Someone make me feel optimistic about Team 121.

[Vol_til_I_die]

Can some explain how any logic person would conclude that we are in a similair situation as the 98 team was?

Both teams began, and will begin, the fall 0-0?

 

[BaldBiker]

Best schedule layout we've had in years. No long (4 week) stretches of grueling games.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Can some explain how any logic person would conclude that we are in a similair situation as the 98 team was?

Here is my best shot:

1998
QB- inexperienced JR
RBS- SR and SO
TEs- Sr
WRs- Sr, So and Fr
PK- Sr
P- So
OL- ( 3 Srs, 3 Jrs, 3 So and 1 Fr)
DL- ( 4 Srs, 5 Jrs, 2 So and 4 Fr)
LB- ( 1 Sr, 5 Jrs, 4 So and 1 Fr)
DB- ( 2 Srs, 4 Jrs, 3 So and 1 Fr)

Total of 41 upperclassmen.

2017
QB- inexperienced QB (possibly)
RB- So and Jr
TE- SR
WR- RS SR, JR and So
PK- SR
P- RS SR
OL- ( 3 RS SR, 2 SR, 2 JR, 3 RS SO, 6 SO and 2 FR)
DL- ( 1 RS SR, 2 SR, 3 RS JR, 5 JR, 1 RS SO, 3 So and 1 FR)
LB- ( 3 Sr, 2 RS JR, 1 JR, 3 RS So, 3 SO and 1 FR)
DB- ( 1 RS SR, 5 Sr, 1 RS JR, 1 JR, 1 RS SO and 4 SO)

Total of 49 upperclassmen

 

[RockyTopTexas]

I love Jauan Jennings, and he may be the most athletic player on our roster, but Malone was the best wide out by a long shot. Always consistent, and ran crisp routes. He will be harder to replace than you think.

I love JJ, but IMO Malone was a better WR. JJ is more physical but doesn't possess the speed that Malone had. Hopefully Byrd, Callaway or another WR fills the gap for Malones speed.

Both were really great for us last year.. Malone had the speed and Jennings had the hands and still does. Speed/Possession.. we got the best of both worlds. to be honest guys idk who gets the nod at outside opposite to Jennings this year.. Byrd gets the slot and I think his role expands immensely this year, especially if JG gets the nod, but I was really hoping for a guy to step up at outside after Preston left.. someone needs to step up and have a huge spring

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

One way or another its a change year. That should make everyone feel good.

 

[General Jack]

We'll get 'em next year champ.

 

[BeardedVol]

Here is my best shot:

1998
QB- inexperienced JR
RBS- SR and SO
TEs- Sr
WRs- Sr, So and Fr
PK- Sr
P- So
OL- ( 3 Srs, 3 Jrs, 3 So and 1 Fr)
DL- ( 4 Srs, 5 Jrs, 2 So and 4 Fr)
LB- ( 1 Sr, 5 Jrs, 4 So and 1 Fr)
DB- ( 2 Srs, 4 Jrs, 3 So and 1 Fr)

Total of 41 upperclassmen.

2017
QB- inexperienced QB (possibly)
RB- So and Jr
TE- SR
WR- RS SR, JR and So
PK- SR
P- RS SR
OL- ( 3 RS SR, 2 SR, 2 JR, 3 RS SO, 6 SO and 2 FR)
DL- ( 1 RS SR, 2 SR, 3 RS JR, 5 JR, 1 RS SO, 3 So and 1 FR)
LB- ( 3 Sr, 2 RS JR, 1 JR, 3 RS So, 3 SO and 1 FR)
DB- ( 1 RS SR, 5 Sr, 1 RS JR, 1 JR, 1 RS SO and 4 SO)

Total of 49 upperclassmen

Should probably list out the coaching staff for the 98 and 2017 teams as well; there's a world of difference in player development between the two.

 

[volfannbama]

I don't understand the gloom and doom about Team 121, other than a bad Head Coach.

This team is LOADED with Jr's and Sr's.

I'm too lazy to do the research, but this may be the most upper-classman-heavy team we have had since before the Butch Jones era.

