If/When Tennessee beats WVU...

#26
#26
jakez4ut said:
all valid. i just think the buy in for the most part has been pretty good. i'll be interesting to see what attrition, if any, occurs from here until WVU.

i think also, one thing that will happen is this staff will make mistakes, all 1st timers do. and we'll just have to deal with it.

also agree on the injury bug. i just hope we've paid enough dues in that department that it leaves us alone this year.

developmentally, i think this team will do what most 1st timers do....start slow, and progressively get better. combine that with a softer back half, and who knows.

i still think you win the 3 cupcakes, and you find a way to win 3 of the other 9 (really, 3 of the other 6, considering Au, Bama and GA are likely l's).
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There's more we agree on than not. You're absolutely correct the Crux of the year will be found in those six games. I just don't think we pull out 50% of those with all the transition and all the question marks that are still on our plate. I mean I look at Florida from the outside thinking they got a proven coach who is offensively minded and their defense has always been strong they could really take a huge step forward.
 
#27
#27
My biggest concern next year is injuries since we are not very deep especially on offensive line. A few key injuries and we could be in a real bad place. Hopefully the new strength and conditioning team will get the players ready for a long, grueling season.
 
#28
#28
McDad said:
There's more we agree on than not. You're absolutely correct the Crux of the year will be found in those six games. I just don't think we pull out 50% of those with all the transition and all the question marks that are still on our plate. I mean I look at Florida from the outside thinking they got a proven coach who is offensively minded and their defense has always been strong they could really take a huge step forward.
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yep...

eh, as for FL still has a lot of transition to go thru themselves, though they don't have to worry about the 1st time head coach deal.

but they have as many issues as we do personnel wise. they have qb issues, and that once vaunted defense, has some holes. there's talent there, but it's young, and a lot of it unproven (sound familiar?).

gun to my head, i definitely think FL has a better year than we do, no matter who wins in Sept. but a lot of that has to do with the schedules. we'll both lose to GA, but they skip Auburn and Bama, so that's 2 up for the bad guys not doing any legwork on anything else. Fl may not be an 8 win team, but they have an 8 win schedule.
 
#29
#29
Chance Hall, Trey Smith, Jahmir Johnson = 7 wins
No Trey Smith & Chance Hall = 5 Wins

Our offensive line and it's effectiveness will seal our fate for better or worse.

Heck, Vols won 4 games with our Bob Shoop and our anemic offense last year.
 
#30
#30
jakez4ut said:
eh, FL still has a lot of transition to go thru themselves, though they dont' have to worry about the 1st time head coach deal.

but they have as many issues as we do personnel wise. they have qb issues, and that once vaunted defense, has some holes. there's talent there, but it's young, and a lot of it unproven (sound familiar?).

gun to my head, i definitely think FL has a better year than we do, no matter who wins in Sept. but a lot of that has to do with the schedules. we'll both lose to GA, but they skip Auburn and Bama, so that's 2 up for the bad guys not doing any legwork on anything else. Fl may not be an 8 win team, but they have an 8 win schedule.
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It really just kind of humorous Jake. We say the same thing about Florida every year... defense is going to fall off/has holes/no QB...and every year except one in the past 11 We've Come Away with the loss. I'll hope for a win but I have no optimism.
 
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#33
#33
If I read one more post saying CJP has no HC experience my head is gonna explode. My senile old brain can not recall one HC that didn't transition to that job. Pruitt brought in experience and competent position coaches. He will not hand cuff them like Butch did his staff. As a whole they will bring this team up. They will have a winning season. Just sayin'.
 
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#36
#36
I know we were bad last year, but a lot of those losses were very close and any decent coach probably would've won those games. Not expecting miracles this season, but if we did beat WVa, 7-5 would be a reasonable prediction.

That said, the 1st year in a new coaching regime is always a bit crazy and unpredictable. Weird upset wins, weird upset losses (think Saban losing to La-Monroe). So I'm just along for the ride with few exceptions this season. All I want to see is that improve and we see more solid fundamentals (e.g. fewer penalties, playing tougher, etc).
 
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#37
#37
McDad said:
Anybody else concerned CJP has no headcoach experience?
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I'm not. He will make a few mistakes I'm sure, but he is surrounded by an elite staff. He's coached multiple times on the biggest stage college football has to offer. He's coached under some great head coaches. He's as prepared as anyone can get without HC experience, which I think is overrated...jmo..

