Why the pessimism?

#102
#102
:rock:I am optimistic for a Tennessee win against Florida...unless there are some horrible bad events in the game. I feel all the bad weather in Florida and not being able to practice and playing only one game with not help Florida. Our QB now has two games experience and we are getting back some of the injured players. We have speed enough to break some long runs or returns. Hopefully, we will see a different style defense and some aggressive efforts...hopefully trashing the Gators by more than20 points.

NO SIR EEE said:
Why is it that every year, there is so much doubt? Let's get real guys:

-Sure, we allowed an ungodly amount of yards on defense against Georgia Tech but who doesn't? Hell, even the "almighty" Jawja does almost every year. Our defense is going to be fine and is going to win us some games.

-Why is everyone afraid of Georgia again? They aren't that good, Kirby won't last. They just beat a highly overrated Notre Dame team and everyone is scared. That's a load of crap, we will roll them in Knoxville.

-Florida scored 3 points on offense against Michigan, we will beat Florida by at least 3 touchdowns. Their defense isn't crap neither, Speight threw those interceptions in terrible coverage, Dormady will adjust and have a career day.

-We will play in Atlanta in December, this team isn't a nightmare as some of you make it out to be.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
#103
#103
Catbone said:
Nope. It's far easier to say WGWTFA 15-0 national champs!!!!

But when you take the time to look at the facts, our defense is not good and it hasn't been good sense Shoop arrived. Other than the second half Florida game last year, our defense has been questionable at best.

We are a chip shot missed FG away from losing GA tech this year and Appalachian State last year. Unacceptable.
Click to expand...

Surely you are not blaming the close win against App State last year to defense....................
 
#104
#104
jakez4ut said:
it's an assumption that it continues is all i was getting at. i've explained my thoughts on the defense and some possible reasons why it's been what it's been so far.

we disagree on that, and that's fine. i can't, and haven't, tell you our defense is good.

all i can say is that from what i've seen, i've not seen anything that says we've really even tried to do anything defensively speaking. it's been very basic in all aspects (and this is where we differ, i think) and i just can't believe that's the plan for the season.

if it is, then it will continue as you've outlined. i don't think it will.

the only truth here is, we're gonna find out starting saturday.

as for the head coach, we'll probably agree more than disagree.
Click to expand...
And the diffrence between you and other posters is that even in disagreement you offer good opinions and substance. You dont hope to the weak old argument of just hating CBJ for no reason.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#105
#105
Cincinnati is not a good team but still, Michigan held them to something like 200 yards. I don't think people are giving their defense enough credit for what happened with Florida.

Florida played one game against a top 10 team, we decided they sucked, repeated it over and over until it became VN fact. It's possible they do, but I'm going to wait until we play them. I can't put them at the bottom over one game, especially when it was their first game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#107
#107
volfannbama said:
And the diffrence between you and other posters is that even in disagreement you offer good opinions and substance. You dont hope to the weak old argument of just hating CBJ for no reason.
Click to expand...

thanks. and the issue with CBJ is just hard. there's legit good...and legit bad. at some point, which one is the real deal? and the answer simply might be....both. which is probably where i lean at this point with what i've seen thru 4 1/4 years.
 
#108
#108
chargervol said:
Cincinnati is not a good team but still, Michigan held them to something like 200 yards. I don't think people are giving their defense enough credit for what happened with Florida.

Florida played one game against a top 10 team, we decided they sucked, repeated it over and over until it became VN fact. It's possible they do, but I'm going to wait until we play them. I can't put them at the bottom over one game, especially when it was their first game.
Click to expand...

fair....and probably accurate. we'll see.
 
#109
#109
volfannbama said:
In the last 6 games
UK 635
Mizzu 740
Vandy 608
MCB 318
GT 655
IS 215

My bad the average is only 528 over the last 6 games thanks to a dominating performance over a FCS powerhouse and a solid MCB win.
Click to expand...

