Positive thread..Why UT can be better than advertised

#26
#26
I am a believer in the theory of the "weakest link", that being whatever your weakest link is, that is what the opposing team will seek to exploit. Of course Butch Jones knows this and he is desperately trying to improve all the links with first and second year players thrown in a year too soon, while utilizing his junior and senior Dooley holdovers, some of whom are quite good or at least adequate. It looks to me like he is doing a great job from what little we can see during camp.

Our skilled players will be much better this year on offense, QB, RB, and WR. I believe there is a consensus about this. The OL, while not as talented as last year will probably be ok, they are more mobile and there is young talent.

The defense is still a big question mark, but no doubt there is much much more talent on this year's defense compared to last year. There is much more speed, and speed is the great disrupter on defense as well as offense. This defense will be shockingly good one play and then there will be a blown assignment on the next play and they will look bad. As one of the articles predicted, better get them in September, because by October or November they won't be freshman anymore.

I worry about two things; injuries and mental fatigue. Butch knows that all the details and culture he is trying to instill are what keeps you performing well when you are bone tired and nicked up with injuries but still playing. Older players know how to fight through this but younger ones don't. Having said this, this appears to be a really bright and well disciplined group of players so they could perform much tougher in October and November than people would normally expect. I really believe that this is they best overall quality recruiting class I have seen at Tennessee, maybe not the most talented, but the best overall quality. I don't think I've seen a class of 32 basically all qualify and show up. What have we lost, one due to a transfer?

I'm a glass half full on this one, I think with his coaching methods and the quality of this group will surprise on the upside, not the downside. I am very optimistic that we will look great for parts of game and may pull of two or more upsets this year, but we will also have some ugly plays. If they kids continue to develop and stay relatively injury free we will look at this year as not only a turnaround year but a magical year.

But, that's why they play the game, and as a fan I will be very optimistic, but not unrealistic, until I see something to change that. 8 and 5 with a bowl win
 
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#28
#28
CountVolcula said:
#2, #3, #4 is going to hurt #1, getting the ball to #5, which puts more pressure on #6 to get yards. But If #2, #3, and #4 hurts #1, then defenses will concentrate more on stopping #6, which will limit yards per carry.
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Well said.
 
#29
#29
99gator said:
If Tennessee is going to be better than people think, it will be because of what you did not mention.....defense.

The defense will need to be better than people think for that to happen. For that to be the case, guys like Maggitt have to deliver a pass rush which Tennessee hasn't had in years.
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Thats true.

IMO our pass russ will be better this year....I'm more worried about our ability to stop the run.
 
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#30
#30
The lines on both sides are problematic and we have a difficult OOC and SEC schedule. TN MIGHT be better but I don't think we turn the corner until 2015 and beyond. We play some good teams at a time when the lines will be learning to play together. Watch out for USU.
 
#32
#32
Tennessee wil be better…….b/c CBJ is a details oriented coach like the coach of that red team down the road. :yes:
 
#33
#33
My thoughts are this:

All teams lose players to graduation. That is the nature of college football. You have to be able to plug in new players and make as much progress with the new players. Teams that can do so, have better records. Those teams that can not plug in the new players in a solid manner, do not fare as well. It is not always about pure talent, but rather who that talent is coached up and utilized.

I believe that our offense is going to be light years ahead f last years team. Sure, we are replacing the entire OL. Out OL, talent-wise a year ago, was very good, but they were athletically not ideal to the offensive skills that Butch Jones's offense requires. They were aligned with what Jim Chaney was running in his pro style line scheme. While most of these linemen were recruited to UT by Dolley and did not beat out the guys on last years OL, that does not mean that they are not more athletic and more suited to play in Butch Jones's offensive scheme. I believe that we will run the ball much more successfully than we did in 2013.

