If you take out all the paragraphs where you start name-calling and use stupid terms like Dool-Aid and NegaVol, you are actually making some reasonable points. I disagree with some of them, particularly the prospects of Smith, Walls and Miller. Those guys have had 3 years on the field to evaluate and I just don't see them living up to the 4-star hype. I also don't get how you can't even acknowledge the QB position could be a huge problem this year.
Downs, Sapp, Worley (guessing he's named starter), Randolph, Sutton, Brewer were all 3-star or less. So, I did a little study and that is a lot more than 5% of the starters. It's actually closer to 30% even leaving out possible starters like Blanc and Hood.
Smith has done a good job as a DE, and Miller was thrown into the DT mix because we were short-handed and under-sized in 2011...then last year both were thrust out of position, in an entirely new defensive alignment.
Both are true 4-3 DE's and they should thrive this year. Jordan Williams, Cory Vareen and Lewis should provide great depth at that position, as well. Carr, we don't know if he'll be a DT or DE, but in either case, we got talent across the entire DL. I didn't mention Walls as I don't know about him. But I fully expect Miller and Smith to have breakout years...much like Ayers did a few years ago, if not better.
As for the QB position...again, it's not a lack of talent. We aren't talking about Rick Clausen or Stephens. Worley didn't win Gatorade Player of the Year, as a HS Senior, by a roll of the dice. And in his limited playing opportunities, he had a pretty good completion percentage (65%).
Justin Worley Stats, News, Videos, Pictures, Bio - Tennessee Volunteers - ESPN
Peterman was ranked as a 4*, as was Dobbs. And as you may know, both Dobbs and Ferguson participated in the ESPN Elite 11 last year. None of our QB's have had their opportunities yet. Folks like you were talking down our chances of competing in the SEC, with Peyton Manning gone, and Tee Martin being untested. He too had relatively smallish WR's (compared to what we have now and the past few years) to throw to.
So, if you are going to use question marks at the QB spot as a barometer of Wins and Losses, you are historically mistaken. A question mark does not = failure. It simply means we don't yet have a clear picture. I expect one of them will step up.
Munchie Legaux was on our radar as a QB at one point, but he fell out of the picture. He started last season for Butch Jones team and even though he had an abysmal completion percentage (under 45%), CBJ still found a way to win all but 2 games last year. He was replaced by Kay during the Syracuse game, I believe, and they looked better.
But this illustrates that CBJ can still find a way to win, even when his QB struggles...even against bigger programs, like Virginia Tech and Pitt. And they had the Louisville game in hand until the last few minutes of the game...(lost in OT).
So, am I making lofty predictions? No. I'm taking the reasonable approach...called "Wait and See." Risky...I know, but it works.
