Why we will be a force starting next year

#1
C

crunchimusmaximus

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#1
Guys, I know it's easy to get down about this loss and season, but the fact is, it's a new coaching staff's first year. I think you all will be shocked at how much improvement we experience next season. We will be more deep overall in many spots defense....ESPECIALLY at linebacker, a position that was largely responsible for three of our losses this season IMO, AU, Ole Miss and Va Tech. There are some serious young studs coming off redshirts for next season on D who should be ready to play with a year in the system already. We will be sick at RB and we will have plenty of young talent on both lines and will have one of iof not the best kicker in the nation.

The biggest thing, though, is it will be the second year in this staff's system. It takes a while for players to buy in guys. Look at Saban at Bama. What he did in year 2 with young new players was amazing. I believe we will see something similar if we land a top 3 class this year.

People are saying 2011 will be our year, I say it begins next year with Stephens at QB and a sick group of backs and WRs.
 
#2
#2
Another thing about last night's loss Va Tech was a really bad matchup with us. They resemble Ole Miss in a lot of ways, very stout defense and slash and dash running game with a mobile QB. The Outback bowl really screwed us over, perception wise. There were many other top tier teams that we would have matchup up with much much better.
 
#3
#3
crunchimusmaximus said:
Guys, I know it's easy to get down about this loss and season, but the fact is, it's a new coaching staff's first year. I think you all will be shocked at how much improvement we experience next season. We will be more deep overall in many spots defense....ESPECIALLY at linebacker, a position that was largely responsible for three of our losses this season IMO, AU, Ole Miss and Va Tech. There are some serious young studs coming off redshirts for next season on D who should be ready to play with a year in the system already. We will be sick at RB and we will have plenty of young talent on both lines and will have one of iof not the best kicker in the nation.

The biggest thing, though, is it will be the second year in this staff's system. It takes a while for players to buy in guys. Look at Saban at Bama. What he did in year 2 with young new players was amazing. I believe we will see something similar if we land a top 3 class this year.

People are saying 2011 will be our year, I say it begins next year with Stephens at QB and a sick group of backs and WRs.
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That would be great, but the better part of experience with Tennessee football and this roster leads me to a much different conclusion. The RBs and Stephens will be good enough to help bring another thin and young roster to a 7-5 season. We'll see improvement, but it won't be huge. 2011 will be even better but the schedule will be tough. We will be set up for a very nice 2012 and beyond.

Key is keeping your expectations in line with reality.
 
#4
#4
I wish I had your optimism but we will probably struggle in 2010. I agree that we have a chance to start being competitive in 2011 or 2012 but next year we will be lucky to be above .500.
 
#5
#5
This bowl game should serve as a wake up call to everyone to just how far we have to go to be an elite program again.
 
#6
#6
I appreciate your optimism Crunch but the reality is that we simply need more studs on both sides of the ball. Last night's game was a real eye opener to myself and hopefully to many of the vol faithful. We were absolutely physically overmatched last night. It reminded me somewhat of the bowl games we had against Nebraska back in 98 and 2000. For whatever reason, blame it on Fulmer's lousy recruiting or whatever, somewhere along the lines we were no longer getting the caliber of athletes that we were accustomed to getting. We have no John Hendersons, Leonard Littles, or Albert Haynesworths. We have no Jason Wittens or Al Wilsons. We have no Peyton Mannings or Willie Gaults or Donte Stallworths.

Even if we end up with the #1 recruiting class in the nation this year, they'll all be freshmen. Some MAY contribute early but realistically I think we are looking at 2012 at the earliest before we can start talking about serious SEC contention.
 
#7
#7
Excuses excuses. We had three eventual first rounders on defense, Berry Janzen Jackson, and Dan Williams...probably more....we had Luke Stcker and Hardesty first round talent in both guys on offense. Va Tech is not much morte talented than we are. They just have a solid foundation that has been in place for many many years. You guys kill me...next year we will see a tremendous improvement.

Saban went 7-6 his first year at Bama just like Kiffn. But he lost his last 4 regular season games...and barely beat Colorado in the Indepence Bowl. Guys, we finihsed the regular season, despite a copious amount of injuries and lack of depth, on a winning streak and lost to the number 11, soon to be top ten team in the nation in Va Tech. Things are about to get much much better.
 
#8
#8
crunchimusmaximus said:
Excuses excuses. We had three eventual first rounders on defense, Berry Janzen Jackson, and Dan Williams...probably more....we had Luke Stcker and Hardesty first round talent in both guys on offense. Va Tech is not much morte talented than we are. They just have a solid foundation that has been in place for many many years. You guys kill me...next year we will see a tremendous improvement.

Saban went 7-6 his first year at Bama just like Kiffn. But he lost his last 4 regular season games...and barely beat Colorado in the Indepence Bowl. Guys, we finihsed the regular season, despite a copious amount of injuries and lack of depth, on a winning streak and lost to the number 11, soon to be top ten team in the nation in Va Tech. Things are about to get much much better.
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Saban wasn't left with a depleted roster. He didn't have a two year gap in his Oline like Tennessee. Anyone comparing Kiffin's situation at Tennessee to Saban's at Bama will be severely disappointed when we have similar results next year. It's just not going to get done that fast here. Not a reflection on Kiffin, it's a reflection in how bad of shape Fulmer left this program. Different place , different situation and i wish people would stop thinking it's similar in any way. People are looking at this and that's one reason Fulmer hasn't been offered another job.
 
#9
#9
I really think the Moore drop was a "buy in" issue. Kiffin was calling a game that had the VT D responding all over the field. When Moore broke open it was if he did not expect it and so made the turn toward the end zone too early. I know I stand the risk of over analysis here but that's how I saw it.
 
