ESPN thinks we go 4-8 next year

[Boca Vol]

Bowl practice would of helped our program a lot.

I agree but that wasn't really the question I was asking. Would beating Pacific, Austin Peay, S. Alabama, W. KY, UK, and S. Carolina while losing to Vandy, Bama, UF, UGA, Mizzou, and Auburn make you feel like the season was a success?

 

[Burger]

I agree but that wasn't really the question I was asking. Would beating Pacific, Austin Peay, S. Alabama, W. KY, UK, and S. Carolina while losing to Vandy, Bama, UF, UGA, Mizzou, and Auburn make you feel like the season was a success?

It'd be a C. I'd take a C considering the 2 years of F's before.

 

[BeattieFeathers]

I agree but that wasn't really the question I was asking. Would beating Pacific, Austin Peay, S. Alabama, W. KY, UK, and S. Carolina while losing to Vandy, Bama, UF, UGA, Mizzou, and Auburn make you feel like the season was a success?

very reasonable question to the likes of our high standards firends around these parts.....

 

[oregonvol]

I agree but that wasn't really the question I was asking. Would beating Pacific, Austin Peay, S. Alabama, W. KY, UK, and S. Carolina while losing to Vandy, Bama, UF, UGA, Mizzou, and Auburn make you feel like the season was a success?

It's hard to imagine that any season that included a loss to Vanderbilt being declared a "success" by any real Vol fan with any appreciation for the program or its history. But then again, over 76% of the posters here thought it was a job well done, so maybe we don't have those kinds of fans any more.

 

[WilliamDuVOL]

That's a pretty good answer and I agree with you. It's a step in the right direction but it doesn't define the entire season a success just because you went to a bowl game.

It's like accepting a passing grade from a kid that is clearly capable of making A's & B's. Did they move on to the next grade, yes. Was it a success, no.

In our case though it's more like a someone who made As and Bs in college but dropped out, and is now back to finish their degree after five years. It takes time to get back to A's and B's sometimes.

I'd still be happy with 6-6 this season, especially if we win it, if only that Jones and Co. can look at elite recruits and say "See? We're on the way back, don't you want to be a part of that when it's only going to get better?"

 

[Boca Vol]

In our case though it's more like a someone who made As and Bs in college but dropped out, and is now back to finish their degree after five years. It takes time to get back to A's and B's sometimes.

I'd still be happy with 6-6 this season, especially if we win it, if only that Jones and Co. can look at elite recruits and say "See? We're on the way back, don't you want to be a part of that when it's only going to get better?"

Again, well said.:good!:

 

[BallinVol]

This is all a way for ESPN to say that Tennessee and Butch Jones over achieved this coming season when they win more games than 4. At least that could be a positive thing for Tennessee lol. I think we go 7-5 personally. I do believe there are many winnable games on the schedule. ESPN has always undermined Tennessee. At least they are consistent.

 

[Boca Vol]

This is all a way for ESPN to say that Tennessee and Butch Jones over achieved this coming season when they win more games than 4. At least that could be a positive thing for Tennessee lol. I think we go 7-5 personally. I do believe there are many winnable games on the schedule. ESPN has always undermined Tennessee. At least they are consistent.

Unfortunately, UT has held up their end of the deal on their predictions.

UT should go 7-5 this season.

USU
Chatty
Ark St.
Florida
Mizzou
UK
Vandy

All of these should be wins.

 

[sjt18]

Unfortunately, UT has held up their end of the deal on their predictions.

UT should go 7-5 this season.

USU
Chatty
Ark St.
Florida
Mizzou
UK
Vandy

All of these should be wins.

Agree on six then one of UF, UGA, or USCe. Unfortunately, I am beginning to believe that many are underestimating UF.

 

[KBVol]

Agree on six then one of UF, UGA, or USCe. Unfortunately, I am beginning to believe that many are underestimating UF.

From what I've read on here, EVERYONE is underestimating Florida. Despite Muschamp's shortcomings and some locker dysfunction, the overwhelming reason Florida stunk last year was due to the unprecedented number of injuries they suffered. I expect them to bounce back this year. Either way, they'll make it ten in a row vs UT IMO.