Without the cherry picked stats, we gave up 435 yards per game last year, which was 95th in the country with 6 leaders on the defensive side of the ball out the majority of the year. Of that 435 yards, we ranked 12th in passing yards given up a game, and 127th in rushing yards given up per game. Where were we decimated with injury last year? LB and DL. Not trying to make excuses (Butch does a good enough job of that), but I don't think you are painting a clear and accurate picture of the defense IMO. The GT game concerned me, but I was concerned going in to that game because you never know what a option offense will do to you, especially if you only gameplan for it one time a year. Are there reasons to be suspect of the defense? Yes, I just don't think you know about this defense until after this Florida game. JMO
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#110
#110
One has to laugh at the original post. I assume it was written by a guy who's seen only one UT-uf game--that being last year's.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#111
#111
BearCat204 said:
Without the cherry picked stats, we gave up 435 yards per game last year, which was 95th in the country with 6 leaders on the defensive side of the ball out the majority of the year. Of that 435 yards, we ranked 12th in passing yards given up a game, and 127th in rushing yards given up per game. Where were we decimated with injury last year? LB and DL. Not trying to make excuses (Butch does a good enough job of that), but I don't think you are painting a clear and accurate picture of the defense IMO. The GT game concerned me, but I was concerned going in to that game because you never know what a option offense will do to you, especially if you only gameplan for it one time a year. Are there reasons to be suspect of the defense? Yes, I just don't think you know about this defense until after this Florida game. JMO
Click to expand...

Yeah, the point being our defense is bad and to me appears to pick up where it left of last year, which is why i use the last 6 game. Simply put, to be competative in the sec our d has to improve. Im not sure Florida is a good gauge because we dont know how bad the o is. But if we dominate them, that will be a good indocator. We should now for sure in a month.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#112
#112
volfannbama said:
Yeah, the point being our defense is bad and to me appears to pick up where it left of last year, which is why i use the last 6 game. Simply put, to be competative in the sec our d has to improve. Im not sure Florida is a good gauge because we dont know how bad the o is. But if we dominate them, that will be a good indocator. We should now for sure in a month.
Click to expand...

i'll just be interested to see the personnel, alignments, and play calling. that should at least tell you something about what we're at least really trying to do, vs. what we have done so far.

results, obviously, matter the most....
 
#113
#113
Here's another trendline to keep an eye on:
* 655 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 1
* 215 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 2 (a 440 yd improvement)
...extrapolating...
* -225 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 3

Hehe, data says we'll be pushing Florida backwards all game!

And even if you allow for a parabolic arc to the data, we're still going to allow Florida less than 200 total yards.

:)

Don't you love stats, and what can be done with them?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#114
#114
VFL-82-JP said:
Here's another trendline to keep an eye on:
* 655 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 1
* 215 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 2 (a 440 yd improvement)
...extrapolating...
* -225 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 3

Hehe, data says we'll be pushing Florida backwards all game!

And even if you allow for a parabolic arc to the data, we're still going to allow Florida less than 200 total yards.

:)

Don't you love stats, and what can be done with them?
Click to expand...

LOL

The truth is you really can't tell what is going to happen in a game based on what happened in another game.

- The match ups are different.
- The attitude that both teams bring into the game matters.
- A team that has played perfect may have a game filled with mistakes or vice versa.
- Weather, rain and wind may come into play.

You can make predictions based on what you think would happen if both teams were at full strength, attitudes were the same, weather would not be a factor, etc. but that is all you can really do.
 
#115
#115
As for the original post - I get what is being said.

For some the sky will always be falling. We could be 14-0 and leading by 35 with 2 minutes left in the 4th quarter of the championship game and they would still be sure we would lose.

Others let the game play out and go in with the thought that every game can be won until it is lost. I fall in this category and hopefully the TEAM falls into this category. Because you won't win if you don't think you can win.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#116
#116
keep-calm-and-sing-rocky-top-29.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#117
#117
Well everyone outside of the Tennessee family are picking the gaiters over the Vols. Guess they're ignoring the dark cloud and uncertainty hanging over that program and that they may start a freshman QB. :ermm:
 
#118
#118
orangeluvr said:
Well everyone outside of the Tennessee family are picking the gaiters over the Vols. Guess they're ignoring the dark cloud and uncertainty hanging over that program and that they may start a freshman QB. :ermm:
Click to expand...

or they see that as a rallying point for them, and when all things are equal, or close to equal, Florida generally has won...especially at home.
 
