For those predicting doom and gloom...

#26
#26
The DLine and OLine depth has been pretty good this season and last.

I have confidence in the development of most all of the rest of positions on both sides of the ball.

However, SEC Football is won in the trenches and this is where I look forward to seeing what we have there in '24.
 
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#28
#28
Many people have forgotten Jauan Jennings venting his frustrations before we lost to Vandy to go 4-8 for the first time, and it shows.
 
#29
#29
Remy said:
Out of 3 seasons we have played nine games against our Big3, UF, Bama, and UGA. Heupel has won 2 out of the 9 games. My point is he very well may NOT be the guy. If he goes 2 out of 15, you still going to come here and claim he's still the guy?
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So far, how many of those have been losses to less talented teams? That's been the rule for the last 15-20 years rather than the exception. UT lost to less talented UF teams a lot.

I think he could be the guy. But the tests coming aren't just on the field. It is whether he can be decisive when staff changes need to be made. We know he gives players a lot of rope. Will he let a bad coach sink him like Fulmer to a very great degree did with Sanders?
 
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#30
#30
I think CJH will be a good coach and consistent at 9-3 with an occasional 10+ season thrown in here and there depending on the team. The only drawback I have is that he has to get the players ready for road games. The games we have lost the last two years on the road have been atrocious game play wise. I love the chances he takes but if we get behind the eight ball he seems like he doesn’t know what to do. 1-10 when trailing at halftime is not a good record. We depend on the run to get things started and he has to get the team to a point where we can slow down play if we need too play a tough grind out game.
 
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#32
#32
After Florida, I thought we would be 6-6, so we are a little better than I expected. Until Heupel gets serious about defense, I think this is where we will be going forward. Our pass defense is a joke.
 
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#34
#34
BigOrangeTrain said:
We are complaining about an 8-4 or possible 9-4 season being a disappointment. Tell me when the last time we have had this kind of mentality? There is absolutely plenty we can criticize Heupel about. But the bottom line is this program is in the best shape it’s been since prime Fulmer. And nobody could have expected us being where we are this quickly.
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But to lose to UF and Missouri in that fashion is what's frustrating.
 
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#35
#35
BigOrangeTrain said:
We are complaining about an 8-4 or possible 9-4 season being a disappointment. Tell me when the last time we have had this kind of mentality? There is absolutely plenty we can criticize Heupel about. But the bottom line is this program is in the best shape it’s been since prime Fulmer. And nobody could have expected us being where we are this quickly.
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True. That was the highwater mark for Butch in our best year since what, 2007?
 
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#36
#36
Remy said:
Out of 3 seasons we have played nine games against our Big3, UF, Bama, and UGA. Heupel has won 2 out of the 9 games. My point is he very well may NOT be the guy. If he goes 2 out of 15, you still going to come here and claim he's still the guy?
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Don’t be unrealistic. Bama and Georgia are light years ahead of us right now. The Florida loss this year is the only head scratching loss out of those three teams you’ve mentioned.
 
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#39
#39
vol94 said:
Matthews always spins the positive on things regardless of the situation. He did the same when Dooley and Butch coached TN.

Many of the players he referred to have not played meaningful downs. So next yr he will say “it’s because we are young.” At some point, one has to change the narrative without making the same excuses as other programs find a way to overcome the challenges.

With that said, I enjoy listening to Matthews and hope he is correct.
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Yep
 
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#40
#40
Vol737 said:
Heupel deserves plenty of time. Not hating on Milton, but we all know he’s a big step back from Hooker. He’s done most of what’s asked of him, but he’s not the guy that’s going to go out and just win games. I say that only to say I think Nico will prove to be an excellent, very smart and capable QB. Hype needs that kind of QB. People need to also understand how young we are going to be next year at a LOT of positions. Not sure our record will be all that much better next year. I’m not worried about that. Taking the long view of looking toward 2025 and 2026 as break out years and really gaining the momentum in recruiting.
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I view Nico’s sophomore year like Peyton’s. Let him grow into the position and set the entire program up to spring forward…for his junior year and even after he leaves.
 