 

[sjt18]

From what I've read on here, EVERYONE is underestimating Florida. Despite Muschamp's shortcomings and some locker dysfunction, the overwhelming reason Florida stunk last year was due to the unprecedented number of injuries they suffered. I expect them to bounce back this year. Either way, they'll make it ten in a row vs UT IMO.

UT can win that game. I like where it sits on the schedule for both teams even though UT will come off a road trip to UGA. UF will come off an open week following a likely beat down by Bama. They have LSU the following week. The only way that could be a better set up for UT is if they could swap weeks with LSU.

UF stunk because Muschamp has neither the ability to run an O nor the ability to keep his nose out of a strong OC's business. They did have some injuries but so did UT and UGA. Injuries didn't cause them to lose to GSU.

In short, I think they will bounce back but I still like UT's chances in that game more than any in a long time other than '11. I believe that game was a win with Hunter. I also think that was the turning point of Dooley's time at UT in retrospect.

 

[RockyTopDC]

its ESPN.....

they hate UT

 

[KBVol]

UT can win that game. I like where it sits on the schedule for both teams even though UT will come off a road trip to UGA. UF will come off an open week following a likely beat down by Bama. They have LSU the following week. The only way that could be a better set up for UT is if they could swap weeks with LSU.

UF stunk because Muschamp has neither the ability to run an O nor the ability to keep his nose out of a strong OC's business. They did have some injuries but so did UT and UGA. Injuries didn't cause them to lose to GSU.

In short, I think they will bounce back but I still like UT's chances in that game more than any in a long time other than '11. I believe that game was a win with Hunter. I also think that was the turning point of Dooley's time at UT in retrospect.

UT CAN win the Florida game, but more than likely won't. I don't like where the game sits on the schedule. We'll be coming off a road game at Georgia, they'll be coming off a bye week... advantage Gators.

Regarding last year, I think Florida lost waaayyy more players to injury than we did. Who did we lose besides Worley? Nobody from the OL, replaced an injured TE who was bad with another bad TE. Lost North for the Vandy and Ky games, both of which we should've won pretty easily without him. Who else? I guess Saulsberry who was beginning to play well at DT but he wasn't a starter and wasn't expected to do much going into the season. I may be forgetting someone else of note but I don't think so.

Florida lost their 1st and 2nd string QBs, their top RB, their 3 best OTs, and their best DT in Easley. I also remember they lost a couple LBs and a corner as well. I think I remember hearing that they lost like 18-19 scholarship players to season-ending injury.

Everybody has injuries, a certain amount of attrition each year. Florida's losses were far, far beyond what is normally expected and it's what primarily led to their 4 win season IMO.

 

[sjt18]

Regarding last year, I think Florida lost waaayyy more players to injury than we did. Who did we lose besides Worley? Nobody from the OL, replaced an injured TE who was bad with another bad TE.

I don't think they had a loss that was bigger than Couch and Saulsberry. Saulsberry was playing very well and certainly better than the starters when he went down. IMO, Worley was one of the players UT could least afford to lose last fall.

Lost North for the Vandy and Ky games, both of which we should've won pretty easily without him.

Agree.

Florida lost their 1st and 2nd string QBs, their top RB, their 3 best OTs, and their best DT in Easley. I also remember they lost a couple LBs and a corner as well. I think I remember hearing that they lost like 18-19 scholarship players to season-ending injury.

Didn't know that many were lost for the season. I did know some DB's went out of the game with UT.

Everybody has injuries, a certain amount of attrition each year. Florida's losses were far, far beyond what is normally expected and it's what primarily led to their 4 win season IMO.

Still doesn't explain GSU but I can accept most of that.

And we do agree that UF isn't going to be that bad again.

 

[KBVol]

I don't think they had a loss that was bigger than Couch and Saulsberry. Saulsberry was playing very well and certainly better than the starters when he went down. IMO, Worley was one of the players UT could least afford to lose last fall.

Agree.

Didn't know that many were lost for the season. I did know some DB's went out of the game with UT.



Still doesn't explain GSU but I can accept most of that.

And we do agree that UF isn't going to be that bad again.

