My thoughts going in

[tnwayback]

I think it's all going to depend on keeping injuries down to a minimum. If we get lucky and not get too many guys hurt, I think this team has the potential for 8 wins. If we stay healthy, I'm going to say 8-5 (including a bowl win). If we suffer a bunch of injuries, I'm saying 5-7 again.

I think the injury affect on the team will also depend on who more so than how many.

 

[Other_Guy]

I have similar concerns with many about the O-Line and D-Line however, I learned a lesson last season. Going into last season I thought my Vols would be a surprise team based on the seniority and talent on the O-Line.

When we couldn't get one yard running the ball on third down VS. Candy I learned that our O-Line from last year was vastly overrated. They did pass protect pretty well but that's about all.

I think and hope that this seasons O-Line and D-Line are being undervalued. I don't believe we will (lose) much from our running game anyway.

JMO

They had the best rushing total in 10 yeara. They were. a wonderful line. They couldbt pick up 1 yard cuz Dobbs who couldn't hit the ocean if he was standing in it was at QB. Not to mention bad QB play all year
Teams knew they could only run yet they still managed to run the beat in 10 years. Can you explain that?

 

[Vols_74]

They had the best rushing total in 10 yeara. They were. a wonderful line. They couldbt pick up 1 yard cuz Dobbs who couldn't hit the ocean if he was standing in it was at QB. Not to mention bad QB play all year
Teams knew they could only run yet they still managed to run the beat in 10 years. Can you explain that?

I assume you are talking about yards/rush? In 2007 and 2009 our RB rushed for more yards and TD than 2013 with a little less yd/rush. Had a good yd/rush at 5.25 this past season but I believe much of that is due to running the spread.

Same line in 2012 put up a yd/rush of 3.83

Dobbs is not the reason our O-Line couldn't get 1 yd VS. Candy. I have no idea why a QB would be the reason you can't get one yard VS Candy. Even if they put 11 on the LOS, "the greatest line in UT history" should be able to get that yard.

IMO

 

[Other_Guy]

I assume you are talking about yards/rush? In 2007 and 2009 our RB rushed for more yards and TD than 2013 with a little less yd/rush. Had a good yd/rush at 5.25 this past season but I believe much of that is due to running the spread.

Same line in 2012 put up a yd/rush of 3.83

Dobbs is not the reason our O-Line couldn't get 1 yd VS. Candy. I have no idea why a QB would be the reason you can't get one yard VS Candy. Even if they put 11 on the LOS, "the greatest line in UT history" should be able to get that yard.

IMO

Are you saying the yards per rush doesnt matter? Air Force is going to have more rushing yards than UT but if they have less yards per rush, is that a win? Just means they arent passing, etc.

So we put an * mark because they ran the spread?

That same OL in 2012 was younger, other variables. I dont care what they did then. Im talking about last year.

The reason for the idea is the same reason they lost the game. Had Worley played they would have won that game. When you have a 3rd string QB in and no passing game you can't always blame the OL for not picking up the 1st down. I promise I get what you're saying. That OL always had a tough time getting short yardage but last year the offense took a big drop off from Bray and Co and it showed. Those guys wouldnt be playing in a few weeks on Sundays if they were as awful as some of the posters are saying on here.

I get your point. I wanted to kill Tiny for his penalties and the short yardage the last few years have made me scratch my head, but everyone told Tyler Bray "good riddance you underperformed" and you see how the next year went. If you put too much faith in this new OL you will be dissapointed.

Hope you're right tho! :hi:

 

[VolStrom]

It's not like we're starting all freshman on the OL. We have some guys that are into the second year with the same staff. The veteran line last year couldn't say that.

I'll take a look and see attitude this year with the line, but I don't think we're going to see much, if any drop off.

 

[chuckb1448]

The potential is there for 8 wins and a COY award to Jones as well as the trenches keeping the Vols from a bowl appearance again. Heres my feeling on some key things.

I think the further into the season we get the more the (resurrected) passing game comes into play. The improvement of Worley is underrated IMHO. The best part about him and this new OL is that he didn't ever seem to get rattled. He needs to be cool so this OL can gel and stay confident. Perhaps qhat separates him the Dobbs amd Pete.

I've stated my.opinion many times on the big dropoff on the OL that says a lot of you will be dissapointed. Still, an actual passing game greatly benefits these guys so that defenses won't load the box on expected run plays.

I think we have the best group of WRs in the SEC.

I love Hurd, but Lane will start every game and we will probably see a Lane>Neal playing time debate that I.wont agree with.

Improved LB and secondary play plus a better offense will help this DL out. They will cost them the game late when teams neded to grind it out but with the depleted passing games across the SEC these guys can play to the run a little more and I am confident tthey won't get run over all game.

Really excited about the secpndary play against many a new QBs.

Bama is going to disapoint their fans. :dance2:

Let the season begin!

As far as the RB it should all come down to who can perform. Lane has been here and can do what is needed I believe.. but no one man can run all the time. Hurd will get his chance, he is a Freshman.. in a year we will be saying who is running behind Hurd. I say put the best out there.. if it Is Hurd then go with it.. this is a TEAM effort.