QB play has been the talk around the UT boards. While there has been much negativity spread by posters, who are parroting Butch Jones, they are not understanding Butch Jones's message and intent. Butch is not calling for doomsday. He is motivating the QBs to play smarter and better. Think about this….our QBs have a year under their belts in the Butch Jones system. They have a better understanding of what is expected from them and how to make the reads better and more quickly. Our QBs have several unbelievably talented WRs to throw to at their disposal, versus one great freshman WR from a year ago. We also have 3-4 tight ends who will play and a couple of those guys can get up the seam. No doubt that we will be able to run and throw the football well. Being able to throw the ball well, will force opposing defenses to not crowd the line of scrimmage and apply a lot of pressure on the defenses we face. Defenses have to play a safety up close to the line to stop the running game. In doing so, they eliminate the possibility to double up on more than one WR and we could see a lot of big vertical plays this season from our receivers.

Defensively, we will be very young and believe that this is where we will win or lose games. We are not very big in our front 7 and running teams will try to take advantage of our lack of size. We will have to fully utilize our speed in our front 7 in order to win more battles than we lose. We will be very young in the secondary and we could have some big plays made against us, because we are out of position, but not because of our foot speed, as it has been the past 4-5 seasons. Our pass rushing from the edges should be vastly improved this season, as long as Maggit can stay healthy. AJ, has to do a better job of running the line past the guard box and must be able to extend to the tackle box in his reach.

Our kicking game will be a question mark. The kicking portion is the big question. I believe the coverage teams, the blocking, and the return specialists will be very good. They key will be how good our kicker are. They have fared well in practice, but have not yet played in front of 100,000 fans at Neyland or on the road in enemy stadiums.

I do not foresee this team winning a national championship, but I do see this team as possibly capable of pulling off multiple upsets with the new and improved talent that is being plugged in. They key will be limiting the mistakes. The fewer break downs on either the side of the ball, the better out chances are at pulling off some big upsets.

Winning 7 or 8 games is a distinct possibility in my mind. Am I being overly optimistic? It sure feels good to be able to posts in such a manner and be so positive about our team's future for the first time in a long time.
 
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#34
#34
I do not feel worried at this point trading tenacity and a full year of understanding in Jones' system on the OL for any pure athleticism that might have been lost.

Last year's OL IMO disappointed mostly because none of them were very aggressive as OL's go. Justin Britt from Mizzou probably didn't have the "talent" that any of UT's starter had. But he'd drive a DL into the ground then grind them into powder.

Crowder and Jackson at a minimum seem to have that. It sounds like Thomas does as well. At some point for an OL it stops being about being an athlete and starts to be about what kind of warrior a guy is.
 
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#35
#35
I think in yr two under good coaches ie. System etc. Should improve our wins by 2 at a min.

That's just me but i believe coaching really does make a difference... Lol
 
#36
#36
Development is also a HUGE factor for OL's. Jones' has now had them for two complete off seasons to re-shape their bodies and develop the kinds of athletes he wants.

You have to be impressed with what the have done with guys like Moseley and J Williams. Now imagine what they have probably done physically with the OL's who will start this fall... maybe not reported on... maybe not as noticeable... but could have at least as much impact when bullets start flying.

Development is the often forgotten piece along with recruiting and coaching. IMHO, this staff gets higher grades for development than the even do for recruiting. They have changed some guys... another guy who comes to mind is O'Brien. I had written him off as too slow to ever contribute. Somehow they have reshaped him into someone fighting to be in the DT rotation.
 
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#38
#38
What amazes me is the fact that we on VN talk and think and scrutinize every position , every play , every possible scenario everyday . We are able to do this as a group . I know it's been asked before , but I am seriously wondering ... When does CBJ and staff sleep? I'd like to hear one of the reporters ask him what his rest/recovery and refueling program is . :yes:
 
#39
#39
Tux said:
My thoughts are this:

All teams lose players to graduation. That is the nature of college football.

QB play has been the talk around the UT boards. While there has been much negativity spread by posters, who are parroting Butch Jones, they are not understanding Butch Jones's message and intent. Butch is not calling for doomsday. He is motivating the QBs to play smarter and better. Think about this….our QBs have a year under their belts in the Butch Jones system.
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All teams graduate players, but no other school in the country in the last three years has lost both entire lines.

I think you are making major major major assumptions about the QBs. Just because they have a year under their belt in the new system does not mean they they automatically became more gifted and athletic QBs.

