Recruiting Forum Football Talk V

[Glocker_Alum_2005]

Nebraska and Arizona State looking for a coach now.
Auburn and Georgia Tech right behind them.

Rumor mill GT is looking hard Dan Mullen. Gotta think Harsin to Az State or Nebraska. Matt Rhule to the other.

 

[jakez4ut]

Rumor mill GT is looking hard Dan Mullen. Gotta think Harsin to Az State or Nebraska. Matt Rhule to the other.

That all makes sense. But what about auburn...

 

[orange parmejohn]

That all makes sense. But what about auburn...

Jeremy Pruitt. He has recruiting ties in Alabama.

 

[UTgrad2015]

I bet Tillman plays. Probably not as much as he normally would.. but I’d be shocked if he didn’t get some snaps

 

[jakez4ut]

I bet Tillman plays. Probably not as much as he normally would.. but I’d be shocked if he didn’t get some snaps

Yeah unless it's waaaay more serious than any of us know... I'll be shocked if he's not playing.

 

[VolInDayton]

Rumor mill GT is looking hard Dan Mullen. Gotta think Harsin to Az State or Nebraska. Matt Rhule to the other.

Matt Rhule will get a better job than Az St/Nebraska

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Wish we’d pulled him after he took that hit in the end zone. I was so grateful to see him back on the field after he got up slowly only for him to get hit again.

I said the same thing to our text group after the 1st injury. I wanted to pull him and save him.

 

[SoilVol]

You'll have to forgive me, SV...they completely lost me last week whenever 18 of Henry's 21 carries were on 1st down. The offense needs a MASSIVE!!! overhaul...players and staff. I am totally checked out on them, and it's only the second week. They're horrible...one of the worst NFL offenses I have ever seen.

I know Josh Allen's don't grow on trees; but...anyone who knows anything about the game could see this coming a mile away...2 or 3 seasons ago. Yes, they had a good season last year; but, there was not one time that I thought they actually had a chance to get to the SB...all because of the QB play, and the overall offensive philosophy.

Oh I saw it coming too. Everyone should've known the window was closing. I think there will be a massive overhaul on offense this offseason. I think it's not farfetched that DH will be traded and I hope we bring in an experienced QB for 1-2 seasons before Willis takes over.

 

[Jack Burton]

Anyone else get the feeling we’re setting ourselves up for an epic letdown? When was the last time Tennessee football actually met expectations on the big stage? I refuse to get sucked in this time.

I don’t have the confidence many here have especially without Tillman. I’ve seen the letdowns too many times. We’ll fumble or get a punt blocked and it will take our crowd right out of the game. If we can keep the crowd screaming and stomping, even in the bad times, then we’ll have a better chance.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

I think we are clearly the better team and this would be a really bad loss, on multiple levels. That said, you could make an argument we (most likely) lost our most important player for this one. I will definitely be much more nervous Saturday if we are playing without CT.

I think our most important player is Hooker. Tillman may be our best, but we can still get plenty of production from our WR group if Tillman is out. However, we aren’t sure we can say the same thing in a high pressure game with Milton at QB vs Hooker…and I hope we don’t have to find out this week or the rest of the season!

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Yeah unless it's waaaay more serious than any of us know... I'll be shocked if he's not playing.

We saw the coaches manage players last year with a very thin roster. I remember being worried about us holding certain players out if they were able to go, but then we were fine and won. I think this shows just how good of a coaching staff we have. They know exactly what they have on the roster and who can step up and be dependable. They know who they need to take a chance with in order to win, and who they think they don’t need and can let heal up. If Tillman doesn’t play, it tells me they know they can win without him. That gives him 3 weeks of rest before LSU. Based on what I saw from their defense Saturday night, we will definitely need Tillman in that game probably way more than we should need him this Saturday (or hopefully).

 

[VolsDoc81TX]

I can't stop reading this

This is how it all starts. Zombie apocalypse incoming. Just about what my BVS would imagine.

