Will the 2025 Season be a BUST?

#51
#51
For the record an unbiased,unemotional Vegas dropped our projected win total from 9.5 to 8.5 after this mess. One game difference. The equivalent of one turnover to be real. Nico fumbled in several ways it hurt the team but it’s one play.
 
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#53
#53
Call me negavol I guess but when do we escape this? It seems to be everlasting hell in Knoxville outside of a bright spot here and there. I just don’t get it. It’s all right there in the program, the facilities, fan base, but it’s been a perpetual **** show for 20 years now. Gotta be our turn sometime.
 
#55
#55
Volholic said:
Call me negavol I guess but when do we escape this? It seems to be everlasting hell in Knoxville outside of a bright spot here and there. I just don’t get it. It’s all right there in the program, the facilities, fan base, but it’s been a perpetual **** show for 20 years now. Gotta be our turn sometime.
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We’ve won 30 games in 3 years. Heupel inherited nothing. Heupel has done a good job to this point overall. GBO
 
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#56
#56
Volholic said:
Call me negavol I guess but when do we escape this? It seems to be everlasting hell in Knoxville outside of a bright spot here and there. I just don’t get it. It’s all right there in the program, the facilities, fan base, but it’s been a perpetual **** show for 20 years now. Gotta be our turn sometime.
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Turns aren't given. They are taken. It will never just randomly "be our turn". There's your answer. When we put a winning roster on the field, we will then win. It won't be an accident nor a mystery. It will be obvious to us all when we've reached that point. And we clearly aren't there yet.
 
#58
#58
Volholic said:
Call me negavol I guess but when do we escape this? It seems to be everlasting hell in Knoxville outside of a bright spot here and there. I just don’t get it. It’s all right there in the program, the facilities, fan base, but it’s been a perpetual **** show for 20 years now. Gotta be our turn sometime.
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This sarcasm? We just won the ‘title’ for best bball/fball combo school and a World Series this past season.
 
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#59
#59
ftsandersvol said:
I’m sure the Gator fans wish Lagway would have started every game for Florida last year. Our lack of believe in our young QBs is mind boggling.
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It's not hard. Neither was expected to start this year. AT BEST, they'd get 1 year before BF.

Neither was a 5* (both relatively highly ranked at their position though)

(Douche nozzle was a 5* and a Top 3 QB in his class and was unimpressive)
 
#60
#60
No it will absolutely not be a BUST! Yes, you lost a very physically talented QB, but it’s very possible that you gain a very capable leader at QB or possibly much more in his stead. Sure there may be growing pains, but I honestly think you’re better for it. Your QB needs to be a true team leader for a program to excel at this level IMO. I don’t think Nico was that for you guys and moving on only puts you closer to finding the right guy.

The thing for me is that I’ve seen what CJH can do on offense with the right guy at QB. Obvious example being Hooker, and if the trend continues, your defense will probably be much better than when you had Hooker. IMO there is little chance this season is a bust. Possibly some early growing pains for a young QB, but certainly not a bust.
 
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#61
#61
YankeeVol said:
It's not hard. Neither was expected to start this year. AT BEST, they'd get 1 year before BF.

Neither was a 5* (both relatively highly ranked at their position though)

(Douche nozzle was a 5* and a Top 3 QB in his class and was unimpressive)
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Just because you’re not expected doesn’t mean you’re not capable. It’s also not a given that BF is going to be the answer as well.

A lot of QBs that are less than 5* turn out to be really good.
 
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#62
#62
Volholic said:
Call me negavol I guess but when do we escape this? It seems to be everlasting hell in Knoxville outside of a bright spot here and there. I just don’t get it. It’s all right there in the program, the facilities, fan base, but it’s been a perpetual **** show for 20 years now. Gotta be our turn sometime.
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They keep doing this stuff to themselves. I'm sure Spyre and the recruiters seen all the red flags a mile away, while they were recruiting Nico, but they threw common sense and caution to the wind and brought him to Knoxville anyway.
 
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#63
#63
it depends what we do at QB and what we get and retain over this portal cycle. We’re 1-2 realistic moves away from having just as good if not better if a season than we had with Nico. We just have to land the right QB and receiver, and there are plenty of options outside the SEC that fit the bill
 
#64
#64
I think we take a modest step back. Our Defense is still going to be outstanding. But our secondary is still going to be suspect. Our O was going to regress even with Nico. I don't think we have a RB with the ability to duplicate last season. I don't see a receiver that is a true clutch guy. We just don't have that "put the whole game on my shoulders" guy. We aren't getting a sniff of the playoffs. We are fighting to stay relevant this year for recruiting sake. 8-9 wins. Xanax prescriptions are going to skyrocket in Tennessee this year.
 
#65
#65
Pride85 said:
No. Man some members of this fanbase are always looking for a reason to bail.
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It's really any fan base. It's always easier to have no expectations and to expect the worst because it shields you from the disappointment and abuse from other fan bases (for those that obsess about that garbage) that come with high hopes followed by failure. I'm no shrink, but that seems like Human Nature 101.
 
