Our chances at Oregon.....

#126
#126
JohnnyBall said:
If we win, Ill walk back from Portland..
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Weee'rre Baaccckk said:
If we win this game, I will throw a party for everyone in this thread, in Knoxville on a game day and every beer will come packing a $100 bill. The more you drink, the more $ you make.
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If it happens, will you postpone it until after the season, so JohnnyBall can attend?
 
#127
#127
GoDucks349 said:
This game is truly a puzzle to me. Lots of "unknowns" and "ifs" to go around on both sides of the football. I really don't think this is a "blow out" game for Oregon. I do think it's closer than the early spread. As a Duck you have to expect me to think we'll win, just as I expect Tenn fans to think they will win. That's only reasonable.

Oregon: Are they really going to be able to fill the gaps at LB? How much will they miss Jordan at DE? Is the reason Marshall may start at RB because Thomas didn't bulk up in the off season? Will Oregon throw the ball more now that Kelly is gone? The WR look very solid and with Huff finally healthy will he burn defenses that focus on the run? How's Oregon going to do in the FG department this year? (kicker cost the Ducks the Stanford game last year) Will Helfrich be worse, better or just different than Kelly? Will Helfrich have the steel balls Kelly carried around?

Tenn: Suspect QB with very talented rookie WRs, will they be throwing completions to the defense? Can freshmen WR stay focused in a big game while getting their bell rung by the DBs? Can Tenn oline pound Oregon's defense and wear them down? Who's starting at RB? Does Tenn have the speed and depth and discipline to pull a Stanford on defense and shut down the Oregon running game? Will a new coach with talent he didn't recruit be able to transform them into a very tough opponent by week three? How many players have left the program during the transition? Usually a new coach loses a few if he's a strong disciplinarian.

Just some thoughts on the game.
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I think it will be an interesting game. I think the key question, like u said, does UT have depth with enough experience
 
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#128
#128
BigOrangeBob said:
are better than most think. Admittedly, I always drink the kool-aid, and wear orange tinted glasses. I have been thinking about this game for a while, trying to think of a reason we can hang with this team. I decided to do a little checking/research, and this is what I found interesting, and hopeful.

Over the past four recruiting years, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, Tennessee and Oregon are exactly even, both averaging finishing at number 15. We keep hearing of the differences in talent, but they have lost quite a bit also. Our defense was not as bad as it appeared on the field(Sunseri), and our team is not void of talent(but it is void of Dooley, thankfully). Oregon is also void of Chip Kelly, and their head coach is completely unproven, and could be their Dooley.

Given the closer overall talent, and I believe a coaching advantage for UT, I believe it will be a MUCH closer game than people think. With a fortunate defensive score, or couple of turnovers, who knows. If UT can score 1st, and get momentum, Oregon may not respond as well as they hope. You never know with kids, new coaching staff, etc.....

Here's to hope! (flame away.......):crossfingers:
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I hate to put a damper on your optimism.....but it will be bad...real bad I'm afraid. Speed,speed, and more speed. The one glaring thing we're lacking on defense. Praying for an upset though! Go Vols!
 
#129
#129
DC Vol said:
Realistically, it wouldn't surprise me if the coaches aren't devoting much time to gameplanning for Oregon. This game was scheduled back when we did all our Pac-10 home/aways which started in 2007. Back then, Oregon wasn't the Oregon of now and we weren't the UT of now.

We're just simply not in a position to compete at that level nationally and then turn around and play in Florida against another Top 10 team.

Coaches only have so much time to prepare and install our Off/Def and Oregon is such a departure in terms of Offense/Defense... Florida just makes more sense to gameplan against given they run a much more similar offense to just about every other team on our schedule.

So, long story short, I'm not expecting much. I'm not saying I don't think our team will compete. I think it will. I'm just saying the coaches, at least from a strategic point of view, in my mind will focus on more realistic and important games than @Oregon for the 2nd game of Jones' tenure.

And I'm also not saying Florida is an easier game... it's just a much more logical team to prepare for in terms of impact on recruiting, standing in the SEC and also how far it will carry fan opinion.

I'd far rather beat Florida than Oregon.
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I seriously doubt that Butch Jones and his staff will go into this game "unfocused" and looking ahead to other games he can win. He doesn't have "moral victory,let's keep it close" mindset. Good grief, this isn't the Dooley era any more. Thank Goodness!:clapping:

My point is that I doubt we win, but I also doubt the coaching staff have the mindset I mentioned:twocents:.
 
