National Analyst Believes Tennessee Football Can Make CFP

[vegasvolfan]

"Tennessee, saw them last week. Super deep on the defensive line, deeper in the secondary than we thought they were going to be, deeper at receiver than we probably thought they were going to be. They need some injury luck on the offensive line. They need to stay healthy on the offensive line to be as good as they can be. But I feel like that’s a team that can play with anybody if Nico is as good as we think he’s going to be." On3's Andy Staples on Tennessee

National Analyst Believes Tennessee Football Can Make CFP

On3's Andy Staples said he believes the Tennessee Volunteers could make the College Football Playoff in an expanded field this season. The Tennessee Volunteers

www.si.com

I feel like we should have spent a ton of money on OL. Mays is injured a lot and who else do we have that is playing at a championship level? Too late to get any transfers?

 

[stolitonic]

Bama is going down in '24. Wouldn't be surprised if we upset UGA.

I think we get Bama this year. Georgia may be a tall order-would take a perfect game from us. If we're going to the playoffs, we will have to see them again. If we're gonna have to play a perfect game to beat the Dogs, I would rather that game be for all the marbles and not a regular season game.

Bama is a huge question mark. I don't think anyone knows what they are going to be this year. Especially Bama.

 

[OrangeTsar]

I feel like we should have spent a ton of money on OL. Mays is injured a lot and who else do we have that is playing at a championship level? Too late to get any transfers?

I thought we did spend pretty highly on the OL. That kids from LSU didn’t come cheaply I don’t believe

 

[OrangeTsar]

Despite myself I keep getting the feeling that their is something different about this team, in a good way.

Me too. Then I remind myself that I feel the same way every off season

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I think we get Bama this year. Georgia may be a tall order-would take a perfect game from us. If we're going to the playoffs, we will have to see them again. If we're gonna have to play a perfect game to beat the Dogs, I would rather that game be for all the marbles and not a regular season game.

Bama is a huge question mark. I don't think anyone knows what they are going to be this year. Especially Bama.

Yeah, I would feel better about our shot against UGA on a neutral field in the playoffs than during the regular season in Athens.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Been a minute since we had a lock down corner that doesn't need help over the top. Makes defensive calls SO MUCH easier and bringing that free safety on 3rd down might just get us off the field with regularity

From reading the face of Heupel, I believe his is expecting a rally good year this Fall. He is smiling more than I have seen in the first three years he has been here. He has the face of a very confident man.

 

[JCHateSteve]

Me too. Then I remind myself that I feel the same way every off season

Right.

Still there seems to be a quite confidence in the coaches and it players that I haven't seen a long time. But I'm probably setting myself up for a fall.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

I feel like we should have spent a ton of money on OL. Mays is injured a lot and who else do we have that is playing at a championship level? Too late to get any transfers?

Heard was a big spend and I believe they spent a ton to keep Campbell and a couple other guys from either moving on to the NFL or elsewhere? Depth is still a concern though.

 

[Ernie McCracken]

GBO

 

[FBtime]

More importantly Vegas thinks we may make it. +172

Nice but that's not THAT great...

The implied win probability of +172 odds is 36.76%

 

[JohnWardForever]

I talked with a Tennessee Fan in Mobile last week , (Saw the Big Orange T in the back glass of his Truck, pulled over and went in the store to meet the guy) And we talked a few minutes about the Vols making the 12 team playoff. I see that T everywhere. Go Vols!

 

[sjt18]

While I appreciate the positivity, I'm having a hard time understanding the statement about being deeper at secondary.

He said deeper than "we" thought they were going to be.

Just like most teams, that probably means UT is vulnerable if they catch the injury bug but if their first two at each position stay healthy then they're good.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Nice but that's not THAT great...

The implied win probability of +172 odds is 36.76%

I listened to the podcast where this quote came from. Staples says he thinks we can make it but can’t win it. We’re in a category along w/ Ole Miss, Mizzou, Penn State and a couple of others teams .

