Chill Pill

[volfeeva]

I've come to believe that CJH is the " offense" half of the team ( recruiting/scouting/play calling etc) and he's absolved himself with any aspect of the defense allowing coordinators to take care of that half of the game. But this year, the play calling on offense has been lack luster, predictable. We can't score in the red zone, we can't sustain a drive ( we score with the long pass or punt ). There is never any razzle dazzle plays, other than the feeble option play that we almost lost on a fumble. Last year we ran the hurry up offense as a staple of our offense, but this year when the few times we run it it fails ( penalty's or Milton and receivers can't connect ). Real puzzling how we dropped off so much from last year offensively and also nothing has changed where the defense still cost us games we should be winning.

 

[DeltaVol05]

I have to actually say that the LB play was worse than the secondary yesterday. Didn’t think I would find myself ever saying that.

I agree. What happened to the Aaron Beasly we had in the orange bowl and beginning of the season where he was blowing up plays in the backfield and running people down? Our LB corps is either injured, young or slow right now. Mostly injured I think.

 

[Sara Clark]

I think Heupel has decision to make that may or may not be popular. His devotion to staff who have been loyal for years, well if they don't bleed orange, that's a problem, same with players.
Missouri is a good team, I could accept a hard fought game that didn't go our way. An absolute ars kicking, we'll that's an entirely different animal that's unacceptable. JMO

 

[DonDiego]

I think there's a talent component, but I think the staff is afraid to play the more talented and much younger kids out of fear of making mistakes and perhaps damaging their confidence? I can see the argument from both perspectives. Some will say...okay...I'm saying...what good is a veteran who knows where to line up but can't make a play due to his physical limitations? Case in point would be Herring. He was way out of his depth last night yet the staff kept trotting him out there. At some point, a solid coach/staff will adjust. Why don't we? Do we not have anyone else to at least try? My biggest issue is this recurring trend of pulling complete no shows on the road. Losing on the road in the SEC is pretty common, but to lose like that? That's hard to accept. You can tell when a team fights hard and comes up short. No shame in losing to a better opponent, but when you see what we saw last night it makes you question the character on the team and the ability of a coaching staff to get through to the players. They say competition and being pushed makes everyone better. Well, I'm not sure any of our defensive starters are the least bit concerned about losing their spots to a younger player. One last thing is that the transfer portal is a 2 way street in Knoxville. Heupel and co had better not forget that.

You've gotten me confused. You're saying we should play younger guys over veterans because they have more talent? You don't think these guys have to earn their starting position every day in practice? If a freshman beats out a senior in practice, I have little doubt that freshman will start. Also, you use Herring as an example. Isn't he a sophomore or am I wrong?

 

[Rocky Top T]

In my humble opinion. It’s going to be interesting to see what Heupel does with the Defensive Coaching Staff at the end of the Season. Martinez should be fired immediately. In fact, Martinez should’ve had to walk back to Knoxville. He’s worse than Terrible!!!

Banks should be fired on the spot, he makes the calls, he should walk back

 

[Rocky Top T]

Most don't want Heupel fired, we want Banks fired! That's on Heupel

 

[BanditVol]

I misread the OPs title as "Chill Pili" and was thinking this was an announcement of Pili returning. Which would be great, Herrin was a disaster yesterday.

Beasley actually implied that he might return on talk radio last week. we can only hope!

Anyway, I'll let y'all get back to it.

 

[Other_Guy]

The most annoying threads are the ones who claim people are wanting coach fired when literally no one has suggested this.

 

[Rocky Top T]

To cry and complain like a petulant child when things don't go your way, well, that's just bad upbringing. It is immaturity allowed to fester into adulthood. It is pitiful, but at the end of the day hurts no one other than the person throwing the tantrum. In short, it is ignorable as long as it is not a family member.

But to take the next step by calling for the firing of the best coach we've had since at least Fulmer, and maybe since Neyland, that's destructive. That's what got us into this mess in the first place, 15 years ago. That is unacceptable.

Josh Heupel is a very good coach. Tennessee needs to stick with him, as I'm sure Danny White and Donde Plowman already know. They need to ignore that vocal segment of the fan base that are going off the deep end. Because, sadly, if some idiots are doing it here on these boards, some other idiots among the boosters are trying the same crap.

