You want progress? Look at the South Carolina and Georgia games for the best football Tennessee has played in years. Look at special teams. Injuries hurt in November. But, there was obvious improvement and a level of competiveness not seen in years. I would take that as a sign.
I do. IMO, UGA was a bit better than USCe in that respect though a loss.
We just have and continue to disagree on the current amount of talent on campus.
Do we disagree? Do you honestly NOT think this is a team capable of winning 6-8 games with effective coaching? Do you think UT "should" lose to USU, Chatt, ASU, UK, or Vandy? Do you disagree that UT has enters '14 with a BETTER roster situation than Mizzou?
I think with some breaks, they have the potential to steal one from UF, USCe, OM, or UGA.
But you are falling into that same old trap- its only talent and coaching is worth nothing or at least not much. If Jones IS the right guy to win championships at UT then he MUST win games against teams with similar or greater levels of talent, right? You don't think Spurrier is winning at USCe because he has more talent than UGA, UF, Bama, LSU, et al... do you?
I want to see some tangible sign that when it is "money time"... Jones can win "big games". Vandy was a "big" game last fall since Jones had set UT's goal at making a bowl. He and his team didn't get it done. All the excuses in the world don't change that.
So, it's going to be a struggle again with a bunch of babies out there. But, I believe 2014 is better than 2013 and this whole thread will be moot point anyway.
Me too. And that's an honest conviction. I have come to it. I didn't quite feel that way before spring practice. If a LT can be found then I think the O will improve overall by about a TD per game. That is enough in itself to likely equate to an additional win. I think for the first time in awhile UT will be fairly solid in the back 7 on D. I think improvement depends almost completely on getting Saulsberry back at DT.
I expect the O to be around 5 or 6 pts better (28-30 ppg). I expect the D to be about 3 or 4 ppg better (24-26 ppg). Honestly, if Jones is a championship level coach I don't think that is an extraordinary improvement expectation for year two even with youth and roster issues... and considering the schedule.
But, if I am wrong, I would like to think people will take youth into account and have the vision to understand that there is actually talent out there, especially in places not seen in years.
The problem is that wins are needed at UT to keep recruits coming. If there is no tangible improvement then selling kids on some distant future success won't cut it anymore. IMHO, he needs to get to a bowl game so he can point to progress and land the same kinds of kids he signed this past class.
UF, UGA, LSU, and to a lesser extent Auburn, Bama, USCe, and TAM can get enough good players to create a solid foundation without leaving home. UT can't. UT needs out of state players. Once a kid chooses to leave his home state... he's not going to the school with 4 consecutive 5-7 seasons with no visible improvement. He's going to the "hot" schools and "hot" coaches.
k:
