2015: Who Will Win the East?

Who Wins the East?

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#76
#76
sjt18 said:
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....
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UT wouldn't hire a football coach that's 60+
 
#77
#77
Ertel said:
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.
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That's a good point and especially considering that the new DC seems to want to make some significant changes. I think I read that he might even want to toy with the 3-4.
 
#79
#79
sjt18 said:
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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Certainly agree with you about Pinkel's ability to develop his players and put them in great spots to play well and win. Sure do hope Butch can replicate some of what Pinkel's been able to do. As you've said and as I believe, Butch has a lot of experienced talent on this roster. Absolutely no reason not to take major strides this year.
 
#81
#81
sjt18 said:
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....
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I agree with all of the above, I was just saying Pinkel has a 4 leaf clover or something
 
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#84
#84
Ertel said:
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.
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Maybe. They also brought in Memphis's DC (who was formerly coaching in their system), not to mention still the same d-line coach.



Also their offense was probably more their strength in 2013/ the year before.



The just a good defense thing more started this season.
 
#85
#85
sjt18 said:
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....
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Maybe in 2013 they were. (That South Carolina team might have been just a smidge better, if it was.)

(Unless you were saying just off of perceived, recruiting "talent.")

But also, Pinkel's going to be 63 at the start of this fall's season. No one's going to be trying to (or considering) breaking bank to bring him in to start over on a program, UT included.

(Not to mention he's not flashy/exciting)

(Edit: you've apparently already addressed the last paragraph in a previous response.)
 
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#88
#88
The east is wide open, and I like our chances. But put the pressure on the pups, on paper once again they should win it and they deserve all the pressure that goes with it. GO BIG ORANGE!!! For the record I don't think uga will win it but they should be the favorite, let them be the summertime champs again. GO VOLS!!!!
 
#89
#89
Nationdom said:
Tennessee should win it. So much speed and talent all over the field. If Dobbs makes strides with his arm( like he should) I don't see how we lose it.
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I voted for the morons in Red but you are correct. If Dobbs can deliver the pigskin to the receivers then we should be able to compete for the East. This will make all the difference for us, I am tickled he can escape at times but crap dude, lets make some pass plays.
 
#91
#91
Ertel said:
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.
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Exactly. No way they have a dominating DL like they have had before. Without that plus the good WR's of the past Mizzou is a 7 - 5 team at best....book it. They are not recruiting good enough to keep winning at an elite level.
 
#92
#92
sjt18 said:
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.
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I'll stick with Butch Jones thank you very much!!! GO VOLS!!!!
 
#93
#93
Defense wins Championships...right? The Vols will field a top 10 - 15 defense nationally IMO. Will anyone in the east have a better defense??
 
#94
#94
chuckb1448 said:
I voted for the morons in Red but you are correct. If Dobbs can deliver the pigskin to the receivers then we should be able to compete for the East. This will make all the difference for us, I am tickled he can escape at times but crap dude, lets make some pass plays.
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Dobbs has been inconsistent. He should make great strides and if he does, with our D and skilled positions we have as good a chance as anyone. Tennessee will be matched by few this fall.
 
#96
#96
Nationdom said:
Dobbs has been inconsistent. He should make great strides and if he does, with our D and skilled positions we have as good a chance as anyone. Tennessee will be matched by few this fall.
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Dobbs has nowhere to go but up. With a full offseason as the main guy and an OL that absolutely can't get any worse, I expect a huge year from Dobbs.
 
#98
#98
checkerboards09 said:
Dobbs has nowhere to go but up. With a full offseason as the main guy and an OL that absolutely can't get any worse, I expect a huge year from Dobbs.
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Nowhere to go but up? He was damn good last year coming off the bench vs Alabams after not having taken a snap all season because he was earmarked for a redshirt.

In my mind, he can certainly improve his accuracy with some throws, especially throwing deep. However, he completed 63% of his passes. That doesn't connote "nowhere to go but up" to me. When I read " nowhere to go but up", I think Nathan Peterman.
 
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#99
#99
KBVol said:
Nowhere to go but up? He was damn good last year coming off the bench vs Alabams after not having taken a snap all season because he was earmarked for a redshirt.

In my mind, he can certainly improve his accuracy with some throws, especially throwing deep. However, he completed 63% of his passes. That doesn't connote "nowhere to go but up" to me. When I read " nowhere to go but up", I think Nathan Peterman.
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I know Dobbs was more than serviceable last year, but some don't think so. I was just throwing that out there since he wasn't good enough for many on the board. I'm all in on Dobbs.
 
#100
#100
I have to go with the experts and pick UGA. We return what most think will be one of the best running games in the country. Our defense has been performing with more and more consistency under Pruitt, and I think will be much-improved this season. Our biggest question mark, of course, will be at QB. Without the O-line and running game, I think we'd be hosed. But the experience around whoever our starting QB is will be really beneficial. We have some good, young prospective talent at the QB position.

I think UT can be the most improved program in the East. But youth in the trenches might be a Achilles heel. Skill-wise I think you're pretty solid. I think the honeymoon period is over with CBJ and he'll now be expected to "move the needle". I think he will, but this season will be telling as to what kind of SEC HC he'll be. He's proven he can recruit, but that "new guy" glitz will wear thin if he doesn't put up some good W's.

Mizzou's steady, and could be a contender for the East, again. They seem to be the beneficiary of some pretty good fortune though. I think their luck will run our this season. It's a tough league for Jeckyl/Hydes.

FL's a train wreck at the moment, but they still have some good athletes. I think they're a couple of years away from contending again.

USEe has blown their wad, IMHO. They got a lot out of fan support in the past several seasons. I was at the GA/USCe game last year and we would have blown them out at home. Should have beat them there but they're fans were awesome and never let the players give up. Fans do make a difference at times and USCe fans are some of the best in the country. I just don't think the fire's there this season and the Ole Ball Sack is running out of magic tricks. He still has some though.

I think one of the biggest differences in the season is that we have Bama at home and you're on the road. Otherwise I think your schedule is slightly favorable because we play AU there. KY away might be a tough one for the Vols right after Bama away, IMHO. FL, AR, UGA, BAMA, KY, USCe, and Mizzou within 9 weeks is a tough row to hoe!

I'll go with:
UGA
Mizzou/TN
USCe/UF/KY
Vandy
 
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