Heupel doesn't yet have the talent he needs to take the next step. There are excellent, top-tier players on our roster. But there are also lads with whom we are making do. That was true last year, but is more evident in 2023. The strong bits were in just the right places to overcome most of the weak bits last year.

So Heupel needs time. And support. And a little bit of faith.

Most of you know this already. You support the coaching staff and understand it takes time. But man, there sure are a lot of the dangerous whiners here, too.

If you happen to be one of those, try this: take a chill pill. Learn to cope. Learn patience. Learn loyalty and discipline and maybe even a little faith. And if you can't do any of that, at least learn to scream your incendiary thoughts into a pillow rather than out into public.

To the majority, thanks for being you. You rock.

Go Vols!

I don't know anyone who wants Heupel fired. I know a lot of Vol fans. We do want Banks fired!

 

[VFL-82-JP]

The most annoying threads are the ones who claim people are wanting coach fired when literally no one has suggested this.

No one has suggested we should start considering firing Josh Heupel?

Huh.

If Heupel doesn’t fire martinez and banks this off season then I’m done with his sorry ass

I am starting to question Heupel even more now….

Heupel needs to fire Banks or his rotund ass will be on the hot seat….

The conditional nature of the statements doesn't lessen their message: time to start considering firing Heupel, is what they're saying.

[and what's with the fixation they tend to have on Josh's buttocks? that's a little creepy]

I found those three with just a few minutes looking. There are certainly more. And probably some that are even less conditional.

Annoying when they're actually out there, huh?

#saveJoshHeupelfromidiots

Go Vols!

 

[Volnbeers]

Good to see the sunshine pumpers returning to the bored.

Vols fan get trauma bonded to coaches like none other

 

[Volfan2012]

I think we have to avoid impatience again with this coach. He has a great recruiting class coming in and he has been winning quite a bit with a lot of players he didn't recruit. I like who we have coming back and who we have coming in. If he can do a good job in the portal to shore up some positions then we'll win more games next season.

 

[BeardedVol]

No one has suggested we should start considering firing Josh Heupel?

Huh.







The conditional nature of the statements doesn't lessen their message: time to start considering firing Heupel, is what they're saying.

[and what's with the fixation they tend to have on Josh's buttocks? that's a little creepy]

I found those three with just a few minutes looking. There are certainly more. And probably some that are even less conditional.

Annoying when they're actually out there, huh?

#saveJoshHeupelfromidiots

Go Vols!

Lol, where in the posts that you quoted do the posters say "UT should fire Josh Heupel"?

 

[hUTch2002]

Martinez is a known. His hiring shocked me. As for Banks, we were told at the time that he was a young, bright defensive mind and that he was very aggressive and liked to attack. At this point, I'm not seeing much of either characteristic.

We attacked like crazy last year. This year we haven’t as much but I think that’s because the front 4 was better about getting pressure without blitzing.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Heupel is going to get 5 seasons at least. Some seem to be convinced he'll make it beyond that, some are starting to doubt. Nobody's right/wrong. Plenty of evidence to support either view.

Most of the doubters only show up after a loss because it ruined their day. Most of those have a real lack of understanding, limited perspective and limited knowledge. Hate to tell you, but there's very little evidence Heupel might not make it and tons of it supporting he will be hugely successful

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Most don't want Heupel fired, we want Banks fired! That's on Heupel

"We", as in your ilk, are a minority

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

Most of the doubters only show up after a loss because it ruined their day. Most of those have a real lack of understanding, limited perspective and limited knowledge. Hate to tell you, but there's very little evidence Heupel might not make it and tons of it supporting he will be hugely successful

I hope you are correct! What are the wins that suggest he will “be hugely successful”? 2022 LSU and Bama. If we’re generous we can include the bowl win over Clemson. That’s really it in 3 seasons - 3 wins. I’m not saying he should have more than that - but that doesn’t qualify as a ton of evidence to me.

 

[Brucifer13]

11-2 spoiled us as a fanbase last year. This has led to a false and inflated sense among some of us into thinking "we have arrived." Anyone who thought we weren't going to drop off a bit this year has fooled themselves into believing this. Frustration with players and coaches is a direct result of them not meeting YOUR expectations. Expectations lead to future resentments. What I read last night on this board exemplified this. Personally, I never trash talk any aspect of my beloved Vols. 8-4 is still a really good regular season considering key injuries, talent disparity, or an extreme amount of questionable officiating. Prior to last night's game, we were just 2 or 3 quarters of bad play from being undefeated. I believe our HC has the program on the right trajectory...until I'm proven wrong. Appreciate the post OP and GBO.

