Top 4 team in SEC? 2022 East champs?

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Unless we get about a half dozen really good linemen, on both sides of the ball, in the transfer portal, we aren't going to win the east. We also need some really good experienced linebackers. I think Heupel needs to hit the portal hard to get immediate help if the players we need are available.

I would hit the juco ranks for my linemen. Those guy are there because of academics...not because they werent getting wnough playing time..m

 

[sjt18]

You Realize that Saban Is heavily involved in the defense of strategy for each game as Heupel Is heavily involved in the office of scheme for each game.

Actually the first thing Saban does is develop the overall game strategy. According to reports, he's become more involved in the O and somewhat less in the D. He is a very good HC who just happens to be a first rate D coach as well.

The thing that separates Saban from most is that he has successfully evolved with the game more than once.

Kirby is heavily involved in the defensive scheme for each game. Saban has hired great offensive coordinators. Kirby he’s doing great with the details and he to his credit went out and got a good offensive coordinator.

You are still dodging the fact that it is his players and not his personal "brilliance" that wins games for this team. He doesn't outcoach anyone. Talent is allowing him to use a philosophy that is getting a lot of coaches fired who do not have that kind of talent... including Pruitt. There is a point when a team can out-talent most of their opponents. He's gotten to that point.

The facts are this they have a great defense And they’re all fence is out producing Heupels High scoring offense this year.

And if Heupel had UGA's defensive personnel to give him the ball 4 or 5 times per quarter?

Kirby is doing a great job and would probably have two or three national titles if not for some great Alabama teams and a unbelievable LSU team.

He's the beneficiary of the best recruiting situation in the country and is getting beat by guys who have evolved to the new game and have near equal talent.

He’s winning the games he supposed to win And that’s probably why he has the fourth highest winning percentage of all active coaches.

He's taken advantage of a great situation. There's no shame in that. But his philosophy of play no longer wins except with overwhelming talent advantage. He now has that against the vast majority of programs including UT. That doesn't make him a great or even good coach.

Look I’ve tried to complement what the Vols have done this year. Somehow George and their crappy coach just keep winning

Save your compliments for when we see if Heupel can get enough talent to compete with UGA and Bama. We don't know if he can do the part well that Smart does well. It is easily possible that he can't.

He is a very, very good leader. He is a very good offensive mind. He has demonstrated to some degree a good HC perspective on complimentary play and defense. But he has more to prove even in those areas and it is all for naught if he can't get talent.

 

[sjt18]

Unless we get about a half dozen really good linemen, on both sides of the ball, in the transfer portal, we aren't going to win the east. We also need some really good experienced linebackers. I think Heupel needs to hit the portal hard to get immediate help if the players we need are available.

You build OL's more so than you discover them. UT has some "bodies" on the roster that simply weren't ready to play. They have to develop them then get some help from the portal. They cannot take anything like 6 OL's from the portal.

If I'm not mistaken Carvin runs out of eligibility and Mays will be gone. It will help a lot if Calbert makes it back healthy. Then... you have to look at those guys who have been eating well for free. But this is always the case for every program. Generally an OL out of HS needs 2 or 3 years of development before being a solid starter.

 

[Tarkus]

You build OL's more so than you discover them. UT has some "bodies" on the roster that simply weren't ready to play. They have to develop them then get some help from the portal. They cannot take anything like 6 OL's from the portal.

If I'm not mistaken Carvin runs out of eligibility and Mays will be gone. It will help a lot if Calbert makes it back healthy. Then... you have to look at those guys who have been eating well for free. But this is always the case for every program. Generally an OL out of HS needs 2 or 3 years of development before being a solid starter.

I don't expect us to get a half dozen on both sides of the ball. I was being facetious in my response to the idea that we would win the east next year. I do think we should use the portal to fill needs but we aren't going to have an offensive line ready to compete for titles by next year.

