Next Year Compared to This Year

#52
#52
LWSVOL said:
someone assumed that because they signed the FAAs. All that document does is guarantees them a scholarship once they enroll.

I believe several will get in but as Patterson proved, you can never be certain. the kids always say they will get in early but until grades come out, unknown IMO
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Gotcha
 
#53
#53
6-6 next year. We just have a rough schedule(like we do every year). Hope the new guys can handle it.
 
#54
#54
Schedule is about the same as last year...At OK replacing at OR, at Ole Miss replacing AUB, Tough Utah St and Ark St replacing WKY and Sbama.

Oline will be tenuous the first few games but Jackson, Crowder and Wiesman are all solid.

DL will be 3/4 new with only Saulsberry and Vereen returning but we are getting in some studs who will play right away. Big Dan was a bit of a disappointment this year.

LBs we will have Maggitt, Maybin and possibly AJ back plus high quality and speedy recruits. They will be solid, especially if AJ returns.

Secondary will be solid with Sutton, Adoree Jackson (I got a feeling here), TKelly, Berry Power and Randolph. I think McNeil will need to go to Nickel or LB.

QB will be interesting to call. I expect two of three best QBs to share time behind the center (Maybe Ferg for passing downs and Dobbs for run/pass combo. But I won't rule out Worley as he did start to get into a grove after FL game.

WR will be talented and deep. We have a deep pool of about 8 we can go to with North, Croom, Malone, and Pig leading the way.

TE needs to improve and maybe the recruits or injured TEs can step it up next year.

RB will be good to great: If Hurd is healthy, that will be a big plus, Lane will be good too if he stays healthy and out of trouble. I would like to see more Summerhill, he could be a Darien Sproles type back. Alden Hill looked real good in Spring game, then disappeared. Pickett might be another diamond in the rough.

New kicker and punter, cross your fingers!

Not counting early defections for the draft, FL, SC and bamer aren't losing many players. GA is losing a lot of offense, Vandy is losing all their key ball handlers and defenders. I do expect some key draft defections from USCe (3+), FL (3+), and bammer (4+).

I expect a low of 6-6 and a high of 9-3 (very optimistic I know). We should beat Chat, Ark St, Ky, Utah St and Vandy. Ole Miss, UGA, FL, Mizzou will be somewhat even matchups. USCe, bammer, OK we will be underdogs.
 
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#55
#55
Oh and we are gonna Curb Stomp somebody in a bowl game. I hope it is ohio state, oregon or miami. Or payback to an ACC team that embarrassed us recently.
 
#58
#58
GBOVOLS said:
Outside of RB I don't see any Freshman starting on any side of ball. That's the fans who deem freshman starters before getting on campus. Of our LBs one will be sophomore, Our DB's will be mostly upperclassmen, and our DL upperclassmen. On offense outside of Hurd and Malone everyone won't be freshman.
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Would not surprise me at all to see Dillon Bates and Todd Kelly Jr starting on defense at least at some point in the season!
 
#60
#60
I know we will be young and have a very tough schedule. We will be better in the QB position though, no matter who starts between Ferguson, Dobb, or Worley. Although, Imo, I think we will be much better with Riley Ferguson starting. We have more elite receivers and with North, Croom and the other wide receivers that have been in the system for a year and have more experience on the college level, as well. In addition, Josh Malone and Lavon Pearson will be absolute playmakers for the Vols! Our running game will be improved. Our line will not be as experienced, but will be solid. Add Hurd, maybe Scott, Powell, or Williams to go along with Lane is an instant upgrade and elite true freshman running backs often step in to play extremely well. Tight end position will be immediately improved as soon as Ethan Wolf and Helm coming in. Our defense and special teams will be instantly improved too! One word, speed. It will be all over the field and we will see our defense swarming to the ball. We will have more speed returning kickoffs and punts than we have had in a long long time. Then we have Medley to replace Palardy. Palardy was solid this year, but I will take that swap. We are always going to have a hard schedule being in the SEC. That's never going to change. The thing that's going to change next year though is you have a group of kids coming in that not only believe in themselves, the coaching staff, and they believe in the guy standing next to them!

(8 games in Tennessee)
Utah State (Knoxville) W
Arkansas St (Knoxville) W
at Oklahoma (Norman, OK) Toss up
at Georgia (Athens, Ga) Toss up
Florida (Knoxville) Guess you could say toss up here - W
Chattanooga (Knoxville) W
at Ole Miss (Oxford, MS) Toss up - W
Alabama (Knoxville) - L - I think it will be better though
at South Carolina (Columbia, SC) Toss up - W
Kentucky (Knoxville) W
at Vanderbilt (Nashville) W - I'm going to say we beat them next year, because of our young talent will really want it along with our Seniors. Our offense will never look as bad as they did in that game.

That's 5 wins without the toss up games. I'll say we win beat Florida next year, possibly Georgia or Oklahoma (maybe both), Ole Miss, and USCe. Is it unreasonable to think we can win at least 2 more out of this group to go 7-5. I definitely think we can do that. Maybe if we develop, get our system down, and have solid QB play who knows: 8-4 and a dream season 10-2. It's possible! Just look at Auburn and Missouri!
 
#62
#62
Rockytoptalker said:
He's already got a great start on the 15 class.

Consider that point considered.
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My point was having a legacy class like we do, it is much easier to hold the class together during a rough season. Couple that with the fact that the program was a mess and it's easy for Butch to sell the brick by brick plan. This next class may not buy into what he is selling if the plan doesn't result in a few more wins.
Just my opinion.
 
