SEC coaches and players with the most to prove

[TnTech_Vol]

SEC coaches and players with the most to prove

Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee

After Dobbs threw for 1,209 yards and nine touchdowns in the final six games of the season (the only games he played in, mind you) the Heisman Trophy posters were being manufactured at a frantic rate in

Coach

Butch Jones, Tennessee

I'm guilty of praising a Tennessee team with offensive line and linebacker issues too soon. This is a team that was the definition of thin this spring and hasn't won more than seven games since 2007.

 

[AboveAllNations]

Coach

Butch Jones, Tennessee

I'm guilty of praising a Tennessee team with offensive line and linebacker issues too soon. This is a team that was the definition of thin this spring and hasn't won more than seven games since 2007.

Our offensive line is returning four starters and presumably upgrading from a former walk-on with a missing ACL to a five-star prospect at the fifth starting spot. Our sole "linebacker issue" is deciding which talented young stud (Dillon Bates, Darrin Kirkland Jr., Gavin Bryant, etc.) gets to start opposite Jalen Reeves Maybin in an otherwise loaded 2-LB nickel defense.

Butch Jones has a lot to prove this season, but it's precisely because our "issues" are laughably easy compared to the challenges facing every other team in the Eastern division. With great talent comes great expectations.

And Josh Dobbs doesn't have anything to prove.

 

[Dekram]

Our offensive line is returning four starters and presumably upgrading from a former walk-on with a missing ACL to a five-star prospect at the fifth starting spot. Our sole "linebacker issue" is deciding which talented young stud (Dillon Bates, Darrin Kirkland Jr., Gavin Bryant, etc.) gets to start opposite Jalen Reeves Maybin in an otherwise loaded 2-LB nickel defense.

Butch Jones has a lot to prove this season, but it's precisely because our "issues" are laughably easy compared to the challenges facing every other team in the Eastern division. With great talent comes great expectations.

And Josh Dobbs doesn't have anything to prove.

Rather new to the forums but I think Dobbs does have something to prove. Hes got to prove that he can lead from the get go and not be the guy with no pressure going in.

 

[orangeluvr]

Sounds like Butch be keepn' it real mane !

 

[joevol33]

I believe Dobbs, and this team will live up to the hype.

 

[ainge10heisman]

They both have a lot to prove. Dobbs has got to prove he can lead the team an entire season while Butch coaches us to more than 5-7 wins.

 

[NCVol1025]

Dobbs has yet to play the toughest part of our schedule. As far as I'm concerned that makes him an unproven commodity. He has the tools but until he has faced the best we don't know how he will react.

 

[KBVol]

Dobbs has yet to play the toughest part of our schedule. As far as I'm concerned that makes him an unproven commodity. He has the tools but until he has faced the best we don't know how he will react.

As a freshman he played against Alabama, SEC East champ Missouri, and top 10 Auburn, so he definitely got the "toughest part of our schedule as a freshman".

As a sophomore he again played vs final 4 participant Alabama and SEC East champ Missouri. So, he essentially missed Georgia and Florida each of the last 2 years and SCar as a freshman. I'd call it a wash.

 

[MFL]

The drought is over:rock:

 

[Boca Vol]

As a freshman he played against Alabama, SEC East champ Missouri, and top 10 Auburn, so he definitely got the "toughest part of our schedule as a freshman".

As a sophomore he again played vs final 4 participant Alabama and SEC East champ Missouri. So, he essentially missed Georgia and Florida each of the last 2 years and SCar as a freshman. I'd call it a wash.

Yes, he played against Bama in both seasons but he didn't start the game 0-0. There's a lot less pressure coming in when you're down 27-0.

With that said, it's still Bama and I think having success against them helped Dobbs' confidence. I'm interested to see how he handles being "the man" from day 1 of camp.

 

[KBVol]

Yes, he played against Bama in both seasons but he didn't start the game 0-0. There's a lot less pressure coming in when you're down 27-0.

With that said, it's still Bama and I think having success against them helped Dobbs' confidence. I'm interested to see how he handles being "the man" from day 1 of camp.

Me, too. Can't do anything but help imo. I thought he came in last year vs Bama and showed a tremendous amount of poise and competitiveness in a difficult situation vs one of the top defenses in the country....whittled a 27 deficit to 10 in fairly short order.

Everybody's talking about how much more confident he is since being named starter, how much more command and leadership he's showing. I'm excited to watch Dobbs continue to progress and help lead the team. I think he has the chance to be special.

 

[bamawriter]

Me, too. Can't do anything but help imo. I thought he came in last year vs Bama and showed a tremendous amount of poise and competitiveness in a difficult situation vs one of the top defenses in the country....whittled a 27 deficit to 10 in fairly short order.

Keep in mind, 2015 will also be the first time that Bama prepares for Dobbs to start.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Keep in mind, 2015 will also be the first time that Bama prepares for Dobbs to start.

 

[DadlyVols]

Keep in mind, 2015 will also be the first time that Bama prepares for Dobbs to start.

:crazy:

 

[MSME Vol]

Keep in mind, 2015 will also be the first time that Bama prepares for Dobbs to start.

If you truly believe that bama was so totally keyed in on the threat of Worley and Peterman the week prior to our game that they completely overlooked Dobbs, then I have some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

 

[KBVol]

Keep in mind, 2015 will also be the first time that Bama prepares for Dobbs to start.

With all due respect, just not buying Saban didn't prepare for Dobbs to play last year, especially after Jones announced midweek that Dobbs would play. I understand your thought, that Saban this year will focus solely on what Dobbs does and doesn't do well, and he'll have more time to do it and set his defense accordingly. But there's just no way, IMHO, that an all-time great head coach like Saban just throws caution to the wind last year and ONLY prepares for arguably the worst QB in SEC history, Nathan Peterman. Saban doesn't strike me as a coach that leaves anything to chance. Jmo.

 

[tobybeast]

With all due respect, just not buying Saban didn't prepare for Dobbs to play last year, especially after Jones announced midweek that Dobbs would play. I understand your thought, that Saban this year will focus solely on what Dobbs does and doesn't do well, and he'll have more time to do it and set his defense accordingly. But there's just no way, IMHO, that an all-time great head coach like Saban just throws caution to the wind last year and ONLY prepares for arguably the worst QB in SEC history, Nathan Peterman. Saban doesn't strike me as a coach that leaves anything to chance. Jmo.

I agree you have to think he prepared for every option.