Vols will be as good or better than last year but will record reflect it?

[oldvol50]

Just as last year, preseason media is underrating Vols' Dline. LB's- post Pili- should be better from experience- if AC can stay healthy; Corners better when McCoy returns, deeper there anyway. Safety is biggest question but at least they got bodies now.

Oline will be better now that Heard is healthy and again, they got some decent depth. Bru and Squirrel neither were healthy by after the OU game, still played their asses off but just weren't near 100%. No Sampson but ground game has always been adequate. Actually they didn't ask much of Nico last year even though he does have huge talent but he was more a game manager as the D and Dylan carried the team.

Kicking game is rock solid.

8-4 is disappointing downside and 11-1 is orange shaded upside. Florida is much better, the Tide is no Saban product (hopefully think Shula and Dubose) and UGA comes early to Neyland with a new QB. Potential upsets are always there of course. OU can't be any worse, who knows about Arkie but both home games. MSU will be better, KY is KY.

In general, this is by far the deepest roster CJH has had here, and far fewer positions are such that one injury decimates the whole position room.

I hope they got a chip on their shoulders and that they keep getting overlooked.

Houston Astros pitcher Jose Lima once said there is one word that describes life in America and it pertains to the SEC- "youneverknow"

 

[VOLINVONORE]

We will be better in the 2025/6 season and even better the 2026/7 season.

 

[sjt18]

I actually think this one comes down to QB play. I'm not anti-Nico but was not particularly impressed with anything he brought to the table last year. I think he often played like an individual. I'm not sure the team rallied around him. Many times it seemed like he couldn't/didn't make the right reads or calls. Great athletic tools... but was he a good QB?

No idea about whoever plays this year. Didn't really see anything that made me feel comfortable from the guys who played the spring game. Not sure what Aguilar brings to the table at the SEC level. Guess we'll see soon.

 

[CAVPUT]

You are what your record says you are.... credit to a source I can't remember. Heupel better grab all the goodwill he can with this generous schedule because after this season, I'd bet we get the UF schedule and I don't think we'll fare so well for the next couple of seasons. Heupel might be on the hot seat sooner than any of us expected.....yours truly being the exception.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

You are what your record says you are.... credit to a source I can't remember. Heupel better grab all the goodwill he can with this generous schedule because after this season, I'd bet we get the UF schedule and I don't think we'll fare so well for the next couple of seasons. Heupel might be on the hot seat sooner than any of us expected.....yours truly being the exception.

I dont think we were as good as our record showed last year. We benefitted from a pretty soft schedule (by our standards). I still say we are 1 or 2 games worse this year.

 

[VolinMichigan]

Depends on if some breaks go our way. Just like every season. We’re still operating below 85 scholarships so depth can be an issue. Too many unknowns at this point to say we’re going to be better than last year. I just want a QB that can throw down the field and hit guys that are open. Something I feel like I haven’t seen much of since 2022.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I don’t think we will be better this year year unless and only if we get significantly improved QB play. Every other unit is worse on paper, and we added 4 instant impact guys in the portal at absolute most. I guess QB is worse on paper too, but Nico was a paper tiger.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Depends on if some breaks go our way. Just like every season. We’re still operating below 85 scholarships so depth can be an issue. Too many unknowns at this point to say we’re going to be better than last year. I just want a QB that can throw down the field and hit guys that are open. Something I feel like I haven’t seen much of since 2022.

Depth isn’t an issue because we have 82 guys instead of 85. If depth is an issue, it’s because guys 23-82 aren’t as good as they need to be. It’s not like we turned down 3 studs because we couldn’t find room.

 

[BigBadVol]

I actually think this one comes down to QB play. I'm not anti-Nico but was not particularly impressed with anything he brought to the table last year. I think he often played like an individual. I'm not sure the team rallied around him. Many times it seemed like he couldn't/didn't make the right reads or calls. Great athletic tools... but was he a good QB?

No idea about whoever plays this year. Didn't really see anything that made me feel comfortable from the guys who played the spring game. Not sure what Aguilar brings to the table at the SEC level. Guess we'll see soon.

Against AL he didn’t see wide open receivers for TD’s on three separate plays.

 

[njvols]

I actually think this one comes down to QB play. I'm not anti-Nico but was not particularly impressed with anything he brought to the table last year. I think he often played like an individual. I'm not sure the team rallied around him. Many times it seemed like he couldn't/didn't make the right reads or calls. Great athletic tools... but was he a good QB?

No idea about whoever plays this year. Didn't really see anything that made me feel comfortable from the guys who played the spring game. Not sure what Aguilar brings to the table at the SEC level. Guess we'll see soon.

Yeah I'm w/ you on our former QB, but can't hate on him for effort... he showed some toughness in OSU game. That being said, same thing on incoming QB you mentioned. I'm not overwhelmed w/ optimism but being honest, he doesn't have to be a do-it-all guy...just needs to be efficient in the pass game and protect the football, w/ a little bit of QB run game. If he's just a little better than our QB last year (which isn't a monster task), we'll be fine. I do think this feels like a 7-5 to 9-3 type team at best, depending how things evolve.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

I think we take a step back unless qb play is fantastic

 

[B81]

I am cautiously optimistic. If the defense can maintain the level of play from last year, and the offense doesn’t turn the ball over too much, we should be fine. I feel 8-9 wins. A slight step back, but not falling off a cliff.

The good news is uga, bama, Oklahoma, and Syracuse all have questions as well. Florida really scares me If Lagway is healthy.

 

[joevol33]

You are what your record says you are.... credit to a source I can't remember. Heupel better grab all the goodwill he can with this generous schedule because after this season, I'd bet we get the UF schedule and I don't think we'll fare so well for the next couple of seasons. Heupel might be on the hot seat sooner than any of us expected.....yours truly being the exception.

