Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXVI

[GoBigOrange86]

Y'all do the brake-pumping y'all want to.

My brakes are out, and I'm loving it. This Big Orange train is rolling downhill and picking up steam. And Bama and Florida are sitting on the tracks.

Hey, look, maybe Tennessee wins it all this year. That'd be something. I'm just not basing my happiness on it.

Then again...what the hell. 15-0.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

First, I picked us to go 8-4 last year while so many posters on here were saying we would win 10. I hit the nail on the head. The year before I said we would go 5-7 while many on here were saying we would win 8 or 9. I was off by one game. In Butch's first year I said we would go 5-7 while many were saying we should make a bowl game. Again, I hit the nail on the head, so I have a track record of being pretty accurate with my conservative predictions.

Also, I think you can look at those close losses last year and just as easily point to things that could have made them more convincing losses. We needed a couple of trick plays to score the 2 first half TDs against FL to get that lead everyone talks about us later losing. Without those plays their defense was really giving us fits. Against Bama I think our fans consistently underestimate the advantage we got from coming off a bye while Bama was playing their 8th game in a row. I think that may have been worth 2 scores in our favor.

Overall, Butch has done a great job of rebuilding our roster, and I expect this to be the best team we've had in a decade and maybe our best team since 2001. There is a lot of talent on this team and a lot to be excited about. It wouldn't surprise me to see us win 11 games, and I think there is an outside shot that we could even go undefeated (though that is extremely hard to do). For the first time since the Fulmer era, I look at our schedule and think we have a legitimate shot in every game.

Having said that, here are my reasons for predicting a 10-2 regular season rather than 11-1 or 12-0.

1.) We lack depth at DT. Right now we have 3 DTs we can count on in Vickers, O'Brien, and McKenzie. Picou is still a project, Tuttle and Johnson are still question marks in my mind, and as much as VN loves Paul Bain, I'm going to have see it to believe it with a walk-on playing in the trenches in the SEC. Other than these guys, we're looking at moving DEs over to DT because the coaches know we need more bodies. If everything falls into place, we could end up being fine here, but one injury combined with Tuttle and/or Johnson struggling to regain form could leave us in a bad place.

2.) Depth at LB. JRM and Kirkland give us a very dynamic starting duo, but if either of them gets injured (or just needs a breather) there seems to be a BIG drop-off from 1st to 2nd string at that position.

3.) I don't trust our passing game.

4.) OT. We were already lacking depth here before Hall got injured. Him being out only makes it worse. Richmond has a very high ceiling, bus as a RsFR he's probably still a couple of years away from hitting it. He may be good this year, but I think he will also go through some growing pains against the better D-lines we face. And while Brett Kendrick is a nice player, I don't think he's an upper-level OT in the SEC.

5.) This one may be a bit of a stretch, but depth at RB. We could lose a star-caliber player in the secondary, at DE, or even OG and still be ok because we have star-caliber players waiting in the wings at those positions. I don't think that's the case at RB though. If Hurd or Kamara goes down, there's a huge drop-off. I like Kelly and Fils-Aimee, but those guys are no Hurd and Kamara. Our top two are irreplaceable. Before you bash me on this one, stop and think about it. If one of those guys goes out for an extended period of time, how does that affect our offense and our chances of winning big games? Given our inconsistency in the passing game, and how well those 2 players compliment one another, losing one of them would be really bad news.

When I look at our schedule, these question marks are enough to add up to 2 losses IMO. I think we're a top 10 team (which is tremendous progress considering where we were when Butch took over), but, primarily because of the lack of depth at the key positions mentioned above, I don't think we're a top 5 team. Not yet.

I don't know why you're patting yourself in the back for predicting 8-4 last year. We were not an 8-4 team in terms of quality.

The folks who said we would go 10-2 were closer to the truth. We were a 10-2 or 11-1 caliber team last year. It took HORRIBLE coaching and defensive breakdowns to get us 4 losses.

I don't know how anyone could say we're a 10-2 caliber team this year. We were 10-2 team last year. We're significantly better this year and have an easier schedule.

When I hear someone predict that we'll go 10-2 this season, I'm hearing we're going 10-2 this year because of BAD COACHING. Because this is not a 10-2 caliber team in terms of talent.

Going 10-2 in 2016 is UNDERACHIEVING.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Y'all do the brake-pumping y'all want to.

My brakes are out, and I'm loving it. This Big Orange train is rolling downhill and picking up steam. And Bama and Florida are sitting on the tracks.

