the unknown

#26
#26
Our staff is no doubt solid and our schedule is a little bit more favorable this year. I think we’d be reasonable to hope for 7 wins. The secondary should be pretty good as well as the linebackers, WRs, RBs, and a serviceable Guarantano. We don’t have elite talent/depth across the board and are severely outmanned on the line of scrimmage, which will cause us to drop some games that are in the toss up category. There are obviously still the games on our schedule where we won’t win this year regardless.
 
#28
#28
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...
Everyone needs to slow down with the 9 win season stuff. The offensive line will still be a struggle and we are replacing the entirety of the defensive line. This will be a season to get young players experience and make a bowl game. If you go thinking 9 games is realistic, you’re setting yourself and the team up for massive disappointment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Titan05 and LouderVol
#30
#30
OrangeSquid said:
I've never had chitlins in cornbread. Now cracklins is a another story. Love crackling bread.
Click to expand...
I stand corrected, cracklins is what I was thinking of. Been a long time. My dad used to get big tubs of them from the processing plant in S. GA when we would take hogs to the market while we were visiting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OrangeSquid
#31
#31
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 think you're building yourself up for a big letdown
 
  • Like
Reactions: Titan05
#34
#34
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...

Yet another OC. WRS who arent game breakers and cannot consistently get open. A veteran OL that will likely still be either the worst or near the bottom of the SEC. very little quality depth on the DL. Plus very few returning starters on the DL. LBs who arent very fast nor are great tacklers. DBs should be solid.

This is a 6-6 or 7-5 team at best.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Titan05
#39
#39
We could alternate between Kentucky, Vandy, and SC all season and not win 9 games. We need a Qb who can play the position better
 
  • Like
Reactions: Titan05
#40
#40
82_VOL_83 said:
I stand corrected, I don't like them either.....cracklins is what I was thinking of.
Click to expand...

Growing up, I really liked cracklins and was partial to the hot sauce flavored ones. Had the stuff in cornbread too. These days I try to avoid all things pig. I do pretty good because I live forty-four miles from a certain store. See, they have these packets of bacon that astonishingly, are more meat than fat. I mean thick, wide strips of meat and smaller strips of fat. Delicious and I have to make sure I buy only two packs at a time. Otherwise, I'd be eating bacon 24/7 and making my doctor richer and richer. Meanwhile, I'm with Ice in regard to the Vols having a surprisingly good season that will pleasantly shock many fans.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 82_VOL_83
#42
#42
WoodsmanVol said:
Growing up, I really liked cracklins and was partial to the hot sauce flavored ones. Had the stuff in cornbread too. These days I try to avoid all things pig. I do pretty good because I live forty-four miles from a certain store. See, they have these packets of bacon that astonishingly, are more meat than fat. I mean thick, wide strips of meat and smaller strips of fat. Delicious and I have to make sure I buy only two packs at a time. Otherwise, I'd be eating bacon 24/7 and making my doctor richer and richer. Meanwhile, I'm with Ice in regard to the Vols having a surprisingly good season that will pleasantly shock many fans.
Click to expand...

I love cracklins, but they don't love me anymore. I get horrible acid reflux from eating cracklins. Pork skins do me the same way.
 
#43
#43
USMC-TNVOL said:
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.
Click to expand...
Generally true. But, Frost didn't fair so well, in his first season as the Cornhusker's head coach. Not to say you are wrong, or Nebraska doesn't have talent, or that Frost isn't a good coach. But the talent of the opponents in conference vs your talent, is a huge part of the formula. The SEC is loaded. Not a very forgiving environment, at all. Time will tell, and if UT fans can be patient. IT IS a process.
 
#45
#45
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...


It’s always about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s
The Vols still have a ways to go to catch up with the talent of most other SEC teams, unfortunately
Go Vols
 
#47
#47
kbear01 said:
Generally true. But, Frost didn't fair so well, in his first season as the Cornhusker's head coach. Not to say you are wrong, or Nebraska doesn't have talent, or that Frost isn't a good coach. But the talent of the opponents in conference vs your talent, is a huge part of the formula. The SEC is loaded. Not a very forgiving environment, at all. Time will tell, and if UT fans can be patient. IT IS a process.
Click to expand...

Right, his 2nd year at Nebraska remains to be seen but they went 6-7 at UCF his first year then 13-0 including beating Auburn in their bowl game. He seems to be the type to get a good program and should have a decent year at Nebraska. Saban was 7-6 his first season with Alabama as well.

Difference for us is Pruitt was in his first year. Learning curve probably affected the team and culture change from Jones’ time among other things. That’s one reason why we may not see a big jump like others see in year 2 with experienced coaches.
 
#49
#49
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...
Senior wrs that have done what? Doesnt matter how experienced they are if we cant get them the ball.
Jr RBS that get hit behind the line more than anyone in the conference.
Veteran ol that dont have a player that would start for any other conference team, that doesnt have any returning tackles, whichwill probably be freshman.
Not sure how DL got older after losing three senior starters.
Veterans lbs that haven't shown anything.
Veteran dbs that had to start freshman CBS.

A year older doesnt necessarily mean much. Law of averages say half the teams we play are going to be older as well, and the other half probably is better than us even if younger
 
#50
#50
The staff we have now are comprised of coaches who have won bigly at SEC and major programs in their current position. Demonstrated excellence in game day, coaching them up and recruiting. Like the OP, I think the only question is do we have the talent this year to compete? I dont think so yet. Given a few more cycles, it would be hard to see how this staff couldnt restore the program to a serious contender with a deep bench but its going to take a bit to get there IMO.

This year should be some pleasant surprises but I think its next year where we really turn the curve and start competing for the East and beyond.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top