#63
#63
sjt18 said:
That IS good and I do think the instate HSFB is improving. But Tn has had that many 4/5* players before. It runs in cycles. You need to see several years of consistently more before saying it has risen.

It isn't a trend yet.

Right now he's selling a dream. He can do that. In two more years he has to start dealing with reality. If he has a losing record and is on a hot seat in a couple of years... then he can no longer do that. No one can.

If it takes him that long to get to 7 or 8 wins then he ain't the guy to bring championships back to UT. If your goal is to be a 2nd tier team "hoping" to make a bowl game each year then I guess we just don't have the same hopes and expectations.

So staying on a dead end road is better than realizing you are on a dead end road and changing direction? If he cannot get it done in 3 or 4 years then just like with Dooley... the lost revenues will justify the buyouts. Just DON'T give extensions on the buyout terms until the prove they can win.



He gets time. He gets 3 years to prove he can coach. That is very reasonable AND it is what is best for the program if he can't prove himself in that amount of time. The risks of keeping someone who isn't a winner is greater than the risk of potentially firing someone who might win give 5+ years. MOST great coaches improve the W/L record in their first year at a new job. Virtually all have turned things around within 3 years.
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Last response was dead on, 3 years is enough to find out and not realizing on dead end road is worse than staying on one just to say you have stability.
 
#65
#65
The big thing is that a lot of these guys coming in are EEs. That makes a huge difference. Malone Hurd Blair Lambert Pearson among other of our impact JUCOs are all EEs. These guys may very well be more prepared than we might think.
I think all of this is going to ride on Dobbs or whoever is playing QB. If we have solid QB play then I think we can surprise some folks. I think Malone starts day one. We have to many problems at wide receiver for him to not step in right away. Pearson will also get big PT. If hurd is half the hype and if lane can stay healthy, then him and lane will be a good 1-2 combo.
Our returning online may not be all pros but they will have another year in the system and I think they will be better than we expect. Like I said, it all rides on the QB.
 
#68
#68
Rockytoptalker said:
And you think we're going to get better hires by giving our coaches the boot every couple of seasons?
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Even recruits know it is a business, when considering schools. 3 maybe 4 years is expected to show you are a contender not pretender imo. 4th year as long as improving year to year, by then if he has improved year to year we will be in SEC championship game.
 
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#69
#69
volnpowell said:
Even recruits know it is a business, when considering schools. 3 maybe 4 years is expected to show you are a contender not pretender imo. 4th year as long as improving year to year, by then if he has improved year to year we will be in SEC championship game.
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My point is that no coach that is any good at all would ever leave a somewhat comfortable situation to come to UT if they're only going to get 3 seasons to turn around a train wreck in the toughest conference in the country.

That's why we're doomed to repeat this pattern of mediocrity.
 
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#71
#71
Several Years from now, UT will no longer stand for Under Talented....and the curse will be broken
 
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#72
#72
sjt18 said:
How about NOT being an idiot by exaggerating the words of other people, OK? I'm not sure I have interacted with you so I am sorry for being so harsh to you personally but the hyperbole and strawmen are getting VERY tiring from folks like you. If you can't make honest comments then that says a lot about the position you are trying to defend.

The only way you can get rid of a coach after 1 or 2 years is if they violate the rules or do something illegal/immoral. You have to give them 3. But look around at the teams that finally came out of a funk like UT is in. How long did they keep coaches who did not win? Usually they last about 3 years because in that amount of time they have the opportunity to build a roster and to prove they can coach.

You keep a coach who is say17-19 after 3 years... you start backing up and especially if you are as dependent on out of state talent as UT is.
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Speaking of idiots, how about trying not to be negative about everything...Us true fans are tired of reading this crap all the time.
 
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#73
#73
newandbetter said:
Do you ever have anything positive to say? Seriously, do you EVER post ANYTHING positive?
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Yes. Look around before making a fool of yourself again.

I understand your point on a lot of your gripes, but at least post something that's not a complaint every now and then. Please!
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Again, just recently I have praised their recruiting efforts. I have consistently praised Jones ability to relate to supporters and former players and leverage them to help the program.

Sorry if I won't pretend like their coaching effort this year was impressive. It wasn't overall. The few bright spots were overwhelmed by things that leave ALOT to be questioned about their ability to beat SEC level coaches.
 
#74
#74
tennezz said:
Speaking of idiots, how about trying not to be negative about everything...Us true fans are tired of reading this crap all the time.
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I'm not negative about "everything". I am negative about things... that are negative. You don't have to read the truth. Feel free to ignore poor coaching. Stick you head in the sand til you suffocate.

I have NOT pronounced a final condemnation on this staff. I have not even said they "can't" coach. I have simply said the did not do a good job this year... and they didn't. AND I have said they need to coach better to survive... which they do.
 
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#75
#75
Rockytoptalker said:
Dooley ruined UT's relationship with high school coaches across the state as well never have a winning record. Butch is building for the future, Dooley was turning it into a train wreck.
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Dooley's failures however do not excuse Jones' failures. Dooley is not the bar you or I or any other UT fan should accept. The bar should be championships. That's what Jones has said from the beginning... and we should hold him accountable for what he says.

He is the one who continually talks about players playing a championship level. Well I for one want to see coaches coaching at a championship level as well. We just didn't see that this year.
 
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