#119
#119
VFL-82-JP said:
Here's another trendline to keep an eye on:
* 655 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 1
* 215 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 2 (a 440 yd improvement)
...extrapolating...
* -225 all-purpose yards allowed in Game 3

Hehe, data says we'll be pushing Florida backwards all game!

And even if you allow for a parabolic arc to the data, we're still going to allow Florida less than 200 total yards.

:)

Don't you love stats, and what can be done with them?
Click to expand...

For an actual 440 yard improvement you have to assume parity in the opponents in game 1 and 2; in reality that's not the case.
 
#120
#120
jakez4ut said:
or they see that as a rallying point for them, and when all things are equal, or close to equal, Florida generally has won...especially at home.
Click to expand...

I tend to think it is the home field advantage plus I'm sure some don't want to pound on a team who lives in an area of the country where they personally have been pounded. So there may be a little pity vote in there as well.

There is also the thing about being too emotional. That could prove to be a negative for Florida if they get caught up in the emotion of a "rally". That emotion can turn into negative emotion if things start going bad.

The team that stays focused and make the least mistakes in the 60 minutes of playing time will more than likely win this game.
 
#121
#121
NO SIR EEE said:
Why is it that every year, there is so much doubt? Let's get real guys:

-Sure, we allowed an ungodly amount of yards on defense against Georgia Tech but who doesn't? Hell, even the "almighty" Jawja does almost every year. Our defense is going to be fine and is going to win us some games.

-Why is everyone afraid of Georgia again? They aren't that good, Kirby won't last. They just beat a highly overrated Notre Dame team and everyone is scared. That's a load of crap, we will roll them in Knoxville.

-Florida scored 3 points on offense against Michigan, we will beat Florida by at least 3 touchdowns. Their defense isn't crap neither, Speight threw those interceptions in terrible coverage, Dormady will adjust and have a career day.

-We will play in Atlanta in December, this team isn't a nightmare as some of you make it out to be.
Click to expand...

I think the realistic fan base looks at the coach we have and knows any given Saturday he can snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory.

When you are 0-3 against muschump.
2-2 against Vandy.
When you blow huge 4th quarter leads and lose games.
Your defense is giving up Sal Senseri type numbers.
When you pi$$ away 2 SEC East Championships.
When every press conference Is full of excuses and cliches.

Its very hard for a fan base who supports the University of Tennessee to have confidence. I think we have a section of people that are fans of our football team and a section who are coach fans and this is were the disconnect is.

But in spite of the coach we have, I think we win. I think we make just enough big plays in the passing game and our run game controls the ball. I don't think Florida will have enough offense to take advantage of our very bad defense. Florida will be without the 2 biggest offensive threats on their roster and their QB situation is horrendous.

With all the said, the man on our sidelines has lost to worse teams, so anything is possible on any given Saturday.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#123
#123
volfan102455 said:
I tend to think it is the home field advantage plus I'm sure some don't want to pound on a team who lives in an area of the country where they personally have been pounded. So there may be a little pity vote in there as well.

There is also the thing about being too emotional. That could prove to be a negative for Florida if they get caught up in the emotion of a "rally". That emotion can turn into negative emotion if things start going bad.

The team that stays focused and make the least mistakes in the 60 minutes of playing time will more than likely win this game.
Click to expand...
well they haven't been bashful about pining on how bad FL looked in the Mich game, and really questioning what the heck is going on down there.

aside from the hurricane, it's been kinda of refreshing to hear as much criticism about FL and questioning the overall direction of that program the last two weeks.

to your other points, i agree. it can be used as a positive, up to a point. there's a line you don't want to cross....

we'll find out saturday. this is definitely a winnable game....maybe one of the top 2 or 3 most winnable games for us in the modern era of the series.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#125
#125
volfannbama said:
In the last 6 games
UK 635
Mizzu 740
Vandy 608
MCB 318
GT 655
IS 215

My bad the average is only 528 over the last 6 games thanks to a dominating performance over a FCS powerhouse and a solid MCB win.
Click to expand...

If you look at the numbers as 'with Kirkland' and 'without Kirkland'..........it is a huge disparity.

This week, we are "without Kirkland" and therefore I'm not too confident.


However.........I hope the Vols prove me wrong!
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top