Rucker: Vols aren’t better than last season-still hasn’t proved anything yet

#76
#76
Remy said:
We're better than last year's team just from the perspective of the personnel on the field now versus then. Think Smith and Kennedy make no difference on an OL for example?
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Yeah. Weird to imagine that last years OL didn’t gave Smith, Kennedy, Wright, or Morris.
 
#78
#78
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#80
#80
I have no problem with Rucker's comments. He's right and wrong, plus he generated conversation and clicks. That's his job. I don't think Pruitt would disagree with his comments. Hell, Pruitt may be communicating that exact point to the team.
 
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#81
#81
hohenfelsvol said:
Offense isn't much better from a points perspective at the moment but the D is so much better.
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We've also played worse teams this year than last. So while the defense has improved, it's not improved as much as some people would like to believe given the relative change in competition.

Remember, it still took nearly 5 games into the season before the defensive line could consistently line up properly. Hopefully in year 3 we don't see the coaching staff screwing around in the first 1/3 of the season like we did this year; it won't fly
 
#82
#82
We took Bama to the 4Q and could have made that a nail-biter if JG... Point being this team is competitive now, and they were not last year. Doesn't mean they are going to beat Mizzou, but I'm gonna say their QB is not going to get all the time to throw like the Florida D gave him. Our pass rush is better than Florida.
 
#83
#83
Orange defense said:
Rucker: Vols still haven't proved they're better than last year

WHAT? 🧐😫
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He's right that AU and UK wins were better quality wins than SEC wins this year, but I think taking GA and UA deep into the game were better losses than last year. The team is better at this point, but until that translates to a better win/loss record and bowling, ok - yeah, they're not "better".

Both remaining games are meaningful only in that you're winning what you should, and a strong finish is a good recruiting story.
 
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#85
#85
I think much of what Wes writes is superficially true...but not very deep.

At a deeper level than he describes, this is a much better team. Heavy emphasis on the word team.

Maybe we're not a whole lot different from last year in the metrics--wins, schedule strength, offensive or defensive stats, and so on--but we are strikingly more cohesive as a team, with a locker room full of lads who (a) want to be together, (b) want to play, (c) want to win, (d) want to do it the right way (which on a football team, usually means "the coach's way"), and (e) are enjoying all of it.

Those group dynamics, so hard to measure, are HUGE when you've two games left in the regular season and a bowl game is yet to be earned.

Last year's squad, apparently, had a contingent who couldn't be bothered. Who didn't really want another month of practices and a game in the cold of the Liberty or Music City Bowls. It was just a minority, but it was a destabilizing minority. And it cost us at the end of the year.

This year's team, though, these lads. They're here to win. They don't want the season to end. They're going to give it their best shot.

And so we'll go bowling. I'm confident of that. What Wes can't see (but many of us can), how this team has turned a corner in teamwork and cohesion, that will make an objective difference in the latter half of November.

We're in a much better place today than a year ago. Even if Mr. Rucker doesn't know how to measure it.

Go Vols!
 
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#89
#89
Bert Rechichar said:
It’s true. We were in the exact same spot a year ago, and completely crapped in our pants and fell over dead. How can you not remember that?
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I think we look better and are playing better, but this same team also lost to GA State and BYU. We have to close out at least .500 to prove progress, but closing out the season going 7-1 (I think?) will speak volumes.
 
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#93
#93
I try to not get to riled up when someone gives a opinion piece which is all these Rucker type articles are among many others. I agree with somethings they write and disagree with others. Last week Rucker wrote a article about how accountability is back in the program and everyone pretty much agreed with that opinion. This week he writes a opinion piece that doesn't match a lot of people opinions.

I see improvements in this team after 10 games vs last years team after 10.....One is our conditioning in the 2nd half of games. Last year we flat wore out towards the end of the season and we look much more well conditioned as a team right now. Going into the last 2 games last season we were going up against some NFL type QBs with a wore out/injured team. I was concerned about what could happen that did happen against Mizzou, it was just worse than I thought....Vandy is another story...I wasn't totally shocked that we lost but how bad we lost did shock me.

JM 'Opinion'
 
#94
#94
DoyleMcOrange said:
Wes Huckster isn't better than last season and still hasn't proved anything.
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Let me interpret.
Rucker didn’t say what my ears want to hear, so instead of dealing with the wealth of facts presented in the article, I’ll just throw out insults.
 
#95
#95
Whatever happened to simple disagreement? We don't have to be outraged, infuriated, appalled, mortified or pissed off to simply disagree and move on.
 
#96
#96
VolBricks said:
IT IS ALL CLICK BAIT. HE GETS PAID FOR CLICKS. IF HE INFURIATES ONE OF THE LARGEST FAN BASES IN THE COUNTRY THEN HE GETS LOTS OF CLICKS.



Don't fall for it.
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I have some (ok a lot) if experience in Communicayshuns. There is nothing that Wes Rucker writes that interests me. His drivel is on par with that of some of the greatest bull **** ters of all time, like Jon Adams, L Ron Hubbard, Rush Limbaugh, & Alex Jones. And yes, on par with the pinnacle of douchebaggery...Mr Brick by Brick herself Butch Jones.
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#98
#98
VolsSportsFan said:
Funny some crapping on Rucker are the same one who wrote off this season in October.
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Not me, and Rucker is wrong, I'm sure he accomplished his goal through and that was to stir folks up. I go by the eye test, we are improving anyone that doesn't think so I can't help them. Maybe we should all let the season unfold. Things are always fluid in football, on this message board though you have the same people set in their same mindsets. We all are wrong at some point on what we perceive during a season, and if all don't admit that they are in denial. This season started slow, some use GS and BYU as a automatic bad season no matter what. I am not of that thinking, some teams start hot and fade and some teams start slow and get better. Some never get better. Pruitt had a lot to overcome when he got here, he has made some mistakes along the way I am sure. But it is becoming apparent to me that Pruitt and this staff is very good and that we will continue to improve. And we are as a team at this point much better than last years team at the same point. Tough game this week, we will have to play well but I think we will. Flame away. GBO!!!!!!
 
#100
#100
Mccage said:
If he can't tell this team is better than last years at this time he needs to quit writing articles about football.
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This team lost to Georgia State. That weighs a lot. You cannot just ignore that. Although there has been Improvement until we see what happens last two games it's hard to say they are better. Kentucky is not as good this year as they were last year. Missouri is not as good this year as they were last year. Vanderbilt is not as good this year as they were last year. South Carolina the same. The really really good teams beat us like a drum. Now if Tennessee wins the next two games and goes to a bowl that will sway a lot of people including Rucker I would suppose
 
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