Tennessee is 3-0, about to destroy the gators en route to 15-0

The only thing that might be able to stop this team this year…a zombie apocalypse
Yup, that’s about our luck.

 

[CAVPUT]

I don’t have the confidence many here have especially without Tillman. I’ve seen the letdowns too many times. We’ll fumble or get a punt blocked and it will take our crowd right out of the game. If we can keep the crowd screaming and stomping, even in the bad times, then we’ll have a better chance.

Yep. The pessimist in me sees signs of some bad mojo brewing....the injuries last week combined with Calloway losing it and getting suspended all right at the door of the UF game. Massive build up for UF, Game Day crew, checker Neyland, smack talkin' fans, etc. It's either gonna be one huge win and a springboard to bigger and better for this program or one of the most epic flops I can remember. Gawd I hope it's the former. When we lost to Purdue in hoops then to ND in baseball, I had all the confidence in the world we would win those games, but this one would top both of them in terms of disappointment at least in my world.

 

[UTSuave’]

Honestly, I'd prefer Hooker sit nice and comfy in the pocket. Want him hit as little as possible. The last thing we need is for him to get injured. Last year was abnormal for us with so few critical injuries. Tillman going down tells me this year is likely to be back to the norm. Protect that QB at all costs.

I trust Joe Milton if that happened.Milton has game reps so there definitely wouldn’t be a drop off talent wise like a Worley to peterman in the swamp ….

 

[BearCat204]

That all makes sense. But what about auburn...

Not an expert, but I know the knuckleheads who make these decisions at the barn, but dont be surprised to see a push for Hugh Freeze.

 

[jakez4ut]

No, this is NOT a must-win game.

I can't believe we are already laying the foundation to justify criticizing coach for losing this game.

Never mind our history in this game, never mind what he has already accomplished, never mind that we may have an injury problem, never mind that they are a good team whether some want to believe it or not.

Because some have allowed themselves to chaulk this up as a sure win, a blowout even, and want to beat them so badly, if we lose, they're ready to blast away. All because the team doesn't meet their expectation of what should happen.

On the other hand, I'm not surprised at all. Some look for reasons to blast and eagerly wait for the chance to do so. I was hoping it would be different this time.

I think "must win" is probably the wrong term/phrase...."must win" is an implication of and either/or, ultimatum. that's not where we are with CJH, and if something thinks we are, well, then i'd just dismiss the entire notion. using the hype around this game and the point spread as justification is also stupid. the point spread, while has some science behind it (lol) is merely a tool to get money even on both sides of that line. that's why they move the line. not because on Tuesday, someone figured out we're another 2.5 points better than Florida.....lol.

that said, i do think it's fair to acknowledge that this is the most important game of his tenure...to this point.

as a program, for the fans, we've been here before, several times in the past decade, with multiple coaches, where an opportunity just like the one that's presented on Saturday is there for the taking, and we've failed at almost every turn. now, there's only been a handful of teams during the last 15 or so years that were actually capable of taking that opportunity, so that's important to note, but way more times than not, we've failed. so while this group of players and coaches are surely not responsible for that, they did inherit it, and it's one of the things the coaches were brought here to change. but that's all it is right now. an opportunity. Kiffin had his, Dooley had his...Butch had more than his fair share....even pruitt had a few. and none of them took any of the opportunities that were given.

i completely understand the emotional reaction that says "we have to win a game like this if we're going to be what we want to be". and you only get a couple of those opportunities a season.....
so i don't have any problem in acknowledging how important this game is. i do think it's one of those games that you will look back on when you do judge his career here.

"must win"....i mean...he's in zero hot water, and there's zero chance he gets in any if we lose. but 2-3 years down the road, it could be one of the reasons.....so i get that.

but i'm with you in terms of saying "win this game, or else....".....we're no where near that.

 

[BearCat204]

Matt Rhule will get a better job than Az St/Nebraska

Nebraska should have never joined the Big10

 

[VolsDoc81TX]

Great backdrop. Epitome of the Hill and the old school spirit that is Tennessee!
Go Vols!