I think Fazion Brandon plays, we're gonna be really good. Jmo

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Depends on QB and WR play on the offense. Defense? Gotta hope the DL plays at an elite level again. It’s just hard to say at this point. We should expect at least 8-4 minimum. And we cannot lose to Florida this year.

 

[DonDiego]

Just as last year, preseason media is underrating Vols' Dline. LB's- post Pili- should be better from experience- if AC can stay healthy; Corners better when McCoy returns, deeper there anyway. Safety is biggest question but at least they got bodies now.

Oline will be better now that Heard is healthy and again, they got some decent depth. Bru and Squirrel neither were healthy by after the OU game, still played their asses off but just weren't near 100%. No Sampson but ground game has always been adequate. Actually they didn't ask much of Nico last year even though he does have huge talent but he was more a game manager as the D and Dylan carried the team.

Kicking game is rock solid.

8-4 is disappointing downside and 11-1 is orange shaded upside. Florida is much better, the Tide is no Saban product (hopefully think Shula and Dubose) and UGA comes early to Neyland with a new QB. Potential upsets are always there of course. OU can't be any worse, who knows about Arkie but both home games. MSU will be better, KY is KY.

In general, this is by far the deepest roster CJH has had here, and far fewer positions are such that one injury decimates the whole position room.

I hope they got a chip on their shoulders and that they keep getting overlooked.

Houston Astros pitcher Jose Lima once said there is one word that describes life in America and it pertains to the SEC- "youneverknow"

estamos corriendo la mesa ( my spanish sucks)...

 

[Brave Volunteer]

View attachment 749976View attachment 749977

Well if we had Randall "Pink" Floyd quarterbacking us I'd feel a lot more confident!

 

[tnbloodnguts]

We haven't lost a game yet this season. Go Vols!

 

[Savannahbayvol]

Just as last year, preseason media is underrating Vols' Dline. LB's- post Pili- should be better from experience- if AC can stay healthy; Corners better when McCoy returns, deeper there anyway. Safety is biggest question but at least they got bodies now.

Oline will be better now that Heard is healthy and again, they got some decent depth. Bru and Squirrel neither were healthy by after the OU game, still played their asses off but just weren't near 100%. No Sampson but ground game has always been adequate. Actually they didn't ask much of Nico last year even though he does have huge talent but he was more a game manager as the D and Dylan carried the team.

Kicking game is rock solid.

8-4 is disappointing downside and 11-1 is orange shaded upside. Florida is much better, the Tide is no Saban product (hopefully think Shula and Dubose) and UGA comes early to Neyland with a new QB. Potential upsets are always there of course. OU can't be any worse, who knows about Arkie but both home games. MSU will be better, KY is KY.

In general, this is by far the deepest roster CJH has had here, and far fewer positions are such that one injury decimates the whole position room.

I hope they got a chip on their shoulders and that they keep getting overlooked.

Houston Astros pitcher Jose Lima once said there is one word that describes life in America and it pertains to the SEC- "youneverknow"

Get a HUGE scheduling break with Florida. They play UGA, UK(who had given them fits the past few years) and Ole Miss the 3 Saturdays before us. Meanwhile we have open date and New Mexico State the 2 Saturdays before.

I'm not as sold on our defense as most. Sure they looked dominating EXCEPT against UGA and tOSU, the only 2 really good offenses we played last year who pretty much ran all over us.

 

[savannahfan]

We will be better in the 2025/6 season and even better the 2026/7 season.

I think it is now too hard to make predictions that far out. (it is still to hard to really know who will be here this coming season) Money talks and guys walk.... Just can't predict with the transfer ability and money what a team will look like for the next season.

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

8 wins is definitely doable, 9 if we avoid the upset bug, more than 9 we will have to beat one or more of the big 3 problem teams. IMO FL may be the best chance but the swamp curse is heavy. I think QB play will be better but certainly will not be worse than Nico's mediocre play last season.

 

[CAVPUT]

8 wins is definitely doable, 9 if we avoid the upset bug, more than 9 we will have to beat one or more of the big 3 problem teams. IMO FL may be the best chance but the swamp curse is heavy. I think QB play will be better but certainly will not be worse than Nico's mediocre play last season.

Good luck with that. Heupel is good for at least one stinker per season. And there's no way I believe we beat UF in the swamp no matter how bad they are until I see it. Barely feel a little more confident even at Neyland.

 

[Volador]

Hey, Coach Parcells took a very mediocre Vinny Testaverde as his QB for the lowly Jets in 1998 and made a star of him. Parcells had a game plan to utilize VTs strengths and minimize his weaknesses. It worked, as he had 3,200+ yards, 29 TDs, 7 INTs and led the team to the AFC championship game (lost to Denver). So, if Parcells can do this with a mediocre QB, I strongly believe that CJH can take an above average QB (pick em) from our QB roster and have a solid year.

 

[deatojl]

Good luck with that. Heupel is good for at least one stinker per season. And there's no way I believe we beat UF in the swamp no matter how bad they are until I see it. Barely feel a little more confident even at Neyland.

Well, if you're going to say he is good for at least one stinker per season, you should also acknowledge he is good for beating everyone not named Georgia at home.

 

[deatojl]

You are what your record says you are.... credit to a source I can't remember. Heupel better grab all the goodwill he can with this generous schedule because after this season, I'd bet we get the UF schedule and I don't think we'll fare so well for the next couple of seasons. Heupel might be on the hot seat sooner than any of us expected.....yours truly being the exception.

It was Dennis Green when he coached the Arizona Cardinals who made that statement. If you are what your record says you are, then Josh Heupel is a coach who wins 74% of his games. That's good for an average season of 9-3.