 

[apevol]

I don't really care if someone wants the coach fired or not. Its the way this whole board acts thats the problem. The game threads especially.

OP is right that many of you are petulant children.

Its a really bad look and pretty sad folks don't realize it. I'm embarrassed for many of you and embarrassed for the team that y'all associate with it. Its just zero fun coming to the FF because of it and matches to a T the kind of ugly negativity that any role model worth their salt tells kids to cut out of their life. Some of y'all are worse than the jailbird junkies i used to run with and it just blows my mind. Grow up or get help. Be better for those around you.

 

[Adam Sandler]

To cry and complain like a petulant child when things don't go your way, well, that's just bad upbringing. It is immaturity allowed to fester into adulthood. It is pitiful, but at the end of the day hurts no one other than the person throwing the tantrum. In short, it is ignorable as long as it is not a family member.

But to take the next step by calling for the firing of the best coach we've had since at least Fulmer, and maybe since Neyland, that's destructive. That's what got us into this mess in the first place, 15 years ago. That is unacceptable.

Josh Heupel is a very good coach. Tennessee needs to stick with him, as I'm sure Danny White and Donde Plowman already know. They need to ignore that vocal segment of the fan base that are going off the deep end. Because, sadly, if some idiots are doing it here on these boards, some other idiots among the boosters are trying the same crap.

Heupel doesn't yet have the talent he needs to take the next step. There are excellent, top-tier players on our roster. But there are also lads with whom we are making do. That was true last year, but is more evident in 2023. The strong bits were in just the right places to overcome most of the weak bits last year.

So Heupel needs time. And support. And a little bit of faith.

Most of you know this already. You support the coaching staff and understand it takes time. But man, there sure are a lot of the dangerous whiners here, too.

If you happen to be one of those, try this: take a chill pill. Learn to cope. Learn patience. Learn loyalty and discipline and maybe even a little faith. And if you can't do any of that, at least learn to scream your incendiary thoughts into a pillow rather than out into public.

To the majority, thanks for being you. You rock.

Go Vols!

Not an issue for the majority of us. As for those calling for him, which I haven’t seen much of, just put them on ignore.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I hope you are correct! What are the wins that suggest he will “be hugely successful”? 2022 LSU and Bama. If we’re generous we can include the bowl win over Clemson. That’s really it in 3 seasons - 3 wins. I’m not saying he should have more than that - but that doesn’t qualify as a ton of evidence to me.

Are you mildly aware of the situation he inherited? The win at Pitt on the road last year and earlier in the season, was huge as we came back from an early hole. 11-2 in year 2 is a ton of evidence, especially in the situation. UT was predicted to win 7-8 games last year. The prediction for this year was 8-9 regular season.

 

[BeardedVol]

Are you mildly aware of the situation he inherited? The win at Pitt on the road last year and earlier in the season, was huge as we came back from an early hole. 11-2 in year 2 is a ton of evidence, especially in the situation. UT was predicted to win 7-8 games last year. The prediction for this year was 8-9 regular season.

So because predictions exist, Heupel shouldn't be in expected to take advantage of a horrible Florida team?

Being up 20-7 against Alabama at the half?

Shouldn't be expected to out coach Drinkwitz?

Jeremy Pruitt has nothing to do with Heupel's failures this year.

Most of the players on the 'overachieving' 2022 squad, were Pruitt's recruits.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

So because predictions exist, Heupel shouldn't be in expected to take advantage of a horrible Florida team?

Being up 20-7 against Alabama at the half?

Shouldn't be expected to out coach Drinkwitz?

Jeremy Pruitt has nothing to do with Heupel's failures this year.

Most of the players on the 'overachieving' 2022 squad, were Pruitt's recruits.

Lack of substance with that list. Reactionary take with no nuance

 

[BeardedVol]

Lack of substance with that list. Reactionary take with no nuance

Wow, so you really do believe that the existence of a pre-season prediction negates a coach's obligation to take advantage of actual scenarios that arise during the season.

 

[LadyinOrange]

It seems to me that UT football is now more about getting rich through NIL deals, than it is about competing and being the best in the conference. I miss the days of the scrappy kids who came from nothing with everything to prove and it didn't involve a dollar sign. But I'm just an old woman. What do I know?