Would you agree that 80% of the players that have made us a decent team the past 2 years are gone? And that abiut 85% of our offensive production are gone?

 

[volfannbama]

Both teams began, and will begin, the fall 0-0?

Yep, and thats about it.

 

[Behr]

Some of y'all are doing this wrong. Lol.

 

[Fatman Photos]

Nah man, we gonna suck and never win another game.

 

[KBVol]

Would you agree that 80% of the players that have made us a decent team the past 2 years are gone? And that abiut 85% of our offensive production are gone?

75% of our offensive production and 65% of our defensive production is gone from last year. Those are the numbers I heard last week. So, either way, your point is quite valid. That's a ton to replace.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Here is my best shot:

1998
QB- inexperienced JR
RBS- SR and SO
TEs- Sr
WRs- Sr, So and Fr
PK- Sr
P- So
OL- ( 3 Srs, 3 Jrs, 3 So and 1 Fr)
DL- ( 4 Srs, 5 Jrs, 2 So and 4 Fr)
LB- ( 1 Sr, 5 Jrs, 4 So and 1 Fr)
DB- ( 2 Srs, 4 Jrs, 3 So and 1 Fr)

Total of 41 upperclassmen.

2017
QB- inexperienced QB (possibly)
RB- So and Jr
TE- SR
WR- RS SR, JR and So
PK- SR
P- RS SR
OL- ( 3 RS SR, 2 SR, 2 JR, 3 RS SO, 6 SO and 2 FR)
DL- ( 1 RS SR, 2 SR, 3 RS JR, 5 JR, 1 RS SO, 3 So and 1 FR)
LB- ( 3 Sr, 2 RS JR, 1 JR, 3 RS So, 3 SO and 1 FR)
DB- ( 1 RS SR, 5 Sr, 1 RS JR, 1 JR, 1 RS SO and 4 SO)

Total of 49 upperclassmen

A LOT more NFL players on the 1998 team. Huge difference.

 

[Wildasamink16]

I just don't see it.

Blowout losses to Vanderbilt and Alabama. 3 in a row for Bama.

Bad secondary play. We lose our best cover guy.

Bad O line play, they all return this year.

Lose both top DE's that accounted for 19 sacks.

Lose best Wideout.

Freshman QB.

This all points to a down year, even more so than 2016.

Year b4 we had bama on the ropes! And you should be optimistic bc your Tennessee family and as far as I'm concerned we gonna beat the spit out of everyone till we don't ! I will never concede defeat and my talent packed a kicken VOLS will not either! Go VOLS! Let knock these mother truckers out!

 

[volfannbama]

Some of y'all are doing this wrong. Lol.

My bad. Let me try again.

We are going 15-0. Everything is awesome. We are completely stacked with proven talent at every position and the BSiA.

Plan A all the way to Atlanta.

Take their souls ...or lunch money.

Release the Beast.

That better?

 

[RockyTopTexas]

My bad. Let me try again.

We are going 15-0. Everything is awesome. We are completely stacked with proven talent at every position and the BSiA.

Plan A all the way to Atlanta.

Take their souls ...or lunch money.

Release the Beast.

That better?

I bought my ticket for the NCG

 

[Iam4utalways]

My bad. Let me try again.

We are going 15-0. Everything is awesome. We are completely stacked with proven talent at every position and the BSiA.

Plan A all the way to Atlanta.

Take their souls ...or lunch money.

Release the Beast.

That better?

Much better!

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Here is my best shot:

1998
QB- inexperienced JR
RBS- SR and SO
TEs- Sr
WRs- Sr, So and Fr
PK- Sr
P- So
OL- ( 3 Srs, 3 Jrs, 3 So and 1 Fr)
DL- ( 4 Srs, 5 Jrs, 2 So and 4 Fr)
LB- ( 1 Sr, 5 Jrs, 4 So and 1 Fr)
DB- ( 2 Srs, 4 Jrs, 3 So and 1 Fr)

Total of 41 upperclassmen.