I would say their losing DT Dominique Easley was bigger than us losing either Saulsberry or Couch. Easley was arguably one of the top 3-4 DTs in the country.

 

[BeattieFeathers]

I would say their losing DT Dominique Easley was bigger than us losing either Saulsberry or Couch. Easley was arguably one of the top 3-4 DTs in the country.

Lol.....remember the dude you're chatting with is wearing the orange goggles.

 

[Boca Vol]

Agree on six then one of UF, UGA, or USCe. Unfortunately, I am beginning to believe that many are underestimating UF.

From what I've read on here, EVERYONE is underestimating Florida. Despite Muschamp's shortcomings and some locker dysfunction, the overwhelming reason Florida stunk last year was due to the unprecedented number of injuries they suffered. I expect them to bounce back this year. Either way, they'll make it ten in a row vs UT IMO.

I'm not underestimating UF but they DO have question marks on the offensive side of the ball.

If Butch truly "gets it" then he needs to win that game. I'm almost as jaded as KB when it comes to the UF game. I don't care if the coach if Fulmer, Kiffin, Dooley, or Jones UT looks absolutely inept when it comes to the Gators. That crap needs to end in Neyland in Oct.

 

[sjt18]

Lol.....remember the dude you're chatting with is wearing the orange goggles.

:lolabove::lolabove::lolabove::lolabove::lolabove:

No orange goggles here. You should have seen what some of these guys were saying just a few months ago.

Fact is other teams have problems too. You'd excuse poor coaching and poor performance without considering the whole picture. I won't.

 

[sjt18]

I would say their losing DT Dominique Easley was bigger than us losing either Saulsberry or Couch. Easley was arguably one of the top 3-4 DTs in the country.

Their D was still very good. His loss was tough but not as critical to the team overall. With Saulsberry and Couch, UT is a completely different team on D. Consider their replacement was Hood. Great guy. Played with his heart. But he wasn't the guy UT needed at the quick DT.

 

[Eddie Vol Halen]

From what I've read on here, EVERYONE is underestimating Florida. Despite Muschamp's shortcomings and some locker dysfunction, the overwhelming reason Florida stunk last year was due to the unprecedented number of injuries they suffered. I expect them to bounce back this year. Either way, they'll make it ten in a row vs UT IMO.

You are right. Roper will do a 180 on their offense. I think he was a solid hire. They have the potential to be a Top-10 team. They certainly have the talent.

Muschamp is the wild-card. They've overachieved; they've completely tanked; they've been wildly mediocre. No one knows the Muschamp Median.

I now hope 99gator adopts "Muschamp Median" or "median of Muschamp" as his personal meme.

 

[KBVol]

Their D was still very good. His loss was tough but not as critical to the team overall. With Saulsberry and Couch, UT is a completely different team on D. Consider their replacement was Hood. Great guy. Played with his heart. But he wasn't the guy UT needed at the quick DT.

We'll disagree there 18. Missing Couch and Saulsberry definitely hurt our thin DL, no doubt about it. But in comparison, I think losing a 5 star DT, a first round draft pick in Easley, trumps losing a kid who went undrafted (Couch) and another kid who has potential but hasn't done anything yet (Saulsberry). To me, it would be kinda like saying losing Croom and Blanc last year from our WR corps would've been worse than losing North or Howard. JMHO.

 

[sjt18]

We'll disagree there 18. Missing Couch and Saulsberry definitely hurt our thin DL, no doubt about it. But in comparison, I think losing a 5 star DT, a first round draft pick in Easley, trumps losing a kid who went undrafted (Couch) and another kid who has potential but hasn't done anything yet (Saulsberry). To me, it would be kinda like saying losing Croom and Blanc last year from our WR corps would've been worse than losing North or Howard. JMHO.

Not at all. I am not claiming either of those guys are as good as Easley. I am claiming that the loss of Easley had less of an overall impact on their D than the loss of both Couch and Saulsberry had on UT's D.

Just wanted to make sure you understood my point since you keep going back to Easley's talent as the basis for how much he meant to UT's 2 guys in a comparative sense. UT simply had no replacement for those two guys and McCullers was nowhere near good enough to pick up the slack.