If anyone is looking for a good podcast to listen to Staples On3 podcast is one of the best out there.

 

[SpookyAction]

I have been extremely skeptical about losing secondary starters in exchange for more undeveloped athleticism, but I am believing it now. That is the missing piece for this defense and they can be good with consistent pass rush pressure and decent run defense. Maybe really good.
It definitely feels good having studs two deep up front. We are approaching our mid 2000s defensive talent levels.

 

[WillisWG]

With seven new defensive backs in the secondary room, there’s been plenty of early movement between positions (cornerback, safety, STAR) as the coaching staff looks to set up each player in the position that will best fit their strengths and weaknesses. Banks told the media that Carter was one of the guys they have moved around early on, seeing where he fits best.

'Boo Carter is Special': Tennessee Freshman Showing Up in the Vols' Spring Camp | Rocky Top Insider

Tennessee freshman defensive back Boo Carter is turning heads all over the field through the first 10 workouts of the Vols' spring camp.

www.rockytopinsider.com

 

[wrharvey21]

...You could probably get into the playoffs easy with a 10-2 record.

Lose the OU game and you're gonna have to take down Bama, Georgia, or perhaps both to make it.

Is there even any point in going to the playoffs if you can't beat at least one of them though? No chance you go from losing to both to beating both. Especially if the losses are like last year.

 

[RAVOL]

Heath is big for OL if they do stay healthy offense will put up huge numbers. GA has the only D to hold down this offense as I believe Bama again lost much to NFL and its in Neyland. Oklahoma we put up 35+ .So if DB's are improved 24 looking very promising. In CHRIST Alone

 

[NighthawkVol]

While I appreciate the positivity, I'm having a hard time understanding the statement about being deeper at secondary.

Why? Hadden only played half of last season. Slaughter was a liability when he played, which was rare. GJL was solid, but not athletic enough to play press man. Tank was terrible at taking angles and too slow. McDonald was meh. Wes Walker was hit and miss, but not SEC-level athletic.

We added Jermod McCoy, a freshman All American last year. Ricky Gibson is big and athletic and will play in the NFL. Prototypical CB. Jourdan Thomas gives Tennessee a huge athleticism upgrade at Star over McDonald. Jakobe Thomas > Tank. An improved Turrentine should be an upgrade over Walker (started to show that last year). Throw in Boo Carter, John Slaughter (probably the most athletic Safety on the team), and Jalen McMurray, and this group shapes up to be an improved group. Everyone who has seen practice has reported on the improvement in the secondary and its athleticism. This means the play calling can be more of what Banks wants to do.

Basically, we lost a bunch of guys who was average to mediocre SEC players (other than Hadden, who again, only played the first half of the season), and replace them with guys who fit the bill of being the kind of big athletic DBs required in the SEC.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Why? Hadden only played half of last season. Slaughter was a liability when he played, which was rare. GJL was solid, but not athletic enough to play press man. Tank was terrible at taking angles and too slow. McDonald was meh. Wes Walker was hit and miss, but not SEC-level athletic.

We added Jermod McCoy, a freshman All American last year. Ricky Gibson is big and athletic and will play in the NFL. Prototypical CB. Jourdan Thomas gives Tennessee a huge athleticism upgrade at Star over McDonald. Jakobe Thomas > Tank. An improved Turrentine should be an upgrade over Walker (started to show that last year). Throw in Boo Carter, John Slaughter (probably the most athletic Safety on the team), and Jalen McMurray, and this group shapes up to be an improved group. Everyone who has seen practice has reported on the improvement in the secondary and its athleticism. This means the play calling can be more of what Banks wants to do.

Basically, we lost a bunch of guys who was average to mediocre SEC players (other than Hadden, who again, only played the first half of the season), and replace them with guys who fit the bill of being the kind of big athletic DBs required in the SEC.