 

[xpsyclonex2002]

Depends. If you're talking about purely muscling the SEC east lead position away from Georgia, you have to look at a 3-5 year horizon. However, Georgia has a history of inexplicably losing games that they shouldn't lose. From that perspective, we could win the East next year. Injuries, bad play calling, coach turnover, transfers all play into the equation of maintaining supremacy. Getting on the top is hard. Staying there is harder. We play Alabama and Georgia every year. We would have to steal a win from one of them and finish with 1 loss in the SEC then hope Georgia lays a couple of eggs. The transfer portal makes anything possible.

 

[JRich]

Fantasy: "We beat so-and-so, and so-and-so beat this team, this team lost to that team...blah, blah, blah, so we're the third or fourth best team in the conference!"

Reality: UT is third in the East and, by the looks of records (what really matters), the ninth best team in the conference right now, just behind Auburn and Arkansas. I suppose, if things work out with no upsets, mathematically they can end up tied with four other teams for fifth at 4-4. Not much to brag about.

I am hopeful and do think the future is bright for UT, just commenting on the preposterous logical fallacy of the original post.

 

[TNinSC]

Out of those three, we'd be more likely to beat Auburn or Texas A&M. Miss State beat both of them. Leach is an outstanding coach and is already doing a great job there.

i was so happy when it was announced he was going to be our coach...then i got really sad the next day... i am thankful for what fulmer did as a coach, but he sabotaged tennessee with his antics as ad. curry saved face by brining in leach imo. then phil and his ego came into play....

 

[TennVols12]

Fantasy: "We beat so-and-so, and so-and-so beat this team, this team lost to that team...blah, blah, blah, so we're the third or fourth best team in the conference!"

Reality: UT is third in the East and, by the looks of records (what really matters), the ninth best team in the conference right now, just behind Auburn and Arkansas. I suppose, if things work out with no upsets, mathematically they can end up tied with four other teams for fifth at 4-4. Not much to brag about.

I am hopeful and do think the future is bright for UT, just commenting on the preposterous logical fallacy of the original post.

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Agreed, and ultimately, I think it all starts with beating Florida. Look at them now amd it’s a head scratcher…but it’s been that way for atleast 12 of the last 17 years.

 

[Voldawg1970]

No. No. No. 3 years at least. There will be glimmers of hope but the truth is going to be depth and consistency. We have got to build this. Need QB. Defense. Stable OL. We will get it but its going to take time if we can recruit.

 

[UGADawg4Life]

Kirby knows he must recruit well because he sure can't coach. UGA riding the wave right now with recruits as they want to be on winning teams.

Kirby's 62-14 (5 of those losses came his first year), 4-1 in bowls, and 10-0 this season. Pretty good resume for a guy who "sure can't coach", don'cha think.

 

[TNnative]

It seems clear we are the 2nd best team in the East right now. We beat UK at their place and Florida has fallen apart. Mizzou and Carolina suck. I don’t even need to comment on Vandy. We scored more on uga than any opponent this year.

In the West, sure bama is better. LSU, Ms St and Auburn aren’t. Arkansas lost by way more to uga than us. A&m just lost to an Ole Miss team that we only lost to because of the refs. Maybe we would be 2nd in the West as well, but no worse than 3rd.

If Heup has gotten us into the top 4 of the SEC with this reduced roster in his first year, imagine what he will do with an extra offseason with these players and a more complete roster? We’re about to be 7-5 with a shot at 8 wins with the bowl. Uga will lose their entire defense to the nfl. Who can challenge this offense next year in the East? We have a strong chance at being in the thick of the SEC East race in 2022. The future looks bright my friends!

 

[TNnative]

31! There were 31 transferred from Tennessee. Some 4 and 5 stars among them. Even if Heupel could bring in a class in the top 5 this year, We still are not at the level of Georgia, Alabama, or maybe A & M. Even if he brings in some decent players from the portal, he is still hamstrung compared to the top teams. There is no magic wand to wave, it's just gonna take probably 2 or 3 very good recruiting classes to get close to par. If Heupel can keep Tennessee playing the way they have this year, it's a very good possibility he can start pulling in top 5 classes, and at my age, I hope we don't demand firing him if it takes longer than 3 years to show marked improvement.

