Phil Steele comments on Josh and Swain

[VOL Outlaw]

“Remember, in last year’s magazine, I forecasted Tennessee was going to have 45 points per game. And what’d they do? 46 points per game, even topped (my prediction). First 11-win season since 2001. What a great year. And I don’t think it slows down. I think you’re going to see Tennessee, they are the legitimate contender to Georgia in the SEC East this year.”

“(Milton is) now in his third year of the offense, he’s got a good supporting cast, three starting offensive linemen back. Despite losing a guy like (Jalin) Hyatt at the receiver spot, they’ve got (Bru) McCoy, they add in Dont’e Thornton. The running backs are very deep. And the defense showed a lot of improvement last year. They improved by a touchdown per game. I think they’ll continue to show improvement.”

What stood out from his conversations with Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle

“Probably the fact that he was very confident in the receiving corps despite losing a Biletnikoff winner in (Jalin) Hyatt. (Halzle) felt that they were deeper than last year and could keep the guys fresher. Milton, who would you have said some wonders about, he’s very high on Joe Milton and thought that the offensive line was going to be deeper than last year, as well, and be able to keep the guys fresh. I guess the overall take on the offense there is that they’re a deeper unit and probably fresher later in the year.”

His player to watch for Tennessee outside of Joe Milton III

“Yea, it’s a newcomer; a guy that’s brand new to the team this year. It’s Dont’e Thornton at wide receiver. Dont’e Thornton is six-foot-five. He’s 205 pounds, he’s got that rare combination of size and speed. He’s probably just as fast as Hyatt was. He runs good routes. He’s got good length, and, as mentioned, he’s just as fast as Hyatt. So, I think you’ll see Dont’e Thornton come in from Oregon, step in, and really steal a lot of the receptions this year and be one of the big newcomers of the year.”

Phil Steele (6.30.23) - Josh & Swain

 

[wmcovol]

Phil does know his football. I don’t always like what he says but he’s usually pretty accurate.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Sounds right to me

We ain't going nowhere yall

 

[DougVol]

We gonna………

 

[VolBricks]

Put Thornton on the X and let Milton send it.

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

10-2, Peach Bowl vs Florida State. Y’all good with that?

 

[ConantheVolbarian]

10-2, Peach Bowl vs Florida State. Y’all good with that?

No. We're coming for Georgia.

 

[Smokey X]

10-2, Peach Bowl vs Florida State. Y’all good with that?

 

[Creek Bottoms]

9-3

 

[BruisedOrange]

I'll have to wait 'til I see how they look against Austin Peay...

 

[bpalmer28]

No. We're coming for Georgia.

This. People can doubt it all they want. We’re beating Georgia in 2023 and we’re going to Atlanta.

 

[SN-A-C Orange]

10-2, Peach Bowl vs Florida State. Y’all good with that?

I'm hoping for 11-1 or 10-2 and a trip to Atlanta. I am hopeful that we best Georgia in Ktown. Neither record prediction includes a loss to Ga. :^))).

 

[volmandu]

10-2, Peach Bowl vs Florida State. Y’all good with that?

Obviously want 12-0 every year but if we are 10-2 end of the season, I am really really happy.

 

[ru4real-really?]

We're living in a new age people! We no longer concede losses before we play the game! I, along with most here, expect to win all of them!

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Obviously want 12-0 every year but if we are 10-2 end of the season, I am really really happy.

Yep. I wish I could share Phil's optimism but there's just too many question marks with this team for me to be so positive. Can Milton put it all together for an entire season as QB1? Can he stay healthy? If he can't, are we really going to throw Nico out there as a true freshman who looks like he weighs 180 lbs soaking wet? Can we find solutions on the O-line? Is our secondary finally going to take a step forward? Who's going to step up at WR and take up Hyatt's production? Who's going to step up at TE?

Look, we had a great season last year and I'm definitely excited for the future. However, we're not at a point (yet) where we are re-loading every year like Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, etc. So I'm expecting some "down", 8 or 9 win type seasons sprinkled in with the 10+ win seasons and my gut tells me this will be one of those "down" seasons.

 

[perico]

Yep. I wish I could share Phil's optimism but there's just too many question marks with this team for me to be so positive. Can Milton put it all together for an entire season as QB1? Can he stay healthy? If he can't, are we really going to throw Nico out there as a true freshman who looks like he weighs 180 lbs soaking wet? Can we find solutions on the O-line? Is our secondary finally going to take a step forward? Who's going to step up at WR and take up Hyatt's production? Who's going to step up at TE?

Look, we had a great season last year and I'm definitely excited for the future. However, we're not at a point (yet) where we are re-loading every year like Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, etc. So I'm expecting some "down", 8 or 9 win type seasons sprinkled in with the 10+ win seasons and my gut tells me this will be one of those "down" seasons.