#66
#66
xpsyclonex2002 said:
I think we take a modest step back. Our Defense is still going to be outstanding. But our secondary is still going to be suspect. Our O was going to regress even with Nico. I don't think we have a RB with the ability to duplicate last season. I don't see a receiver that is a true clutch guy. We just don't have that "put the whole game on my shoulders" guy. We aren't getting a sniff of the playoffs. We are fighting to stay relevant this year for recruiting sake. 8-9 wins. Xanax prescriptions are going to skyrocket in Tennessee this year.
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Did anyone see Dylan Sampson becoming one of the best RB's in the country and a kid who could carry an offense before last year? How many saw Hooker as a Heisman candidate or Hyatt as a Biletnikoff winner?

We don't even know what the final roster will be or how the young guys are going to look come September. Why not wait and see before making final proclamations in mid-April? Although I'm aware that kind of patience isn't the VolNation way.
 
#67
#67
sami said:
It's really any fan base. It's always easier to have no expectations and to expect the worst because it shields you from the disappointment and abuse from other fan bases (for those that obsess about that garbage) that come with high hopes followed by failure. I'm no shrink, but that seems like Human Nature 101.
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I actually look at it from the other end of the spectrum. I always expect us to win. I may get upset with the results of a specific game and have even yelled at the TV before. The thing is, by the time the next game rolls around, it is rinse and repeat. That is one advantage of being very ADHD. Things that don't seem important at the time just flow back into the maelstrom of thoughts swirling through my head.
 
#68
#68
sami said:
Did anyone see Dylan Sampson becoming one of the best RB's in the country and a kid who could carry an offense before last year? How many saw Hooker as a Heisman candidate or Hyatt as a Biletnikoff winner?

We don't even know what the final roster will be or how the young guys are going to look come September. Why not wait and see before making final proclamations in mid-April? Although I'm aware that kind of patience isn't the VolNation way.
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Races are not always won by the fastest runner. Fights are not always won by the best fighter. But that's the safest place to bet your money.

We can only look at what we have and what they've done. No one who backed Sampson last year came close to the type of production he had. No one on our current roster has other teams coaches losing sleep. Could someone have a breakout year? heck yeah! I'm hoping that it turns out to be whoever the starting QB is. That would be an amazing story in December if we find out we had a gem sitting on the sidelines. But I'm not hinging my expectations on that.
 
#69
#69
xpsyclonex2002 said:
But I'm not hinging my expectations on that.
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I guess my point is how do you have any expectations without even knowing what the roster will look like come September? I mean, whatever works for you, but I'm willing to wait and see what the season brings before jumping to any conclusions.
 
#70
#70
stolitonic said:
Meh we were a 9-3 team at best with Nico this year.

I think we will somehow survive the inevitable 8-4. Lose to the big 3 and either OU or Arky.

Wasn't so long ago that an 8-4 season would have been some silly fever dream. Now it's just kinda, meh.
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8-4 was never a fever dream. Butch did it twice. Pruitt went 8-5 once. Dooley was leading 8 games when the clock hit 0:00 one year.
 
#71
#71
Maybe 7-5 with current roster. 8-4 if we still had the Cryin Hawaiian. Serious drop off at running back. Tight Ends are better, but outside receivers are a drop off. Line may be OK but if the center keeps throwing balls that high, it might cost us a game. Both of our freshman quarterbacks are skinny. In a normal human it takes about 7 pounds of pressure to break a bone. But with those two skinny lads, I’d say about 3.5 pounds of pressure would do the trick. Anybody think SEC linebacker is going to lay up when he’s about to drill one of our kids? Me neither.
 
#72
#72
Lady_Vol said:
I support what Heupel did and think it was in the best interest for the team and for College football.

Unfortunately, this late BAIL by Nico (Kiffin 2.0), could cause this season to be a bust....
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It is possible. It could happen that 2025 is a 'bust.'

But here's the good news: a 'bust' with Dan White & Josh Heupel behind the wheel == 8-4 or 9-3.

I've been saying this a few years now: our regular season floor from here on is 8-4. Our ceiling is 12-0. That will always be true, every single year, regardless of what players come or go.

So no panicking, no hyperventilating, we're good to go, just roll with the punches and hold faith.

Go Vols!
 
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#73
#73
Going into this season I was just feeling kinda meh. Oddly enough I've started feeling kinda optimistic since Nicos departure. It's weird. Nico has all the physical talent in the world but there is something lacking between his ears. I don't know if he's got the mentality to be an elite field general.

Now that he's gone I feel like we may overachieve. I know how stupid it sounds but I'm really excited to see what we do this season. We may shock some folks
 
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#74
#74
I expect a OL that may be better, especially as we get on into the season and we stay healthy. I think we are good at RB position, Bishop and Lewis are both good running backs that are still getting better. Morris will probably help as well. While our WR unit doesn’t have big numbers coming back we aren’t void of talent. Matthews,Staley,Brazzell and Radarious Jackson. We aren’t void of talent if we can get the quarterback to get the ball out to them. We should be potentially much better at tight end. We have 3 that can produce and have different skills. I am not saying there may not be struggles but our offense has potential. GBO
 
#75
#75
Yes, I think it’s going to be a huge bust. The roster is good but there is nobody that is a standout. With our QB + WR situation, we are a dead team walking into 2025. OL and DB depth is poor too.

I think 8 wins is highly questionable. Most likely only 7 or even 6.

If we miraculously pull an experienced QB and can get a last minute good WR, then I think we will fare better.

I have little faith we will at this point. What QB wants to come here with no proven weapons and a rebuilt OL? Everybody is just using us to get an easy raise.
 
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