Overhyped......

[Titan&Volfan4life]

Our passing game WILL be better this season.

O line will block better and that will give Dobbs a bit more time to set his feet and make better throws.

WR's have been getting pushed hard by buTch and coach Z on fundamentals and fighting harder to go take the ball out of the air.

Our WR corps is deeper and more talented too.

I also believe our TE's will be much more involved in the passing game this season and I think that's 1 of the main reasons that Croom was switched to the TE position.

Croom could become a nightmare for a LB to try to cover.

Everyone knows that every team will gear up to try to stop our run game so extra work is going into getting our passing game up to where it needs to be so our run game can take off too.

Watch our TE's folks, they're coming!

Building a Champion WIN by WIN...VFL...GBO!!!

 

[MustafaRasta]

How many of these ****ing threads are you going to make before week one?

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

How many of these ****ing threads are you going to make before week one?

Really looking forward to his 5 page essay on why Texas A&M is the most important game of the season (regardless of all common sense saying otherwise).

 

[GLDunlap]

Team 120 should compete for the SEC and the play-offs.

We're all worried about injuries and you can't predict them. They will happen. Let's hope none are serious and we can overcome them all.

The weaknesses last year were receiver coaching and Saturday coaching. These cost us a spot in the SECCG.

Butch never owned his Saturday coaching mistakes but he did do something about them every game. I don't like that he had to do some OJT on our sidelines, but at least he learned the ropes unlike the other guy still looking for Rommel. This culminated in the game tweaks against Northwestern, a top-15 team that couldn't live with us from the coin flip.

We need one receiver to step up and be a big play receiver. National championship teams have: a great running game, a top-five d-line, and one go to receiver. We only need one and we could pick from three or four. It looks like Josh Smith will be the possession receiver we need. We need someone to be the go-to receiver who take the ball away from defenders in the air or who can break it to the house on any catch.

What worries me is that Z has not shown any ability to develop that receiver and, moreover, the receiver philosophy doesn't lend itself to that championship model.

Injuries happen and may cost us a game. Team 120 has a great running game, a top-5 d-line. We have the bonus of having a dual-threat, game manager, low turnover QB which is the big intangible on championship teams. Saturday coaching improved every week (although I wish it didn't require the first half of Team 119 to get right).

We need Z to step-up big time and deliver us that go-to receiver.

Ever think the receiver is the one that needs to step up? Pig could have been great if CZA hadn't smoked so much weed. Marquez could have been great if not for CZA's back problems. Von Pearson could have been great if CZA didn't have the off the field problems. JJ, PW were true Freshman. What was CZA expected to do?

 

[Eddie Vol Halen]

How many of these ****ing threads are you going to make before week one?

There is a lot of moan in you, Mustafa. A lot of moan.

Roll one and chill, Rasta. How many times is the team going to repeat the Maxims?

Keys to the season: healthy two-deep, emergence of go-to receiver, improvement on Saturday coaching. Can't be said enough, IMHO.

 

[TheHound]

Keys to the season: healthy two-deep, emergence of go-to receiver, improvement on Saturday coaching. Can't be said enough, IMHO.

Yes, it can and has been said enough. It's been beaten to death on this board. Repeating it on here literally has no effect on the team this fall.

 

[Jax_Vol]

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

 

[volstuff37641]

Team 120 should compete for the SEC and the play-offs.

We're all worried about injuries and you can't predict them. They will happen. Let's hope none are serious and we can overcome them all.

The weaknesses last year were receiver coaching and Saturday coaching. These cost us a spot in the SECCG.

Butch never owned his Saturday coaching mistakes but he did do something about them every game. I don't like that he had to do some OJT on our sidelines, but at least he learned the ropes unlike the other guy still looking for Rommel. This culminated in the game tweaks against Northwestern, a top-15 team that couldn't live with us from the coin flip.

We need one receiver to step up and be a big play receiver. National championship teams have: a great running game, a top-five d-line, and one go to receiver. We only need one and we could pick from three or four. It looks like Josh Smith will be the possession receiver we need. We need someone to be the go-to receiver who take the ball away from defenders in the air or who can break it to the house on any catch.

What worries me is that Z has not shown any ability to develop that receiver and, moreover, the receiver philosophy doesn't lend itself to that championship model.

Injuries happen and may cost us a game. Team 120 has a great running game, a top-5 d-line. We have the bonus of having a dual-threat, game manager, low turnover QB which is the big intangible on championship teams. Saturday coaching improved every week (although I wish it didn't require the first half of Team 119 to get right).

We need Z to step-up big time and deliver us that go-to receiver.

wel,what do you know, another monday morning arm chair coach.glad to see you got promoted from water-boy.l

 

[dirytkirby]

For a game like this I'm not going to be looking at the final score as much as the plays during the game. Do they have a receiver that continually gets behind our corners? Are our safeties out of position? How much push does the O-line get? Is Dobbs running for his life? How much pressure does the D line get?

Way too logical for this forum, sir. Please refrain from such comments among the opinions of the over opinionated.

 

[FLVOL_79]

When I hear that, it chaps my ass. The last time we were truly overhyped was 2005. Lazies like Danny Kennel do no homework. He also said we were not deep on the line. Lol!