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#130
#130
The biggest problem with most UT fans is they've developed a defeatist attitude from Dooley. "We don't have depth, we don't have talent, we don't have speed"...BS. We didn't have leadership, that's been our biggest problem and it makes a HUGE difference to have leadership. The depth, talent and speed excuses are annoying and complete nonsense. People have been using those crap excuses for 5 years when the problem has been at the top the whole time.
 
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#131
#131
Oregon's perceived advantage (and why it might not apply to Tennessee game):


-Speed of play wears out opponents & generates big plays.

However under CBJ Vols have adopted same style of play, conditioning for it & practicing against it. This should minimize Oregon's speed of play advantage & minimize big plays due to fatigue. How Oregon uses tempo to drown a defense


-Chip Kelly is an offensive football savant & incredible innovator of the universal-formation Zone Read Option.

Chip Kelly, his play calling, & especially his in-game adjustment skills are gone. Yes, his OC Mark Helfrich is taking over as HC, but Helfrich never called the plays & he will still not be calling plays. That will be done by new first year OC Scott Frost. (Vols fans will remember Frost from the 1997 Orange Bowl spanking.) Frost has been wide receivers coach for Oregon for 4 years. Point is, there will be offensive growing pains. Chip Kelly explains the Oregon Zone Read Option


-Loud stadium with enthusiastic fans makes for home field advantage.

I counter that Vols play every SEC game in exactly that type of setting, surrounded by 1.5x to 2x more fans than the 55,000 that will be at Autzen Sept. 14. SEC stadiums by capacity


Not saying we are absolutely going to win. But I believe in it enough to have 2 seats in Autzen Sept. 14. I'll be the guy in Orange.
 
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#132
#132
1truevol said:
I hate to put a damper on your optimism.....but it will be bad...real bad I'm afraid. Speed,speed, and more speed. The one glaring thing we're lacking on defense. Praying for an upset though! Go Vols!
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The one thing that is yet to be determined is precisely how much of our apparent lack of speed can truly be attributed to a case of the "slows" and how much of it was due to what Frank Broyles used to call "paralysis by analysis."
 
#133
#133
checkerboards09 said:
The biggest problem with most UT fans is they've developed a defeatist attitude from Dooley. "We don't have depth, we don't have talent, we don't have speed"...BS.
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Considering we don't have depth, much talent and speed, what exaclyt is BS?

Btw, we didn't have any of the three in any sufficient quantity in Fulmer's last years either. Of Kiffie.
 
#134
#134
VolBraniac said:
Considering we don't have depth, much talent and speed, what exaclyt is BS?

Btw, we didn't have any of the three in any sufficient quantity in Fulmer's last years either. Of Kiffie.
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We've got all three. I refuse to buy in to that nonsense. The last five whole recruiting classes haven't been busts. People act like the players we have aren't good enough, even though several other top programs wanted them. If you we're to tell me leadership has been the main issue, then I would believe you. We've got the athletes.
 
#135
#135
checkerboards09 said:
We've got all three. I refuse to buy in to that nonsense. The last five whole recruiting classes haven't been busts. People act like the players we have aren't good enough, even though several other top programs wanted them. If you we're to tell me leadership has been the main issue, then I would believe you. We've got the athletes.
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So are you calling this game a win?
 
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#138
#138
i'm sure we'll be double-digit undedogs but if we don't turn it over and make a big play on defense or special teams it could be real interesting......ALWAYS PLAY TO WIN!!!
 
#139
#139
I'm not counting on a W, but neither am I in the camp that says we will lose by 30. I understand the 2010 game was at home, but compare that team to the one we have now. The circumstances are very similar, but more promising. We will be much stronger up the middle that we were at any point the last three years. If Couch, McCullers, and AJ can hold the middle I think we have a shot. We saw when they played Auburn in 2010, if they don't have a strong running game, their offense begins to stall. I feel that McCullers and Couch can have a similar impact as Farely, and if we can tame the run we definitely have the shot.

Our offensive line is 1,000,000 times better than it was in 2010, and I really feel that we will be able to physically run against their smaller D-Line. Plus whatever quarterback we throw out there will be better that Simms, and I feel that our overall receiving core will be better than it was during that game. Remember Jones was out with a broken hand at that point.