Let's roll! Only about 146 hours until the official train rolling begins.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Ron, I don't know you, but I want to thank you for posting the information that you do! I live in Alabama, so VN is vital for my Vol info, and the extra you provide is just awesome!! Thanks again...

:hi:

 

[volssam]

Can I get a Ric Flair Woooo in here!?!?

.

 

[tonybologna]

I don't know why you're patting yourself in the back for predicting 8-4 last year. We were not an 8-4 team in terms of quality.

The folks who said we would go 10-2 were closer to the truth. We were a 10-2 or 11-1 caliber team last year. It took HORRIBLE coaching and defensive breakdowns to get us 4 losses.

I don't know how anyone could say we're a 10-2 caliber team this year. We were 10-2 team last year. We're significantly better this year and have an easier schedule.

When I hear someone predict that we'll go 10-2 this season, I'm hearing we're going 10-2 this year because of BAD COACHING. Because this is not a 10-2 caliber team in terms of talent.

Going 10-2 in 2016 is UNDERACHIEVING.

I agree with you D4H but if Butch coaches like he did in the UF game last season then we could easily be a 10-2 or 9-3 team even.

We have the talent to go 12-0 without a doubt. Butch is a good coach I do believe but he cost us the UF game last year.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

You all don't know how to act with a good team I see. 8-4 Last year was a joke of a season with that team. Under 12 wins is a disappointment period.

Exactly.

People keep point to 8-4 last year as if we were a 8-4 team. We were a 10-2/11-1 team last year. It took very BAD COACHING and bad breaks to get us 4 losses.

When I hear we'll be 10-2 this year, I'm hearing people saying expect more BAD COACHING and bad breaks. Because there is no way we're still a 10-2 team in terms of QUALITY.

This team is improved at every level of offense and defense. We're improved in terms of talent. We're improved in terms of experience. We've theoretically improved in terms of coaching. And we have an easier schedule.

I really don't see how you can we're going 10-2. Without also saying we'll have more HORRIBLE COACHING from Butch Jones.

 

[Dust10]

In reality its just really difficult to ever expect a team to go undefeated in the SEC (who also plays a decent out of conference schedule). 10-2 or 11-1 is always the safe pick for an SEC contender.

 

[CrunchingTheVolz]

I'm not sure I'd call our OOC games this year decent. VT is solid. The others, Appy St, Ohio, and Tenn Tech are sad.

 

[tonybologna]

I'm not sure I'd call our OOC games this year decent. VT is solid. The others, Appy St, Ohio, and Tenn Tech are sad.

I wouldn't call App State sad. They're a top 50 RPI team in the preseason. I think they're at either #44 or #46 so they are not going to be an easy out.

I agree with you on VT being a solid game & Ohio & Tenn Tech being easy outs though.

 

[Skullbone]

I feel like a kid in middle school waiting on the last five days of school before summer break.

 

[CrunchingTheVolz]

I wouldn't call App State sad. They're a top 50 RPI team in the preseason. I think they're at either #44 or #46 so they are not going to be an easy out.

I agree with you on VT being a solid game & Ohio & Tenn Tech being easy outs though.

I'd have Vandy as a 3TD winner vs Appy St. VANDY.

 

[Dust10]

What's the point? Bama plays Western Kentucky, Kent St, and Chattanooga. On certain years, VT would be as tough of an opponent as USC.

 

[tonybologna]

I'd have Vandy as a 3TD winner vs Appy St. VANDY.

Well, you'd lose that one then! I'm telling you. App State is not going to be no pushover guys. Lamb is an experienced QB plus that rushing attack won't be easy to stop.

They can't stop us though. We'll beat them comfortably but to say Vandy would beat App State by 3 TD's is a brave statement.

 

[CrunchingTheVolz]

What's the point? Bama plays Western Kentucky, Kent St, and Chattanooga. On certain years, VT would be as tough of an opponent as USC.

Eh, that isn't much better. I probably wouldn't consider that a decent OOC schedule either.

 

[Dust10]

Eh, that isn't much better. I probably wouldn't consider that a decent OOC schedule either.

That's really the point... Everyone basically schedules 1 marquee matchup and 3 cupcakes.

 

[StoVol]

I posted this in Patrick's recruiting thread but it looks like it's been relegated to the outer reaches of the forum. I thought you old-timers might like an update on his story.

thanks for posting, always liked his film, and I watch ALOT of film

 

[chargervol]

when 4hreject comes in trying to sell the "the team does everything good by themselves and coaches are only responsible for mistakes" mantra, and ruins the mood...again,
the exact same thought always comes to mind.