You say that CBJ says what he says to motivate his QBs to play better. I think that he is doing all that a head coach can do to manage the expectations of the fans without coming straight out and saying our QBs suck (which he obviously cant just come out and say under and circumstances). Besides, if you have to go that far to motivate your QBs with only a couple weeks to go before live action, then you have serious problems.

Sometimes people try to read what they want to read into the situation in order to maintain a positive stance and have hope, but if you just take everything at face value (because most of the time the simplest answer is usually the right one), then you have to admit that there hasnt been much SPECIFIC positivity coming from the team's leadership.
 
#40
#40
madbamahater said:
With the continuous freak out threads and negative bashing of the QB situation, I want to offer opinions on how the Vols can be better on offense.

1) QBs have a year under their belts in the system
2) OL is new (but they play OL and they were recruited to play OL). It's not like they just drive around and picked up any ol dudes off the street to play on the line or converting guys who have never played the sport.
3) OL again. This OL HAS to be able to run block better than the last bunch. With multiple pro talents last year, they couldn't run block to save their asses.
4) OL again. Being able to run block with take HUGE amount of stress off the QBs and naturally they will perform better.
5) The WR situation is atop the best in the country and more experienced and more depth.
6) The talent level at RB is so vastly improved over last season that one has a hard time describing it. It was beyond pitiful.....

I'm not suggesting this team will win 8+ games. But I believe they are better and will be better across the board.....
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I agree that the o-line must run block very well to have success. However, to say that last years line didn't make some good holes denies the fact of having a thousand yard rusher, against SEC defensive lines and 8 guys in the box.

Neal was a decent back, but not a premiere back. The Vols had injured QB's and only one real threat on the outside. The "splash plays" the 2013 Vols generated were primarily runs.

Last years line punched holes in every defense they faced. We just remember all the times Vol backs were stoned on big downs. (Which was bound to happen, without much of a perimeter threat and a hobbled, third string freshman quarterback taking the snaps.)

This years line will not be better than last season... but they will look better because defenders heads should be spinning.

It will be apparent to SEC defensive coordinators, shortly after the first quarter against USU, that "picking your poison" will be the topic of game week preparations when these Vols are on tap come Saturday.
 
#42
#42
MWAVolfan said:
All teams graduate players, but no other school in the country in the last three years has lost both entire lines.
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And that can still be good, bad, or null. The one thing we know for sure is that they are giving up a little size to gain speed on the DL and to a lesser extent the OL.

I think you are making major major major assumptions about the QBs. Just because they have a year under their belt in the new system does not mean they they automatically became more gifted and athletic QBs.
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And you have had a long string of posts making MAJOR assumptions about the supposed lack of QB talent on this team. Familiarity with the system they run... and having receivers who are as well... is a very big factor for a QB regardless of their personal talent level.

You say that CBJ says what he says to motivate his QBs to play better. I think that he is doing all that a head coach can do to manage the expectations of the fans without coming straight out and saying our QBs suck (which he obviously cant just come out and say under and circumstances).
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Speaking of "major, major, major" assumptions. This one is a HUGE reach. Two of these guys were RECRUITED BY JONES because he believed in their talent.... and they aren't the likely starter.

Besides, if you have to go that far to motivate your QBs with only a couple weeks to go before live action, then you have serious problems.
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He wants competition because he thinks that makes players work harder. Period. He seems to have chosen to hold off announcing a starting QB for that purpose. Your lack of understanding or refusal to see the logic of this tactic... doesn't make it a "serious problem".

Sometimes people try to read what they want to read into the situation in order to maintain a positive stance and have hope, but if you just take everything at face value (because most of the time the simplest answer is usually the right one), then you have to admit that there hasnt been much SPECIFIC positivity coming from the team's leadership.
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:eek:lol:

You aren't reading into the situation what you have decided to believe? You are probably doing it more than anyone here.

Which leadership are you talking about? The player leaders have been VERY positive. Jones and the coaching staff have been "mixed" but none of their comments are particularly negative... much less as hopeless as you've interpreted them.
 
