History says Defense Takes a Big Step Forward

[VolForLife83]

Injuries contributed mightily to our problems last year-no doubt. Perhaps I was reading too much into our pass defense against the likes of Vandy. We made that QB look like Peyton Manning.

I am probably jaded from the last several years of ineptitude, but I just don't see the vols being that good this year. Improved? Yes. But as I have said elsewhere, we could be a 100% better team and not win more than 5 games, with this schedule. I would love to be wrong.

I see your point. But most folks are neglecting the fact of the injuries, the team giving up, poor coaching/play calling and the fact this team is still very talented

 

[D-rock]

This is still my hype video and I believe UT defense will make the kind of Jump Pruitt had at Georgia. Bottom line D improves everywhere he goes. Cornbread.[/QUOTE. Hard to pay attention because she was so hot. Wow

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

Tennessee shocks the world Saturday. Book it. I predict we show up and look like men possessed.

 

[PineyBluff Vol]

Wow they are huge on O-line. Idk about stars but then some big ole boys.

Everyone is a 3 star. Once again on paper, we are superior across the board.

 

[Georgia Vol]

If the offense can actually get some first downs and mount a few long drives, the D will be significantly better no matter who the coach is. The last few years we either went 3 and out or scored in about 5 plays and then put a banged up D back on the field.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

I doubt it is possible to be a Vol fan and not understand why you're skeptical.

My hope lies in a couple of things primarily.

One, I think Pruitt is a pretty good coach. I think he is a football coach after watching Jones' coach by cliché non-sense for the last 5 years. The guy really seemed to think that yelling clichés at players and getting them to repeat them would somehow turn into execution.

Two, while I don't think Jones did a whole lot else well, he brought in some talent. The fact that he underproduced so badly with that talent actually boosts my hopes some now. Starting with the first year, Jones never got the most out of a UT roster. He didn't even get the sum of the talent out of a roster. They often lost games they shouldn't have lost or suffered tight games against inferior opponents. It is debatable if he ever truly beat a team that he shouldn't have beaten at UT. Teams that beat him and won more games in the SEC... put fewer players into the NFL... had consistently lower rated recruiting classes. By any measure I can think of, he underperformed the talent he had. If Pruitt and staff can coach... they've got something to work with. That's all I'd give Jones credit for... but that's fairly significant to my hopes for success this year.

With this I agree. There is reason for optimism, guarded or otherwise. I will be pleased with playing competitively for 4 quarters and not getting blown out--EVER.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

I also disagree with the idea that the team can be 100% better and only win 5 games. UT has more talent across the board than WVU. More than the other three OOC opponents. More than UK. More than Vandy. More than USCe. More than Mizzou. And... as much as UF.

I can't reconcile "improved". That's a completely subjective term. The standard for a UT coach should be to beat the teams that have less talent... win a majority of those against teams with roughly equal talent... and pick off teams with more talent on a fairly routine basis. We've watched anything but that for the last 10 years or so. Time to expect something better.

Yes, I was probably a little too pessimistic when I said 5 wins. But as of right now I suspect we would be underdogs in every conference game we play, except maybe Vandy. Deservedly or not. A lot will depend on how the Vols play against, teams like MO, KY and Vandy.