We are in trouble at edge

#52
#52
Herring had 1 good game, vs Ga & a true freshman OT. Other than that, I’m not sure he existed.

Ross had potential but as Darell Royal said “potential means you ain’t done it yet”.

Neither were worth the $ they were asking. Knowles wants bigger edges anyway. Coleman is certainly a need here plus another. We have about 5 freshman edges coming in.
 
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#53
#53
VolInNW said:
We are in trouble across the board. The sad part is, although knowledgeable fans who make 0$ from the program can see the issues, the coaches who make 7 figures either can't see it (unlikely) or lack the ability (maybe?) or drive (my suspicion) to work in the new NIL environment.

I am disappointed, but hardly surprised, that we are so quiet in the portal. Although I don't want to believe it, part of me suspects that CJH is playing out his $9MM string and now plans, once he is fired here, to either retire (unlikely) or move back to a G5 school (more likely) where the pressure is much less. He has already made generational wealth, and I am starting to doubt that he is as driven as Saban or Smart, or the other coaches who seem to still keep the pedal down even after making 8 figures (in Saban's case, 9) overall from the program.

Heck, if I'm honest if I had banked $50 Million or so over 6 years I am not sure I would still be as motivated. So, no slam on Heupel, he just seems somewhat checked out.
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What did Satan do when it was determined that everyone could pay players above the table? He bailed! having three or four deep at every position is not a reality anymore. Everyone used to have a team that they pulled for or gave their heart to support. Now, it's all about the benjamins. With all the betting Aps. good luck. VFL!
 
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#54
#54
We were too busy preparing to sh*t the bed in a bad bowl game to concern ourselves with the portal bc we only need to replace our entire D. We didn’t have time like Ole Miss, Indiana, Miami and the other teams who have signed 5x what we have. But don’t worry, we can take our time to get the players that elite teams don’t want.
 
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#55
#55
I don't know if I would use the word "trouble" yet...either at edge or in general...but UT Football is clearly at a critical point.

New DC. New S&C coach. New FG kicker. Most likely new starting QB. Portal departures. Not much incoming to this point.

One thing is clear: the 2026 UT Vols will not resemble the 2025 UT Vols. And that could be a bad thing...or maybe a good thing.

It starts in the trenches, and so having/building a strong 2-deep on the OL and DL, is Job #1. Get that wrong, and it really won't matter how you do elsewhere.

Next comes defense. Defense wins championships. I'd say you can flip a coin as to whether Indiana or Miami win the NC. They both have solid defenses.

Now we turn our attention to the QB position. Be nice if Aguilar gets another year. He knows the system. But if not, then it's a battle between GMac and Brandon for QB1, and you still need a solid depth piece just in case. Gotta have 3 QB's.

Kicker. How many games did UT lose due to missed FG's? How about other FBS teams? Hell, Illinois State lost the FCS National Championship game on a missed XP.

Kickers are important. Get a good one.

I think UT is playing the long game here in the portal market, and it will either prove to be brilliant or the beginning of the end for Coach Heupel. UT has a young roster (yet again). They have a need for depth, and experience. And a limited budget to fill all those needs. They need to get $1.25 in production for every $1.00 they spend. So maybe the strategy here is to pass on the overpriced talent...let the dust settle...and then go get the guys with good talent; a strong work ethic; and the desire to play for a winner.

But I'm wrong a lot, so...

The 2026 season will set the tone for the 2027 season, and potentially Coach Heupel's future at UT. He needs to stop playing checkers, and get good at chess. Fast.

If UT has, say, $10 million to spend, they cannot risk 1/3 to 1/2 of it on any one player. They've gotta spread it out among 10 or more players, and hope 2/3 of them pay off.

That...IMO...is why things are quiet right now.

Go Vols.
 
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#59
#59
rocketskates said:
It’s been clarified. I jumped the gun a little. Makes me a little more at ease, but also, there are plenty of other programs going after the top guys so it’s time to crap or get off of the pot in my opinion.
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Understand! Was just wondering. Nothing we think matters so I don't get too wrapped up in it. We'll pull for the good guys no matter what and hope for the best. GBO!!!
 
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#61
#61
VolInNW said:
We are in trouble across the board. The sad part is, although knowledgeable fans who make 0$ from the program can see the issues, the coaches who make 7 figures either can't see it (unlikely) or lack the ability (maybe?) or drive (my suspicion) to work in the new NIL environment.
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I promise you aren't as smart as you think you are and the coaches aren't as dumb as you think they are.
 
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#64
#64
VolInNW said:
Laugh now. Something is causing us to suck wind in the portal for 2 cycles now. Name recognition and $$$ isn't it. So what is it?
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Are you basing this on us not winning the hand of the overpriced sexy guys, while ignoring the thousands of guys in the portal and the fact others can be enticed to enter for 9 more days?

Why would anyone not expect our staff to be developing a plan to efficiently use our money to improve our roster? Think they are sitting around a table crying in their beer?

Bet there is a war room wall full of guys trending up to approach for interest. Some we had evals on from HS. That is going on everywhere in the new wild Wild West. Lots of guys whose names we will hear on Sunday down the road.

Get back to me after spring practice.
 
#65
#65
Tennman said:
Correct, the player has to enter the portal by the 16th. stays in it afterwards . after 16th no one can enter the portal, unless the rules change by then .
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It is my understanding that the portal closes after the 16th except for those still in the play offs. I heard they have 10 days after elimination??? Either way, there is not a real deadline on signing them except for the enrollment date for each school. A player has to be enrolled to be eligible.
 
#66
#66
I think it's all about the size and skill set that the new DC want. We need to stop freaking out about something we know nothing about and at least get a season or two and see what the requirements are for the new staff. Look at it like the NFL, your team fires a 3-4 DC and hires a 4-3 he will want different body sizes at the DL positions, they have different requirements for the jobs they are asked to do. I for one am hoping both DE's are a little bigger and we get back to something that makes sense and has pissed me off on MANY occasions. I want the DE to have containment and funnel the runners into the heart of the D. I want DT's that while they may be rushing they also MAINTAIN their lanes to prevent the huge holes up the middle we have seen with the DL just going nuts trying to get into the backfield. I realize that this is an older philosophy but I'm damn tired of seeing holes open up I could run through at 65. So how about everybody chill, hit one or whatever you need and we see EXACTLY what the hell THIS DC wants and stop crying about **** we know nothing about.
 
#69
#69
vol94 said:
Who says we won’t have depth? We will sign a starter and then find depth. Our roster may not be complete until Feb or early March.
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UT will like every team based on their status in the food chain, reach out to poach the best they can from peer and down chain schools. Might have some great but unproven guys staked out. Don’t see 103 guys, but won’t be in the 70’s and won’t know how well we did to next fall. If they get drafted down the road from UT instead of down stream school, life will be better.

Making assessments in Feb is a fools mission. But we will have plenty of volunteers to do it.
 
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#70
#70
Went to all home games and don't remember any SEC games we looked even average on edge.
 
#71
#71
Knowles saw our 240 LB defensive ends get gashed on the ground vs Illinois. We will have new guys shortly.
 
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