Vols Sleeper in 2012?

#26
#26
SLOBBER_KNOCKER_U said:
Them either. I actually think that we can compete in every game. We basically have 20 out of 22 starters returning. I count Lathers as a starter from last year. If he didn't get hurt then he starts last year. The only guy we will miss is Malik Jackson, but we are filling his spot nicely.
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I aggree about USC...

But UGA is goint to have the best D in the SEC next year. If their oline comes together (replacing 3 starters), then they are as good as bama or lsu next season.

At the end of the day all I know is we gonna **** up Florida.
 
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#27
#27
In my Opinion, if the Vols can win 9 and lose 3 next season while remaining competitive in the 3 losses then Dooley will get another season. Anything, less than that or another bad loss to Ky or Vandy and Hart will pull the trigger, and go after a proven head coach.
 
#28
#28
UGA will be a tough game and they may be slightly better, but I honestly think us FLA, SC and UGA are all very close

bama is the only team that definitely has more talent than us next year and we could be poised for a breakout year if all goes well
 
#29
#29
What would be great is if 2012 is an outstanding season, would guys like Hunter, Rogers, and Bray want to come back for one more season and make a run? Let's just say 2012 is a successful 9-3 season with an outback bowl victory. Imagine the momentum and hype 2013 would have if all three returned. They would really make their mark in UT football history as being a part of the team that brought UT football back to prominence. It would feel like the "good ol days" again.

I'm dreaming I know.
 
#30
#30
gordonr24 said:
What would be great is if 2012 is an outstanding season, would guys like Hunter, Rogers, and Bray want to come back for one more season and make a run? Let's just say 2012 is a successful 9-3 season with an outback bowl victory. Imagine the momentum and hype 2013 would have if all three returned. They would really make their mark in UT football history as being a part of the team that brought UT football back to prominence. It would feel like the "good ol days" again.

I'm dreaming I know.
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dreaming is quite alright with this old Vol, I to dream of the "good ol days"

GBO
 
#32
#32
gordonr24 said:
What would be great is if 2012 is an outstanding season, would guys like Hunter, Rogers, and Bray want to come back for one more season and make a run? Let's just say 2012 is a successful 9-3 season with an outback bowl victory. Imagine the momentum and hype 2013 would have if all three returned. They would really make their mark in UT football history as being a part of the team that brought UT football back to prominence. It would feel like the "good ol days" again.

I'm dreaming I know.
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That would be sweet! However, realistically, how many dollar bills do you think they'd be turning down to come back? That's gonna be the caveat.
 
#33
#33
volfan_28 said:
I think UGA is gonna be tough to beat. I wouldn't say it's a mismatch but they should be favored
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being favored is really only a response to previous performances. Vandy was favored, as was UT in the KY game.

It might be premature, but I don't see any un-winnable games on the schedule. Time will tell and there is much to be said about teaching a team to win when they aren't supposed to.
 
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#34
#34
I see us having a year a lot like UGA last year. The weaker schedule will make our outlook look ALOT better . With the upgrades for the most part across the board I definitely COULD see more wins and competing for the east.
 
#35
#35
HeyHeyUT said:
I aggree about USC...

But UGA is goint to have the best D in the SEC next year. If their oline comes together (replacing 3 starters), then they are as good as bama or lsu next season.

At the end of the day all I know is we gonna **** up Florida.
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I hope we get an early lead and run them out of the stadium. I want a huge win, I don't care for "not running up the score"
 
#38
#38
VolWorld said:
I am going to go ahead and say it. We will be better than Bama next year. Passing game will be unstoppable. Defense takes the next step and becomes top 15 nationally. Offensive line finds its form. Backs run the ball well enough. 9-3, 10-2 IMO
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excellent...(rubs hands together)
 
#39
#39
I've been saying for some time that if Dooley is the right guy for the job, 2012 would be a year where Tennessee breaks out. I don't think he's the guy, but he has a chance to make a huge turnaround in 2012.
 
#40
#40
VolWorld said:
I am going to go ahead and say it. We will be better than Bama next year. Passing game will be unstoppable. Defense takes the next step and becomes top 15 nationally. Offensive line finds its form. Backs run the ball well enough. 9-3, 10-2 IMO
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Stopped reading there.
 
#42
#42
I haven't seen us on a single Top 25 list, or even in an "honorable mention" or "other teams considered" for a Top 25 this year. Which seems crazy to me, given all the talent we have coming back. I know we had a dismal 5-7 season last year, but you'd think at least one sportswriter would think, "the Vols can go 8-4 this year; they deserve to be #24."

So yes ... I definitely feel like we can be sleepers this year. I'd rather UT start the year off with virtually no expectations.


As far as mismatches, I'm not sure that there's anyone we can't potentially beat if we're healthy ('Bama and UGA will be very difficult, though); but I'd put Mizzou over South Carolina as far as difficult games.
 
#43
#43
I think we have the opportunity to be very good and surprise some people. More experience, much more depth, and hopefully, more healthy. Something that is often overlooked is another full year of high level strength and conditioning. Remember, most of our players have had one full year or less of S&C at this point. Another full off-season of training will be huge. We should be bigger, stronger, and faster across the board.

I think another key is the development of not only our incoming freshmen and second year players but the continued development of Bray and Rodgers. If Bray can learn to put in the work along with his talent, he can develop into a beast. At times last year, it looked like he believed in his hype a little too much and didn't do the work needed to be an elite QB. Rodgers has all the skills to be a monster but needs to learn to play hard every play, not just when things are going well. Of course both will benefit from a healthy J Hunter.
 
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