugby said:
the week before we play Vandy well be 11-0, won every game by a touchdown, and people will still be upset. 2-0 is what matters as long as that continues to grow.
Click to expand...

I suspect that many will have doubts about winning a championship with a season about that. I doubt a single soul will be upset if UT goes into Vandy 11-0.

OTOH, that scenario isn't very likely. I've never seen a team win that many close games without slipping up.
 
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#20
#20
Why do some keep trying to impose their will on other fans? People will think and feel however they want and that's their prerogative. You don't agree with them-- they don't agree with you. Life goes on.
 
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#22
#22
VolFreakJosh said:
...
Click to expand...

Junder13: (from the epic conspiracy theory thread)

"VolFreakJosh – joined Feb 2013 (this is probably the poster I dislike the most on this site, although I've never interacted with him myself -- thankfully)"


You're one of those guys junder13 has been warning us about. You're really Butch Jones in disguise!

Just kidding.

I generally agree with your sentiment.
 
#23
#23
OP, it's perfectly legitimate to be thankful we are 2-0, even more so because we had to go to OT in our home opener vs Appy St in a year we are expected to win double digit games. We could easily be 1-1. It's also perfectly legitimate to critique an offense that is largely unchanged in personnel from a year ago that looks pedestrian at best.
 
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#24
#24
While the wins were awesome, they were also very concerning. App state choked the game away at the end. Its not like we said ok now we are big bad UT and are going to pull this one out late. They choked the clock away at the end and knocked themselves out of field goal range by a bad play call. We then decide we will win the game by fumbling in to the end zone? On the flip side last years defense probably would have given up a score at the end in over time or in regulation.

Then we are getting smoked by Va Tech and they fumble on their 5 yard line to turn the game around which is a fumble we did not cause. Later in the game Tech had only a 14 point deficit and then their guy decides to fumble a punt.

We are lucky to be 2-0 right now and it is concerning but that does not mean we will not be able to still get healthy on the o line and get things where our expectations were coming in to the season.
 
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