I'm glad calmer heads are prevailing here on the board...

#53
#53
dduncan4163 said:
I'm calm because I'm still in shock. I honestly don't know what happened out there. That was the worst defensive performance I've seen in all my years of watching TN Football. I just can't wrap my brain around it.
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Exactly I still haven’t fully processed this. How in the F do you let an opportunity of a lifetime slip through your fingers for some BS? And let’s be honest this wasn’t just lack of talent, lack of execution, this was lack of giving a F.

Idk what the issue was in that lockerroom but I can promise you quitting on your team doesn’t improve your circumstances, dividing your team doesn’t improve your circumstances either. I have a feeling these kids are going to regret the effort or lack thereof they displayed on the field Saturday night.
 
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#54
#54
TnVol! said:
I don't give a sh_t about being mocked. We're 9-2 and will be 10-2 next week. I'll take that and the mocking.
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I wouldn’t bet on that defense stopping a middle school offense. Heupel has to find players that want to be on the field on defense
 
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#55
#55
So you really think players with a chance to go to the NFL are going to risk playing in a crap bowl? We will probably see several sit out at Vandy.
 
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#58
#58
HoopCreekVol said:
I needed to hear from all of you guys with calmer heads and get to settle down to actually understand what just happened. As one poster said, the emotions are raw right now. If we would have lost by a field goal or a few points, the loss would have hurt but to be annihilated like that is devastating. Now we are being laughed at and ridiculed because we have fallen back down to mediocrity.
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The loss to SCJr was one of the worst in program history given the position the Vols were in the CFP playoff hunt.

However, and importantly, the Vols will finish 10 and 2 (with a win over Vandy and make no mistake we are going to roll). We may even get in a New Year’s six bowl game. If that is our destiny then hopefully we win and finish with an 11 and 2 record and top-5 finish.

Regardless, this has been an incredible year! Wins over Fla, LSU and Bama with several total beat downs in the win column. This team has brought the fun, joy and relevance back to TN football and for that I am beyond thankful. What a great ride - I was in tears following the win over Alabama and unfortunately heartbroken over the SCJr loss.

The Vols defense will improve with an influx in talent and I am confident that Heupel and his vaunted offense will improve/evolve as necessary. TN has done far more this season than I ever expected (far more than 90% of Volunteer fans expected).

I for one am incredibly optimistic about the future of Tennessee football under Heupel. Go Vols - prayers to Hendon Hooker and any other injured TN players. Time to prepare for Vandy - need to be fired up, focused and prepared.
 
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#61
#61
UTFanHades said:
63 pts was the fault of the fans? Really tired of the fans missing tackles, lining up wrong, taking bad angles, not showing up prepared and motivated, and calling bad plays.
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You didn't read his post, he said all of the mockery about our loss is the result of bad fans.
 
#63
#63
volbound1700 said:
You didn't read his post, he said all of the mockery about our loss is the result of bad fans.
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My point is that having 63 points scored on your team in a historic loss to an unranked team as a #5 ranked team in itself creates a level of mockery that other fans and the media will capitalize on. As you stated, he said all the blame is on the fans, whereas I’m stating the loss is so bad that people will chirp regardless of what our fans do in terms of instigating. Thus, you can’t speak in absolutes as he did and say the fault rests entirely with the fans. Player and coaching performance is a cause, if not the primary cause, of the mockery.
 
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#64
#64
volbound1700 said:
Do we even have a lot of players that will go to NFL? I am assuming maybe Tillman, Hyatt, and Byron Young but I don't see a lot of NFL prospects on this team.
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I can’t recall which linemen are seniors but we will have others who have their degree and may begin preparation for the combine.
 
#65
#65
RabunRaven said:
"Not what I said. You're looking for the silver lining, and the fact is that there isn't one to be found here. Sometimes you just have to accept the facts for what they are."

So let me get this right - it comes out of your mouth its fact. Anyone else's its a desperate hope for a silver lining? Who made you the Mighty Orange Oz and arbiter of facts? It's just your opinion - just like mine so spare me the facts sh**. You act like the mere suggestion that they might use this as motivation to end the season on a positive is just pure fantasy. It might be the exception and not the rule, I'll give you that - but its far from fantasy.

Yea, they need better Def players across the board. Stop the presses! The mighty Grey Wolf is morphing into Captain Obvious.

As far as learning from Purdue. Let me see. You go from 7-6 to 9-2 with a real chance at 11-2 and a top 10 finish? Pretty far from NOT learning. Or is that a silver lining too?
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So now it’s a snowball fight.

Your position: This could be a learning opportunity.
Mine: We’re past that point.

Also mine: UT needs better talent and coaching on defense. Recruiting only solves half the problem.

Yes, UT is better this year than they were in ‘21. Heupels 2nd year. So to be expected, right?

How ‘bout the defense? Big improvement?

