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#53
#53
Our defense can't stop bama or ga enough to let our offense get the time they will need to score enough points. Bama and GA defense are way better than any defense we have yet to play this year. That texas game for bama was bama having an off day and that Kent state game for Ga, was Ga having an off day. Anything is possible sure but 9/10 games we will lose to bama and GA. Until we upgrade the talent on defense we won't be able to compete with them. We have the offense and I'd argue our offense is second to bama and ahead of Ga but their defense vs our defense it's not close by any means.
 
#54
#54
Volmac2022 said:
Our defense can't stop bama or ga enough to let our offense get the time they will need to score enough points. Bama and GA defense are way better than any defense we have yet to play this year. That texas game for bama was bama having an off day and that Kent state game for Ga, was Ga having an off day. Anything is possible sure but 9/10 games we will lose to bama and GA. Until we upgrade the talent on defense we won't be able to compete with them. We have the offense and I'd argue our offense is second to bama and ahead of Ga but their defense vs our defense it's not close by any means.
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I can't disagree with this post. If we don't start playing better in the secondary, we are not gonna get to 10 wins. Maybe 9. Georgia and Bama will eat our lunch if we don't fix those coverages and don't figure out how to get to the QB more often. And since Florida gave a blueprint on how to beat our defense, other teams will exploit that and pick on our DBs all day unless we learn how to cover a receiver better.
 
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#55
#55
Voljlt said:
I can't disagree with this post. If we don't start playing better in the secondary, we are not gonna get to 10 wins. Maybe 9. Georgia and Bama will eat our lunch if we don't fix those coverages and don't figure out how to get to the QB more often. And since Florida gave a blueprint on how to beat our defense, other teams will exploit that and pick on our DBs all day unless we learn how to cover a receiver better.
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I agree we won't beat UGa or Bama without a stouter back end on the defense.

But don't go thinking Florida gave anyone else a blueprint for how to succeed. First, and obviously, they didn't. Succeed. They lost. But second, Florida's "blueprint" has big stamps along the margins that say CAUTION: HIGH RISK, USE ONLY AT EXTREME NEED, CAN BACKFIRE--AND USUALLY WILL.

Most coaches who think they have a realistic shot aren't going to take that big a risk from the very first quarter. We could see a Kentucky or South Carolina trying it out in the second half once they realize we're simply a better team than them, but (a) by then it will probably be too late and (b) it is actually high-risk, and will more likely than not put them in an even deeper hole.

What Niedermeyer 1664370605828.jpeg1664370935855.jpeg, I mean Napier 1664370625899.jpeg did was unorthodox, some might even say extreme. He's not providing a blueprint to anyone rational. His was a game plan of desperation that worked far better than it had any right to. And he still lost.
 
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#56
#56
Voljlt said:
I can't disagree with this post. If we don't start playing better in the secondary, we are not gonna get to 10 wins. Maybe 9. Georgia and Bama will eat our lunch if we don't fix those coverages and don't figure out how to get to the QB more often. And since Florida gave a blueprint on how to beat our defense, other teams will exploit that and pick on our DBs all day unless we learn how to cover a receiver better.
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I think we are most likely to go 9-3 with losses to Georgia/Alabama and someone else. LSU is the most likely followed by Kentucky. We could also lose a game we shouldn’t if we have a really bad day and they have a good one. If we beat LSU I think the chances of going 10-2 go way up. Beat Kentucky after that and it’s very likely. Beating Georgia or Alabama is unlikely. If we do, which will take a special day, I think Alabama will be the one we get. I do think even with our current secondary 10 wins is still very possible, but obviously not as likely.

Also yes the florida game showed that a quarterback who can make the throws can get a lot of yards in the way we played. I wouldn’t say it’s a blueprint, because other quarterbacks might not be able to make the throws. We got some pressure against AR but he avoided tackles. Guy might not be the quarterback he has been hyper up to be yet, he he is absolutely a physical specimen with his size and speed.

Other quarterbacks might not fare as well in the same situations. We also have the option of changing our strategy as the situation dictates, which means a team who might be able to beat us if we play zone and don’t bring pressure might not do so great if we do bring pressure. On the other hand they could also make us pay for such strategies. It really depends on the individual games. I’m sure the coaches consider who they are playing and try to find the best plan.
 
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#59
#59
KeyVol14 said:
Is anyone worried that....
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When you hear that in the Army, you get as far from the person who said it as you can.

It's not that they're losers so much as just...vulnerable. **** comes to those who look for it.

I'm not worried. I'm excited we have the luxury of winning games against ranked teams even when one element of our team has a down week.

Complementary football. That's the buzzword, right?
 
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#60
#60
KeyVol14 said:
Is anyone worried that our offense has a down week and our defense will have to win us a game?
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Not really. I mean it’s very possible, but not something I can control. If it happens, and we lose I will let myself get worked and upset about it then, and then try to put it behind me. If the defense is able to step up in that situation it’ll be something to celebrate. Worrying now is not useful for me, personally.

The actual guys playing the game and the ones coaching them can only identify what needs working on, work on those things, come up with a plan, play the game, and finally evaluate the results for new things to work on. Worrying about what you can’t control uses energy better spent somewhere else imho.
 