Willie Martinez is really gonna piss me off if he avoids getting fired AGAIN this year just because he has the best defensive backfield in the SEC. Chafes my chipotles thinking about it.

Heh.

Go Vols!

 

[Tennman]

I will bet money right now we only win the games we have more points. Book It!!!

well, that but be the safest bet possible

 

[87&91ALUM]

Every time, every year, some expert says we are going to be "really good" or "win the CFB", or some other grand guess and we struggle, key players get hurt, rosy becomes tarnished by reality. I love the Vols and want them to compete for the NATTY every year. Let's chill on the prognostications and let this play itself out on the field. Go Vols! Oh...I will believe we are headed to the top when we have a secondary/defense that can stop the folks already playing at the top and score more points than our opponents that seem to get to the top every freaking year. We have Oklahoma and UGA on the road and Florida and Bama at home this year. That is a tough mountain to climb. Thankful we do not have Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss on our schedule this year.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Every time, every year, some expert says we are going to be "really good" or "win the CFB", or some other grand guess and we struggle, key players get hurt, rosy becomes tarnished by reality. I love the Vols and want them to compete for the NATTY every year. Let's chill on the prognostications and let this play itself out on the field. Go Vols! Oh...I will believe we are headed to the top when we have a secondary/defense that can stop the folks already playing at the top and score more points than our opponents that seem to get to the top every freaking year. We have Oklahoma and UGA on the road and Florida and Bama at home this year. That is a tough mountain to climb. Thankful we do not have Texas, LSU, and Ole Miss on our schedule this year.

Friend, show me a link to ONE expert, any expert, who said we were going to "win the CFB" in 2018. Or 2019. Or 2020. Or 2021. Or even 2022, before the season started (lots jumped on board as the year played out).

Point is, no: "some expert" doesn't say that "every year."

This year is different. Something's building. We're about to break out. This expert feels it. I feel it. Lots of other folks can sense it, too. I'm sorry you can't.

Go Vols!

 

[87&91ALUM]

Friend, show me a link to ONE expert, any expert, who said we were going to "win the CFB" in 2018. Or 2019. Or 2020. Or 2021. Or even 2022, before the season started (lots jumped on board as the year played out).

Point is, no: "some expert" doesn't say that "every year."

This year is different. Something's building. We're about to break out. This expert feels it. I feel it. Lots of other folks can sense it, too. I'm sorry you can't.

Go Vols!

Friend? Last time we won the Natty was in 1998 and before that 1951. You obviously do not read VN very often. I quoted someone who was talking us winning it all and posted today. We can't beat UGA and Bama consistently yet, what makes you think we can win the Natty playing Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss, Florida, and all the rest of our challengers? I would love to see us win a Natty in 2024/2025 but, I sure haven't seen anything that gave me that confidence yet. "Feels it". LOL! Pick VN from any year it has existed and you will find someone who is talking great success and NATTYs. I'm a realist. College football championship odds: Latest NCAAF winner betting.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Friend? Last time we won the Natty was in 1998 and before that 1951. You obviously do not read VN very often. I quoted someone who was talking us winning it all and posted today. We can't beat UGA and Bama consistently yet, what makes you think we can win the Natty playing Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss, Florida, and all the rest of our challengers? I would love to see us win a Natty in 2024/2025 but, I sure haven't seen anything that gave me that confidence yet. "Feels it". LOL! Pick VN from any year it has existed and you will find someone who is talking great success and NATTYs. I'm a realist. College football championship odds: Latest NCAAF winner betting.

I think it’s a very tall task to win a national title. However, as of right now April 5th I’d love the opportunity to see these teams in the CFP that have better odds than we do. This includes LSU, who is at +1400

 

[87&91ALUM]

I think it’s a very tall task to win a national title. However, as of right now April 5th I’d love the opportunity to see these teams in the CFP that have better odds than we do. This includes LSU, who is at +1400
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Don't get me wrong, all Vol. Just gotta get it all together and strike fear in the hearts of opponents to make that step up.