We tried to temper your expectations

#1
LibertyVolance

LibertyVolance

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#1
Some were pumping us up way too high thru fall practice and a number of us tried to reel in their enthusiasm so it wouldn't be so disappointing. The D was one of the worst in the nation last year and it started out looking almost as horrible in the opener against WV. Giving deserved props to Grier, Jennings, and their much better FB team, Grier was able to stand there and pick our secondary apart. No penetration by our DL even on infrequent blitz calls. We are weak up front. The secondary never looked back and had WV receivers beat them numerous times. The LBer corp was uninspiring as well. Just a porous D that allowed them to run/pass almost at will. Their RBs were making 5 yds after initial contact even with seniors Tuttle and Phillips grabbing instead of tackling.

On the positive side, Gitmo has a rifle arm and he can be a very good QB, which many were trying to hammer home well before fall practice began. He has the tools and can deliver the ball on a rope when he has protection. Still needs work recognizing D setups and checking out of bad situations. Receivers looked fine and RB Jordan ran well despite an OL that has to improve if we want to get 6 wins, which will prove a tall order.

Punter Doyle averaged 38 yds and had good elevation on his punts. Very encouraging for the kicking game. Note: Pruitt mentioned that freshman had earned playing time with their fall practice performance and would see even more of them soon. What that tells me is that we have upper classmen who have and will continue losing their jobs to young freshmen who are better. Hopefully that includes DL where we had no push, no penetration, and practically quit fighting at times. Meanwhile, WV's D nearly took our QB's head off a few times with their defensive rush. Got to get better, esp in all phases of D, or we are sure to finish near the bottom of SEC and national defensive stats once again.
 
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#6
#6
What was WV final total yards gained; anybody know?
 
#9
#9
For those of you that do t realize what we have had to deal with let me give you a hint. Jo estimates recruited linemen like it was still the 80s. If you look at the Sugar Bowl against Miami we had OL that were 240 to 260. I think Jones learned how to coach watching old videos instead of realizing in the SEC you need a HOUSE to move a HOUSE. But the saddest part about Jones and his way of coaching is non of the upperclassmen are any better than when they got here. If JP keeps playing freshmen then I expect to see more freshmen playing next year as well. We may be a 7 or 8 win team for a couple years down the line. But if he can sale early playing time to the new guys I also fully expect to 10 recruiting classes for a while also.
 
#11
#11
I wasn't expecting to win, just hoped to. But even Vegas expected us to keep it within 10 points. I'm not panicking; I think there were glimmers of improvement yesterday, and hope for much more this season. But the way we lost yesterday was worse than even objective bystanders expected.
 
#18
#18
LibertyVolance said:
Some were pumping us up way too high thru fall practice and a number of us tried to reel in their enthusiasm so it wouldn't be so disappointing. The D was one of the worst in the nation last year and it started out looking almost as horrible in the opener against WV. Giving deserved props to Grier, Jennings, and their much better FB team, Grier was able to stand there and pick our secondary apart. No penetration by our DL even on infrequent blitz calls. We are weak up front. The secondary never looked back and had WV receivers beat them numerous times. The LBer corp was uninspiring as well. Just a porous D that allowed them to run/pass almost at will. Their RBs were making 5 yds after initial contact even with seniors Tuttle and Phillips grabbing instead of tackling.

On the positive side, Gitmo has a rifle arm and he can be a very good QB, which many were trying to hammer home well before fall practice began. He has the tools and can deliver the ball on a rope when he has protection. Still needs work recognizing D setups and checking out of bad situations. Receivers looked fine and RB Jordan ran well despite an OL that has to improve if we want to get 6 wins, which will prove a tall order.

Punter Doyle averaged 38 yds and had good elevation on his punts. Very encouraging for the kicking game. Note: Pruitt mentioned that freshman had earned playing time with their fall practice performance and would see even more of them soon. What that tells me is that we have upper classmen who have and will continue losing their jobs to young freshmen who are better. Hopefully that includes DL where we had no push, no penetration, and practically quit fighting at times. Meanwhile, WV's D nearly took our QB's head off a few times with their defensive rush. Got to get better, esp in all phases of D, or we are sure to finish near the bottom of SEC and national defensive stats once again.
Click to expand...
100% dead on. #1 priority for the staff right now is getting the younger/newer guys developed/up to speed and on the field asap.