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#43
#43
Tux said:
My thoughts are this:

All teams lose players to graduation. That is the nature of college football. You have to be able to plug in new players and make as much progress with the new players. Teams that can do so, have better records. Those teams that can not plug in the new players in a solid manner, do not fare as well. It is not always about pure talent, but rather who that talent is coached up and utilized.

I believe that our offense is going to be light years ahead f last years team. Sure, we are replacing the entire OL. Out OL, talent-wise a year ago, was very good, but they were athletically not ideal to the offensive skills that Butch Jones's offense requires. They were aligned with what Jim Chaney was running in his pro style line scheme. While most of these linemen were recruited to UT by Dolley and did not beat out the guys on last years OL, that does not mean that they are not more athletic and more suited to play in Butch Jones's offensive scheme. I believe that we will run the ball much more successfully than we did in 2013.

QB play has been the talk around the UT boards. While there has been much negativity spread by posters, who are parroting Butch Jones, they are not understanding Butch Jones's message and intent. Butch is not calling for doomsday. He is motivating the QBs to play smarter and better. Think about this….our QBs have a year under their belts in the Butch Jones system. They have a better understanding of what is expected from them and how to make the reads better and more quickly. Our QBs have several unbelievably talented WRs to throw to at their disposal, versus one great freshman WR from a year ago. We also have 3-4 tight ends who will play and a couple of those guys can get up the seam. No doubt that we will be able to run and throw the football well. Being able to throw the ball well, will force opposing defenses to not crowd the line of scrimmage and apply a lot of pressure on the defenses we face. Defenses have to play a safety up close to the line to stop the running game. In doing so, they eliminate the possibility to double up on more than one WR and we could see a lot of big vertical plays this season from our receivers.

Defensively, we will be very young and believe that this is where we will win or lose games. We are not very big in our front 7 and running teams will try to take advantage of our lack of size. We will have to fully utilize our speed in our front 7 in order to win more battles than we lose. We will be very young in the secondary and we could have some big plays made against us, because we are out of position, but not because of our foot speed, as it has been the past 4-5 seasons. Our pass rushing from the edges should be vastly improved this season, as long as Maggit can stay healthy. AJ, has to do a better job of running the line past the guard box and must be able to extend to the tackle box in his reach.

Our kicking game will be a question mark. The kicking portion is the big question. I believe the coverage teams, the blocking, and the return specialists will be very good. They key will be how good our kicker are. They have fared well in practice, but have not yet played in front of 100,000 fans at Neyland or on the road in enemy stadiums.

I do not foresee this team winning a national championship, but I do see this team as possibly capable of pulling off multiple upsets with the new and improved talent that is being plugged in. They key will be limiting the mistakes. The fewer break downs on either the side of the ball, the better out chances are at pulling off some big upsets.

Winning 7 or 8 games is a distinct possibility in my mind. Am I being overly optimistic? It sure feels good to be able to posts in such a manner and be so positive about our team's future for the first time in a long time.
Click to expand...

Yes you get it and I like it
 
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#44
#44
The coaches and meaningful critics (non fans) were constantly critical of last years lines ability to consistently run block. They were better than '12, but still not great......

The Florida fan mentioned defense, which I didn't mention. Because we all know that we will be vastly better on defense. He should worry about his own team.
 
#46
#46
Like the glass half full thingy. Were still undefeated this offseason. :good!:


Have to agree with #3. For the three years previous, I nearly pulled my hair out watching out huge athletic OL rarely stay on a block until the whistle sounded. Every running play ended with 2-3 defenders crushing our RB and 2-3 giants standing over them all watching. They improved a little , and last year they were maybe average run blockers. Fulton seemed to be better though.

Have to disagree on #6. Stats show we ran the ball decently for an SEC team last season. Neal was OK and Lane was OK. We may be better back there this year, but I expect a big improvement in the next year or two with the young ones.
 
#47
#47
Didn't the last offensive line run block for over 4+ yards per carry? Didn't Neal an average back in the SEC go over a 1,000 yards. The line was above avg. Last year. UT lacked QB, TE, and We play last year.
 
#48
#48
rynrem said:
Black?!
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590.gif
 
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