2015: Who Will Win the East?

[VOLcomCameron]

I just don't see why we all expect Uga to be better than us this year. We lost to them by 3 in Athens and I think we can all agree we will be much improved this year and since we are playing them at home we should be favored. they don't have curt maggit or derek Barnett or cam sutton or the talent we have at WR,QB and I think hurd and kamara will be just as good if not better than Chubb and Michael. i cant wait till we all regain the confidence that we should as a fanbase and expect to beat uga, uf and bama. Especially since mark richt is their coach! ideally we will stomp Oklahomo in Neyland it will be an electric atmosphere and it will set the tone for the rest of the season

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I just don't see why we all expect Uga to be better...

...i cant wait till we all regain the confidence that we should as a fanbase...

Not sure if you noticed...but somewhere around 70% of VolNation responded "Tennessee" in this poll, roughly three times as many as said "Georgia." I think maybe your response missed that critical fact.

 

[Franklin Pierce]

Georgia should win the East. For the first time in many years I believe we beat Florida. I also believe UT will finish 2nd in the East. UT is becoming over-hyped.

 

[JCHateSteve]

I'm going with Missouri to win the East again. When are people going to learn not to overlook them?

 

[Nationdom]

I'm going with Missouri to win the East again. When are people going to learn not to overlook them?

Missouri is going no where fast. You're missing the point, if we lose to Missouri again Butch is not the coach we need to win 5-7 nattys.

 

[JCHateSteve]

Missouri is going no where fast. You're missing the point, if we lose to Missouri again Butch is not the coach we need to win 5-7 nattys.

Many said something similar the last two years and look how that turned out. To be the man you have got to beat them man. Like it or not, in the East, that's been Missouri the last two years. Did they have some sort of abnormal attrition that I'm missing?

 

[Nationdom]

Many said something similar the last two years and look how that turned out. To be the man you have got to beat them man. Like it or not, in the East, that's been Missouri the last two years. Did they have some sort of abnormal attrition that I'm missing?

They lost a lot of their 2 and 3 * star starters and are replacing them with more inexpirienced 3 *s. We've got better talent, speed, raw power all over the field. We should nt lose to them for a long time.

 

[JCHateSteve]

They lost a lot of their 2 and 3 * star starters and are replacing them with more unexpirienced 3 *s. We've got better talent, speed, raw power all over the field. We should nt lose to them for a long time.

On paper your right. We did last year too. So did a lot of other teams they played. But it happened again none the less. They are a program that does more with less. UGA has a new OC and so do we. UF has a new head coach. I don't think anyone is expecting SC to be world beaters next year. If anything their road is easier than last year. The only team they play that should be significantly improved is us. They are perfectly capable of going 10-2 again. Hopefully Butch doesn't let the team see them as an also ran. Because they will beat us again if that is the case.

 

[VOLinNC]

UGA with their new OC to go along with Pruitt at DC have really good coordinators to go with the crazy talent they've always had should be damn good sadly. If Richt can stay out of the way the sky's to limit IMO

 

[BearCat204]

Missouri is going no where fast. You're missing the point, if we lose to Missouri again Butch is not the coach we need to win 5-7 nattys.

You also said Missouri was better at every position on the field and we would easily beat them last year.

 

[Nationdom]

You also said Missouri was better at every position on the field and we would easily beat them last year.

We were better at almost all positions except probably o line. Butch shouldn't lose to them again.

 

[WilliamDuVOL]

And those legacies. Legacies! Man, don't forget the legacies. With all the legacies it's obvious that the only question is who get's second. Win the East ... pffffffft!
We got legacies man. Win the SEC. Win the playoff. Win in the called exhibition with the Seahawks after the championship game. Did I mention the legacies?

You only mentioned legacies 6 times. That is not enough, I'm afraid. Thank you for playing.

 

[BearCat204]

We were better at almost all positions except probably o line. Butch shouldn't lose to them again.

No, we weren't and you thought he shouldn't have lost to them the first time.