#10
#10
NMVol said:
I really think the Moore drop was a "buy in" issue. Kiffin was calling a game that had the VT D responding all over the field. When Moore broke open it was if he did not expect it and so made the turn toward the end zone too early. I know I stand the risk of over analysis here but that's how I saw it.
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I think you're overthinking it just a bit. I simply see it as a kid who had is eyes on the endzone before he secured the ball. It happens sometimes.
 
#11
#11
I guess what I am saying is that if he expects it, as it was a matter of course, he catches in stride. The players just have to learn viscerally that aspects of the system are going to work and gain confidence in this way. The rebuilding is a work in progress.
 
#12
#12
VolinDawgland said:
That would be great, but the better part of experience with Tennessee football and this roster leads me to a much different conclusion. The RBs and Stephens will be good enough to help bring another thin and young roster to a 7-5 season. We'll see improvement, but it won't be huge. 2011 will be even better but the schedule will be tough. We will be set up for a very nice 2012 and beyond.
Key is keeping your expectations in line with reality.
Click to expand...


There you go.
Next year could be worse than this year honestly. I hope not but, we replace most of the O-line start a new QB and lose Hardesty on O and lose Berry, Rico, Big Dan, M. Johnson on D. All depends on how our new guys will step up.
 
#13
#13
NMVol said:
I really think the Moore drop was a "buy in" issue. Kiffin was calling a game that had the VT D responding all over the field. When Moore broke open it was if he did not expect it and so made the turn toward the end zone too early. I know I stand the risk of over analysis here but that's how I saw it.
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Kidding me right? He just dropped a ball plain and simple. Nothing complicated about it. No buy in problem or anything he just dropped a big touchdown that took the air out of our team.
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#14
#14
Lockdown1 said:
Kidding me right? He just dropped a ball plain and simple. Nothing complicated about it. No buy in problem or anything he just dropped a big touchdown that took the air out of our team.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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A guy who expects it does not get the big eyes like a kid in a candy store. Its a minor illustrative point for me. I am letting it go and not kidding.
 
#15
#15
DEFENDTHISHOUSE said:
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There you go.
Next year could be worse than this year honestly. I hope not but, we replace most of the O-line start a new QB and lose Hardesty on O and lose Berry, Rico, Big Dan, M. Johnson on D. All depends on how our new guys will step up.
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Rico is not a big loss for us. I could see if he was Mayo or something. McCoy has taken over probably one game that I've seen and that's the South Carolina game. He's overrated and we'll be better at LB without him.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#16
#16
NMVol said:
I really think the Moore drop was a "buy in" issue. Kiffin was calling a game that had the VT D responding all over the field. When Moore broke open it was if he did not expect it and so made the turn toward the end zone too early. I know I stand the risk of over analysis here but that's how I saw it.
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uh no.:crazy:
It was a classic example of running before you catch the ball.
 
#17
#17
NMVol said:
A guy who expects it does not get the big eyes like a kid in a candy store. Its a minor illustrative point for me. I am letting it go and not kidding.
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Dude turned for the end zone to early. What the devil are you talking about? He took his eye off the ball. You can see that easily looking at the play. It was a real lack of concentration. He'll be a better player due to that drop I hope.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#18
#18
I think we loose to many good players to be a real force next year. This coaching staff has the ability to pull off some surprising performances, and I expect to have a few great surprises next year. But Rome wasn't built in a day and it will take a few recruiting classes to get to where we are a top ten team. We'll continue to score some great new finesse players, but it will take a couple of years to build up the O & D lines with the experienced big uglies it takes to push people around.
 
#19
#19
Lockdown1 said:
Rico is not a big loss for us. I could see if he was Mayo or something. McCoy has taken over probably one game that I've seen and that's the South Carolina game. He's overrated and we'll be better at LB without him.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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Maybe so LD, but we will miss his experience.
 
#20
#20
DEFENDTHISHOUSE said:
Maybe so LD, but we will miss his experience.
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What experience? Taking bad angles all of his career? Stopping his feet when making a tackle? Always getting juked out of shoes? Never making big plays in the big games? I'm tired of him and have been tired of him for a while.
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#21
#21
Lockdown1 said:
Dude turned for the end zone to early. What the devil are you talking about? He took his eye off the ball. You can see that easily looking at the play. It was a real lack of concentration. He'll be a better player due to that drop I hope.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
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In D Moores defense, he hardly ever drops a deep ball on a post route.
 
#22
#22
Volfan_TrappedN_KY said:
In D Moores defense, he hardly ever drops a deep ball on a post route.
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Believe me I know. I'll just be glad when we get a lot of good athletes here. I don't know what Fulmer and staff were looking at when they were evaluating some of the players on our roster.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#23
#23
Well good, keep up that optimism while we lose everyone who started on offense essentially

Keep it up till oregon comes in pretty similar to what we saw last nite
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#24
#24
crunchimusmaximus said:
Another thing about last night's loss Va Tech was a really bad matchup with us. They resemble Ole Miss in a lot of ways, very stout defense and slash and dash running game with a mobile QB. The Outback bowl really screwed us over, perception wise. There were many other top tier teams that we would have matchup up with much much better.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Normally, I'd rather had the better matchup vs. VA Tech. But this year, coming off a 5-7 season and with a new HC, we would've been better off vs. Northwestern and a good chance to shine and the end the year with a bowl win.
 
#25
#25
OrangeUTopia said:
Yeah. Normally, I'd rather had the better matchup vs. VA Tech. But this year, coming off a 5-7 season and with a new HC, we would've been better off vs. Northwestern and a good chance to shine and the end the year with a bowl win.
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Yeah there's no doubt in my mind we would have beaten northwestern and it would have been great for state of the program

However, we have had problems selling tickets this and the last few years, and that's the kinda thing that gets u passed over in bowl selections
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