My expectations/predictions for next year

#1
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VOLCLASSOF2014

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#1
I just wanted to give my perspective of how I see things for next year.

1. I'm not settling

I know we have had an excruciating last 5 years. However, some of you all are underestimating the talent on the team. It is my opinion that the coaching really was THAT bad. Good coaches get the most out of what they have, which in our case I think is more than we realize. Muschamp, Franklin, Freeze and Sumlin all got way more out of their teams than what was projected. I know the schedule is brutal, but I don't care. No more laying down. No more defeatist attitudes. Though not the same as it used to be, we are still Tennessee, and if we ever want to get back to the way things were, we're going to have to start demanding more. Beat someone you're not supposed to. Expectation: 8 wins for reg. season.

2. Top 30 defense

This may seem like a very bold prediction, but like I mentioned in the first paragraph, I believe the coaching was such a hinderance to the talent we had. Going back to a simpler 4-3 defense will do wonders for them IMO. Virtually everybody returning from the 2011 defense which was top 30. Not expecting them to set the world on fire, but definitely expecting them to be respectable.

3. Top 40 offense

There's no question that we lose a lot on offense. However, we return one of if not THE best lines in the country. Both top running backs return. We will stay up-tempo; however, I think we will run way more as it should be the strength of the offense. Some dynamic and potentially explosive players such as Pig Howard and Devrin Young could really be electric in this offense if Coach Bajakian is fond of the screen game which I imagine he will be. I also predict Peterman will beat out Worley just based on mobility. That one will be interesting to watch though. Need some WRs like Dallas, Carter, Croom and Bowles to step up. A new system combined with a lot of inexperience at the skill positions leads to this prediction. However, with this type of system (up-tempo, spread), we still should rack up some yards.

Projected Starters

Offense
QB - Peterman
RB - Neal
WR - Dallas, Croom
Slot - Pig
TE - Downs
OL (5) - Tiny, Jackson, Stone, Fulton, James

Defense

DE - Sentimore, Williams
DT - McCullers, Couch
LB - Johnson, Maggitt, Sapp/Harris/Bynum
CB- Coleman, Bonner/Gray/Jones (not sure on Gray/Bonner status)
S - Randolph, McNeil

Special Teams

K - Palardy
P - Palardy/Darr
 
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#2
#2
Just because you wish something, doesn't make it true. Better you get some logical thoughts in your head and look at it without orange goggles.
 
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#5
#5
So you all really think 8 wins is fantasy land? It may be a stretch, but I think next year's squad is going to surprise some people. I think Butch Jones brings a winning attitude with him and is going to find a way to win some games we're not supposed to. Realistic expectations says we'll win 6-7 games. I said 8. Beat who we're supposed to plus maybe 1 or 2 more. I don't consider that fantasy land.
 
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#7
#7
VOLCLASSOF2014 said:
So you all really think 8 wins is fantasy land? It may be a stretch, but I think next year's squad is going to surprise some people. I think Butch Jones brings a winning attitude with him and is going to find a way to win some games we're not supposed to. Realistic expectations says we'll win 6-7 games. I said 8. Beat who we're supposed to plus maybe 1 or 2 more. I don't consider that fantasy land.
Click to expand...

Pretty much what I'm thinking as well.
 
#10
#10
I just want to see a team that carries itself better. I want to see a team that is more disciplined and fundamentally sound than what we've been seeing. A team that goes into games believing and expecting to win...and plays like it.

That, more than anything, will make me optimistic going forward. You have to lay a foundation before you can start building.
 
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#11
#11
If we win 8 games then butch jones should be COY and hailed as next Saban. I love the attitude but 8 wins is a stretch. I'll be happy with a bowl game. That'd be a great start for bUTch
 
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#18
#18
Here is the problem with the OP line of thinking. We as fans are naturally close to our team in terms of what is going on with our team. The problem is our competitors are not static, see Vandy. So as we improve you must take in to account so are our competitors.

Three things that can give a struggling team a giant leap in the BCS landscape.
1. A ground breaking recruit, Cam Newton, Johnny Football, Clowney, Bo Jackson, Lattimore, Tebow, Hershel Walker etc. .
2. A favorable schedule
3. A home run break through coaching staff, see Sumlin, Chip and Brian Kelly, Saban, Meyer,
3a. A back to back top 10 recruiting class
Now review where we are and see how many of the above we are likely to acheive.
 
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#19
#19
there are so many unknowns going into this year, predicting anything is pointless. i hope for a bowl game and a reputation of a team that scraps.
 
#20
#20
VOLCLASSOF2014 said:
I just wanted to give my perspective of how I see things for next year.

1. I'm not settling

I know we have had an excruciating last 5 years. However, some of you all are underestimating the talent on the team. It is my opinion that the coaching really was THAT bad. Good coaches get the most out of what they have, which in our case I think is more than we realize. Muschamp, Franklin, Freeze and Sumlin all got way more out of their teams than what was projected. I know the schedule is brutal, but I don't care. No more laying down. No more defeatist attitudes. Though not the same as it used to be, we are still Tennessee, and if we ever want to get back to the way things were, we're going to have to start demanding more. Beat someone you're not supposed to. Expectation: 8 wins for reg. season.