There is a pattern with Vols fans over the past several years. When they fired Fulmer and hired Kiffin, people were excited because he wasn't Fulmer. After Kiffin left, we tried to be excited, because he would not be the traitor Kiffin was. When Dooley got let go, we believed at least Jones wasn't Dooley. When Jones left, some of us got excited, because Pruitt was hired by Fulmer and he wasn't Jones.

However, Heupel is (hopefully) going to be what none of those previous guys were. As has been discussed here over the years, there have been several problems with those previous hires. And I am sure that in time, we will find some issues with Heupel. Nobody is perfect. However, if Heupel is the man we need, he will overcome those shortcomings and evolve into the coach we need.

Yeah, it will more than likely take some time for him to make this team climb back to the top. Until then, we can be happy he is not Pruitt, and Fulmer is not pulling his leach.

 

[ZippyMorocco]

It seems clear we are the 2nd best team in the East right now. We beat UK at their place and Florida has fallen apart. Mizzou and Carolina suck. I don’t even need to comment on Vandy. We scored more on uga than any opponent this year.

In the West, sure bama is better. LSU, Ms St and Auburn aren’t. Arkansas lost by way more to uga than us. A&m just lost to an Ole Miss team that we only lost to because of the refs. Maybe we would be 2nd in the West as well, but no worse than 3rd.

If Heup has gotten us into the top 4 of the SEC with this reduced roster in his first year, imagine what he will do with an extra offseason with these players and a more complete roster? We’re about to be 7-5 with a shot at 8 wins with the bowl. Uga will lose their entire defense to the nfl. Who can challenge this offense next year in the East? We have a strong chance at being in the thick of the SEC East race in 2022. The future looks bright my friends!

UGA loses Davis, Wyatt, Dean, Kendrick, and Smith. Might go early: Walker, Tindall.

 

[agent|orange]

Not even remotely going to entertain this conversation until we can actually beat Florida, hopefully convincingly, in September.

Also, it's hard to win the SEC-E when you have to beat UGA, which I don't think we'll be in a good position for until 2023 at the earliest.

 

[agent|orange]

UGA loses Davis, Wyatt, Dean, Kendrick, and Smith. Might go early: Walker, Tindall.

I fell into this trap awhile ago. "We can beat Florida easier next year because they won't have Trask and Pitts!" Then a (now known bad) Florida team turns around and still beats us 38-14.

 

[NotaVol7719]

This entire thread is why Tennessee is in the position we are in now.

 

[agent|orange]

This entire thread is why Tennessee is in the position we are in now.

"I know we had our annual blowout losses to Florida, Bama and UGA... but guys GUYS we beat USCe and Kentucky! Whoo! We're winning a natty next year! Sign Heupel for an extension good for another 10 years and 100,000,000!"

 

[DickeyD]

Have to remember that those 31 or so transfers (some 4-5 stars, as you stated) would have been Pruitts kids. If this staff can't start to pull in top 100-200-300 kids in the next year, two years, three years, we will repeat where we are at today. We need to see coach H bring in these types of kids.

Saban told Mal Moore --- Saban, "Mal, you probably think I'm a great coach." Moore, "You are great coach." Saban, "I'm not a great coach but I AM A GREAT RECRUITER."

 

[agent|orange]

Have to remember that those 31 or so transfers (some 4-5 stars, as you stated) would have been Pruitts kids. If this staff can't start to pull in top 100-200-300 kids in the next year, two years, three years, we will repeat where we are at today. We need to see coach H bring in these types of kids.

Saban told Mal Moore --- Saban, "Mal, you probably think I'm a great coach." Moore, "You are great coach." Saban, "I'm not a great coach but I AM A GREAT RECRUITER."

