What equals success in 2016? What must Butch do?

#76
#76
Undefeated regular season. In the playoffs! We are a few plays here and there of doing this this year. There's no reason why next we won't be better!
 
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#79
#79
dbrum5 said:
Undefeated regular season. In the playoffs! We are a few plays here and there of doing this this year. There's no reason why next we won't be better!
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Good point. If people want to claim "close" as progress this year then next year it is realistic to expect "wins" instead of close... assuming "progress" continues. UT has some issues in the secondary but the OL will be significantly stronger after taking a very good step forward this year. The skill positions should be better. Dobbs should be better. The D front 7 should be better. UT should have among the best special teams in the country.

Here are the Srs who have started or contributed:

Kerbyson, Crowder, O Williams, Randolph, Ellis, McNeil, J Johnson, Weatherd, and Pearson.

M Jackson and Maggitt were talented but made no contributions this year.

If the recruiting has been even close to as good as advertised... UT should be able to replace this production easily except for maybe safety. Even at safety, there is an overall upgrade in athleticism.
 
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#80
#80
GahLee said:
The records are nearly identical. Losing by 30 and losing 6 are still losses. One doesn't carry greater weight than the other unless you, as a fan, invest in moral victories.

A loss is a loss, as a win is a win. Being close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
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Dooley followed Fulmer and one year of Kiffin. CBJ followed three years of Dooley. Do you really think the program that CBJ inherited was really in the same state as the one Dooley did?
 
#81
#81
sjt18 said:
Good point. If people want to claim "close" as progress this year then next year it is realistic to expect "wins" instead of close... assuming "progress" continues. UT has some issues in the secondary but the OL will be significantly stronger after taking a very good step forward this year. The skill positions should be better. Dobbs should be better. The D front 7 should be better. UT should have among the best special teams in the country.

Here are the Srs who have started or contributed:

Kerbyson, Crowder, O Williams, Randolph, Ellis, McNeil, J Johnson, Weatherd, and Pearson.

M Jackson and Maggitt were talented but made no contributions this year.

If the recruiting has been even close to as good as advertised... UT should be able to replace this production easily except for maybe safety. Even at safety, there is an overall upgrade in athleticism.
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Good points. If the "progress" is to continue then close losses should turn into wins (except for Florida) and good players should be better, more seasoned players next year. No reason to not expect great things next year, other than Jones getting in the way.
 
#82
#82
I can't wait to tear down goalposts next year. FLA and BAMA are both going down.
 
#83
#83
FWIW, UT has reached a point where the rest of the season should pump up some stat lines. UT's schedule was heavily front loaded this year. MU and USCe as some of us argued during the summer aren't very good teams.

UT is currently 10th in sacks allowed. MU is the only team that should really challenge UT with a pass rush comparable to earlier opponents. UT is 3rd in rushing ypg only a little behind UGA. They are 8th in ypc just behind Bama, USCe, and Arky.... they all have tougher schedules to close than UT. Unless something goes badly wrong... I think UT will finish top 5 in most major offensive stats in the SEC.
 
#84
#84
Orange_Crush said:
Dooley followed Fulmer and one year of Kiffin. CBJ followed three years of Dooley. Do you really think the program that CBJ inherited was really in the same state as the one Dooley did?
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Probably not. But it also wasn't a massive difference either. Both were terrible situations.
 
#86
#86
Orange_Crush said:
Dooley followed Fulmer and one year of Kiffin. CBJ followed three years of Dooley. Do you really think the program that CBJ inherited was really in the same state as the one Dooley did?
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It was no worse. A simple peak at the rosters each inherited will reveal that.
 
#87
#87
KBVol said:
Good points. If the "progress" is to continue then close losses should turn into wins (except for Florida) and good players should be better, more seasoned players next year. No reason to not expect great things next year, other than Jones getting in the way.
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I expect a win vs UF. Period. I know the point you are making but it is high time we STOP expecting a loss against them. That needs to be behind us. Expecting it basically says it is acceptable. I personally do not think it should be acceptable any more.
 
#89
#89
We need to win these last five games no reason why we shouldn't. We will be favored in them all.
 
#90
#90
Eddie Vol Halen said:
We've played 7-games already and the Vols are 3 - 4. One classic victory over Georgia and three of the most frustrating losses to good teams in recent memory. I consider the Florida loss far, far worse than Wyoming for a variety of reasons - compounded by the loss last year too.

I'm assuming that we will win out now. I honestly don't care if we win each game (except North Texas) by 1 point as it will help establish that Butch can win close games.

With this preface, what does success look like in 2016? What does Team 120 need to achieve to know that we have finally arrived?

I'd be willing to give more slack if not for the way we have lost these games. Right now, Butch has some serious, serious question marks about his credentials on Saturdays. I said early and often that losing to Florida and Arkansas with Team 119 would raise legitimate concerns and scrutiny. His elite work from Monday - Friday has, frankly, come apart in the majority of the big moments on Saturdays including Alabama. I firmly believe he has made a mistake managing Medley and the kickers and that was primarily how we lost the Bama game. If it takes 4-years to implement his particular culture, and we're going to be in the hunt and in the mix from Team 120 to Team 130, I accept that, and let's start rolling. If it was truly this was the first time he had a Top Ten team, and he had to learn how to deal with that, fine. But OJT is OVER now.

