16' GA ATH/DB Mecole Hardman

[sonofUT62]

That '06 WR corps was great and fun to watch. But you could argue that the Dooley's '12 talent had more talent overall on offense.

No way. The three tailbacks in 06 were Foster, Coker, and Hardesty. Granted Hardesty was coming back from the ACL, but they were LOADED.

 

[I4Jay]

Yup. I've been saying if we get him and can keep Sutton and JRM from leaving early, we can win the national title NEXT YEAR.

Agree. Next year should be 10+ Ws. Even without those two.
We are very talented
Just coach em up

 

[VolinArizona]

'05 to present is far from our heyday. I just think the '15 team beats any of the UT teams from that period 7 out of 10 times. UT teams from that period didn't have the back 7 speed on defense to stop Dobbs, Hurd, Kamara, etc. and that would be the difference, IMO.

John Wade? Eric Berry? There are other fast ones too

 

[Pacer92]

John Wade? Eric Berry? There are other fast ones too

Jabari Greer could flat fly..

Edit: before 05..

 

[MrVolton]

No way. The three tailbacks in 06 were Foster, Coker, and Hardesty. Granted Hardesty was coming back from the ACL, but they were LOADED.

Depends on what criteria you use:

Production -
2012 - 5711 total yards 36.2 ppg
2006 - 4842 total yards 27.8 ppg

Players drafted-
5 offensive guys drafted that were on that '06 team (Yes, Foster has had a solid NFL career despite not being drafted. But I've also included Hardesty in this number and he didn't contribute in '06)
6 offensive guys drafted that were on that 2012 team

RB is the only area where the '06 team has the clear edge. The WR corps from those years are a push, both were the best we've had since '01.

But to get back to my original point, this 2015 team is overall (across the board and 2 deep) the most talented team we've fielded since 2004. They are still young and inexperienced, but I can't think of another UT team from that time period that had more raw talent. And that's a testament to Jones's hard work and abilities in regards to evaluations and recruiting.

 

[daniel3417]

Aaaaaand Mecole Hardman.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

All things being equal, possibly 01. Cut was the difference in those two teams.

I would go with the '98 team simply because of Al Wilson. His leadership was the intangible that the '99 and '01 teams did not have.

 

[Aesius]

I would go with the '98 team simply because of Al Wilson. His leadership was the intangible that the '99 and '01 teams did not have.

Fulmer's book about the 1998 season mentions Al Wilson several times as being a huge reason why the team held on in tight games to win.

We need a guy like that next year.

 

[QuickSmurf]

I do. None of the WRs on this team can lick the cleats of Meachem and Swain right now. A couple have more potential but in terms of talent translating to the field, none can yet.

And that's just WR

Brett Smith was pretty good too

 

[Vol464]

Aaaaaand Mecole Hardman.

Who?

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Aaaaaand Mecole Hardman.

Irrelevant. This thread is now about which former UT team was the most talented.

 

[BarrythesnoUT]

lol:

You shouldn't be poking your nose around here after we Whipple's that ass this year. Get ready for another beat down in Athens next year too. Your Vol Nation's ***** now.

 

[volssam]

As someone said earlier this week, slot WR is the heartbeat of this offense. He could take a near record breaking offense this past year and put us over the top day 1.

.

 

[jave36]

.

Eh, loved all these so far, but this one was a reach.

 

[UTMVol76]

Fulmer's book about the 1998 season mentions Al Wilson several times as being a huge reason why the team held on in tight games to win.

We need a guy like that next year.

This is why I think Maggitts absence hurt so bad during the 4th quarter of the Oklahoma game. When things are going bad that veteran experience provides the calming effect you need at those crucial times.

And by calming I could also mean someone saying "get ur forking head out of your forking arse!" Lol

 

[VolFreakJosh]

lol:

 

[The Breakerboy]

Agree. Next year should be 10+ Ws. Even without those two.
We are very talented
Just coach em up

Playoffs or bust for me.

 

[volssam]

Eh, loved all these so far, but this one was a reach.

Weellllll, incase you'll be wondering what's in your stocking Friday morning .....



.

 

[engineerVOL]

Weellllll, incase you'll be wondering what's in your stocking Friday morning .....



.

This is going downhill quick Sam.

 

[ajvol01]

I'm not disagreeing with you on any of that. And I'm only looking at contributors on this '15 team. I just don't think any of those '05 to '08 teams were clearly more talented than this one.

2005-2007 were all more talented IMO

 

[volssam]

Man y'all must not be fans of Sammy Davis, jr and dean Martin and Ray Charles?

 

[nicksjuzunk]

Agree. Next year should be 10+ Ws. Even without those two.
We are very talented
Just coach em up

Oh lawd... After a full offseason of summer workout reports... Just try to keep me from predicting a NC season lol:

 

[volssam]

After a full offseason of summer workout reports... Just try to keep me from predicting a NC season lol:

.

 

[BornToBleedOrange]

Playoffs or bust for me.

Amen, Breaker!

 

[KBVol]

@MichaelWBratton: Five-star athlete Mecole Hardman will not take an official to UGA and recently praised the Vols, "Tennessee. I like Tennessee a lot."