Tenn. football positives and negatives

[Fine Vol]

5 Positives

1. We recruit well year after year.
2. Our stadium is 2nd to none with the best fans.
3. We are a conservative team with usually a great running game.
4. Overall I feel our D is smashmouth and punishing.
5. Trooper and Cut add great coaching.

5 Negatives

1. We are conservative team with usually a great running game.
2. I respect CPF but feel he does not have that hunger and gamble that younger more aggresive coaches bring to the game. Meyer, Carroll (sp)
3. Tackling sucks, Blocking sucks, runnig the ball has lost its advatages lately. see blocking
4. If we have all of these great recruits every year why are we not top 10?
5. We cant wake up in the morning and say we are in a NC hunt!!!!!!!!

 

[Svengali]

I agree with some of those points. I also have one other.

Granted, I only got to see about 4 Tenn games last year including the bowl game. But almost seems like this team plays down to it's level of competition. Seems weird they could hang with LSU and the gators so well and yet lost to Penn State, who had a decent squad but was by no means dominant.

 

[Fine Vol]

I agree with some of those points. I also have one other.

Granted, I only got to see about 4 Tenn games last year including the bowl game. But almost seems like this team plays down to it's level of competition. Seems weird they could hang with LSU and the gators so well and yet lost to Penn State, who had a decent squad but was by no means dominant.

Great point:thumbsup:

 

[Lexvol]

I agree with some of those points. I also have one other.

Granted, I only got to see about 4 Tenn games last year including the bowl game. But almost seems like this team plays down to it's level of competition. Seems weird they could hang with LSU and the gators so well and yet lost to Penn State, who had a decent squad but was by no means dominant.

An even better example last year was the Kentucky game. This is a hallmark of the Fulmer era, and thanks to Memphis will always be a part of his legacy.

 

[NationLives]

How can the defense be "smashmouth and punishing" and yet at the same time not tackle well? :ermm:

Our D hasnt been smash mouth and punishing in 10 years.

 

[Fine Vol]

How can the defense be "smashmouth and punishing" and yet at the same time not tackle well? :ermm:

Our D hasnt been smash mouth and punishing in 10 years.

Not sure but I will google it and find out

 

[kiddiedoc]

2. Our stadium is 2nd to none with the best fans.

Many would argue with that statement. Our stadium is getting old (albeit amidst renovation) and our fans are getting older. Neyland gets loud, sure, but only for a few select games and at select times. It should be FAR more intimidating, and we ALL know it. (See home record vs. quality teams, as of late).

4. Overall I feel our D is smashmouth and punishing.

Not lately

4. If we have all of these great recruits every year why are we not top 10?

Makes you wonder. . . .:whistling:

5. We cant wake up in the morning and say we are in a NC hunt!!!!!!!!

. . .And I'm getting a little sick of that feeling. We are forced to become either complacent or discontent. Choose a side.

 

[Lexvol]

How can the defense be "smashmouth and punishing" and yet at the same time not tackle well? :ermm:

Our D hasnt been smash mouth and punishing in 10 years.

The defensive line was pretty physical in '05, and the defense was solid. The real problem is that our linebacking corps has been a step slow, and has not been as physical. Until last year, the defense has not been a problem for this football team with the exception of a few secondary issues.

 

[jakez4ut]

The defensive line was pretty physical in '05, and the defense was solid. The real problem is that our linebacking corps has been a step slow, and has not been as physical. Until last year, the defense has not been a problem for this football team with the exception of a few secondary issues.

took the words right out of my mouth....:thumbsup:

 

[jakez4ut]

An even better example last year was the Kentucky game. This is a hallmark of the Fulmer era, and thanks to Memphis will always be a part of his legacy.

yes, that game needs to be brought up more often....:sick:

 

[Fine Vol]

I think we have been tackling bad lately but overall our D speed and players are talented.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

The defensive line was pretty physical in '05, and the defense was solid. The real problem is that our linebacking corps has been a step slow, and has not been as physical. Until last year, the defense has not been a problem for this football team with the exception of a few secondary issues.

This new batch of linebackers are going to be a real strength for us. They are a group that will bring hitting and speed.

 

[jakez4ut]

This new batch of linebackers are going to be a real strength for us. They are a group that will bring hitting and speed.

hopefully sooner than later.

 

[Plano Vol]

hopefully in the opponent's backfield

 

[norrislakevol]

Tennessee really upgraded its speed with this years recruiting class on both side of the ball. We did get some big + fast kids at LB in Donald and Walker. Also improved our size in secondary with McKenzie, Berry, Moore, Evans(when he gains some weight) Berry and Moore can really fly too. Brimfield gives us one really big tackle, and we need at least 3 more built like him; big, physical space eaters. Ben Martin is a big guy with speed for the DE position.

The vols will be very good over the next 3-4 years. The question remains though: How good will our opponents be? :hmm:

 

[kiddiedoc]

The question remains though: How good will our opponents be? :hmm:

Is that really a question in the SEC, especially with the recent coaching additions???

 

[TennesseeFan07]

The SEC coaching only continues to get stronger.

 

[ut 4 me]

This new batch of linebackers are going to be a real strength for us. They are a group that will bring hitting and speed.

they will be a strength for the next few years it looks like

 

[jakez4ut]

Is that really a question in the SEC, especially with the recent coaching additions???

The SEC coaching only continues to get stronger.

bottom line is you have better coaches at programs like LSU, USC and GA and Bama than they have had in years, TN, FL, GA, Bama, USC, LSU and USC are all now recruiting at very high levels.

put all that together and the only thing you can come up with in the end is that, yes, the SEC is getting nothing but better and more difficult to win.

i don't think that issue is up for debate.....

 

[VolinArizona]

they will be a strength for the next few years it looks like

Isn't this the exact same thing OW said? Like - the exact same thing?

 

[ut 4 me]

i was saying that they wouldn't only be good next year, but for the next 3 or 4

 

[VolinArizona]

i was saying that they wouldn't only be good next year, but for the next 3 or 4

I see.

 

[ut 4 me]

do you always try to make me feel bad?

 

[Ohio Vol]

5 Negatives

1. We are conservative team with usually a great running game.
3. Tackling sucks, Blocking sucks, runnig the ball has lost its advatages lately. see blocking

Horsedung on both of these points. Having a great running game is hardly a disadvantage as long as it's consistent in piling up yardage. There's no more than 99 yards to go on any given drive to hit the end zone. How the yards are gained is really irrelevant.

If the running game is a disadvantage (thus suggesting that passing is superior), why have Texas Tech, Hawaii, and any Hal Mumme team never won anything?

I won't disagree with the assessment that the blocking has been feeble, but that's just the O-line coach in me talking.

 

[rexvol]

our blocking has been subpar for some time and to me it's very distressing that our coach is a former o-lineman and we can't block the wind.