What The Year Could Be - Or So Many Ifs

[WoodsmanVol]

If the OL is even marginally effective, the RB talent we have could be decently productive. I think be more successful in the red zone than we have been in the past.

If a OL can pass block, I do mean pass block and a QB emerges as any kind of throwing threat, we have the receivers to really hurt opponents.

If the first two above occur, teams won’t be able to pack the box with impunity and basically stuff our RBs.

If all the RBs are even half as good as hype says they are, we have a carousel of backs who can simply wear out a defense with combo of mouth smashing and running them ragged with speedsters.

The real test for the Vols will be fielding a defense that can play with a degree of respectfulness. That means stopping the run. The secondary is going to be better than many may realize but without a run defense, it won’t mean much.
_____________________________________
If I had a clue
I'd know exactly what to do
If I were the wiser of the two

And if I saw it all so clear
I'd write it down and bend your ear
If I were the clearer of the two

 

[Rudy123]

I see Fergy throwing to the T.E. alot and us running the ball alot early, until the Offensive line and the rest of the passing game developes.

I think the defense will be slow to develope and the second half of the season, teams will have to out score us, in order to beat us.

In the second half of the season, I see our offense being just like the offense we had during the N.C. State game.

Just 6 wins baby. That is all that we need. Utah State, Arkansas State, Chattanooga, Kentucky, Vandy and one of these games UGA, Florida, USC.


Win the five that we are predicted to win and win one of the UGA, Florida or USC games and we are in a bowl game.

 

[Carlitovol]

Good post, Woodsman. There are definitely a lot of unknowns and variables at play for the upcoming season.

Regardless of how it plays out (hopefully a bowl game, per Rudy), it's really exciting to think about 2015. We will lose very few seniors, and all the young/inexperienced guys will have a year under their belt to continue learning the system, etc.

Here's an interesting x-factor: If Worley gets (and keeps) the starting job for all of next season, how much will that limit our offensive production in 2015? I know Dobbs got some decent experience this season, but most seem to think that Ferguson would have gotten the opportunity if healthy.

If Ferg ends up being "the guy" but only gets mop-up duty at best this season, that could very well make it a challenge in 2015 to get the QB/WR dynamic rolling.

Obviously Butch is going to put the best guy on the field, but you have to wonder how much the staff will consider the potential impact on 2015 when making the QB decision for 2014 - since 2015 is the first season where I believe (and hope) we'll start to see a major uptick in the quality of the product on the field.

 

[james_govols]

If the defense line can get any pressure within 3-4 seconds our defense will be fine.

If the defensive line plays like the past couple years then our secondary and linebackers will struggle big time.

 

[GrowVol]

Great Post. I think we will be close to where we need to be in the skilled positions and backs, but don't know what to think about our grunt work(o/d lines).
Maybe the new Oline will be more fired up.... that they outperformed last seasons overrated Oline. I can't wait to find out.

 

[sjt18]

If the OL is even marginally effective,

I believe the OL as a unit will be as good or better than the past two years. The group that was lost had abundant talent. The group that's coming doesn't have quite as much pure talent... but they're meaner. Give me that choice... I'll take the guys with the mean streak every single time.

Mizzou is probably putting one OL in the draft from this past season's starters including guys who will finish in later years. They just aren't that talented from a physical pov. But they as individuals and as a unit were "mean".

the RB talent we have could be decently productive. I think be more successful in the red zone than we have been in the past.

Lane will be good and I think we have very good reason to believe one of 3-5 guys will become his 1b.

If a OL can pass block, I do mean pass block and a QB emerges as any kind of throwing threat, we have the receivers to really hurt opponents.

The only caveat to my belief that this will be a very good OL is finding a LT. Hopefully Blair is the answer. It is tough to see an elite LT prospect on the team now behind him.

You didn't really talk about the passing game but I believe it will be much improved regardless of who wins the QB battle (who I suspect will be Worley again though that probably annoys many here). WR play IMO was a FAR bigger part of the problem than QB play this past year. As that improves... the passing game will improve exponentially.

I am actually pretty bullish on the UT O going forward. I think it will be good or better than good... and soon.

The real test for the Vols will be fielding a defense that can play with a degree of respectfulness. That means stopping the run. The secondary is going to be better than many may realize but without a run defense, it won’t mean much.

I am bearish on the UT D because I am not convinced that they have the right DC. I honestly believe it comes down to something just that simple. If he's a better coach than he showed this past fall then UT's D takes some steps forward this year and looks at least somewhat competitive in most games. But he can't be the guy who was just run over by MU, AU, Bama, OU, and even USA. He has to be much better than that.

The talent nor speed were as bad as many tried to claim this past year. The talent and speed will be sufficient this fall to put a credible D on the field. They have to be coached up, the game prep has to be better, and the play calling has to be much better.

 

[GrowVol]

Agree with you sjt all the way. As far as in game coaching goes, I saw sparks of DC smarts this season mainly in the USCe/UGA games.
It's going to be interesting to see how the coaching goes this season.