Two absolute essentials for Team 120 for me:

Win the East
Beat Florida
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I do agree. The youth excuse won't fly next year. At the very least we need to be in the running all year for a chance at winning the East. I see no reason this team cannot win the East next year. Butch absolutely has to beat UF,especially with them coming to Neyland. We should win all 4 OOC games next year so no reason not to get at the minimum 9 wins but really should be in position to win at least 10. Think we play at A'M next year then get Ala at home so not an easy schedule against the West as usual. We have been in every game with 3 of our losses coming on last minute drives. And all 3 of those we had a lead with under 5 mins left in the game. We can't lose to UF and Ala both again next year UNLESS we go 10-2 which I'm not sure happens if we drop those 2 again. Especially both being at home. Beating UF would be 1 and Ala 1a just because of increasing our shot at the East. We should win out this year but playing at UK after a tough loss to Ala and at Mizzou aren't guarantee's. I know we are better than both of them and at Mizzou scares me more than at UK. That Mizzou D is one of the best in the SEC and the country. Luckily they have zero offense without Mauk. The way our luck goes Mauk will be reinstated by time we play them. But I won't assume a win against a team we have yet to beat since they joined the SEC. No way in hell the tigers should beat us but you just never know. A few turnovers or defensive scores can completely change everything. Not gonna lie Dobb's still scares me when he throws over the middle and some of his longer passes. He was very lucky to not have at least 3 int's against Ala and Mizzou is more than capable of making it a long day with their D. But just playing our game and not turning the ball over we should finish out 8-4 and go to a nice bowl game in a warm climate area! Then win that one,finish 9-4 and set the stage for next season!
 
#91
#91
I expect to be a scary team next year. TBH we are a scary team for anyone right now. They know what we are capable of and it's only a mater of time before we cross the line at this point. It's going to take one or two more significant wins and this team will cross a thresh hold.

Next year I want to see some depth come into play.
 
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#92
#92
Butch needs to go 12-0 or 11-1 in the regular season next year, win the SEC Championship, and go to the playoffs.
 
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#95
#95
PagingDrVol said:
Playing on both Saturdays and Sunday's in the same season with no bye weeks and a roster of 85 freshmen, this team would have to win both the college playoff and the super bowl on consecutive days or members of this board would be calling for Butch's head.

I'll take a winning record (9+ preferred) and 2/3 from the three big rivals, and I'm good.
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None of the rational and high football IQ fans are calling for his head. Hell yea we could so easily be 7-0 or just as easily be 2-5. Until these players and coach's learn how to close out games we will be stuck in mediocrity. I do believe the GA and Ala games could be huge boosts and close out the year 8-4 and go to a nice bowl game. But facts are facts,so far that ability hasn't been shown. That's why teams like Ala,Ohio St etc are so successful year in and out. Besides elite recruiting you still have to have the right Coach's to get the players to that mindset. We need that '90s swagger back and things will be good in Knoxville. I hope and do believe the Coach's have learned from their mistakes late in games and get the players in the right positions to succeed. Butch has used the lack of depth as an excuse for losing games late but I don't buy that a bit. Depth didn't hurt us late vs GA or even against Ala. Coker,their receivers and Henry made a few more plays along with some luck with Martin falling down. If he doesn't fall that is most likely a game winning Isn't. But that falls into the learning to win category,which we all know Alabubba knows how to do. Finishing strong this year will only further increase the hype and expectations for 2016.GBO
 
#97
#97
sjt18 said:
#1 That is a loser mentality that I refuse to have... it is repugnant.

#2 First... yes. Only priority? No.

#3 HOPEFULLY, we will never see the Jones again who coached against UF and OU this year.
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#1 My first point was not saying to accept losing to Florida. It was saying that it is now more important than our historic rivalry with Alabama because we were spoiled by the streak Fulmer put on them. We've had a generation of near futility against Florida, and I consider the last two losses to Florida worse than the Wyoming or the Memphis loss. I still get mad thinking about either.

#2 I only said that Florida was the #1 priority and I was echoing one of your comments earlier.

#3 I think we do have to accept that Butch has never had a Top Ten calibre team before and he's been on a steep OJT curve. I want to believe he's learning, but then he sends Medley out for three 40+ field goals against Alabama - the key to the game.

2016 though OJT IS OVER. It's time to win big.
 
#98
#98
:eek:lol::eek:lol:
RockyTop411 said:
Butch needs to go 12-0 or 11-1 in the regular season next year, win the SEC Championship, and go to the playoffs.
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Nobody and i mean nobody win's them all in the SEC this day and time if you can win 10 game's a year you are a football power in this League, THE dawg's coach is catching heat for just winning 10 game's a year let them fire him and they will be where we are when we fired our so called 10 win's a year coach.:eek:hmy:
 
#100
#100
SEC east is the only answer to this question. Should have won it this year so next year it is a must. No more young team. We will be senior junior lead and 10 wins regular season should be easily obtainable. Must be playing in Atlanta next December or Butch could be on the hot seat.

Best case we some how beat our three rivals and get into the playoffs. Happy with just the previous though.
 
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