2. Top 30 defense

This may seem like a very bold prediction, but like I mentioned in the first paragraph, I believe the coaching was such a hinderance to the talent we had. Going back to a simpler 4-3 defense will do wonders for them IMO. Virtually everybody returning from the 2011 defense which was top 30. Not expecting them to set the world on fire, but definitely expecting them to be respectable.

3. Top 40 offense

There's no question that we lose a lot on offense. However, we return one of if not THE best lines in the country. Both top running backs return. We will stay up-tempo; however, I think we will run way more as it should be the strength of the offense. Some dynamic and potentially explosive players such as Pig Howard and Devrin Young could really be electric in this offense if Coach Bajakian is fond of the screen game which I imagine he will be. I also predict Peterman will beat out Worley just based on mobility. That one will be interesting to watch though. Need some WRs like Dallas, Carter, Croom and Bowles to step up. A new system combined with a lot of inexperience at the skill positions leads to this prediction. However, with this type of system (up-tempo, spread), we still should rack up some yards.

Projected Starters

Offense
QB - Peterman
RB - Neal
WR - Dallas, Croom
Slot - Pig
TE - Downs
OL (5) - Tiny, Jackson, Stone, Fulton, James

Defense

DE - Sentimore, Williams
DT - McCullers, Couch
LB - Johnson, Maggitt, Sapp/Harris/Bynum
CB- Coleman, Bonner/Gray/Jones (not sure on Gray/Bonner status)
S - Randolph, McNeil

Special Teams

K - Palardy
P - Palardy/Darr
Click to expand...

of many Koolaide drinkers. Mediocrity has set in and will continue until we start recruiting better. Sad but true and our team is not full of talent like you say. Maybe 3 players could start for upper echelon teams. We are slow, weak on the back 7 and don't have a clue whether this staff can change that. Dooley's recruiting was a disaster from top to bottom. In short if someone had been paying him to screw us they got their money's worth.
 
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#21
#21
utvolkyle06 said:
Here is the problem with the OP line of thinking. We as fans are naturally close to our team in terms of what is going on with our team. The problem is our competitors are not static, see Vandy. So as we improve you must tak in to account so are our competitors.

Three things that can give a struggling team a giant leap in the BCS landscape.
1. A ground breaking recruit, Cam Newton, Johnny Football, Clowney, Bo Jackson, Lattimore, Tebow etc.
2. A favorable schedule
3. A home run break through coaching staff, see Sumlin, Chip and Brian Kelly, Saban, Meyer,
3a. A back to back top 10 recruiting class
Now review where we are and see how many of the above we are likely to acheive.
Click to expand...

This is my nominee for POY (Post of the Year). I hear fans of a lot of schools making wild predictions every year, ours included, without taking into consideration the list you provided. Logic 101.
 
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#22
#22
I think 6 wins in the max for this team. I would not be shocked at all if UT won only 4 games all year. I'm not being a Debbie Downer, but you have to look at what CBJ has to clean up before he has his system of play fully installed.

1. No Bray, Hunter, or Patterson (try running a spread-type offense with little or no big time play makers). It spells disaster and a TON of turnovers and plays for negative yards.
2. A brand new offensive style that these current players have never played before (I think this will have a negative impact on the O-line).
2.5 No big-time running back to make the spread offense work. Having Patterson would have been a HUGE boost taking pressure off the running back situation.
3. No quarterback-leader (since we dont even know which of our sub-par QBs will actually get the job
4. The defense, which was uprooted into a 3-4 defense now has to go BACK to 4-3 and all the mistakes that go along with switching defensive schemes will continue
5. Having to play at Oregon, Florida, and Bama will be tough on our kid's confidence, especially since the Florida and Oregon games are so early in the year.

I think anywhere from 4-8 to 6-6 is completely realistic for this team next year.
 
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#23
#23
This is the dumbest post I have seen in a while.

MWAVolfan said:
I think 6 wins in the max for this team. I would not be shocked at all if UT won only 4 games all year. I'm not being a Debbie Downer, but you have to look at what CBJ has to clean up before he has his system of play fully installed.

1. No Bray, Hunter, or Patterson (try running a spread-type offense with little or no big time play makers). It spells disaster and a TON of turnovers and plays for negative yards.
2. A brand new offensive style that these current players have never played before (I think this will have a negative impact on the O-line).
2.5 No big-time running back to make the spread offense work. Having Patterson would have been a HUGE boost taking pressure off the running back situation.
3. No quarterback-leader (since we dont even know which of our sub-par QBs will actually get the job
4. The defense, which was uprooted into a 3-4 defense now has to go BACK to 4-3 and all the mistakes that go along with switching defensive schemes will continue
5. Having to play at Oregon, Florida, and Bama will be tough on our kid's confidence, especially since the Florida and Oregon games are so early in the year.

I think anywhere from 4-8 to 6-6 is completely realistic for this team next year.
Click to expand...
 
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#24
#24
My Goals: 1. Bowl game
2. Signature win vs. GA, USCe(either one)
3. 2-1 vs. Missouri, Vandy and Auburn
4. Respectable showing vs. BAMA, FLA, AND OREGON. (National stage and would help recruiting).

With a break or two, we are closer than most think. Defense must be better (it cannot get worse). Offense will be solid with line as base. CBJ sees the need for speed in overall team.
 
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#25
#25
He is right. With what Tennessee has lost in talent to NFL. Plus the schedule, Tennessee ceiling is 6 wins. Anything over that and CBJ is the best coach in the league. I will gladly eat alot of crow if wrong.
 
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