How good are we, really? (Long, sorry)

[savannahfan]

I'm of the opinion that coaches don't get paid big bucks to coach football. They get paid big bucks to shoulder ultimate responsibility for the program.

So yeah. Ultimately, it is Butches fault.

But I also have a realistic attitude and understanding (to a point) of the difficulties of running a program like Tennessee. Watching game day coaching is the tip of the iceberg for a modern day HC. I think a lot of guys look back at the 70's and the 80's and see the great head coaches of that time, they were a General commanding the team forward. But nowadays, a coach is 80% politician and 10% daddy and 10% gameday coach. It is literally impossible in this day and age for one man to run a D-1 team. The job has grown beyond 1 man.

That's why you are seeing the rise of the "CEO coach". The General shape and form of the program and recruiting falls on him. Fund raising, milking boosters, showing his face on the tv shows, being an ambassador to the program. That's a coaches primary responsibility now. This isn't 1977 anymore.

That's why the "CEO coaches" usually have a lights out set of OC/DC coordinators. In a sense, THOSE jobs are more akin to the coaches of yesteryear. They are the "Generals". They advise the HC on big decisions, but you'll notice that most of them run their side of the ball almost autonomously. Making all the play calls. Recruiting players to their schemes. Etc. The HC just "signs the check" for the final decision, so to speak.

HEAR, HEAR, WELL SAID!!:salute::thumbsup:

 

[Behr]

The "grown up" in me and others that have followed our team for anywhere up to 60 years and post on here, have grown a lot of thick bark over the years. We have learned that to much optimism leads to to much heartache.
However, I think I can speak for most of us when I say we are FANS of the first order.

Good for you and them. I've learned something different.

 

[djohnnyg]

I think the media "backlash" has most to do w uncertainty at QB. No one knows what we have. Heck WE don't either. Its hard for any "experts" to go on a limb for a team w an unproven commodity at the most important position in the game.

 

[njvols]

I think the media "backlash" has most to do w uncertainty at QB. No one knows what we have. Heck WE don't either. Its hard for any "experts" to go on a limb for a team w an unproven commodity at the most important position in the game.

We have unproven commodities all over the field...which is why, even to many Vol fans, we're the biggest potential BOOM or BUST team in SEC. I think we have the talent and coaching staff to compete for championship, but as we saw last few years, have the potential to slide from expectations and under-achieve. Let's all hope the injury bug goes away, and the light goes on for our team. If the unproven QB commodity turns out to be top shelf, we're going to catch a lot of folks by surprise. Go Vols!

 

[RollerVol]

thanks for the read Tolstoy...I'm usually always optimistic...especially pre-season...also, don't think the Dawg's O-Line is that good and their secondary is porous...guess, we'll see...

GO VOLS!

 

[KBVol]

Interesting way to phrase it.

But, whatever. The "grown up" in me is always present, but I post mostly as a "fan", it's more fun and enjoyable. There's a hand full around here that should think about posting as a "fan" more often. It's possible to do both.

Jmo, and I wasn't insinuating you are in that hand full.

How good are we? I like my "fan" gut feeling more than my "grown up" gut feeling. :ermm:

Agreed. Problem for me is, in all honesty, after a decade plus of general disappointment, the fan in me more often than not now yields to the "grown up" who says let's wait and see.

 

[KBVol]

We have unproven commodities all over the field...which is why, even to many Vol fans, we're the biggest potential BOOM or BUST team in SEC. I think we have the talent and coaching staff to compete for championship, but as we saw last few years, have the potential to slide from expectations and under-achieve. Let's all hope the injury bug goes away, and the light goes on for our team. If the unproven QB commodity turns out to be top shelf, we're going to catch a lot of folks by surprise. Go Vols!

Reasonable, balanced, well said Nj

 

[Other_Guy]

Great name.

 

[sjt18]

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE REAL Sjt18???????????

I have always said that Jones does some good things. I really like the team he has built... I still don't trust him to get the most out of it. He's going to have to prove that for once.

 

[livefaith]

Typical two week before the season jitters we all feel.

My take - I liked Debord - just because he was an old fella, like me. Seriously - he did pull out some pretty good plays from time to time, however Hurd up the middle on the first two downs got a little old. What was Hurd's longest run? 25 yards?

So - with 2 new backs, and a new qb - and maybe a little sturdier OL, I think the offence has the potential to really be good. Accuracy in the long ball will be refreshing (Dobbs did throw a hell of a hail mary though). Hopefully the playbook will be unpredictable.

Defense worries me more. If we stay healthy, good things could happen. The good thing about having so many injuries last year was that younger players got significant snaps. That can only be good.

Doug Mathews keeps crowing about Ignot. Can't wait to see that young man. I'm picturing next Al Wilson.

It's going to be a good year.

**Accuracy in the long ball will be refreshing (Dobbs did throw a hell of a hail mary though).**

Actually, I have to disagree here. Dobbs actually threw a lot of nice deep balls besides the HM. That was the talk before last season. Take a look at the "2016 touchdowns only" video on YouTube. I was pretty shocked by how many he got last year. He does not put and lot of air under them, but he did pretty good.

Now concerning the little roll out to hit the back or TE in the flat, or the little 10 yarder ... Help us Lord!

 

[photovol]

Vanderbilt is not impressed, but should they be?:blink:

 

[Tarkus]

Hope we are better but I'm thinking a 7-5 regular season is about right. Better is possible, of course, but I will have to see it to believe it. The last decade doesn't cause me to brim with confidence.