 

[sjt18]

Honestly, Mizzou has done it two years in a row when everyone said they wouldn't. I'm picking them because Georgia always seems to Georgia, Florida will suck but we'll still lose to them, and everyone else doesn't have a shot.

If this happens (which I highly doubt it will) then UT should fire Jones and pay whatever it takes to hire Pinkel because he won't be just be a coach... he'll be a miracle worker.

For the last two years, UF and UT have been less than shadows of themselves. Last year USCe wasn't very good. So a weak East slate coupled with the weakest West draws of any East team... swung the door wide open for a Mizzou program at "high tide" with talent. Not much depth... but some talent.

Over the last two seasons they've lost almost all of their significant contributors on the DL and RB and ALL of their significant contributors at WR. Their WR the the most career catches is a Soph... who has 5 receptions.

So if Pinkel can pull that off... then he's the best and most underpaid coach in football at any level.

 

[sjt18]

No, we weren't and you thought he shouldn't have lost to them the first time.

Yes. UT was better than Mizzou at every non-OL position last year. And no, Mizzou didn't have more "talent" even the first time. Worley was missed in that game. Dobbs' talent was apparent but he simply wasn't ready. His critical mistakes and a terrible drop by Smith put UT out of the game even before Mizzou learned it could run the same sweep over and over and that UT wouldn't adjust to stop it.

 

[KBVol]

Yes. UT was better than Mizzou at every non-OL position last year. And no, Mizzou didn't have more "talent" even the first time. Worley was missed in that game. Dobbs' talent was apparent but he simply wasn't ready. His critical mistakes and a terrible drop by Smith put UT out of the game even before Mizzou learned it could run the same sweep over and over and that UT wouldn't adjust to stop it.

If you're saying we were better than Missouri last year, as in 2014, I respectfully disagree 18.

Missouri was also much better at DL (Ray & Golden and their DLs, all of them) and WR....they had 2 receivers in the top 10 in the SEC in receiving yards (Hunt-1,003 yds; Sasser-698 yds). Our top wr was Pig.....he was 17th. Also, our top 2 WRs, Pig and Von had 6td catches between them...Hunt and Sasser had 19....and that's with a QB (Mauk) that virtually everyone on here says is garbage.

Missouri has been a better team than Tennessee each of the last two years, by a decent margin. And if Missouri had less talent, it in no way appeared that way when watching they games. They looked bigger, quicker, faster, much more physical.

 

[sjt18]

If you're saying we were better than Missouri last year, as in 2014, I respectfully disagree 18.

Missouri was also much better at DL (Ray & Golden and their DLs, all of them) and WR....they had 2 receivers in the top 10 in the SEC in receiving yards (Hunt-1,003 yds; Sasser-698 yds). Our top wr was Pig.....he was 17th. Also, our top 2 WRs, Pig and Von had 6td catches between them...Hunt and Sasser had 19....and that's with a QB (Mauk) that virtually everyone on here says is garbage.

You are talking performance. I am talking talent. Numbers don't lie. Mizzou's WR's performed.... yet they didn't have a single one with the talent of Pearson, Croom, North, Malone, etc.

We can just disagree on DL and particularly DE. I would again parse performance and system from talent.

Missouri has been a better team than Tennessee each of the last two years, by a decent margin. And if Missouri had less talent, it in no way appeared that way when watching they games. They looked bigger, quicker, faster, much more physical.

I actually attended the game two years ago... They didn't look more athletic then... and didn't appear to be so on TV. They did play like a team that knew and understood its system and style of play.

Honestly, and yeah I know I'm about to be attacked, Jones has just flat out been outcoached by Pinkel the last couple of years. When experience is coupled with raw talent, you can make a case that the rosters were pretty closely matched. The difference was coaching and especially in-game coaching.

This year, the tables turn completely. UT will have more talent everywhere and it won't be close anywhere. The Vols will also be significantly more experienced in terms of returning starters, contributors, and two deep players.

 

[Titan&Volfan4life]

Bunch of Orange glasses wearing homers in this thread, LOL!

