jakez4ut
Patience... It's what's for dinner
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2005
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I had started a topic like this some time ago, but we've lost more games since then, had more off the feild issues since then, and it appears Cut will be back, looks like it is just a formality at this point...
Other coaching changes? I have to think that JRS is gone as is Pat Washington...I'd also like to think that at some point we will dedicate more resources to Special teams coaching...
QB competition in spring...well, it certainly appears that this will be ON...Crompton will be back from surgery, starts throwing in Jan, and i would assume with new OC he'll want to evaluate both and no starter will be named, again.
WR competition...oh yeah, you can bet on this...but will it really matter? CJ Fayton came out and said it finally...we need to settle on 3-4 and let them work with the #1 qb to develop the timing with each...but we need a #1 named to do that right??
Incorporation of TE and FB, who can actually catch the ball, in to offense...hopefully? Please?
Defense?????? who knows...basically the entire front 7 is gone, and you'd like to think the DB's will p/u where they left off and get even better...because they'll need to be..I look for this to be a bit soft next year.
Opponents...lots of changes there as well...UGA and Bama both losing qb's and O linemen. UF returns a lot, and one would think that after a full season and a new spring and fall camp, they'd get better right? I look for Auburn, LSU and UF to be the class of the SEC next year...ARK is a sleeper in the West. and as much as i hate to admit it, USC is a sleeper next year in the East.
Now for us...the schedule. I don't see us making leaps and bounds improvement form this season to next, though i would expect it to be better, incramentally.
Wins:
Cal
Air Force
Marshall
Memphis
Bama
Vandy
KY
Losses:
Florida
Georgia
South Carolina
LSU
Ark
7-5 record, and could be 8-4 if we beat USC or UGA...which i think one of which could be won...but given the Richt/Spurrier hex over Fulmer, i would not count on it...
Big Picture: does 7-5 get Fulmer off the chopping block? for me, no. I honestly think that for Fulmer to say we're "back", we would need to get to 9 wins NEXT year. is it possible? sure. likely? no. I would say right now, we are more likely to go 5-7 before we'd go 9-3.
Either way, we'll find out a lot when Cut gets hired and what personnel decisions are made in the spring. Also, if we have any more stupid off the feild issues, i might go nuts. That will be another indication of whether or not Fulmer has "worked like heck" to fix the discipline issues on this team.
As many of you know i have been a Fulmer apologist on this site, and while i still do not advocate his firing at this time, and still believe he can turn it around (9 or more wins that is), in two years, not one, it has become even clearer to me now, that he must change his ways if he is going to continue to coach this team. I think he's done a wonderful job of putting UT on the next level, but there are aspects fundamental to CPF's personality that will limit his ability to sustain that next level success. Unless he surrounds himself with the best coaches available, he will fail.
And i'll go on record now, if Norm Chow is still OC for the Titans after next year and we suck again (6 or fewer wins), I'll be leading the Big Orange caravan to Nashville.
Other coaching changes? I have to think that JRS is gone as is Pat Washington...I'd also like to think that at some point we will dedicate more resources to Special teams coaching...
QB competition in spring...well, it certainly appears that this will be ON...Crompton will be back from surgery, starts throwing in Jan, and i would assume with new OC he'll want to evaluate both and no starter will be named, again.
WR competition...oh yeah, you can bet on this...but will it really matter? CJ Fayton came out and said it finally...we need to settle on 3-4 and let them work with the #1 qb to develop the timing with each...but we need a #1 named to do that right??
Incorporation of TE and FB, who can actually catch the ball, in to offense...hopefully? Please?
Defense?????? who knows...basically the entire front 7 is gone, and you'd like to think the DB's will p/u where they left off and get even better...because they'll need to be..I look for this to be a bit soft next year.
Opponents...lots of changes there as well...UGA and Bama both losing qb's and O linemen. UF returns a lot, and one would think that after a full season and a new spring and fall camp, they'd get better right? I look for Auburn, LSU and UF to be the class of the SEC next year...ARK is a sleeper in the West. and as much as i hate to admit it, USC is a sleeper next year in the East.
Now for us...the schedule. I don't see us making leaps and bounds improvement form this season to next, though i would expect it to be better, incramentally.
Wins:
Cal
Air Force
Marshall
Memphis
Bama
Vandy
KY
Losses:
Florida
Georgia
South Carolina
LSU
Ark
7-5 record, and could be 8-4 if we beat USC or UGA...which i think one of which could be won...but given the Richt/Spurrier hex over Fulmer, i would not count on it...
Big Picture: does 7-5 get Fulmer off the chopping block? for me, no. I honestly think that for Fulmer to say we're "back", we would need to get to 9 wins NEXT year. is it possible? sure. likely? no. I would say right now, we are more likely to go 5-7 before we'd go 9-3.
Either way, we'll find out a lot when Cut gets hired and what personnel decisions are made in the spring. Also, if we have any more stupid off the feild issues, i might go nuts. That will be another indication of whether or not Fulmer has "worked like heck" to fix the discipline issues on this team.
As many of you know i have been a Fulmer apologist on this site, and while i still do not advocate his firing at this time, and still believe he can turn it around (9 or more wins that is), in two years, not one, it has become even clearer to me now, that he must change his ways if he is going to continue to coach this team. I think he's done a wonderful job of putting UT on the next level, but there are aspects fundamental to CPF's personality that will limit his ability to sustain that next level success. Unless he surrounds himself with the best coaches available, he will fail.
And i'll go on record now, if Norm Chow is still OC for the Titans after next year and we suck again (6 or fewer wins), I'll be leading the Big Orange caravan to Nashville.
