Experience compared to our opponents?

#1
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Dougie_D

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#1
Just basing on experience, returning players, jr/sr's, etc... how do we compare vs our opponents this season?

Are we the youngest team in SEC?
 
#2
#2
Dougie_D said:
Just basing on experience, returning players, jr/sr's, etc... how do we compare vs our opponents this season?

Are we the youngest team in SEC?
Click to expand...

In a recent radio interview I listened to, Butch said we were one of the youngest teams in the country.
 
#4
#4
This question leads to the answer @ our return to prominence. It's not just the fact that we are recruiting top talent again. It's that we are doing so while the "similar & more mature talent" of our adversaries is graduating / declaring. They are losing top talent while we are losing mediocre talent.

This attrition / replacement cycle is what gives us a fighting chance to compete in 2015+.
 
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#5
#5
livefaith said:
This question leads to the answer @ our return to prominence. It's not just the fact that we are recruiting top talent again. It's that we are doing so while the "similar & more mature talent" of our adversaries is graduating / declaring. They are losing top talent while we are losing mediocre talent.
This attrition / replacement cycle is what gives us a fighting chance to compete in 2015+.
Click to expand...

Well, the problem with that is that "our adversaries", although they lost a lot of top talent to graduation/ declaring early this year, are still recruiting top talent, as evidenced by the fact that 7 of the top 10 recruiting classes in the '14 class were SEC teams. None of our adversaries appear to be going through a down cycle in recruiting. All we can hope to do is catch up, which we appear to be doing nicely.
 
#6
#6
I think we may have 4 to 8, and maybe more players that get on the Freshman All-American team. Hurd, Malone, Thomas, Bates come to mind right of the top, they certainly have the potential, as do several others. That is a double edged sword of good and bad. It means, which we already know to be fact, we had to play a lot of freshmen. Freshman get beat and make mistakes, but they learn from them hopefully. Bama might place 1 or 2 at the most. They will redshirt those freshman and save them to get physically stronger as young men. We do not have that luxury. We have to play them now, but a year from now those Vol freshmen will be SEC warriors and experienced veterans. Able to help us have a great 2015. Our freshmen will get their collective hats handed to them by some of the deep teams in the conference. BUT THEY WILL BE LEARNING. Then next year here is what I have to say to the rest of the SEC, "WE'RE BACK!!!!!" VFL GBMFO.
 
#7
#7
Everyone always talks about how our QB play isn't that great. But if we follow the formula that a lot of these so called experts use at times then our QB is top 4-6 in the league maybe higher. The only time they use experience as a measuring stick is when comparing to young guys. Seriously how many returning QBs in the SEC and SEC East would you take over Worley based on last year?

Even if Worley finishes as the 7th best QB in the SEC this year that will be sufficient. Last year James Franklin was 7th as far as passing yards last year with around 2400. 6th was Connor Shaw with 2447. 8th was Carta-Samuels with 2268.

Last year with a very weak WR group we had a total of over 1900 passing yards. This year with our young weapons I'm confident he'll throw for around 2500+.
 
#8
#8
If you go with two deep, then we are probably as inexperienced as anyone we play.

But if you go with just the starters, then we are in about the same predicament as as Vandy and Mizzou.

I think USCe, UK and OK bring back the most two deep experience.
 
#9
#9
Our 118 Frosh are entering the UT School of Hard Knocks. It wont be an easy year but, if they don't give up, Year 2 holds promise. Good luck men.
 
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#10
#10
Followed the Vols for many years. I have never seen a team this young and inexperienced, and yes that is a very big deal.
 
#11
#11
We have been one of the youngest teams in the nation for the past 3 or 4 years. Which goes to show you how bad of shape this roster really was. When you keep bringing in freshman that are beating out what few juniors and seniors that were on the roster then you really don't see the development that you would like. What is exciting is next year will be the first time in a long time that the first and second string will be the same core of players returning. Alot of things to be happy about on the hill. GBO!
 
#14
#14
:yes:
ALLVOL24/7/365 said:
I think we may have 4 to 8, and maybe more players that get on the Freshman All-American team. Hurd, Malone, Thomas, Bates come to mind right of the top, they certainly have the potential, as do several others. That is a double edged sword of good and bad. It means, which we already know to be fact, we had to play a lot of freshmen. Freshman get beat and make mistakes, but they learn from them hopefully. Bama might place 1 or 2 at the most. They will redshirt those freshman and save them to get physically stronger as young men. We do not have that luxury. We have to play them now, but a year from now those Vol freshmen will be SEC warriors and experienced veterans. Able to help us have a great 2015. Our freshmen will get their collective hats handed to them by some of the deep teams in the conference. BUT THEY WILL BE LEARNING. Then next year here is what I have to say to the rest of the SEC, "WE'RE BACK!!!!!" VFL GBMFO.
Click to expand...