2017
QB- inexperienced QB (possibly)
RB- So and Jr
TE- SR
WR- RS SR, JR and So
PK- SR
P- RS SR
OL- ( 3 RS SR, 2 SR, 2 JR, 3 RS SO, 6 SO and 2 FR)
DL- ( 1 RS SR, 2 SR, 3 RS JR, 5 JR, 1 RS SO, 3 So and 1 FR)
LB- ( 3 Sr, 2 RS JR, 1 JR, 3 RS So, 3 SO and 1 FR)
DB- ( 1 RS SR, 5 Sr, 1 RS JR, 1 JR, 1 RS SO and 4 SO)

Total of 49 upperclassmen

The 1998 team had a QB drafted by NFL team handing off to multiple NFL running backs, running behind an O-Line with multiple NFL players, a NFL FB, and throwing to multiple NFL receivers.

On defense, you had a DL with multiple NFL players, multiple NFL LBs, and multiple NFL players in the secondary.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

Would you agree that 80% of the players that have made us a decent team the past 2 years are gone? And that abiut 85% of our offensive production are gone?

Ehhh. I mean I feel like that's a bit skewed. To say 80% of our offensive production is gone is probably true every year that the starting QB leaves.

The new QB has upperclassmen all around him to help ease the transition.

We also have to consider the addition by subtraction factors like losing Hurd, who was a cancer. Couple that with adding Kelly, who is suddenly a force at RB, and it helps the case that there are intangibles here, positive intangibles that I think weigh more than we give them credit for.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

My bad. Let me try again.

We are going 15-0. Everything is awesome. We are completely stacked with proven talent at every position and the BSiA.

Plan A all the way to Atlanta.

Take their souls ...or lunch money.

Release the Beast.

That better?

say what?

 

[Sudden Impact]

Can some explain how any logic person would conclude that we are in a similair situation as the 98 team was?

Maybe on paper, which has been done. Realistically, in fact, No.

98's team had more experience, better leadership 5 times more talent on the team. Tee Martin, Jr, tutored under Peyton Manning for 2 years.

Al Wilson, Peerless Price, Chad Clifton, Dewayne Goodrich, Raynoch Thompson, Henry, J Lewis, Bryson, Stephens, Wilson and Copeland. Shawn Ellis. Deon Grant
Darwin Walker. Westmoreland

On paper looks good but put names to those numbers and it paints a different picture.

Without the knee injury, J Lewis probably wins the Heisman.

 

[volfannbama]

Ehhh. I mean I feel like that's a bit skewed. To say 80% of our offensive production is gone is probably true every year that the starting QB leaves.

The new QB has upperclassmen all around him to help ease the transition.

We also have to consider the addition by subtraction factors like losing Hurd, who was a cancer. Couple that with adding Kelly, who is suddenly a force at RB, and it helps the case that there are intangibles here, intangibles that I think weigh more than we give them credit for.

The QB is not surrounded with upperclassmen to help ease the transition though. We lost the top two running backs and the top wr. We return one wide out of significance in JJ. Kelly, Byrd and others have shown promise but are not proven. We all love Kelly, but he has not been "the man" yet. We will have to see how he handles it. My guess is good, but you cant be sure.
And the oline....sure there is talent there, but the have shown nothing...ever. oline play has simply not been good under a CBJ lead vols team.

 

[volfannbama]

say what?

Just pokin fun...at some eternal optimist folks that still thought we were still going to the CFP after the USC game last year.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

I find it hilarious how the negavols don't think this team could possibly compare to the 98 team, touting their talent AFTER the fact.

Us old-school guys still have the magazines from BEFORE that season.

The year before, Tee Martin was 6 of 12 passing, for 87 yds, 1 Int and 1 TD. Anybody saying he would lead us to an NC would be out of their tree.

But as the mag says, "But it's on defense where the Vols could see a major drop-off. Six starters must be replaced and questions remain about the health and availability of the Vols two best defensive linemen, Billy Ratliff and Shaun Ellis." No, that's not like us at all.

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

Ocho Cinco's nephew