How Long will it be

#27
#27
dblutfan said:
After watching the Bama game last week and the game tonight I'm really missing the days when the Vols played at that level. How long before we can compete at this level again?
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Depends ENTIRELY on coaching that produces wins and a competitive team.

There will be talent. If you look back across the years through good and bad, UT averages about 3.4-3.5 "stars". IOW's, the talent is there if coached, managed, and developed well.

It IS really just that simple. Coaching made Mizzou the East winner this year. Coaching made Auburn a NC contender. Coaching has made Bama. Did the latter two have elite talent? Yes. But in large measure they have talent because they have coaching. Kids are attracted to proven coaches in the same way you or I are attracted to a proven doctor, lawyer, brand name, etc.

Coaching made Oregon and Stanford long before they started getting elite players.

The best players will be attracted to the best coaches and hot programs. For UT to rise, they MUST have an elite coach. If they have one in Jones then he will start to outcoach opponents. Recruits will see it and continue to join him... creating upward momentum. If the opposite happens then recruiting will fall off making it even more difficult to coach.

Right now Jones is selling a dream and doing an excellent job of it. But he has to show he can coach at a high level to make it stick.... IMO, he blew an opportunity to do that with the last roster. Yes it had holes but also talent and experience. His next roster may or may not have more talent but will definitely have less experience. He's got an uphill fight.
 
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#28
#28
sjt, I don't know about the stars or averages but I do know when I watch UT play a good team, it looks like the Vols are running in sand. Until the Vols recruit some speed, they will continue to struggle.

Team 118 is replacing all 5 starting OL and 6 of the front 7 on the defense. 2014 will be another struggle to reach 6 wins. Recruiting linemen and speed at every position will be paramount again next year. The Vols should be competitive again by 2015 and from then on.
 
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#30
#30
If jones is good enough, we will be completely 'rebuilt' and solid in all phases of the game by 2018. Before that time frame we could have some 8-10 win seasons but competing at a national championship level? 2018 at the soonest IMO.

Not only will all the Kiffin/Dooley leftovers be gone, but this legacy class will have come, laid a foundation, imparted their leadership on underclassmen, and laid the path for future success at UT. JMHO.
 
#31
#31
Backwards K said:
sjt, I don't know about the stars or averages but I do know when I watch UT play a good team, it looks like the Vols are running in sand. Until the Vols recruit some speed, they will continue to struggle.
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Coaching can make players look much faster or much slower than they are. It is pretty amazing that guys who under Wilcox were fast enough... have drawn the condemnation of people here for being "too slow" this year and last.

Some of the guys are slower. Some are not SEC level players. However, Wagner and Teague who we KNOW were slow were somehow "faster" when they played for Wilcox. Coleman is significantly faster than either. McNeil compares well to any S that played for Wilcox AFTER Jackson left.

Team 118 is replacing all 5 starting OL and 6 of the front 7 on the defense. 2014 will be another struggle to reach 6 wins. Recruiting linemen and speed at every position will be paramount again next year. The Vols should be competitive again by 2015 and from then on.
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Not... without improved coaching and development. The talent was better than the results this year from a win total standpoint as well as competitiveness and stats. The coaching MUST be better than that.
 
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