Saban would definitely be struggling to dominate like he is without his recruiting.

To be at that level and continue to be at that level you have to be 2 things:

* Good recruiter
* Good coach

You can't consistently be one without the other.

 

[UGADawg4Life]

Saban would definitely be struggling to dominate like he is without his recruiting.

To be at that level and continue to be at that level you have to be 2 things:

* Good recruiter
* Good coach

You can't consistently be one without the other.

Exactly! It makes me laugh when people say that a coach is only successful because he has good players. One of the biggest parts of being a successful coach is evaluating, recruiting and signing good players. Right now Kirby's the 2nd best head coach in the SEC. He might soon be 1st.

 

[agent|orange]

Exactly! It makes me laugh when people say that a coach is only successful because he has good players. One of the biggest parts of being a successful coach is evaluating, recruiting and signing good players. Right now Kirby's the 2nd best head coach in the SEC. He might soon be 1st.

I'd agree with that. The proof is in the pudding.

 

[Sarms58]

We beat Kentucky but the game could have gone either way (same with the Ole Miss and Pittsburg games) but I'll still rate them as a better overall team...in the East you have Georgia and nobody else is close...Kentucky is at 7-3 and then there are four teams at 5-5 but all five teams are fairly close IMO...Vandy is probably as far below everyone else as Georgia is above...

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

It seems clear we are the 2nd best team in the East right now. We beat UK at their place and Florida has fallen apart. Mizzou and Carolina suck. I don’t even need to comment on Vandy. We scored more on uga than any opponent this year.

In the West, sure bama is better. LSU, Ms St and Auburn aren’t. Arkansas lost by way more to uga than us. A&m just lost to an Ole Miss team that we only lost to because of the refs. Maybe we would be 2nd in the West as well, but no worse than 3rd.

If Heup has gotten us into the top 4 of the SEC with this reduced roster in his first year, imagine what he will do with an extra offseason with these players and a more complete roster? We’re about to be 7-5 with a shot at 8 wins with the bowl. Uga will lose their entire defense to the nfl. Who can challenge this offense next year in the East? We have a strong chance at being in the thick of the SEC East race in 2022. The future looks bright my friends!

I think the schedule sets up for UT to win 8-9 games next year. BAMA, LSU, Gators and Dawgs. UT needs to win one of those. Ball St., UT Martin, Akron, and Vandy will all be wins. Cocky, 'Tucky, Mizzou, and Pitt? If you are really 2nd best in the East, you must win all four of those.

 

[BAMA-DAWG]

31! There were 31 transferred from Tennessee. Some 4 and 5 stars among them. Even if Heupel could bring in a class in the top 5 this year, We still are not at the level of Georgia, Alabama, or maybe A & M. Even if he brings in some decent players from the portal, he is still hamstrung compared to the top teams. There is no magic wand to wave, it's just gonna take probably 2 or 3 very good recruiting classes to get close to par. If Heupel can keep Tennessee playing the way they have this year, it's a very good possibility he can start pulling in top 5 classes, and at my age, I hope we don't demand firing him if it takes longer than 3 years to show marked improvement.

You are right. These are currently UT's peers on the recruiting front. UT probably won't stay here forever, but it's just the reality right now. This must change before UT is competing for championships

 

[photovol]

No just no. Have you seen Georgia’s 2022 recruiting class probaly going to be 1 or 2 so they aren’t going anywhere they just reload at this point .Alabama is Alabama enough said as long as Saban is there and of course there is Florida who has been in our heads forever it seems and even with a lame duck coach in Mullen returning I def wouldn’t bet on us beating them in Knoxville. We lose a good bit from this season so it could be a rebuilding season in 2022 so 6-6 to 7-5 is likely on the table def not winning the East

JH will search the Portal high and low for additional players
if HH came back along with T. Evans and a couple more players, Tennessee could possibly win 8–9-10 games
( I’m probably being too optimistic)

JH so far has been the SEC coach of the year, if you ask me!
Go Vols