Minimizing wins

#1

Joe Vols

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#1
It's hard for me to take wins for granted after our recent past. It's hard for me to be mad at Butch when I think he's ahead of schedule with where I thought he would be when he took this job. It's hard for me to diminish how much better we are playing than we were just 2 short years ago.

I think Butch may be a victim of his own success. While it's true we are bigger, faster, stronger, and more athletic this year, we are still a young, albeit talented, team.

That being said, I'm not oblivious to certain things I'm seeing in this team that needs to be addressed for us to take the next step of winning the East. Winning the SEC East even in down years is no easy task. It still requires greatness. For this team to be great we need a few things to happen consistently.

1. We need our offensive and defensive lines to be dominate in the trenches. You don't win the east by not stopping the run, or not being able to run the ball.
2. We have to create more pressure on the QBs.
3. We have to get our playmakers in space week in and week out.
4. New wrinkles have to be added every week to our base stable of plays that our opponents haven't seen.
5. We have to know when to make adjustments, and when to stick with what's working. So far, I've seen us stick to what's not working, and make adjustments away from our successes.
6. We have to know what our strengths and weaknesses are and call plays accordingly.
7. We have to play with passion.
8. Butch has taught this team to win close games. He needs to teach this team how to win big.
9. Butch needs to expect this team to dominate it's opponent. It seems like we always hear Butch saying he expects our games to be close. Coach speak is one thing, but preparing us as fans for close games so he doesn't have to explain them has to change.
10. Keep this team moving on the right direction. I've said all of this, because I believe we will start to see all of these things occur this year.

My 2 cents! GBO
 
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#4
#4
I'm on board with all of these. We don't seem to being getting to the qb like we should. Also we get our wr's in rhythm and then go run,run,run,run,run,etc...
 
#5
#5
"we are still a young... team"

Oh please tell me you didnt go there. :nono:

You can say we are still a young program under Butch (though there are many in similar or worse circumstances in the SEC this year) but you cannot say the team itself is young - not with the returning starters and seniors we have.

There is much to be said for greater time in a program but there is no question that we should be able to kick ass and take names with the talent that we have on the field. In most previous years, when playing FL, GA or Bamma, as much as we didnt want to admit it, we had less experienced and capable talent. That is NOT the case this year. What we have seen so far is that the Vols can play when they decide to wake up and that even when things look disastrous they can still come back to win. If they arent awake at the kickoff - that is on CBJ.

All that said, CBJ has all the tools he needs (except a better Oline and OC) to make some serious action happen this year. 10-2 is the baseline expectation for "success". And if we do that or better, CBJ is deserving of some serious accolades.
 
#9
#9
"we are still a young... team"

Oh please tell me you didnt go there. :nono:

You can say we are still a young program under Butch (though there are many in similar or worse circumstances in the SEC this year) but you cannot say the team itself is young - not with the returning starters and seniors we have.

There is much to be said for greater time in a program but there is no question that we should be able to kick ass and take names with the talent that we have on the field. In most previous years, when playing FL, GA or Bamma, as much as we didnt want to admit it, we had less experienced and capable talent. That is NOT the case this year. What we have seen so far is that the Vols can play when they decide to wake up and that even when things look disastrous they can still come back to win. If they arent awake at the kickoff - that is on CBJ.

All that said, CBJ has all the tools he needs (except a better Oline and OC) to make some serious action happen this year. 10-2 is the baseline expectation for "success". And if we do that or better, CBJ is deserving of some serious accolades.

I totally agree with your assessment.
 
#10
#10
I'll say yes, that the VOls are better and deeper at most every position this year and we have a lot of young talent as back ups and still some good young starters. McKenzie So. , Tuttle So. , P Williams So. , K Williams So, Byrd Fr. , D Richmond RFr. and on and on. Hurd, Kamara, Malone, TKj , D Barnett , all Juniors. Seniors Dobbs, Sutton, JRM. It is still a young team overall. I hope we go far this year but, we're becoming a team loaded for the future as well. Sit back and enjoy the ride. the next 5-10 years are going to be epic. Go VOLsss!!!
 
#13
#13
The pressure will make Butch burst into flames this year....

His face turns so red when he gets excited. My wife worries about his health. I only worry about the O-line.

On a B-ball related note, I wish Rick Barnes would occasionally get excited. My wife doesnt have to worry about him.
 
#14
#14
I agree Butch has done a great job with the rebuild, but THERE ARE NO MORE EXCUSES FOR NOT PERFORMING AND NOT WINNING.

Butch now has to prove he can coach to win. I have questioned Butch all along the way and he has continued to knock off most my concerns...ie could he recruit with the big boys.

But now, Butch has to prove that:

1) He can coach with a lead
2) He can mentor assistant coaches that are underperforming and remove expediently if required
3) He can consistently make hires for coordinator positions that make Tennessee better.
4) He can figure out how to beat Bama and Florduh.
 
#15
#15
It's hard for me to take wins for granted after our recent past. It's hard for me to be mad at Butch when I think he's ahead of schedule with where I thought he would be when he took this job. It's hard for me to diminish how much better we are playing than we were just 2 short years ago.

I think Butch may be a victim of his own success. While it's true we are bigger, faster, stronger, and more athletic this year, we are still a young, albeit talented, team.

That being said, I'm not oblivious to certain things I'm seeing in this team that needs to be addressed for us to take the next step of winning the East. Winning the SEC East even in down years is no easy task. It still requires greatness. For this team to be great we need a few things to happen consistently.

1. We need our offensive and defensive lines to be dominate in the trenches. You don't win the east by not stopping the run, or not being able to run the ball.
2. We have to create more pressure on the QBs.
3. We have to get our playmakers in space week in and week out.
4. New wrinkles have to be added every week to our base stable of plays that our opponents haven't seen.
5. We have to know when to make adjustments, and when to stick with what's working. So far, I've seen us stick to what's not working, and make adjustments away from our successes.
6. We have to know what our strengths and weaknesses are and call plays accordingly.
7. We have to play with passion.
8. Butch has taught this team to win close games. He needs to teach this team how to win big.
9. Butch needs to expect this team to dominate it's opponent. It seems like we always hear Butch saying he expects our games to be close. Coach speak is one thing, but preparing us as fans for close games so he doesn't have to explain them has to change.
10. Keep this team moving on the right direction. I've said all of this, because I believe we will start to see all of these things occur this year.

My 2 cents! GBO

:unsure: dominant
 
#17
#17
I think we're all panicking because of the O Line problems...I know I am! Hopefully they'll improve quickly!
 
#18
#18
I think we're all panicking because of the O Line problems...I know I am! Hopefully they'll improve quickly!


Tomorrow will give them a chance to get some rhythm (though I seriously doubt the playbook will open much) but we will know if we are panicking or were prescient in 8 days.
 
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