If we go 8-4?

[ClearwaterVol]

I'd be happy with 8-4. I think the pre-season hype is already getting out of hand. We still have depth issues at QB, RB, and O-line. Our schedule is, as always, brutal.

ESPN is acting like we should cruise through Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas. That's pretty insane if you ask me. I think we'd be doing pretty good to go 3-1 or even 2-2 through that stretch. Georgia is loaded with talent. Florida is being underrated by the media. Arkansas might be a bad match-up for us.

If we go 8-4, I'd be pretty happy and if we go 9-3 or 10-2, I'd be delighted. If we win the SEC East, I'm going to look at is as a "positive surprise" rather than "failing to meet expectations."

Florida isn't being underrated by the media. They are thin everywhere. Have no proven qb, wr or OL. They will be good defensively, but they cannot afford any injuries.

 

[KBVol]

Florida isn't being underrated by the media. They are thin everywhere. Have no proven qb, wr or OL. They will be good defensively, but they cannot afford any injuries.

Yet, they should still be the prohibitive favorite to beat Tennessee in Gainesville. I have no doubt that we lose to the Gators yet again in 2015

 

[MedicT]

Yet, they should still be the prohibitive favorite to beat Tennessee in Gainesville. I have no doubt that we lose to the Gators yet again in 2015

Using the logic many have put forth here, UF's likely starting QB was a four star recruit and has a year of experience therefore he should put forth Heisman level play this year, correct?

 

[Remy]

I didn't include any screen passes to Hurd or Lane and purposefully left out passes like Croom's 52yd TD WR screen vs Kentucky, etc. It takes probably 20-25 minutes to go back and find all Dobbs' completions. He also had several 20+ yd completions, starting with the Bama game in which he had 4 and the SCar game in which he had 5.

What I have been saying to friends and family for sometime KB and I appreciate you putting up the actual #s on the other thread. We have a bunch of people on VN that just jump on any bandwagon about a player. Dobbs of course can improve, but that bunch on here that constantly hand wrings about his long ball game are not watching what has actually occurred. He has thrown some very good balls the WRs should have gotten to as well. We will never know how many of those misses were right on target and time and the WR didn't get off the line or was pushed off their route or ran the wrong route causing the miss.

 

[KBVol]

Using the logic many have put forth here, UF's likely starting QB was a four star recruit and has a year of experience therefore he should put forth Heisman level play this year, correct?

No conceivable logic applies to the Florida-Tennessee series. Florida has absolutely dominated this game since our nation's bicentennial (1976 for those educated in Memphis public schools).

Since that time we're 6-23 and have never won more than 2 games consecutively. Meanwhile, Florida has ripped off 4, 5 and 10 win streaks during the same period. They've won close games, blowout games, games by 4 tds after having to come back from 3 tds down....when they have more talent, less talent, even talent. Again, if you wanna discuss logic, do it somewhere else.....it doesn't apply to the Florida game.

 

[sjt18]

After following your rant over most of the past season, it is my opinion that you are already preparing to attack the program at first opportunity.

Being critical of Jones and "attacking the program" are two distinct things. Hopefully you will figure that out some day.

That last comment almost has me convinced you are in reality, an Alabama fan. That would certainly explain a great deal.

Sure. A Bama fan that wants UT to win championships and believes that winning and championships should be the standard to which UT's coach is held... that makes no sense at all which explains why you would think it.

I find your repeated curiosity regarding my vocation very interesting. How old are you?

Old enough to have lots of battle scars and to have led numerous groups to success... and to have failed on some other occasions. Experienced enough to have walked in Jones' shoes in a way by successfully turning bad situations around and also in Dooley's feeling that no matter what I tried things only got worse. (It was a situation like that that taught me sometimes the answer is to "dissolve" rather than solve.) Old enough to know that high standards and goals are essential to success in ANY organized effort. Old enough to know that NO ONE in a competitive business for a successful organization gets away with the excuse making and low expectations you've expressed consistently in these threads.

So either you are inconsistent between your real life and your statements here concerning team development and expectations or else you are in a line of work that isn't very competitive. Maybe there's another answer I'm not thinking of... but this is what I suspect.

 

[YankeeVol]

Being critical of Jones and "attacking the program" are two distinct things. Hopefully you will figure that out some day.

Sure. A Bama fan that wants UT to win championships and believes that winning and championships should be the standard to which UT's coach is held... that makes no sense at all which explains why you would think it.