Destroy the gators. Make it known without a doubt that these Tennessee Volunteers are running roughshod over the SEC this year and each and every year for the foreseeable future.

15-0

 

[BearCat204]

I think "must win" is probably the wrong term/phrase...."must win" is an implication of and either/or, ultimatum. that's not where we are with CJH, and if something thinks we are, well, then i'd just dismiss the entire notion. using the hype around this game and the point spread as justification is also stupid. the point spread, while has some science behind it (lol) is merely a tool to get money even on both sides of that line. that's why they move the line. not because on Tuesday, someone figured out we're another 2.5 points better than Florida.....lol.

that said, i do think it's fair to acknowledge that this is the most important game of his tenure...to this point.

as a program, for the fans, we've been here before, several times in the past decade, with multiple coaches, where an opportunity just like the one that's presented on Saturday is there for the taking, and we've failed at almost every turn. now, there's only been a handful of teams during the last 15 or so years that were actually capable of taking that opportunity, so that's important to note, but way more times than not, we've failed. so while this group of players and coaches are surely not responsible for that, they did inherit it, and it's one of the things the coaches were brought here to change. but that's all it is right now. an opportunity. Kiffin had his, Dooley had his...Butch had more than his fair share....even pruitt had a few. and none of them took any of the opportunities that were given.

i completely understand the emotional reaction that says "we have to win a game like this if we're going to be what we want to be". and you only get a couple of those opportunities a season.....
so i don't have any problem in acknowledging how important this game is. i do think it's one of those games that you will look back on when you do judge his career here.

"must win"....i mean...he's in zero hot water, and there's zero chance he gets in any if we lose. but 2-3 years down the road, it could be one of the reasons.....so i get that.

but i'm with you in terms of saying "win this game, or else....".....we're no where near that.

This is a definite "you need to win this" type game

 

[ndubvols]

Any word one the FL linebacker, miller I think? Is he supposed to be back this game?

 

[jakez4ut]

We saw the coaches manage players last year with a very thin roster. I remember being worried about us holding certain players out if they were able to go, but then we were fine and won. I think this shows just how good of a coaching staff we have. They know exactly what they have on the roster and who can step up and be dependable. They know who they need to take a chance with in order to win, and who they think they don’t need and can let heal up. If Tillman doesn’t play, it tells me they know they can win without him. That gives him 3 weeks of rest before LSU. Based on what I saw from their defense Saturday night, we will definitely need Tillman in that game probably way more than we should need him this Saturday (or hopefully).

i agree, and it was one of the things i was most impressed with about this staff as well.

but he's the best WR in the conf...........if he can go, he's going. he didn't come back to pad stats against Ball ST and Akron. he's the best because he's performed the best, against the best. and in this game, with the opportunity that's there for this team, and him in particular...

yeah, he'll play.

 

[jakez4ut]

This is a definite "you need to win this" type game

it would be better if he did, yes. lol. but nobody's getting fired if he doesn't, i think that was the tone orangeSC took issue with, or perceived it to be.

 

[jakez4ut]

Any word one the FL linebacker, miller I think? Is he supposed to be back this game?

i thought i heard last week he was out for multiple weeks. but i haven't seen anything else on it.

i'm sure after USF ran for 300+ on them, he's probably being reevaluated............................

 

[CAVPUT]

I trust Joe Milton if that happened.Milton has game reps so there definitely wouldn’t be a drop off talent wise like a Worley to peterman in the swamp ….

No offense to the kid, but I'd prefer not to find out. I'd rather wait until next spring to see just how much he's improved. He's not a freshman or soph. He's had multiple opportunities with different staffs to win the job yet Hooker still starts. There's a reason for that. Like I said...next year. Til then...

 

[SoilVol]

While losing Tillman is tough, he was not putting up number until last year. There were two years where he was non-existent.

Next man up!! We have receivers…..time for them to be “the next Tillman”.

So losing our best player isn't that bad because two years ago under Pruitt's anemic offense he was an afterthought?

That makes total sense.