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#42
#42
Remy said:
Out of 3 seasons we have played nine games against our Big3, UF, Bama, and UGA. Heupel has won 2 out of the 9 games. My point is he very well may NOT be the guy. If he goes 2 out of 15, you still going to come here and claim he's still the guy?
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Realistically with the team he had what should his record be against UF Ga and Bama ?
I would say realistically his first year was a pass 0-3. 2-1 2nd year great improvement. 3rd year is likely 0-3. I would say he has passed expectations considering we finished 6th in the country last season. Yes this year hit a bump in the road. Thats expected when you are not out talenting many teams. We have gotten better in a lot of areas, however we are still not there yet in others. GIVE the man his contract length to stock some talent.
 
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#45
#45
Entitlement runs deep in the world, and VolNation is no different. Just fire everyone, until we get instant gratification and a Natty, and the second we don't fire that guy too! In the last 15 years, 7 coaches have won the National Championship, Smart, Saban, Dabo, and Meyer, being the only repeats, with outliers of Ed O, Jimbo, and Chizik who had loaded teams. Finding lightning in a bottle is harder than it seems. Would VolNation be more happy with a Jim Harbaugh type record, where we win games each year (in a laughable conference), but never break through, or a coach (any) who has us competitive each year, breaks through and wins the East in year 6, but drops a dud of a season (8-4) here and there, but wins a championship and goes 151-52 in his 17 year tenure? Spoiler.... that second coach was Fulmer, and we ran his ass out of town too...and was the last time we had any resemblance of winning football for a sustained period of time. There is no point in even looking to next year at this point, with the nature of college football and NIL and the portal, this team very likely, will end up a whole lot different roster wise, than what you are predicting now. Time will tell what direction we go. Take a breath, relax, and soak in the fact that we aren't the least bit concerned with losing to Candy, and enjoy the last few weeks of college football. The 2024 $hit show will be here before you know it!
 
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#46
#46
VolonTyne said:
I'll reserve my judgement for another 1-2 years. On Doug Matthew's show Big Orange Sunday he noted that the Vols have 32 freshmen or redshirt freshmen on the roster. Many have played, played a lot this year and have very promising futures. Let's see how they develop over the next couple of years. Also the transfer portal complicates things in terms of roster stability/development. The portal allows immediate improvement in areas of weakness and really changes the college landscape. Is Heupel the second coming of Neyland...probably not. But can he continue to improve the football program to a consistent strong team that competes for one of the TWELVE playoff spots. I sure hope so--let's see how 24 and 25 go.
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I agree with Doug on this and many other football issues.
 
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#47
#47
BradstarVols said:
Heup is the guy
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I think you’re correct and look forward to the future. However, I cant help but have some doubt. BVS? 😆. TN must get to the point of beating the teams we are supposed to beat each yr. Sure there are upsets but we should beat most on on our schedule most yrs with the exception of Bama and UGA. Of course the schedule will change next yr due to TX and OK coming to SEC.
 
#49
#49
TennVols12 said:
If your 2A high school team loses to a 3A high school team and (2) 4A high school teams over three years, you’re going to question him?

It’s a relevant analogy here. We had how many guys in the portal 3 years ago? Heupel has gone 2-9 vs the 3 with a leftover roster. The previous coaches were worse with their rosters. We all need to relax.
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This is bunk. We are an SEC team not 2A high school team. We certainly although highly ranked did not play like an SEC team when we got humiliated at South Carolina last year. Mizzou didn't humiliate us but they did embarrass us just this past weekend. If we cannot compete as an SEC team week in and week out then we need a staff in here that can. I do not expect to win every game every season. But in year 3 I certainly expected better than what we've seen from the 2023 Vols.
 
#50
#50
We may just have to accept the fact that this is a mid SEC program and seasons like 2022 are not going to be normal. Hard truth.
 
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