the unknown

#1
I

ice

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#1
I have a gut feeling that Tennessee has finally put together a very good coaching staff. The best in many years. These new coaches are some of the best around.
The big unknown is player talent.
Do we have enough talent to compete in the SEC and can the players we have be developed into top tier players with proper coaching?.
I am honestly thinking we can steal one or two games this up coming season and have at least a 9 win season.
What say you?.
The big question in my mind is player talent.
 
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#2
#2
Too early to tell, and too soon for 9 wins. Coaching staff is in place and talent is improving, but not a ton will be first or second year contributors. Reading practice reports, still a lot of deficiencies. RBs not healthy, throws hitting the ground, not a ton of depth on the lines. I'm being mildly optimistic and cautious with 7 wins this season, but we should see a trend of increasing wins year to year with the staff and with the talent we are bringing in.
 
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#3
#3
Not yet. Need couple more recruiting classes. Depth is key. Vols don't have any depth.

When the current recruiting class are Juniors and they have legitimate depth behind them, the Vols will be able to compete for 4 quarters for the entire season.

Untill then, consider the Vols at a disadvantage from that standpoint.

Hopefully they can win all the games they should and pick a few upsets off along the way.

But the Vols are currently a 6-8 win team at best for the next season or 2.

Just kinda the reality.....
 
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#4
#4
need a Qb.
Maybe JG improves a lot.
Maybe Maurer is the real deal.

we could be 7-5 or 10-2 this year
 
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#6
#6
Think we have a good staff and I like Pruitts style (at least I used to respond to that type of coach). Kids are different now, we see a lot less resiliency and drive in young military kids. It’s still there but more rare.

After so many years of maybe this is a year to be relevant and the BBall ending I don’t really try to guess what we will be, always seems to be a crap shoot.

I’ll quietly hope for better and keep my head down (moving to Florida).
 
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#7
#7
ice said:
I have a gut feeling that Tennessee has finally put together a very good coaching staff. The best in many years. These new coaches are some of the best around.
The big unknown is player talent.
Do we have enough talent to compete in the SEC and can the players we have be developed into top tier players with proper coaching?.
I am honestly thinking we can steal one or two games this up coming season and have at least a 9 win season.
What say you?.
The big question in my mind is player talent.
Click to expand...

Regarding your gut and JFYI, I never have liked chitlins but in your case, I'll make an exception. Mainly because I share your optimism.
 
#8
#8
ice said:
I have a gut feeling that Tennessee has finally put together a very good coaching staff. The best in many years. These new coaches are some of the best around.
The big unknown is player talent.
Do we have enough talent to compete in the SEC and can the players we have be developed into top tier players with proper coaching?.
I am honestly thinking we can steal one or two games this up coming season and have at least a 9 win season.
What say you?.
The big question in my mind is player talent.
Click to expand...

Seems like I have heard this exact same post a time or four over the past decade.
 
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#9
#9
ice said:
I have a gut feeling that Tennessee has finally put together a very good coaching staff. The best in many years. These new coaches are some of the best around.
The big unknown is player talent.
Do we have enough talent to compete in the SEC and can the players we have be developed into top tier players with proper coaching?.
I am honestly thinking we can steal one or two games this up coming season and have at least a 9 win season.
What say you?.
The big question in my mind is player talent.
Click to expand...

The only answer to your questions is "time will tell". All else is pure speculation.
As to the "what say you", I respond, "hope so, but don't feel that confident".
 
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#10
#10
I think the right staff can properly coach and win even without top ranked recruits. Frost at UCF was a prime example. I’m optimistic of this staff but I’m not going to say 9 wins this season. I’d say 8 wins at most with 7 more likely.
 
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#11
#11
The Tall Gguy said:
It is going to be another rough year but hopefully we can at least beat Vanderbilt and make a 6-6 bowl.
Click to expand...

Why?
Senior WRs
Junior RBs
Veteran OL
Older DL
Veterans LBs
Veterans DBs

6-6 with this much experience is a failure
 
#12
#12
It's a line of scrimmage league. We don't yet have the strength along the lines of scrimmage to have a marked advantage against anyone in the conference, and we are at a decided disadvantage against some teams, most notably Alabama and Georgia. 9-3 is about the best we could possibly hope for as it will be an extremely tall order to beat Florida in Gainesville as well. 9-3 is not impossible, but it's like catching an inside straight, everything has to go our way. 7-5 would be a great record for 2019. I'm hoping for better obviously, but it's hope, not something that is reasonably likely.
 
#13
#13
One of the mistakes I make, and probably others also because I am biased I tend to forget all the other teams are also moving forward, also building and advancing. When you are behind it takes a lot just to pull even. Great coaching and talent appraisal and development is the only way to catch up in this league.
 
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#14
#14
ice said:
I have a gut feeling that Tennessee has finally put together a very good coaching staff. The best in many years. These new coaches are some of the best around.
The big unknown is player talent.
Do we have enough talent to compete in the SEC and can the players we have be developed into top tier players with proper coaching?.
I am honestly thinking we can steal one or two games this up coming season and have at least a 9 win season.
What say you?.
The big question in my mind is player talent.
Click to expand...
I, too, think we can steal 1 or 2. My worry is giving 3 or 4 others away.
 
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#15
#15
The improved level of coaching is certainly a major positive moving forward. I believe there is a decent level of talent on the roster, not elite, but good. I think the biggest difference this year over the past couple years is the size and strength improvements. If the players can leverage those size and strength gains with more physical toughness, it's possible we could see significant improvement in results. Size, strength, mental and physical toughness, sound fundamentals, and a good scheme are all key elements to success next fall. I believe we will see all of those on the field.
 
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#17
#17
I think we finish the season pleasantly surprised. I think we get 8 wins and a bowl game. All the returning experience might possibly get us to 9 but thats a stretch. I do think its possible tho.
 
#18
#18
LittleVol said:
Why?
Senior WRs
Junior RBs
Veteran OL
Older DL
Veterans LBs
Veterans DBs

6-6 with this much experience is a failure
Click to expand...
7 wins needs to be the standard with what we have returning. 8 wins should be very possible. I think 9 wins is MAYBE possible but we should be better able to judge that after the first 4 games.
 
#19
#19
Improved coaching + improved players = 7 wins this season + some very good luck = 8 wins possible
 
#20
#20
I don’t think we have the talent yet for even 8 regular season wins.

8 or 9 wins will be in 2020.
 
#21
#21
Main thing I want to see is this team play mean and with an edge. Way too many times last year I felt like we got bullied on the field and never really responded. That REALLY surprised me as I thought a Pruitt coached team would have more toughness than that. That kind of crap pisses me off as much as losing does.
 
#22
#22
WoodsmanVol said:
Regarding your gut and JFYI, I never have liked chitlins but in your case, I'll make an exception. Mainly because I share your optimism.
Click to expand...
I stand corrected, I don't like them either.....cracklins is what I was thinking of.
 
Last edited:
#24
#24
LittleVol said:
Why?
Senior WRs
Junior RBs
Veteran OL
Older DL
Veterans LBs
Veterans DBs

6-6 with this much experience is a failure
Click to expand...

Because our biggest question marks are unfortunately at offensive line and defensive line. Senior wrs will make no difference if our line is anything similar to last years and we have zero time to do anything. Same on defense, if our dline gets no pressure we are in trouble. Im thinking 6 wins this year.
 
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#25
#25
I expect the coaches to coach who they got, meaning, they’re great coaches who should and will make our players play the kind of ball we want to see. It may not rise to the level we “want” to see, but we will make strides. Brighter days ahead for sure
 
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