You are right, we will get the experience this year then do some azz kicking next year and then in 16 we will be kicking a bunch of azzs.:yes:
 
#16
#16
Dougie_D said:
Compare this to the 2010 squad....

Phil Steele

2010 final record - 6-7 (3-5) SEC - first year under Dooley.

Since Butch already got 1 year ahead and no coaching changes, we should aim for no less than 8-5 (4-4) in SEC.
Click to expand...

I think you're forgetting Butch didn't get year zero unlike Dooley.
 
#17
#17
ajvol01 said:
We are 123 of 128 in FBS.

Phil Steele
Click to expand...

Very interesting report by Steele. Of course, Bama is ranked 107th (when was the last time they weren't in the top 100 of a football statistic?) and UTSA is ranked first with some other unknowns in the top 10 ("Tiger High" is 11th).

With regard to the fact that having guys eligible for freshman All-American means that you're in trouble (because your upperclassmen can't beat out freshman), I remember that Propst got Freshman All-SEC LB and then got beat out by AJ, Maggitt, and just about everybody else.
 
#18
#18
CroKev said:
Very interesting report by Steele. Of course, Bama is ranked 107th (when was the last time they weren't in the top 100 of a football statistic?) and UTSA is ranked first with some other unknowns in the top 10 ("Tiger High" is 11th).

With regard to the fact that having guys eligible for freshman All-American means that you're in trouble (because your upperclassmen can't beat out freshman), I remember that Propst got Freshman All-SEC LB and then got beat out by AJ, Maggitt, and just about everybody else.
Click to expand...

Bama finished #1 in recruiting every year since 2011. #5 in 2010

Experience matters, but it's still about talent and depth.
 
#19
#19
I would much rather have freshman/soph players who are "all in" and determined to get us back more so, than a more experienced group that is just trying to stay healthy enough to make to the Combine.
 
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#20
#20
Hmm. Vandy & UT very similar in numbers (concerning youth). PS gives them the edge on the Oline, well, a tad more that. But, if his youth numbers are correct, our new talent will have a hey day against that stellar new talent Mason is bringing in.
 
#21
#21
UTjonez said:
We have been one of the youngest teams in the nation for the past 3 or 4 years. Which goes to show you how bad of shape this roster really was. When you keep bringing in freshman that are beating out what few juniors and seniors that were on the roster then you really don't see the development that you would like. What is exciting is next year will be the first time in a long time that the first and second string will be the same core of players returning. Alot of things to be happy about on the hill. GBO!
Click to expand...

Good analysis, it will take some time to build a three deep roster.
 
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#22
#22
It has almost come to the point where we celebrate a Dooley recruit leaving the program early as it will open up a Scolly for SEC Caliber talent... Sad but true even if these guys tried their hardest.
 
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#23
#23
UTjonez said:
We have been one of the youngest teams in the nation for the past 3 or 4 years. Which goes to show you how bad of shape this roster really was. When you keep bringing in freshman that are beating out what few juniors and seniors that were on the roster then you really don't see the development that you would like. What is exciting is next year will be the first time in a long time that the first and second string will be the same core of players returning. Alot of things to be happy about on the hill. GBO!
Click to expand...

The only Junior I see getting beat out this year really is McNiel. What is wonderful is that while we will be playing a lot of freshman we won't be starting a lot of freshman. I think we start at most 4 freshman. We forget a lot of freshman got experience a reps last year.

Also lets not forget that the 2013 class has been a very productive one and more guys will emerge this year out of that class.
 
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#24
#24
CroKev said:
Very interesting report by Steele. Of course, Bama is ranked 107th (when was the last time they weren't in the top 100 of a football statistic?) and UTSA is ranked first with some other unknowns in the top 10 ("Tiger High" is 11th).

With regard to the fact that having guys eligible for freshman All-American means that you're in trouble (because your upperclassmen can't beat out freshman), I remember that Propst got Freshman All-SEC LB and then got beat out by AJ, Maggitt, and just about everybody else.
Click to expand...

We also need to consider that we finally have QUALITY POSITION COACHES who can help develop and improve talent. Also these guys are going into their second consecutive season with the same coaches which is going to be huge for their development. When you are playing with talent that isn't the greatest you have to have coaches who are good at developing that talent. This is where our advantage lies over other SEC programs
 
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#25
#25
SDS had us last in the SEC with the amount of loss of experience not returning. I think it was 26 letterman not returning with transfers and graduation. They had us at 120. I would still rather be us than some of the others.
 
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