So let’s see who’s here next year, and how the defense does. But I feel pretty safe in saying that the same coaches will likely produce the same, or close, results.

Convoy is only as fast as the slowest ship. Time to find some faster ones.

Go Vols.
 
#66
#66
It depends on how they respond. A competent coaching staff will lead us to a victory against Vandy with a Sugar Bowl on the line. It’s not the first time in recent memory where it’s “beat Vandy and you’re in the Sugar Bowl”. Obviously Butch was a fraud. I think CJH can get it done I hope. But it won’t be easy without Hooker
 
#67
#67
GreyWolf1129 said:
I watched the game. All of it, painful as it was. I also watched the UGA game. Same. Fact is, I have watched every UT game this season. And there is one glaring, consistent weakness in this team. With few exceptions, it has been a weakness since last season, and has continued into this one.

Defense. Cut, paste, spin, parse the numbers any way you want, but the bottom line here is that UT brings out the best in opposing offenses in almost every game. When lower level FBS and even FCS QB's are having a "career day" against your defense, well...that's what the FBI would call a clue.

I have neither the time nor the inclination to lay out my case here. But I am of the firm opinion that UT is in desperate need of (a) better talent and (b) better development and coaching on the defensive side. Until and unless they get it, we will continue to see more of what happened last night.

Simple as that. Go Vols.
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Correct and obvious since the Pitt game. Our secondary can not cover SEC caliber receivers in any kind of coverage. Banks has been able to get enough of a pass rush to get off the field and not get exposed. Last night was different, there was literally zero pass rush, 1 sack no hurries, he had all night against basically high school backs. The mystery is why no pass rush? They could have done better bringing 9 and leaving 2 people back in pass defense. 3rd and 20 in a key moment and they give it up, come on!
 
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#68
#68
I echo other posters here, the defense is a big question mark, and it has been now for almost two years. Now that isn't to say there hasn't been improvement as there has been. Last year we'd be gassed in the 4th quarter - generally couldn't stop the run, definitely not the pass, with QB runs killing us. More depth, this year, in the front 7 and even good teams are not rushing to their average, and not gassed in the 4th quarter. Only thing lacking here is actual pressure by the base defense - no one seems to be able to get to the QB consistently. Now stopping the pass and getting off the field in 3rd and long still plagues this team (it's a constant). For it to go on as long as it has - I just can't buy it as a purely talent deficiency. There is some coaching involved here, IMO, and CJH NEEDS to address that, if so. Anyone benefits from stronger talent in the back end - but Banks and Martinez need a strong evaluation. As it is I don't get how they play zone and still never cover anyone.

Going forward, we're going to have different QBs. They'll be operating on different levels. Hendon had a magical year - and it's a safe say we'll be hard pressed to achieve that level of productivity over the next couple of years. Or next week. What balances that out is an effective defense - so whatever changes are necessary to make it effective are necessary. As we found out on Saturday - one bad day on defense will wipe your hopes out. Some might say it was coming and I wouldn't disagree. But man.....it cost you the CFP, Hendon's Heisman chances.....and he got hurt trying to make a play (season ending). I just don't think you can achieve your goals in the SEC if you don't play fundamental defense. You can't be rated 100+ on it and survive. Lord knows we have an offense that others would kill for. You put 38? on SC who averages in the 20s. Should have been enough to coast in the 4th quarter. The one glaring weakness just caught up to us, albeit in a big way.
 
#70
#70
Sara Clark said:
This is as calm and honest as I can be. Vandy is going to take us to school next weekend. Can't believe what we witnessed. Banks...I know, several people on here say he's bad, he the d leader and was missed by his team. When Hooker is off, I'm not sure he ever recovers from that. Milton has NOT improved from last year. He's fine if he's on cleanup duty, no pressure, he's not going to win a game. There, that's my post. Again, I feel like I'm coming from a place of rationality...maybe not...I 've yet to make it home, pretty tired.
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the 2016 Vandy game is haunting me now - they had a freshman RB gash that defense all night and the QB had some long runs - The Vols offense with Dobbs and Kamara were so so that night
 
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#73
#73
GreyWolf1129 said:
So now it’s a snowball fight.

Your position: This could be a learning opportunity.
Mine: We’re past that point.

Also mine: UT needs better talent and coaching on defense. Recruiting only solves half the problem.

Yes, UT is better this year than they were in ‘21. Heupels 2nd year. So to be expected, right?

How ‘bout the defense? Big improvement?

So let’s see who’s here next year, and how the defense does. But I feel pretty safe in saying that the same coaches will likely produce the same, or close, results.

Convoy is only as fast as the slowest ship. Time to find some faster ones.

Go Vols.
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I can agree with this :) In the end, we want the same results.... My guess is the same coaches will be around next year so that body of work will be on full display for us to chew on. GBO!
 
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