A 2nd Look at SI's Rankings (UT 34th?)...

#1
GreyWolf1129

GreyWolf1129

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#1
Whilst laid up in my living room, recovering from a .45 round in the foot (on duty...long story...bad guy in jail), I have had ample opportunity to examine the preseason rankings, with particular attention paid to the Sports Illustrated rankings.

For starters, UT's SI ranking is right about where they hit in the "power rankings" last year. I remember one of the major websites (SI, FOX, CFN, etc.) had them in the mid 30's in their final rankings. Thus, 34th is a fairly safe move by SI, with no place for UT to go but up. It all hinges on whether or not Ainge can develop into the QB he can be. Take away a capable QB, and all our opponents put 8 in the box, and....hello 5 and 6. Again.

Among the teams ranked ahead of UT, Clemson (15), Arizona State (16), Oregon (20), Arkansas (24), Texas A&M (27), Boston College (29), Iowa State (31), and Georgia Tech (32) are questionable. Personally, I don't see how any of those teams will land any higher than the middle of their conference, leaving UT with an easy move up to the top 25.

Then, you've got Boise State (23), Utah (26), TCU (28), and Fresno State (30). Those rankings look about right, plus they play in the WAC and Mountain West conferences. 'Nuff said. That opens up a Top 20 spot for the Vols. If.....

If. If David Cutcliffe can do for the offense what we all believe he can (and will)...If Erik Ainge can reach his potential...If the defense can play as tough as it has the past couple of years...If Phil Fulmer can be the coach he is capable of being, in every aspect of the program...and if...if this group of players can learn to play as a team...then the Vols have a chance to crack the Top 15, maybe Top 12...and land a BCS berth.

The Cal game is huge. Bigger than huge. It has to be a win for the Vols to gain the momentum they will need to send them into the Florida game with the will to win. Realistically, you have to figure the Florida and Georgia games are a split. Same with LSU and Arkansas (?). UT should win the remainder of their games. Right there, you've got 10-2.

SI says 8-4, with a 5-3 conference record. So, SI figures the Cal game is a loss, plus 3 conferences losses (3 out of the Florida, Georgia, LSU, Arkansas group). Maybe. Maybe worse, if UT loses to Cal. But definately maybe better, if they beat Cal, and then knock off UF in Knoxville.

IF...UT can win that opener against Cal.....
IF...Fulmer can (finally) find a way to beat Florida.....
IF...UT can not shoot themselves in the foot (pun intended)
against Georgia.....
IF...the Vols can learn to play with the same intensity their
opponents always seem to bring to the game.
THEN...we have a chance to make some noise in the SEC, and
the BCS.

Go Vols.

:angel:
 
#2
#2
GreyWolf1129 said:
Whilst laid up in my living room, recovering from a .45 round in the foot (on duty...long story...bad guy in jail), I have had ample opportunity to examine the preseason rankings, with particular attention paid to the Sports Illustrated rankings.

For starters, UT's SI ranking is right about where they hit in the "power rankings" last year. I remember one of the major websites (SI, FOX, CFN, etc.) had them in the mid 30's in their final rankings. Thus, 34th is a fairly safe move by SI, with no place for UT to go but up. It all hinges on whether or not Ainge can develop into the QB he can be. Take away a capable QB, and all our opponents put 8 in the box, and....hello 5 and 6. Again.

Among the teams ranked ahead of UT, Clemson (15), Arizona State (16), Oregon (20), Arkansas (24), Texas A&M (27), Boston College (29), Iowa State (31), and Georgia Tech (32) are questionable. Personally, I don't see how any of those teams will land any higher than the middle of their conference, leaving UT with an easy move up to the top 25.

Then, you've got Boise State (23), Utah (26), TCU (28), and Fresno State (30). Those rankings look about right, plus they play in the WAC and Mountain West conferences. 'Nuff said. That opens up a Top 20 spot for the Vols. If.....

If. If David Cutcliffe can do for the offense what we all believe he can (and will)...If Erik Ainge can reach his potential...If the defense can play as tough as it has the past couple of years...If Phil Fulmer can be the coach he is capable of being, in every aspect of the program...and if...if this group of players can learn to play as a team...then the Vols have a chance to crack the Top 15, maybe Top 12...and land a BCS berth.