Old enough to have lots of battle scars and to have led numerous groups to success... and to have failed on some other occasions. Experienced enough to have walked in Jones' shoes in a way by successfully turning bad situations around and also in Dooley's feeling that no matter what I tried things only got worse. (It was a situation like that that taught me sometimes the answer is to "dissolve" rather than solve.) Old enough to know that high standards and goals are essential to success in ANY organized effort. Old enough to know that NO ONE in a competitive business for a successful organization gets away with the excuse making and low expectations you've expressed consistently in these threads.

So either you are inconsistent between your real life and your statements here concerning team development and expectations or else you are in a line of work that isn't very competitive. Maybe there's another answer I'm not thinking of... but this is what I suspect.

Internet tough guy fight! :boxing2:

 

[sjt18]

He is actually a self-admitted Dooley fan/apologist now sworn to never again be be fooled by an unproven Tennessee HBC.

That is not exactly true. I argued that Dooley shouldn't be criticized as harshly as he was until he'd gotten 3 years to get his program going. I was very wrong about that. I very often said that if Dooley didn't turn it around by year 3 that he should be fired... I said it first within a few weeks of him being hired.

He also admittedly likes to argue

That is true. I like to debate things.

 

[MedicT]

Internet tough guy fight! :boxing2:

I would suggest he needs this to feel better about himself. It sounds as if his vocation involves being a yes man for a restructuring firm or very closely related to this. Someone decides what the goal is and he is told to justify it at all costs. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

To me he is just another "expert" who has never played, or coached football beyond Pee Wee. Goodness knows we have plenty of those here.

Again, if he needs this to compensate then I don't see the problem.

 

[BarrythesnoUT]

Why do people continue to throw all of Dooleys recruits under the bus? You would think recruiting started with CBJ. We have more than sophomores and freshman on this team and many will be starting. Don't take it out on the talented "Dooley players" just because Doofus happened to be a crappy coach.

Most of the Dooley players weren't as talented as you are making them out to be. There's a reason they are getting passed by freshmen and sophomores.

 

[08Vol]

which ?If three are Florida, Alabama and OU Ill be going out to get a pitchfork..

Meh, UF would be a bad loss, but that 6-2 SEC record would probably give us the tie breaker over UGA or Mizzou for the SEC East crown. 2007's UF game sucked, but it was still a good season

 

[lyansaine]

So only 1 more win than 2014? I would consider 8-4 an underachievement. We were very close to winnng 10 in 2914. 9-10 wins this year should be the expectation.

And in the 30th century they only play 4.8 games per season so winning ten was all the more impressive.

I didn't read through the whole thread, did someone else make this joke already? Either way, I apologize.

 

[Vol_is_Lyfe18]

Yet, they should still be the prohibitive favorite to beat Tennessee in Gainesville. I have no doubt that we lose to the Gators yet again in 2015

I completely understand why you're saying what you're saying, it's tough to lose to the same team for ten years straight. However, will you eat crow in the event we do beat UF this year, since you're being so definitive that we're going to lose.

 

[KBVol]

I completely understand why you're saying what you're saying, it's tough to lose to the same team for ten years straight. However, will you eat crow in the event we do beat UF this year, since you're being so definitive that we're going to lose.

I'll marinate it, slow cook it, have as appetizer, entree and dessert.......regurgitate it and devour it again.

 

[Vol_is_Lyfe18]

I'll marinate it, slow cook it, have as appetizer, entree and dessert.......regurgitate it and devour it again.

Well, at least you're willing to. I have no expectations for the UF game this year. I'm just going to watch because I'm a fan. If we win, I'm going to celebrate all night. If we lose, then it'll be the same thing as the last ten years.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

we goan whup dey azz.


EDIT: it is far better to be optimistic than pessimistic. Optimists get 364 days before the game to be happy and cheerful, then 364 days after the game that can go either way. Pessimists have to spend 364 days dreading the game, then either joy or misery after. So might as well take a happy 364 in advance, it's free!

 

[Remy]

I'll marinate it, slow cook it, have as appetizer, entree and dessert.......regurgitate it and devour it again.

This what happens to me every year we lose to them anyway, so I'm stepping out on the ledge and predicting we destroy UF in The Swamp. I want to see K-Mac making fun of the gator chomp his freshman year.

