Keys to the 2009 season:

#1
General Jack

General Jack

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#1
My keys to the season...


  1. O-line proves to be quicker, tougher, and able to create holes and regularly move opposing d-linemen around. If we can't establish the run against the middle of the road opponents (UCLA, Auburn, USCe), we'll be a .500 team.
  2. O-line stays healthy, can't afford to lose any starters, second team isn't ready to perform at any SEC level. If we can't establish the run, see #1 above.
  3. Crompton shakes off his past and performs at an average SEC QB pace. If we can run effectively, he only needs to be a game manager: 55-60% completion percentage with 20-25 throws a game, and close to a 2:1 TD/Int ratio; less than 3 fumbled snaps or handoffs for the season.
  4. Dan Williams playing at all all-SEC level and Montori Hughes playing with the promise he's shown in spring and summer. These 2 guys are the single most critical component for our defense, with us being undersized our middle will be attacked mercilessly.
  5. Freshman are able to play with the promise they've shown and not look like freshman - particularly the wide receivers early in the season. If these guys can't focus in the SEC environment we're one dimensional. Not good.
  6. Nick Reviez staying healthy and continuing to exceed expectations at MLB. Again, with an undersized d-line, we're going to be attacked up the middle mercilessly. Reviez is going to be called on repeatedly to make the plays with big Dan and Montori getting double teamed.
  7. Eric Berry staying healthy. No doubt he'll make plays, but he needs to be on the field. Additionally, he's the heart and soul of this team. Fortunately, he has not been injury prone.
  8. OLBs stepping up. On paper, this is the weakest group of linebackers I can remember at Tennessee. Rico has shown flashes, needs to be consistent and keep laying the wood.
  9. Daniel Lincoln becoming more consistent. Points will likely be at a premium this year, and we'll need all we can get, hopefully 75% or higher field goal accuracy.
  10. Balance of the special teams no longer looking like the keystone cops. We need to at least pull a draw in this phase of the game; back in the day, Tennessee had excellent special teams; as of late, we were at a decided disadvantage against every quality opponent on our schedule. God help me if Brandon James takes another punt return to the house; for the record, I predict this will not happen.
  11. Chris Walker living up to the hype. The psychological aspect alone of having an imposing blind-side pass rush is invaluable, and hopefully he'll have some numbers to back it up, +/- at 8 sacks. Living up to his freshman prediction in the florida game would be a season highlight.
  12. The off-field discipline we've seen translates to on-line accountability, and we have very few false-starts, offside, personal fouls, assignment breakdowns.

If we achieve the above, we're an 8-4 team for sure, and likely 9-3. Moreover, by executing well and playing smart, fundamental football, we will be a tough out for anyone on our schedule.
 
#2
#2
I agree with O-line staying healthy having direct correlation with winning games..as well as needing our Lbackers to step up big time..Ellix Wilson was way underrated last year.
 
#3
#3
good list, i think the big one you mentioned is the freshman stepping up and making big contributions early on,...o=line play will be key as well as getting crompton established into a system where he can make plays hes capable of
 
#5
#5
I don't think our linebackers are lower in talent, infact I think we actually may have a lot of talent at LB, but I think they are unproven. But as you mentioned DT play is the biggest key to how our LB's will perform. I have felt for the past 3-4 years our LB's underperformed and I think that was directly caused by the lack of DT to plug holes and move the OL. Just my opinion though.
 
#6
#6
We're going to have to be able to throw the ball if we plan on having any type of a running game.
 
#12
#12
#3 on the list is very unlikley. Even the best teams in the country have more than 3 fumbles snaps/handoffs in a season. I just hope the loss of Josh McNeil is not as critical as it sounds. He was predicted to be 1st team all SEC. Lets just hope all the butterflys crompton was feeling in his stomach are gone and he can settle down and just simply execute the play that is called.
 
#13
#13
JC needs to get over his game day nerves and settle in as a Vol quarterback...He looked like he was afraid of his shadow in some games last year and the year before...We will see won't we....
 
#14
#14
7thgroupvolfan said:
#3 on the list is very unlikley. Even the best teams in the country have more than 3 fumbles snaps/handoffs in a season. I just hope the loss of Josh McNeil is not as critical as it sounds. He was predicted to be 1st team all SEC. Lets just hope all the butterflys crompton was feeling in his stomach are gone and he can settle down and just simply execute the play that is called.
Click to expand...

I disagree. Elite teams do fumble but not on snaps and handoffs.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#15
#15
AFL2008 said:
If everything you just said happens, UT could be 12-0.
Click to expand...

Ummm. No. None of the "keys" listed involved acquiring talent that we don't have enrolled. Even if we played to the BEST of our ability, we just don't have the same horses as Florida and Alabama, for sure.
 
#19
#19
General Jack said:
My keys to the season...


  1. O-line proves to be quicker, tougher, and able to create holes and regularly move opposing d-linemen around. If we can't establish the run against the middle of the road opponents (UCLA, Auburn, USCe), we'll be a .500 team.
  2. O-line stays healthy, can't afford to lose any starters, second team isn't ready to perform at any SEC level. If we can't establish the run, see #1 above.
  3. Crompton shakes off his past and performs at an average SEC QB pace. If we can run effectively, he only needs to be a game manager: 55-60% completion percentage with 20-25 throws a game, and close to a 2:1 TD/Int ratio; less than 3 fumbled snaps or handoffs for the season.
  4. Dan Williams playing at all all-SEC level and Montori Hughes playing with the promise he's shown in spring and summer. These 2 guys are the single most critical component for our defense, with us being undersized our middle will be attacked mercilessly.
  5. Freshman are able to play with the promise they've shown and not look like freshman - particularly the wide receivers early in the season. If these guys can't focus in the SEC environment we're one dimensional. Not good.
  6. Nick Reviez staying healthy and continuing to exceed expectations at MLB. Again, with an undersized d-line, we're going to be attacked up the middle mercilessly. Reviez is going to be called on repeatedly to make the plays with big Dan and Montori getting double teamed.
  7. Eric Berry staying healthy. No doubt he'll make plays, but he needs to be on the field. Additionally, he's the heart and soul of this team. Fortunately, he has not been injury prone.
  8. OLBs stepping up. On paper, this is the weakest group of linebackers I can remember at Tennessee. Rico has shown flashes, needs to be consistent and keep laying the wood.
  9. Daniel Lincoln becoming more consistent. Points will likely be at a premium this year, and we'll need all we can get, hopefully 75% or higher field goal accuracy.
  10. Balance of the special teams no longer looking like the keystone cops. We need to at least pull a draw in this phase of the game; back in the day, Tennessee had excellent special teams; as of late, we were at a decided disadvantage against every quality opponent on our schedule. God help me if Brandon James takes another punt return to the house; for the record, I predict this will not happen.
  11. Chris Walker living up to the hype. The psychological aspect alone of having an imposing blind-side pass rush is invaluable, and hopefully he'll have some numbers to back it up, +/- at 8 sacks. Living up to his freshman prediction in the florida game would be a season highlight.
  12. The off-field discipline we've seen translates to on-line accountability, and we have very few false-starts, offside, personal fouls, assignment breakdowns.
If we achieve the above, we're an 8-4 team for sure, and likely 9-3. Moreover, by executing well and playing smart, fundamental football, we will be a tough out for anyone on our schedule.
Click to expand...

You don't know Jack, Jack!:huh:
 
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