The Cal game is huge. Bigger than huge. It has to be a win for the Vols to gain the momentum they will need to send them into the Florida game with the will to win. Realistically, you have to figure the Florida and Georgia games are a split. Same with LSU and Arkansas (?). UT should win the remainder of their games. Right there, you've got 10-2.

SI says 8-4, with a 5-3 conference record. So, SI figures the Cal game is a loss, plus 3 conferences losses (3 out of the Florida, Georgia, LSU, Arkansas group). Maybe. Maybe worse, if UT loses to Cal. But definately maybe better, if they beat Cal, and then knock off UF in Knoxville.

IF...UT can win that opener against Cal.....
IF...Fulmer can (finally) find a way to beat Florida.....
IF...UT can not shoot themselves in the foot (pun intended)
against Georgia.....
IF...the Vols can learn to play with the same intensity their
opponents always seem to bring to the game.
THEN...we have a chance to make some noise in the SEC, and
the BCS.

Go Vols.

:angel:
Click to expand...
when it comes to predictons SI is the worst. Dont worry about them, they have a good mag and website, but thier predictions are horrible.
 
#3
#3
GreyWolf1129 said:
Among the teams ranked ahead of UT, Clemson (15), Arizona State (16), Oregon (20), are questionable.
Click to expand...

Good post! However, these 3 should definitely be ahead of UT. ASU could be farther down than 16, maybe around 22 or 23, but they'll finish 3rd or 4th in the PAC 10, with Oregon right there with them. That's upper half. :) Clemson will battle for their division in the ACC, and their new QB Proctor is a better fit for their offense than Whitehurst was. A&M being that high is a joke. BC could surprise people, but based on only that, they shouldn't be top 30. Arkansas, same situation. But the 3 above are fair.

And I hope your foot gets better.
 
#5
#5
The lower Tennesse is ranked the better I think, playing the underdog role usually works in our favour. The schedule is strong enough to ensure a BCS game should we win enough games.
 
#7
#7
you uhh know we went 5-6 last year right? And havent been exactly super stars in the practices so far
 
#9
#9
The 5-6 mark + Ainge + inexperience = a team that will either stand up and be men and win 10+ (I personally think they can win the SEC) or a team that will lose 5+.

Along with you, I think the Cal game is huge. Huge for confidence. Huge for identity.
 
#12
#12
Yeah. The Vols had their lowest point production since players wore high top black cleats and a big lineman weighed 210 (80 pts- 1964) and UF only managed to beat them 16-7 with the coach and offense that was supposed to reshape the SEC landscape.

If UT plays well and beats Cal, the other two games I worry about most are UGA at the dawghouse and LSU looking for a little payback.

I don't think the Meyer spread will work in the SEC unless a Vince Young or Michael Vick says "hut" for them... and neither Tebow or Leak run a sub-4.4 forty.

IOW's the better SEC defenses have LB's that will catch them and hurt them.
 
#13
#13
lawgator1 said:
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, what a Merry Christmas it would be.
Click to expand...
If UF's WR's injuries don't linger...
If UF finds a RB...
If the paper thin O-line performs...
If the QB controversy doesn't boil over...
If at least one of the QB's gets the offense and doesn't get killed running it...
If the defense is as good as the hype...

You're right. I'm interested in who has the merrier Christmas this year, Fulmer or Meyer.

IMO, a firemeyer.com website is a far more likely conclusion to this year's Gator season than a championship.
 
#14
#14
sjt18 said:
Yeah. The Vols had their lowest point production since players wore high top black cleats and a big lineman weighed 210 (80 pts- 1964) and UF only managed to beat them 16-7 with the coach and offense that was supposed to reshape the SEC landscape.

If UT plays well and beats Cal, the other two games I worry about most are UGA at the dawghouse and LSU looking for a little payback.

I don't think the Meyer spread will work in the SEC unless a Vince Young or Michael Vick says "hut" for them... and neither Tebow or Leak run a sub-4.4 forty.

IOW's the better SEC defenses have LB's that will catch them and hurt them.
Click to expand...