 

[RockyTopTitans]

Our OL aint gonna be as good as it was last year, but i think they'll be fine

 

[Other_Guy]

As far as the RB it should all come down to who can perform. Lane has been here and can do what is needed I believe.. but no one man can run all the time. Hurd will get his chance, he is a Freshman.. in a year we will be saying who is running behind Hurd. I say put the best out there.. if it Is Hurd then go with it.. this is a TEAM effort.

Agreed Hurd may even reach 50/50 split but Ill be shocked if he over takes Lane. Both are going to have to fight for yardage.

 

[Vols_74]

Are you saying the yards per rush doesnt matter? Air Force is going to have more rushing yards than UT but if they have less yards per rush, is that a win? Just means they arent passing, etc.

So we put an * mark because they ran the spread?

That same OL in 2012 was younger, other variables. I dont care what they did then. Im talking about last year.

The reason for the idea is the same reason they lost the game. Had Worley played they would have won that game. When you have a 3rd string QB in and no passing game you can't always blame the OL for not picking up the 1st down. I promise I get what you're saying. That OL always had a tough time getting short yardage but last year the offense took a big drop off from Bray and Co and it showed. Those guys wouldnt be playing in a few weeks on Sundays if they were as awful as some of the posters are saying on here.

I get your point. I wanted to kill Tiny for his penalties and the short yardage the last few years have made me scratch my head, but everyone told Tyler Bray "good riddance you underperformed" and you see how the next year went. If you put too much faith in this new OL you will be dissapointed.

Hope you're right tho! :hi:

Obviously yards/rush matters but it is not the only variable. No I am not putting asterisk on anything. I'm just saying I think the spread helped us get to the yard/rush we attained last year. I know Dobbs didn't play well against Candy but he was a Freshman. We had a senior laden oline and 5 star jr in tiny with a chance to get to 6-6 and bowl game on 3rd and 1 vs Candy and they couldn't get it. That's what I'm saying. We underperformed on the oline last year. They should have lead the team and taken over the vandy game last year. JMO.

Maybe I'm too hard on them since I played O-line.

Bray has nothin to do with this discussion.

I think we will have a similar yard/rush this year. I just hope they can get the 1 yard they are supposed to.

 

[Rooster1]

It will all come down to the O-line and D-line. They will need to play well and stay healthy to give UT a chance to make a bowl game. In football without good line play on both sides of the ball, the rest of the scheme falls apart.

Vols will make a bowl. I have stated this over and over, but it takes 6 for a bowl, and Vols have 6 minimum in the bag. 3 OOC wins, KY, Vandy and Mizzou at home. Plus an upset or two along the way. Vols are going bowling. No way around it.

 

[Other_Guy]

Obviously yards/rush matters but it is not the only variable. No I am not putting asterisk on anything. I'm just saying I think the spread helped us get to the yard/rush we attained last year. I know Dobbs didn't play well against Candy but he was a Freshman. We had a senior laden oline and 5 star jr in tiny with a chance to get to 6-6 and bowl game on 3rd and 1 vs Candy and they couldn't get it. That's what I'm saying. We underperformed on the oline last year. They should have lead the team and taken over the vandy game last year. JMO.

Maybe I'm too hard on them since I played O-line.

Bray has nothin to do with this discussion.

I think we will have a similar yard/rush this year. I just hope they can get the 1 yard they are supposed to.

I'm sure this OL will have a better time picking up short yardage, but I'm not confident they will be playing at their best abilty by the FL game which is a game this team really needs to win. Forget GA or SC.

 

[PowerT83]

The oline won't be as talented but its year 2 in the system for most and they may end up looking better than last year's bunch.

I thought the same way about the oline in CDD's second year too and I was wrong.

I don't know much about the defensive line, just that Butch been cruitin'. Dt and De seem to be positions that young players can come in be big impact players pretty quick.

 

[Hamptonvolfan]

I This group doesn't have the natural athleticism of last year's group

UT had the most athletic OL in the SEC last fall.

OL last OK in straight ahead man blocking, not so much in zone blocking and getting to second level. NFL combine did not demonstrate that much athleticism. This year line should be much better at zone blocks and line stunts. Can't wait to see if quickness overcomes the lack of size. Newton's second law of motion favors speed over mass.

 

[JoeltonVol]

I'd say 8-4 is possible, I would be "happy" with 7-5, satisfied with 6-6 (bc of a bowl game finally), and anything less than that would be very disappointing.

 

[tarvol73]

I think that, insofar as the OL is concerned, everybody is forgetting the importance of reps. The line, last year, had less than a year with this staff when the season started. They had a lot of experience, but under how many O line coaches?

This O line, the C, LG, LT, and RT have been in this system for nearly two years and have played. Robertson is a freak from a great HS program. The O line has been working with these TBs and the QBs as well...etc.

OL will not be a problem.


As for the D, and the DL, well the ends are stacked. We have Maggitt, Vereen, Barnett, Hendrix, Miller, Vickers, Weatherd is passing downs. That is much more than we had last year, and LB and the sec are much,much improved from depth and talent.

DTs are a concern, but again it's not that they havent played.