I had to LMAO but I voted right alongside all of you and said our Vols will Win it too.

Reality says we probably won't this season BUT on any given gameday it's simply a fact that anything can happen.

Next season we'll drain the swamp and get that gator off our backs with a 27-17 Win.

UGa barely beat us last year so we have a definate chance against them.

So far buTch has owned the Old Ball Coach and you can bet that Spurrier is madder than hell about that so there's no telling what he might try to pull off next season.

The might Mo could stub their toe and the ball bounce our way.

We never really know what might happen but being a Big Orange Homer on a poll like this is just too much fun to pass up especially with all the early hype we've been getting.

#RiseToTheTop...VFL...GBO!!!

 

[VolFan4Life87]

If this happens (which I highly doubt it will) then UT should fire Jones and pay whatever it takes to hire Pinkel because he won't be just be a coach... he'll be a miracle worker.

For the last two years, UF and UT have been less than shadows of themselves. Last year USCe wasn't very good. So a weak East slate coupled with the weakest West draws of any East team... swung the door wide open for a Mizzou program at "high tide" with talent. Not much depth... but some talent.

Over the last two seasons they've lost almost all of their significant contributors on the DL and RB and ALL of their significant contributors at WR. Their WR the the most career catches is a Soph... who has 5 receptions.

So if Pinkel can pull that off... then he's the best and most underpaid coach in football at any level.

You said this at the beginning of last year and (drumroll) they won the east. They're lucky? Idk what else to say, though I'll concede three times in a row seems exceptionally unlikely for them.

 

[KBVol]

You are talking performance. I am talking talent. Numbers don't lie. Mizzou's WR's performed.... yet they didn't have a single one with the talent of Pearson, Croom, North, Malone, etc.

We can just disagree on DL and particularly DE. I would again parse performance and system from talent.



I actually attended the game two years ago... They didn't look more athletic then... and didn't appear to be so on TV. They did play like a team that knew and understood its system and style of play.

Honestly, and yeah I know I'm about to be attacked, Jones has just flat out been outcoached by Pinkel the last couple of years. When experience is coupled with raw talent, you can make a case that the rosters were pretty closely matched. The difference was coaching and especially in-game coaching.

This year, the tables turn completely. UT will have more talent everywhere and it won't be close anywhere. The Vols will also be significantly more experienced in terms of returning starters, contributors, and two deep players.

No offense, but if talent doesn't perform, what good is it? The better football player is the guy who performs. It's the guy who puts up production. Now, one can say it comes down to coaching to pull the production out of the more talented players, and I agree with you that Pinkel has out coached Jones in head to head meetings. But when I watched the games, I did see a more physical, more talented team in Missouri. For one example, their WRs have thoroughly beaten our DBs each of the last 2 years. When did our WRs beat theirs? I'd say never, especially with Malone's game-changing inexplicable drop/pick.

Their OL blocked our DL this year and their DL absolutely dominated and took our OL apart. You know I love me some Dobbs, but Mauk made more plays/throws than Josh. Where was our running game? They won the running game battle 180-53.

I can agree that Missouri looks like they shouldn't compete with us on paper....but the script flips IMHO once they take the field. They look like the better, more talented team.

While I believe there's no doubt that Pinkel is a better coach than Jones, we're not so poorly coached that a far inferior team talent-wise can/should come in and dominate the lines of scrimmage and consistently run free behind our DBs for long gains, which they've done each of the last 2 years.

 

[TrueOrange]

Georgia could lose to Auburn and Alabama this year which gives them very little wiggle room in the east.

And if that triangle of one team beating another is going on between UT, UGA, and UF, it's going to depend on how UF finishes in conference as well.

 

[sjt18]

Bunch of Orange glasses wearing homers in this thread, LOL!

I had to LMAO but I voted right alongside all of you and said our Vols will Win it too.

Reality says we probably won't this season BUT on any given gameday it's simply a fact that anything can happen.