I think this team will buy in.....it will be a tough, well-coached, hungry team, if nothing else. Talent isn't elite, but I think this team wins at least 7 games...
 
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#39
#39
Pacer92 said:
I'm not. He will make a few mistakes I'm sure, but he is surrounded by an elite staff. He's coached multiple times on the biggest stage college football has to offer. He's coached under some great head coaches. He's as prepared as anyone can get without HC experience, which I think is overrated...jmo..

I think this team will buy in.....it will be a tough, well-coached, hungry team, if nothing else. Talent isn't elite, but I think this team wins at least 7 games...
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I was having some fun with hmhawk. But i like your orange colored glasses.
 
#40
#40
MSME Vol said:
Florida, South Carolina, and Kentucky barely beat us last year. Missouri and Vanderbilt at best have equal talent as us. The chasm that is often portrayed to exist between us and the rest of the East is, in my opinion, fiction.

Now we still have a long ways to go to win crowns, but to get back to Butch like records probably isn't too far off.
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I agree with most of this! Everyone forgets that FLA had a terrible year and they beat us literally last second. South Carolina is the only one trending up in the east besides UGA obviously.

I don't think we can win all of those but those teams aren't lightyears ahead of us
 
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#41
#41
Behr said:
Learn what? That your opinion is the only one that matters?
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My opinion means nothing apparently when I said the Georgia Tech game would be close and everyone else predicted a 14 point win minimum. Yet here we are again predicting 7-8 wins including winning our opener against a team that could compete for the Big 12 title.
 
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#43
#43
fade route said:
My opinion means nothing apparently when I said the Georgia Tech game would be close and everyone else predicted a 14 point win minimum. Yet here we are again predicting 7-8 wins including winning our opener against a team that could compete for the Big 12 title.
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I remember some saying that, I also remember some saying we lose close and some saying we get stomped.

Do you honestly think your opinion should mean more than anyone else's?

Be glad others disagree with you, this way when you're right you can boast about how much smarter you are than everyone else. Can't do that if everyone agrees.

I thought we would beat GT by 10-14. I was wrong and you were right. Go tell your friends and let me know what they say.
 
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#45
#45
DiderotsGhost said:
I know we were bad last year, but a lot of those losses were very close and any decent coach probably would've won those games. Not expecting miracles this season, but if we did beat WVa, 7-5 would be a reasonable prediction.

That said, the 1st year in a new coaching regime is always a bit crazy and unpredictable. Weird upset wins, weird upset losses (think Saban losing to La-Monroe). So I'm just along for the ride with few exceptions this season. All I want to see is that improve and we see more solid fundamentals (e.g. fewer penalties, playing tougher, etc).
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yep. there's some unpredictability involved when you have had as much change as us.

just would like for some of that to go our way....:crossfingers:
 
#47
#47
hmhawk said:
Jones IS gone. There's a new sheriff in town. No more charts -- just coaching and play calling. 7-5 minimum.
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Yeap, HE GONE!!!
We have football coaches now, not a used car salesmen.

7-5 to 10-2.

Yes, my cup of Big Orange koolaide is half full.
 
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#48
#48
I'll go super negative on the VOL's outlook and state that I don't see us winning 50% of our SEC games NEXT season, let alone this one. At this point I firmly believe we will settle into the bottom third of the SEC and remain there for years to come.

So yes that means I do not expect Pruitt to accomplish much at his first HC gig. I will be elated to be proven wrong, I just don't expect to be.
 
#49
#49
Behr said:
I remember some saying that, I also remember some saying we lose close and some saying we get stomped.

Do you honestly think your opinion should mean more than anyone else's?

Be glad others disagree with you, this way when you're right you can boast about how much smarter you are than everyone else. Can't do that if everyone agrees.

I thought we would beat GT by 10-14. I was wrong and you were right. Go tell your friends and let me know what they say.
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I just told my friends and got several high fives!
 
#50
#50
I see the loser brigade is out again today. :rolleyes:

We will win at least 6. Maybe more. If we win 4 Pruitt isn't the guy. He is going to be good. No way we win less than 6. If he does that means we lose to every team who is close in talent to us. Not happening.
 
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