Also, for those who follow recruiting....recall that 11 of the 20 players we currently have committed right now are at 2 positions....DL and DB, our 2 worst position groups. JP knows what he needs, knows what he’s doing with regards to personnel and getting the right types of players into his program. I’m as frustrated as anyone after yesterday, but we’ve gotta be patient and give him a little bit of time here.
 
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#19
#19
LibertyVolance said:
Some were pumping us up way too high thru fall practice and a number of us tried to reel in their enthusiasm so it wouldn't be so disappointing. The D was one of the worst in the nation last year and it started out looking almost as horrible in the opener against WV. Giving deserved props to Grier, Jennings, and their much better FB team, Grier was able to stand there and pick our secondary apart. No penetration by our DL even on infrequent blitz calls. We are weak up front. The secondary never looked back and had WV receivers beat them numerous times. The LBer corp was uninspiring as well. Just a porous D that allowed them to run/pass almost at will. Their RBs were making 5 yds after initial contact even with seniors Tuttle and Phillips grabbing instead of tackling.

On the positive side, Gitmo has a rifle arm and he can be a very good QB, which many were trying to hammer home well before fall practice began. He has the tools and can deliver the ball on a rope when he has protection. Still needs work recognizing D setups and checking out of bad situations. Receivers looked fine and RB Jordan ran well despite an OL that has to improve if we want to get 6 wins, which will prove a tall order.

Punter Doyle averaged 38 yds and had good elevation on his punts. Very encouraging for the kicking game. Note: Pruitt mentioned that freshman had earned playing time with their fall practice performance and would see even more of them soon. What that tells me is that we have upper classmen who have and will continue losing their jobs to young freshmen who are better. Hopefully that includes DL where we had no push, no penetration, and practically quit fighting at times. Meanwhile, WV's D nearly took our QB's head off a few times with their defensive rush. Got to get better, esp in all phases of D, or we are sure to finish near the bottom of SEC and national defensive stats once again.
Click to expand...
High expectations are part of being a fan;)
 
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#20
#20
VOL_Lyfe said:
I wanted WVU to know they were in a fight. That didn't happen.
Click to expand...

If we had scored in the fourth quarter, it would have looked a lot different at 33-21. But, we didn’t.

Point is that that we had a few chances to make it a fight (second quarter with chance to take the lead was another) but failed to get it done every time.
 
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#21
#21
Three freshman in the secondary against a potential Heisman with NFL quality receivers to throw to is a recipe for disaster and it was. That said, there is still a lot of improvement needed all the way around on defense. And the OL, well they stayed in the locker room apparently because they never showed up.
 
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#24
#24
I understand how people could have felt differently. Logically, if we lost games last season due to coaching and we have a new coaching staff, then we will automatically win more games
However the problem is that the teams on our schedule are likely to have improved also
That is why O have said 5 - 7 all along
 
#25
#25
What would our lives look like if we held all aspects of them to the same level we expect of Tennessee football?
  • After failing to lose weight - and even gaining some instead - on Atkins and South Beach, I'd be ready to fire my Weight Watchers instructor because I didn't lose enough weight during the onboarding period leading to the first public weigh-in.
  • After leaving two churches that weren't fitting my family's spiritual needs, I told off the pastor of the third on the way out the door because my children hadn't made professions of faith after their first visit.
  • After extended stints with Tennova Wound Healing and Fort Sanders Wound Care for my leg issues, I started looking around again for other options after my first couple visits to UT / Healogix didn't have me mostly healed up.
There's an old country song I believe is applicable here: "Give me forty acres and I'll turn this thing around." Like you, I want to see the wins rain down and turn this desert we've been wandering in back to a paradise of winning. But we've got to do it the right way. Quick fixes rarely work; with rare exception, teams that have hung their resurgence on a single player have paid the price later on. Florida State and Texas A&M, anyone?

When my family moved to our new town four years ago, we gave away our microwave. We still haven't bought one and have no plans to. My wife and I are teaching our children patience and the idea that good things are worth waiting for. It's the same with football. We're hungry now, and ravenously so, but I'm not willing to trade a steak towards the end of the season for a Hot Pocket now.
 
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