2005 and 2008 I think it was and it was all about having the best o-line in the country.

 

[Wat?]

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

And the sense to ignore the goobers wherever encountered

 

[NCVolfan6593]

So, I have a question. My opinion is it's a given that UT will win the App. State game. But, what kind of score would make guys feel good, and what score would make you go "hmm". So if it's 55-3.. That's good. But, what if the score is like 34-20?

If Florida beats Umass and the score is 34-20 I would feel like there are some problems.

I don't think we should underestimate Appalachian State, and assume anything less than a blowout, is a bad sign. Although from a lesser conference, they are still a good football team, with 11 wins last year. I think they will keep the game close for awhile, with us pulling away in the end.

But if I'm not mistaken, App State is the favorite to win their conference, as well.

Personally, a game like this scares me, because I think we could go into it too confident. A close game with App State might just do us some good. If we blow them out, I would be worried that we may just start thinking we're that good. I would rather see what needs fixing now, and have it fixed by the Florida game.

If we win that one by 14-17 points, then I'm satisfied.

 

[NCVolfan6593]

We are under hyped. We should be in playoff discussion. Name 4 teams better than Tennessee going into the year, here's a hint, you can't.

Yeah, well, let's just hope there aren't 4 teams better than us at the end of the year.

 

[VolPack22]

If you haven't figured it out by now Kannell hates the SEC. He thinks of all the conferences the ACC has the best shot at getting 2 teams in the playoff with Clemson and Florida St. He's a homer and always will be. Personally, until it goes to 8 teams I don't think there will ever be 2 teams from the same conference in the playoff. They want to see the best representatives from the 4 best conferences. I love how he says that but in actuality they both have a better chance at losing their season openers than them both making the playoff. Florida St will get beat down by Ole Miss by at least 2 touchdowns and Clemson better be ready for Auburn.

 

[BigBadVol]

Ever think the receiver is the one that needs to step up? Pig could have been great if CZA hadn't smoked so much weed. Marquez could have been great if not for CZA's back problems. Von Pearson could have been great if CZA didn't have the off the field problems. JJ, PW were true Freshman. What was CZA expected to do?

Finally! I agree. Almost all the coaches in top programs use the same methods with slight variations. Especially position coaches. It's ultimately up to the players staying healthy, learning and becoming confident.

 

[MikeVol44]

Good assessment. Based on the personnel returning, I have a hard time thinking it won't be a 50 point day for the UT offense, but I didn't realize App. State was 11th in total defense last season. That surprised the hell out of me. To put that in perspective, Clemson was 10th in total defense.

App State ranked 11th by playing against whom??????

and comparing them to Clemson's rank as 10th in total defense puts NOTHING in perspective...i.e., level of competition, etc...etc...etc...

It might be a little slow-going in the beginning of the game....but we ought to run them out of the stadium by the end of the 3rd QTR and be up by 35 points....

I wouldn't expect Hurd, Kamara, or Dobbs to play past half-time....

 

[TN Outlaw]

I love statistics. But this is an illustration of how they can be deceptive. ASU only played 4 teams with a winning record and went 2-2 against them.

Vs FBS teams with a winning record, ASU allowed 44 more ypg. Remember 3 (Ark St, Ga Southern, and Ohio) of those opponents were mid-major opponents. Only 3 teams out of 11 Sunbelt teams finished with a winning record. ASU lost to Ark St while giving up over 500 yds. They beat one dimensional GSU.

Clemson didn't need a lot of O because they dominated field position. None of the others were great offensive teams once you factor in competition levels.

In an interesting outlier, Troy who finished 4-8 and 102nd in total O nationally.... put 450 yds on ASU losing 44-41.

Offensively, ASU scored 41 ppg overall but only 25 ppg vs the 4 teams they played with a winning record.

While working out the other night, I watched ASU's bowl game vs Ohio. I don't think I've ever seen a slower team than Ohio.


Summary: They looked good in a conference made up of really bad teams then struggled with a team in their bowl that they should have beaten by 30 pts.

I agree but will add this for thought, App State will be an improved team from last year. Lamb, who is an excellent qb, has another year in the system and has what's being touted as one of the best Oline's in the nation coming back after another year of improving and a 1,000yd rusher with another year to improve.

The Vols were not world beaters last year but we all know with another year in the program our guys should take a big step foward and we all base our predictions off of all that improvement that we really haven't seen yet. All I'm saying is we can't expect all this improvement from our team but discount the possibility of the same from our opponents. We won't be playing last yrs teams after all.

Ok, but IMO UT will dominate the LOS and out talent App State with a very bland game plan and still win by 20+ but it will be that the Vols are very good and not that Appy is really that bad.

 

[AM64]

Correct. NW had no business being ranked where they were.

Few little 10 (+4) teams do deserve to be ranked at all - like the ACC they are bottom heavy. Their top teams may actually be very good, but they beat a lot of fluff on their way to top rankings.

 

[NCVolfan6593]

Like I said....App State is a good football team, and we should not underestimate them, nor should we have been expecting a blow out. And nor should we be in complete meltdown mode, because we didn't blow them out. Yes, we should've won by more than we did, but we will be fine. I live close enough to App State to know how solid they are.