Tebow is the real deal. In two years, you'll be wishing he'd gone somewhere else. Kid has an arm like Elway's and can take hit after hit. He LOVES to run the ball.
 
#15
#15
lazy4163 said:
IF...Fulmer can (finally) find a way to beat Florida.....
:angel:
Click to expand...


Are they serious. We have had Florida's number for a while now. This aint 96 :angry:[/quote]

Ummmmm, going 4-4 over the last 8 games isn't having a team's number.
 
#18
#18
The Vols and the Tide are getting no respect...just goes to show what idiots the media really are. If CDC gets Ainge focused and playing with confidence the Vols will be a VERY dangerous team. If our O-line can learn to pass block, early indicators are promising, then the Tide can be dangerous as well. I believe both will surprise a few of these "better teams" in the coming weeks.
 
#19
#19
lawgator1 said:
Tebow is the real deal. In two years, you'll be wishing he'd gone somewhere else. Kid has an arm like Elway's and can take hit after hit. He LOVES to run the ball.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I agree with you...but getting hit time and again by SEC LB's might take it's toll on him. He's a good kid on top of his athletic ability, I hope he doesn't get hurt.
 
#21
#21
sjt18 said:
If UF's WR's injuries don't linger...
If UF finds a RB...
If the paper thin O-line performs...
If the QB controversy doesn't boil over...
If at least one of the QB's gets the offense and doesn't get killed running it...
If the defense is as good as the hype...

You're right. I'm interested in who has the merrier Christmas this year, Fulmer or Meyer.

IMO, a firemeyer.com website is a far more likely conclusion to this year's Gator season than a championship.
Click to expand...

Number one appears to be improving as time goes on.

Number two, I'm right there with you. I got home from work last night and there was a message on my machine from someone named "Urban" asking if I have eligibility.

Number three is imaginary. Leak is a MUCH better passer than Tebow right now. Tebow has a lot to learn and will be excellent in time. The team has total faith in Leak. No one on the team is touting Tebow to take over.

I am convinced you will not see total spread option this year. For one, as stated, the offensive line is patchwork. Second, Leak is suited to drop-back passing attack. They'll adapt the offense to him this year.

The defense is better than the hype. The defense will lead the team.

A firemeyer site is likely as a gimmick just to sell t-shirts and coffee mugs. But unless we pull a UT and go 5-6 this year or next, he's got at least two-three years to pull it together. And with this year's recruiting class, I'd say he's got a good chance to take Florida right back to the top.

Face it, every indicator is that Florida is raising its competitiveness whereas UT has begun that slow slide into South Carolina-MSU mediocrity.

Man, its been a tough road since Spurrier left and its taken five years to get the Gators back on the map. A couple more to compete nationally. But its inevitable for any team that loses the linchpin. Ours left. Yours is still there but won't get out of the way.
 
#22
#22
lawgator1 said:
I am convinced you will not see total spread option this year. For one, as stated, the offensive line is patchwork. Second, Leak is suited to drop-back passing attack. They'll adapt the offense to him this year.

The defense is better than the hype. The defense will lead the team.


Face it, every indicator is that Florida is raising its competitiveness whereas UT has begun that slow slide into South Carolina-MSU mediocrity.

But its inevitable for any team that loses the linchpin. Ours left. Yours is still there but won't get out of the way.
Click to expand...
very insightful. :blink:
it will be interesting to see how Meyer adjusts his offense, if at all, to cater to Leak's skills....the offensive line could be a big hinderance for the offense, and lack of RB's won't help...if UF is one dimensional, could be hard to get a lot of points on the board.

i agree about the D. they should be pretty darn good.

as for UF's assention...you aren't there yet. all signs point to it, but nothing is guaranteed. as for our MSU/USC comparison...we'll see. all signs might point to it, but nothing is guaranteed.

and i have more faith our "linchpin", despite the obvious flaws, than anyone should have ever had in the zooker. see you on Sept. 16th.
 
#23
#23
So does anyone think CUM will cry again on national TV after that vaunted "spread attack" gets spanked again?:)
 
#24
#24
i don't know, but i'll have tissues ready on Sept 16 should he need to borrow them....
 
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