We have much better depth and overall talent than we did in 2010, and we hung pretty well with them for a half. I think this will be a closer game than most expect, and I could see us pulling a W, but I don't think we lose by more than 2 touchdowns.
 
#140
#140
Quote:
Originally Posted by VolBraniac
Considering we don't have depth, much talent and speed, what exaclyt is BS?

Btw, we didn't have any of the three in any sufficient quantity in Fulmer's last years either. Of Kiffie.


checkerboards09 said:
We've got all three. I refuse to buy in to that nonsense. The last five whole recruiting classes haven't been busts. People act like the players we have aren't good enough, even though several other top programs wanted them. If you we're to tell me leadership has been the main issue, then I would believe you. We've got the athletes.
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You know, this "leadership is our problem" position is the telling diagnosis of Orange Koolaiditis.

Seek thee a gastroenterologist.
 
#142
#142
checkerboards09 said:
No. I never guaranteed a win. I just get tired of people saying our team is pretty much garbage when it's complete bs.
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Depends on the definition of garbage.

How about 4 losing seasons in the last 5? I call this garbage for a program with the history, resources and potential that UT has.

Maybe to you it's creme brulee. Goes well with Orange Koolaid I hear. :crazy:
 
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#144
#144
VolBraniac said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by VolBraniac
Considering we don't have depth, much talent and speed, what exaclyt is BS?

Btw, we didn't have any of the three in any sufficient quantity in Fulmer's last years either. Of Kiffie.



You know, this "leadership is our problem" position is the telling diagnosis of Orange Koolaiditis.

Seek thee a gastroenterologist.
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Are you saying a good coach doesn't make a difference? A coach that demands respect and gets the most out of his players doesn't make a difference? Somebody that the players look up to and want to play for? Yes, leadership has been a problem. We need that coach that's gonna make sure certain players step up and take a leadership role on the field as well. If you think Al Wilson leading our defense in '98 didn't make a difference, then you're completely blind.
 
#145
#145
I have never watched a game expecting us to lose. Call it drinking the koolaid, having on orange colored glasses or just being a Tennessee fanatic (fan for short). When you played football did you go into some games expecting to lose? I doubt it or if so you shouldn't have been on the field to begin with. IF we should get beat let's leave em limping.
 
#146
#146
DC Vol said:
Realistically, it wouldn't surprise me if the coaches aren't devoting much time to gameplanning for Oregon. This game was scheduled back when we did all our Pac-10 home/aways which started in 2007. Back then, Oregon wasn't the Oregon of now and we weren't the UT of now.

We're just simply not in a position to compete at that level nationally and then turn around and play in Florida against another Top 10 team.

Coaches only have so much time to prepare and install our Off/Def and Oregon is such a departure in terms of Offense/Defense... Florida just makes more sense to gameplan against given they run a much more similar offense to just about every other team on our schedule.

So, long story short, I'm not expecting much. I'm not saying I don't think our team will compete. I think it will. I'm just saying the coaches, at least from a strategic point of view, in my mind will focus on more realistic and important games than @Oregon for the 2nd game of Jones' tenure.

And I'm also not saying Florida is an easier game... it's just a much more logical team to prepare for in terms of impact on recruiting, standing in the SEC and also how far it will carry fan opinion.

I'd far rather beat Florida than Oregon.
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I want to beat both and go into Georgia Undefeated! :clap:
 
#148
#148
checkerboards09 said:
Are you saying a good coach doesn't make a difference?
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No but I forgive you, Orange Koolaiditis has ever deepening hallucinations as a side effect.

A coach that demands respect and gets the most out of his players doesn't make a difference? Somebody that the players look up to and want to play for? Yes, leadership has been a problem. We need that coach that's gonna make sure certain players step up and take a leadership role on the field as well. If you think Al Wilson leading our defense in '98 didn't make a difference, then you're completely blind.
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Get thee to a gastroenterologist and a psychologist. :blink:
 
#150
#150
VolBraniac said:
Depends on the definition of garbage.

How about 4 losing seasons in the last 5? I call this garbage for a program with the history, resources and potential that UT has.

Maybe to you it's creme brulee. Goes well with Orange Koolaid I hear. :crazy:
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Without a leader, the win/loss category will be garbage. We've got the talent to compete. There's your orange koolaid chief.
 
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