 

[Bluetic]

8-4 plus bowl is my pick...anything else is icing. Wait til next year though...

 

[sjt18]

I would suggest he needs this to feel better about himself. It sounds as if his vocation involves being a yes man for a restructuring firm or very closely related to this.

No. I just know that what I do requires real demonstrations of performance and progress. I work for a company that is over 100 years old in the same industry and one of the largest in the country. We are an aligned supplier for a parent company that is currently the largest in their sector in the US. If I tried the excuses you've attempted here, the consequences for me would not have been good. Progress isn't and wasn't a straight ascending line. But there are few if any professions in he competitive world where you can go more than 3 years without showing significant progress... and, no, your predecessor is not a valid excuse after 3 years.

Someone decides what the goal is and he is told to justify it at all costs. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

You couldn't be more wrong.... but your assumption here is another indication that you don't have to face direct market competition in whatever it is you do. No one "decides". We have to figure out how to compete. That's where the "goals" ultimately come from. We are better than our competition or we sink. Simple as that... and just as simple for a college football coach.

To me he is just another "expert" who has never played, or coached football beyond Pee Wee. Goodness knows we have plenty of those here.

And thus, your biggest problem. You make assumptions that are convenient to your argument then cling to them regardless of whether they prove true or not.

Without giving too much emphasis or information regarding my HS career many years ago, I played for one of the most respected programs in NC. We won a state title while I played and lost a total of 5 games. Only one of those games was to a team that DID NOT win a state title in the year we lost to them.

I wasn't a "great" athlete but played my role and understand far more than you assume.

But there are some things about leadership and organizational management that are transcendent. Jones is attempting to succeed in a highly competitive, fish bowl industry. I strongly suspect that it is YOU who cannot relate to that. Else you wouldn't be so evasive about what you do.

Again, if he needs this to compensate then I don't see the problem.

I don't generally bring up my HS career because it was long ago and only marginally relevant. But you asked and now you know.

PS- I wasn't a "great" athlete but probably could have gained weight and played interior OL at a small college. I was a TE in HS. I chose an ROTC scholarship instead.

 

[87Vol]

If we go 8-4 how upset/happy will the fan base be? I think that 8-4 will be a pretty solid season! I would be real happy with that. Just curious what everybody wants/expects.

An 8-4 record would be minimally acceptable but only if we win the bowl game to go 9-4. There is enough talent on board now to start expecting some "coaching em up" and overachievement. I don't think expecting a 10-3 season or better including a bowl win is way out of line. It's time for this staff to show that they can get a team to overachieve and not just meet the minimum expectations. It happens elsewhere, so why can't we have a staff that does it? Good grief, Saban won a Nat. Championship in his 3rd year, and Auburn went to the Nat. Championship game after a 3-9 season. Mizzou overachieves every year for crying out loud! Time to start making it happen Butch. No more excuses.

 

[ainge10heisman]

I expect us to go 8-4 at the very minimum next season. I will be happy at 8-4, even if we lost our bowl game. Anything over 8 wins and ill be very delighted.

 

[VOLinNC]

Seems like we always draw the surprise badazz team outta the west. I could really see arky being that this season as well. I think if we can get a rush going in that game we'll be fine tho.

 

[sjt18]

Seems like we always draw the surprise badazz team outta the west. I could really see arky being that this season as well. I think if we can get a rush going in that game we'll be fine tho.

That is an odd coincidence of late. UT seems to draw West teams at their peak. On the other end, Mizzou seems to draw them at low ebb.

 

[08Vol]

That is an odd coincidence of late. UT seems to draw West teams at their peak. On the other end, Mizzou seems to draw them at low ebb.

Yep, Mizzou got a weak AR team coming off of 2 dominant wins over ranked teams last year. I mean why can't people just give credit where credit is due? Mizzou was a good team last year that whooped people in the trenches.

 

[volgrad500]

Like others have said, at face value 8-4 seems ok. But that would pretty much mean you lost every game against top teams. If the losses are likely to be from OU, Fl, UGA, and Bama, who is your best win? Arkansas? I mean, a lot of teams have beaten them the last two years and we have them at home. SCAR? Hell, we've beaten them two years running. So it's hard to say 8-4 isn't a success, but then again your 8 wins would be Bowling Green, Western Carolina, Arky, Kentucky, SCAR, North Texas, Missouri and lolVandy.