Next season we'll drain the swamp and get that gator off our backs with a 27-17 Win.

UGa barely beat us last year so we have a definate chance against them.

So far buTch has owned the Old Ball Coach and you can bet that Spurrier is madder than hell about that so there's no telling what he might try to pull off next season.

The might Mo could stub their toe and the ball bounce our way.

We never really know what might happen but being a Big Orange Homer on a poll like this is just too much fun to pass up especially with all the early hype we've been getting.

#RiseToTheTop...VFL...GBO!!!

I voted for UT because I don't think UGA can win it playing Auburn and Bama from the West... and considering they almost always choke. UT can lose to Bama and lose a game in the East and still win the East. They may even be able to lose 3 games in the SEC this fall and win it if they beat OU to set up favorably for a 3 way tie but UGA probably couldn't be one of those games.

UGA's schedule makes UT as good a bet as anyone to win the East this fall.

 

[sjt18]

No offense, but if talent doesn't perform, what good is it?

None taken. If it doesn't perform then it is potential. It is a coach's job to get from potential to performance. There's no question Pinkel can do it... and do it with guys he either developed or else only he recognized.

The better football player is the guy who performs. It's the guy who puts up production.

That's not where we disagree.

But Michael Sam won all kinds of awards and posted big numbers in college. He can't cut it in the pros. Pinkel got him to his potential. Whereas other guys who entered the NFL when he did had another level... he didn't. He wasn't big enough to be slow or fast enough to be small.

Now, one can say it comes down to coaching to pull the production out of the more talented players, and I agree with you that Pinkel has out coached Jones in head to head meetings. But when I watched the games, I did see a more physical, more talented team in Missouri. For one example, their WRs have thoroughly beaten our DBs each of the last 2 years. When did our WRs beat theirs? I'd say never, especially with Malone's game-changing inexplicable drop/pick.

I would say that if UT's athletes are bigger, quicker, and faster... and apparently they are/were given the much maligned Coleman's combine performance... that coaching, discipline, and "skill" were factors rather than talent.

I am defining talent as what they have naturally- speed, quickness, strength, size, length, etc. and specifically not with how they have been developed or coached.

Their OL blocked our DL this year and their DL absolutely dominated and took our OL apart. You know I love me some Dobbs, but Mauk made more plays/throws than Josh. Where was our running game? They won the running game battle 180-53.

UT's OL was horrible. That's for certain. This fall we will see if it was just a stage of development or if the coaching is poor.

I can agree that Missouri looks like they shouldn't compete with us on paper....but the script flips IMHO once they take the field. They look like the better, more talented team.

That's what great coaching does. Meyer took over a UF team that looked like they couldn't get out of their own way under Zook. What Malzahn did with a team that Chizik couldn't even get a winning record with was pretty impressive.

While I believe there's no doubt that Pinkel is a better coach than Jones, we're not so poorly coached that a far inferior team talent-wise can/should come in and dominate the lines of scrimmage and consistently run free behind our DBs for long gains, which they've done each of the last 2 years.

Yeah. I acknowledged that once you factored in experience that an argument could be made that the rosters were somewhat close. That won't be the case this fall which was my original main point.

 

[Ertel]

What a lot of ppl are forgetting about mizzou is they lost their DC. Mizzou has made a living off of a very disciplined and over-performing defense. I kinda feel like he was the main reason theyve been so good, kinda the same way i feel about michigan state now that theyve lost narduzi.

 

[sjt18]

You said this at the beginning of last year and (drumroll) they won the east. They're lucky? Idk what else to say, though I'll concede three times in a row seems exceptionally unlikely for them.

Do you honestly think they were the best team in the East either of the last two years?

And where do you come down on Jones compared to Pinkel if Pinkel can take what he's returning this fall and beat UT again... much less win the East?

Two years ago we were told that it was unreasonable to expect UT to win. But if you look at what Mizzou lost and what they return... It looks WORSE than what UT had then. If Pinkel wins the East again then empty the bank to hire him at UT before someone else grabs him....