Vols will be as good or better than last year but will record reflect it?

#26
#26
CAVPUT said:
Good luck with that. Heupel is good for at least one stinker per season. And there's no way I believe we beat UF in the swamp no matter how bad they are until I see it. Barely feel a little more confident even at Neyland.
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I agree, but I don’t see us losing in Starkville or Lexington. History is not on our side in Gainesville, but there’s a lot of football to be played from Labor Day until the week before Thanksgiving. They could be very good, or the wheels could’ve fallen off and they’re searching for a new coach.
 
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#27
#27
I am not optimistic. The interior of our OL and our running back last year were our entire offense and they are gone. I have no idea how good Aguilar will be but he is having to learn a new offense quickly in the off season, it will likely take a few games for him to settle in. We have no idea what we have in our receiver room with the exception of Brazzell who did not impress last year. I am confident our defense will be good, certainly top 20 and maybe top 10 if the DB's step up. We do have a relatively easy schedule for the SEC which is good. In the end this is a rebuilding year and I am hoping for the best.
 
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#29
#29
Too many question marks to predict. I think we can get back to 10 wins again just based on our schedule draw, but that means we have to beat 1 of UGA (home), Bama, or Florida (both away). None of those will be easy.

I think its probably more likely we see 8-4 again. Kinda like 2024: some talent, some headaches, some close calls. I think 9+ wins is a good season. 8 is meh. 7 and below is a bad season.
 
#31
#31
CAVPUT said:
Good luck with that. Heupel is good for at least one stinker per season. And there's no way I believe we beat UF in the swamp no matter how bad they are until I see it. Barely feel a little more confident even at Neyland.
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Agree with you on FL, that's just my optimistic pic of the 3. I would not bet on a win in the swamp.
 
#32
#32
VolinMichigan said:
Depends on if some breaks go our way. Just like every season. We’re still operating below 85 scholarships so depth can be an issue. Too many unknowns at this point to say we’re going to be better than last year. I just want a QB that can throw down the field and hit guys that are open. Something I feel like I haven’t seen much of since 2022.
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And hit the receivers QUICKLY
 
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#33
#33
I don’t know. We’ve got Bama and FL on the road so that’s 2 losses. UGA at home is another loss. Probably blow another one or two. 8-4 7-5. And I’m not a NegaVol.
 
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#36
#36
CAVPUT said:
You are what your record says you are.... credit to a source I can't remember. Heupel better grab all the goodwill he can with this generous schedule because after this season, I'd bet we get the UF schedule and I don't think we'll fare so well for the next couple of seasons. Heupel might be on the hot seat sooner than any of us expected.....yours truly being the exception.
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That was true in old world, but in new SEC world w/ 16 team playoff coming, there could be a year when an 8-4 team gets in the playoffs b/c of true gauntlet SEC teams play.
 
#37
#37
Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va said:
Too many question marks to predict. I think we can get back to 10 wins again just based on our schedule draw, but that means we have to beat 1 of UGA (home), Bama, or Florida (both away). None of those will be easy.

I think its probably more likely we see 8-4 again. Kinda like 2024: some talent, some headaches, some close calls. I think 9+ wins is a good season. 8 is meh. 7 and below is a bad season.
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Things working in our favor are our schedule (compared to most other SEC teams) and probable returning better than average D. QB is the key...and in reality, the other key factor is JH offense chops. I think D coordinators have learned to scheme up his offense better (or we just had average execution by QB), and so, if JH has some new wrinkles and/or gets back to the Hooker pace of play, that could work in our favor. CFB is becoming more like CBB where you really don't know what you have in many cases b/c of all of the transfers, until season starts. Hopeful, but not crazy optimistic.
 
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#38
#38
Biggest question mark for me is going to be the OL. QB play will obviously be crucial too, but for a guy coming in having to learn the offense quick, the OL is gonna have to set the tone. The running game will be critical again this year and if the OL can open holes, and we run the ball effectively, hopefully that leads to opening up the passing game. But there's a lot of unproven talent on this OL. I thought the secondary was going to be pretty weak last year with all the guys that we lost and that left and basically having all new starters but they turned out to be one of the most solid groups on the team. Hoping for the same with the OL.
 
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#39
#39
Our success in SEC play (and all top SEC teams are in the same situation) come down to QB play and defense. To steal a Yogism (he said good hitting beats good pitching and vise versa) good QB play beats good defense and visa versa. Our QB play has been sub par since Hooker left. Yeah we've had guys that can throw it 70 yards from their knees but can you throw someone open and drop it in a bucket 40 yards down field. We'll see right off the bat as Syracuse is good enough to test us. A decisive win 35-14 or so should portend well for us. Anything else and we may be 7-8 win bound.
 