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#61
#61
VFL-82-JP said:
When you hear that in the Army, you get as far from the person who said it as you can.

It's not that they're losers so much as just...vulnerable. **** comes to those who look for it.

I'm not worried. I'm excited we have the luxury of winning games against ranked teams even when one element of our team has a down week.

Complementary football. That's the buzzword, right?
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I get what your saying. I guess the thing is, it’s not realistic to expect our offense to not face an adversity the rest of the way. That’s why I think the defense will have to step up and do their part to be a deciding factor in a game in which the Pitt game was a perfect example.
 
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#62
#62
KeyVol14 said:
I get what your saying. I guess the thing is, it’s not realistic to expect our offense to not face an adversity the rest of the way. That’s why I think the defense will have to step up and do their part to be a deciding factor in a game in which the Pitt game was a perfect example.
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Sure, bad things can happen. So work on improving , and not just the defense. Plenty of things can always be improved. Even our best players and groups have things to work on. Players who don’t see the field as much need to be getting better too, so they ready when their chance arrives. Even our coaches can evaluate their playcalls, their game plans, and so on. All of these are useful and help us to be as prepared as possible for inevitable challenges. Worrying just distracts your focus and isn’t helpful. It can’t always be avoided, at least not easily, but it can be minimized.
 
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#63
#63
Honestly, if we go 5-3 the rest of the season, I'm going to be pretty f'n happy. That's 9-3 on the season and anyone who says that say coming 2 years after cornbread was fired is lying.

That'd mean no upsets against Mizzou or South Carolina and winning at least one against LSU on the road, #1 Bama, #2 UGA, or #7 Kentucky.

If we go 6-2 or better, I'm ecstatic and you have to back up the Brink's truck to CJH's driveway.
 
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#64
#64
WilcoVolsFan said:
Honestly, if we go 5-3 the rest of the season, I'm going to be pretty f'n happy. That's 9-3 on the season and anyone who says that say coming 2 years after cornbread was fired is lying.

That'd mean no upsets against Mizzou or South Carolina and winning at least one against LSU on the road, #1 Bama, #2 UGA, or #7 Kentucky.

If we go 6-2 or better, I'm ecstatic and you have to back up the Brink's truck to CJH's driveway.
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I'm with you on the numbers. But there is one scenario where your numbers and our collective happiness would part ways:

9-3 beating LSU but losing to Kentucky would not be pleasing. I can see a slip-up against a team we should beat, but that's rarely Kentucky. That role is normally filled by a team like South Carolina.

So if we beat LSU in a week and a half, I'm realistically looking for 10-2 as our "rightful" result.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Heupel & Co supporter through 2022 and into 2023 no matter what. Just saying, losing to Kentucky is never part of the right answer.

Go Vols!
 
#65
#65
VFL-82-JP said:
I'm with you on the numbers. But there is one scenario where your numbers and our collective happiness would part ways:

9-3 beating LSU but losing to Kentucky would not be pleasing. I can see a slip-up against a team we should beat, but that's rarely Kentucky. That role is normally filled by a team like South Carolina.

So if we beat LSU in a week and a half, I'm realistically looking for 10-2 as our "rightful" result.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Heupel & Co supporter through 2022 and into 2023 no matter what. Just saying, losing to Kentucky is never part of the right answer.

Go Vols!
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Dude I get you, but you're looking at the jerseys and not the team inside of them. That's an extremely well coached team, who has a solid QB, and plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. I want that W just as much as you do and think it's a big one to keep them behind and stem the tide of Tennessee kids committing to UK that's happened the last few years, but it's no gimme game.

Honestly, losing to LSU, Bama, UGA, and UK isn't a completely unrealistic scenario. And at that point, we have to worry about a decent USC team smelling blood and playing at home.
 
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#69
#69
CNeagleVolFan said:
I’d honestly rather beat Bama in Knoxville, and lose to Georgia. It’s also more likely than beating Georgia in Athens. I say beat Bama and it’s Bama and Georgia in SEC championship game. Leaving us at 11-1 with wins over Bama, Florida, LSU, Kentucky, Pitt, etc. our resume would be too good not to be in the playoff. Could you imagine Georgia, Alabama, and possibly us in the playoff? I know it’s a reeeeaallll long shot, but it’s not impossible.
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I’d say any Vol would rather beat Bama that GA
 
#72
#72
Defcon5 said:
Think we’re way ahead of our selves. Let’s get past LSU. Heupel could be gone at year end. Several power 5 will be looking for a coach. $8m - $10 will be on the table. $5m ain’t going to keep him.
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Heupel's not leaving. He has the winning formula here. Luckily Frost gave everyone a reality check for what that grass really looks like on the other side.
 
#73
#73
deezvols said:
UGA has proven they can inexplicably drop a game or two in a season, but I feel we match up better with Bama this year.
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This was often a true narrative under Richt, less so under Kirby. Since Kirby has took over you generally have to be pretty good to beat them. From Kirby's second year forward they have only lost one game to a team that wasn't a NY6 team (2019 South Carolina), that's better than Bama over that 5 year period (Bama lost to 2019 Auburn and 2021 A&M who were both non-NY6 teams). We may be a NY6 team this year, but I think we would have a better shot at UGA if it wasn't in the road.
 
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