1. Milton will be Milton. If he plays like he did last year, then we will be fine.

2. I don't expect Milton to go down, but Nico is more than capable and is elusive enough.

3. We lost our best OL in Wright as well as Carvin, but we return 4 guys with starting experience last year, and added two transfers with starting experience in a power conference. We don't have a star up front on Wright's level, but Mincey has the potential to be a game changer and we return Cooper Mays who may be our MVP up front.

4. It's not like the secondary is going to be worse than last year. We lose Flowers who played with heart, but everyone else is back and have more experience. Plus, the younger guys will have a year under their belt and be more likely to step up. If not, then at least one of the highly touted freshman will push for PT.

5. Warren is back and played 50% of the snaps at TE last year, he and Fant were co-starters the last two seasons. He isn't as versatile and isn't going to sneak in as an H-back, but there shouldn't be a dropoff when lining up at TE from him as he can get open and has maybe better hands than Fant.

 

[UTvol1fn]

Phil does know his football. I don’t always like what he says but he’s usually pretty accurate.

He has Toledo in his preseason top 25.

 

[Voldog1998]

This. People can doubt it all they want. We’re beating Georgia in 2023 and we’re going to Atlanta.

How are we beating Georgia? They out talent us at every position. Did we suddenly bring in a plethora of 5 stars on the defensive and offensive lines you know where they have absolutely manhandled us the last two years. Georgia will beat us again cause we won’t be able to handle their blitz packages and lockdown secondary coverage and they have considerable more depth at every key position. We can beat Florida though and get payback on South Carolina and maybe beat A&M but we aren’t beating Georgia.

 

[Voldog1998]

We will go 8-4 or 9-3 and nobody should freak out over that.

 

[OffTackleVol]

We will go 8-4 or 9-3 and nobody should freak out over that.

Maybe 9-3, but we aren't going 8-4. And yes, we can beat Georgia at Neyland this season.

 

[volmandu]

1. Milton will be Milton. If he plays like he did last year, then we will be fine.

2. I don't expect Milton to go down, but Nico is more than capable and is elusive enough.

3. We lost our best OL in Wright as well as Carvin, but we return 4 guys with starting experience last year, and added two transfers with starting experience in a power conference. We don't have a star up front on Wright's level, but Mincey has the potential to be a game changer and we return Cooper Mays who may be our MVP up front.

4. It's not like the secondary is going to be worse than last year. We lose Flowers who played with heart, but everyone else is back and have more experience. Plus, the younger guys will have a year under their belt and be more likely to step up. If not, then at least one of the highly touted freshman will push for PT.

5. Warren is back and played 50% of the snaps at TE last year, he and Fant were co-starters the last two seasons. He isn't as versatile and isn't going to sneak in as an H-back, but there shouldn't be a dropoff when lining up at TE from him as he can get open and has maybe better hands than Fant.

We are going to be a good team. I do not think we won't be a good team but unfortunately for us, with our schedule, it takes a lot to get to 10 wins, almost a magical type season. We go through GA and AL, both typically Top 2 teams in nation. While FL is down, we still have to play them in the Swamp. TAMU has had up and down year but did beat LSU, Bama last year and have recruited like crazy. KY and SC are not full gimmes, and have shown can beat us if we are not having our best day. So with our schedule, winning 10 games is a great thing given our rebuild and depth of teams we will be playing.

 

[VolinMichigan]

10-2, Peach Bowl vs Florida State. Y’all good with that?

I mean, preseason? Yea. I think most teams and fans would be happy with 10 wins. If this team comes out of the gates really hot and handles FL in the swamp and avoids a let down until Bama and UGA, then we could reevaluate that prediction at that point.

 

[ftsandersvol]

How are we beating Georgia? They out talent us at every position. Did we suddenly bring in a plethora of 5 stars on the defensive and offensive lines you know where they have absolutely manhandled us the last two years. Georgia will beat us again cause we won’t be able to handle their blitz packages and lockdown secondary coverage and they have considerable more depth at every key position. We can beat Florida though and get payback on South Carolina and maybe beat A&M but we aren’t beating Georgia.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

How are we beating Georgia? They out talent us at every position. Did we suddenly bring in a plethora of 5 stars on the defensive and offensive lines you know where they have absolutely manhandled us the last two years. Georgia will beat us again cause we won’t be able to handle their blitz packages and lockdown secondary coverage and they have considerable more depth at every key position. We can beat Florida though and get payback on South Carolina and maybe beat A&M but we aren’t beating Georgia.

Right. And we also did not beat Bama last year.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Right. And we also did not beat Bama last year.

Teams only get so many "miracle on ice" moments. The odds of us beating them this year are very slim.