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#41
#41
OK and UF games will make the difference between a good and great season. It should be a great season if we win both. I feel pretty good about going to Tuscaloosa. We have halfway flipped the script on them. We need to punch them in the mouth by putting two good halves in Tuscaloosa. Heupel should be poised to take that next step where we win the ones we should win, and execute well to win some when we are the underdog.

I was very pessimistic about the secondary last season and they exceeded all my expectations. I am concerned about the secondary and OLine now, like every season. I wasn't worried about the receivers last season and they were terrible. We need a couple of WR's and TE's step up and become a threat that can take over a ballgame. Nico wasn't perfect, but I feel the receivers should have helped him out more. Not enough Big Time catches.
 
#42
#42
NeverWe'llSever said:
I think we’re an 8 or 9 win team. No more, no less. Vegas is right on the money with the 8.5 over-under.
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Probably right and a fair expectation. If we didnt have so much uncertainty at QB I'd say no less than 9 for sure. But 8 is a very real possibility. And if JA ends up being terrible it could get pretty bad. But, if he's solid and throws for a lot of yards and TDs like he's done in 2 years at App St., and the OL is a solid group, we could be back at 10 wins this year. This might be the most uncertain I have been about what to expect since JHs been here, first year included.
 
#43
#43
CAVPUT said:
You are what your record says you are.... credit to a source I can't remember. Heupel better grab all the goodwill he can with this generous schedule because after this season, I'd bet we get the UF schedule and I don't think we'll fare so well for the next couple of seasons. Heupel might be on the hot seat sooner than any of us expected.....yours truly being the exception.
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Unless they go to 9 games, Tennessee will drop Ga, Fla, Bama, OU, Ark Ky & Miss st. They’ll pick up Texas, A&M, LSU, Mizz, sC, Ole Miss & Aub. Tougher no doubt but Heupel ain’t gonna be on a hot seat for sometime.
 
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#45
#45
Illinoisvolfan2 said:
I don’t know. We’ve got Bama and FL on the road so that’s 2 losses. UGA at home is another loss. Probably blow another one or two. 8-4 7-5. And I’m not a NegaVol.
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I’m a history guy but don’t live in the past. Saying that, had we had last year’s schedule with the same teams in ‘22, we probably would have played in the NC; had Hooker not gotten hurt as well.
 
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#46
#46
We have the big 3 as always that are tough, if you just steal 1 of those 3, then we'll at 9-3 at worst imo. Not afraid of Arkansas, I think that one goes like South Carolina did 2 years ago when they had to come here after beating us at their place.

Vandy and OU at home feel like wins. Kentucky and MSU on the road are pretty favorable matchups. Those might be the worst two teams in the SEC this year.

I think all 3 of the big 3 are winnable, though we'll be underdogs in all 3. I think we'll be favored in the rest of the games.
 
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#47
#47
If they do not reach last year's record, then no they will not be as good or better than last year's team. IMO this is simply more entering into the "moral victories" thing. Big Tuna/Bill Parcells always said, "You are who your numbers say you are."
 
#48
#48
rdk4121 said:
We have the big 3 as always that are tough, if you just steal 1 of those 3, then we'll at 9-3 at worst imo. Not afraid of Arkansas, I think that one goes like South Carolina did 2 years ago when they had to come here after beating us at their place.

Vandy and OU at home feel like wins. Kentucky and MSU on the road are pretty favorable matchups. Those might be the worst two teams in the SEC this year.

I think all 3 of the big 3 are winnable, though we'll be underdogs in all 3. I think we'll be favored in the rest of the games.
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I kinda like getting Georgia early this year.

They usually have a brain fart game early.

This is maybe our best chance vs them in like 8 years and we need to grab a win against those fools.

Losses to Bama and Florida

We will drop one we are expecting to win (Oklahoma or Arky?)


Georgia is going to be the difference between. 8-4 and 9-3
 
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#49
#49
VolinMichigan said:
Depends on if some breaks go our way. Just like every season. We’re still operating below 85 scholarships so depth can be an issue. Too many unknowns at this point to say we’re going to be better than last year. I just want a QB that can throw down the field and hit guys that are open. Something I feel like I haven’t seen much of since 2022.
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The downfield misses were very frustrating. It doesn't matter who you are playing--if the receiver has a few steps on the corner it's just throw and catch at that point. No reason for some of those wide open misses.
 
#50
#50
The fundamental question is, will we be as effective as a team like last year. And we will be, even more so. But until we are, it's going to be hard to verify that I think we’ll be more effective.
 
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