And I mean that with every fiber of my being

 

[volinbama256]

I said a while ago that this is just as much a test for the coaching staff as the players this season... we've gotten updates and practice reports on how the kids are progressing, let's see if the coaching staff has done their homework, improved on their mistakes from last season, and are ready to put the foot on the accelerator and not let off until the whistle blows... adjustments during each game depending on each team will be vital to our success, especially during that four game stretch... have they learned their lesson? Will they make the most of the talent and depth we now have to put on the field? No excuses now, we have the horses and they are ready to run for four quarters--- coaches better let'em LOOSE!! GBO!

 

[PYSCHO]

I'm gonna say this and leave it at that....

We don't have the best defensive line in the nation but we do have a good defensive line. One that has enough talent and depth for us to get to Atlanta.

It's been so long since we have had a talented defensive team I think people have forgotten what it looks like to have a team stacked with ballers.

Vereen, Barnett, Khalil and O'Brien/Vickers are probably our best line in 10 years but they aren't the best line in the SEC. In the East alone, Missouri and Florida have as good if not better units on the defensive line.

We have a lot of guys at DE that are potential stars but have yet to prove it on the field.

Missouri is junk and wvu will gash them next weekend. Missouri lost all there line or flunked out or stole something

 

[Ron Swanson]

LSU will go all the way to . . . ??? | Jeff Duncan's 2016 crystal ball | NOLA.com

"SEC Championship Game: The West has won seven consecutive SEC title games but don't be surprised if the run ends this season. Tennessee is primed for a monster season and has the athletes at quarterback (Josh Dobbs), running back (Jalen Hurd) and along the defensive line (end Derek Barnett) to stand toe to toe with the Tigers. The SEC West gauntlet catches up to the Tigers here and the bitter loss eliminates them from College Football Playoff consideration. Tennessee 33, LSU 31

Final record: 13-2. Sugar Bowl: LSU 35, TCU 27."

 

[MEDVOL]

when 4hreject comes in trying to sell the "the team does everything good by themselves and coaches are only responsible for mistakes" mantra, and ruins the mood...again,
the exact same thought always comes to mind.

View attachment 116684




And I mean that with every fiber of my being

I like this one. Reminds me of one of our beloved VN'ers.

 

[chargervol]

I like this one. Reminds me of one of our beloved VN'ers.

Yep.
Wouldn't bother me one bit to see 50 different cups, raised in unison, spreading the same important public service announcement.


Constant complainers can bite butt.
Or something just as eloquent.

 

[NMVol]

Dang, I guess I am just gun shy this year after year after year of expectations that just aren't quite realized. I hardly even am up to giving a prediction. I think instead I am just going to enjoy the play.

If at the end of the year the Vols have made the plays that are possible for them, things should be looking up. Hurd will have punished and with thanks to the O-line, Dobbs will have dropped some balls in along with having some unbelievable runs. Kamara will be crossing into the end zone from all directions. Croom will have some clutch catches. And Preston and Josh will be steady stretching out the big play ratio and well we'll all be talking about Byrd at the end of the season. Is there really enough football ahead of this for this all to come true. OK I have some favorites.

On the D am looking for the pressure up front to show up as ball hawking. Will look for the interior to stuff some teams. And nothing like seeing the ends close out a game when an opposing QB drops back for a final prayer only to be sacked, nay even jarred unloosing the pigskin. I think that having Barnett, Sutton and Reeves-Maybin returning for the season really says it all as to where the defense is in terms of commitment and love having Kelly shoring things up. I think the days of the gimme 4th down conversions are over. If a team will challenge it's going to have to straight up against great talent.

A few back-breaking momentum changing plays from special teams will be expected as well.

I expect it could be a good season. Losing a game is never fun and the Vols will be lining up against the best playing in the SEC. It's gonna take some luck to go 15-0.

 

[Batman1948]

What's the most dramatic weight gain/position change you guys have seen in CFB or even the NFL?

Guys moving from CB to S, S to LB, LB to DE, and DE to DT is common, but has a player ever jumped two positions over the course of their career? Like a CB growing into a LB or a LB growing into a DT?

I have a true story regarding this issue. When I was a senior in high school, 1966, we had a junior QB who was 6 foot 2 and weighed 180.

I graduated, worked for a year, joined the Air Force for 4 years in 1967. When I got out and went back to Memphis, I picked up the paper one day and read about a center getting drafted by the Saints. It was our old QB who was now 6 foot 4 and weighed 290. That was big in the early 70's. I believe he hit the roids a little too hard in college :lol::lol::lol: Big position change for him.