Sportsline.com

[hatvol96]

Dodd's column is devoted to UT. It's not very positive.

 

[Jasongivm6]

Dodd's column is devoted to UT. It's not very positive.

Do you ever post a message over there? When the site is up an running?

 

[hatvol96]

Do you ever post a message over there? When the site is up an running?

No, this is pretty much the only place I post with any regularity.

 

[GAVol]

That column jumped all over the place. I don't know that it was that negative; just a typical fluff preseason article with factual errors.

 

[OrangeSquare]

Bad breaks at the wrong time, like Gerald Riggs Jr.'s fumble that sailed out of the end zone against the Tide.

Dodd is like a lot of the NegaVols here. He is too consumed with attacking Tennessee, to get things correct.

 

[GAVol]

Best-case scenario: OK, let's say Tennessee had won those three close games. It would have finished 8-3.

This is a technicality, but we were tied with ND in the 4th quarter and the UGA and Florida games were both very winnable deep into the 4th quarter. As long as we're having pipe dreams, it's conceivable that we could have won every game.

 

[Chattownsfinest]

:bad: I've read some of his stuff before this guy is pretty mediocre

Tennessee seemingly had the talent. Last year's seniors were part of a 2002 recruiting class that was ranked second nationally by rivals.com.

This is IMO is something that a lot of people overlooked this season. Of the 25 players that we signed that year 9 eventually left the progam (including James Banks who was the highest ranked member of that class) or were dismissed and 2 weren't on the team last year (Gibril Wilson and JT Mapu). The number of busts in that group was incredible. Just go on Rivals and look at the list to see what I mean.

Tennessee needs to start with beating the teams it should this year, like Cal at home in the opener, Memphis on the road Sept. 30 and South Carolina in Columbia on Oct. 28. Win those three, and Tennessee should at least be bowling again.

I must've missed something how can he group Cal who will be a top 15 maybe top 10 team with a possibility of having three players drafted in the first round of next year's draft in with South Carolina and Memphis as teams we should beat??

Fulmer must replace four starters on the offensive line. The defensive loses an All-American (Jesse Mahelona) and two players now in NFL camps (Tony McDaniel, Jason Hall). All three starting linebackers are gone.

But our offensive line play last year was horrible and we return an all-american and our best offensive lineman in Sears. If he wanted to say something he should've talked about Rob Smith IMO he was our biggest loss from last year. And we replace an All-American (Mahelona) with another All-American (Harrell) who is probably more talented and has a chance to be a first round draft pick. Losing three starting linebackers hurts, but you can make an argument (and Chavis has said this) that we will be more talented this year on defense we just won't be as experienced. He also failed to mention that we return every starter in our defensive backfield.

All in all a pretty bad article. Of all those teams he mentioned (Bama,Auburn,USC,Nebraska) I'd be curious to know how many fired the head coach something that hasn't happened and something that can dramatically effect a team the next year and recruiting.. I'd also like to see something about what bringing in a new offensive mind can do for a stagnant football team (Borges,Weiss,etc.)

 

[kptvol]

And we replace an All-American (Mahelona) with another All-American (Harrell) who is probably more talented and has a chance to be a first round draft pick. Losing three starting linebackers hurts, but you can make an argument (and Chavis has said this) that we will be more talented this year on defense we just won't be as experienced. He also failed to mention that we return every starter in our defensive backfield.

Harrell started last year. Thus, he is not replacing Mahelona. Jesse will likely be replaced by someone that has not even seen the field yet. You could also argue that Harrell benefitted from the extra attention Mahelona received. So yes, DT is a big question mark. Also, whoever replaces Jason Hall and Parys Haralson at DE will have very big shoes to fill. Plus, it's not like our secondary was all that impressive last year. The strength in 2005 was obviously the front seven, six of which are now gone. I don't fault this guy for questioning our defense, regardless of how well Chavis reloads. The fact of the matter is that we had a top 3 or 5 defense last year and still couldn't make it to a bowl. If our defense drops off, we need a gigantic improvement from our offense to be even marginally successful.

 

[OWB]

If our defense drops off, we need a gigantic improvement from our offense to be even marginally successful.

Tennessee needs to find that balance again. Balanced teams are the great ones. Seems like Tennessee is always improving in certain areas but can't be good everywhere at once, or at least the majority of positions. If we have a good D-line, our secondary is weak. If our secondary is strong, our linebackers are inexperienced. If our defense is good, our offense is average and vice versa.

I know it's easier said than done, but this team needs to click this year regardless of experience at certain postitions.

 

[Jasongivm6]

Tennessee needs to find that balance again. Balanced teams are the great ones. Seems like Tennessee is always improving in certain areas but can't be good everywhere at once, or at least the majority of positions. If we have a good D-line, our secondary is weak. If our secondary is strong, our linebackers are inexperienced. If our defense is good, our offense is average and vice versa.

I know it's easier said than done, but this team needs to click this year regardless of experience at certain postitions.

I totally agree.

 

[LetMeStay]

LSU, Auburn, Georgia and Florida are going to be ranked, all most likely in the top 15.

Fulmer has lost eight of his 12 meetings against the four.

hmmmmmm

 

[VolinArizona]

Jesse will likely be replaced by someone that has not even seen the field yet.

Turk McBride has seen the field plenty, and could have a better statistical year than Harrell.

But you are correct, Harrell isn't replacing Mahelona.

 

[Lexvol]

Even considering the source, I think it is fair to say, based on the tone of the articlel, that the media is starting to doubt the talent level at UT. Maybe for good reason.

 

[kptvol]

Turk McBride has seen the field plenty, and could have a better statistical year than Harrell.

But you are correct, Harrell isn't replacing Mahelona.

I thought Turk was moving to DE? Hopefully that's not true, I think he'd be better at tackle.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Each of you here at The Nation should pat yourselves on the back.
These national writers have nothing to say that has not been discussed and debated three ways from Sunday since December of last year.
There is not one fresh opinion out there.
And frankly, most are based on info related to the beginning of Spring drills.

Practice in seven days.... Better days are coming VolNation....

 

[rwemyss]

Dodd is just beating a dead horse, and doing a poor job at it. IIRC the national media decided the sky was falling when Manning graduated, what did that get us? I'm glad he thinks we're gonna suck.

 

[utvolpj]

The sad part is there's not a college football fan around that finds him credible. He gets bashed by everyone. I wish I could be that bad at my job and get away with it.

 

[hatvol96]

The sad part is there's not a college football fan around that finds him credible. He gets bashed by everyone. I wish I could be that bad at my job and get away with it.

If everybody is bashing him, that means everybody is reading his column. That's the object of the game. The worst thing that can happen to a columnist is to have an audience that doesn't feel strongly either way about him.

 

[rwemyss]

Yup. The reality is that he's really GOOD at his job. Maybe he learned the tactic from Finebaum. :lol:

 

[utvolpj]

OK I'll rephrase, I wish I could know at little about my job/subject as DD and be considered successful.

 

[rockytopinalabam]

Dodd's column is devoted to UT. It's not very positive.

You two should get along just fine.

 

[hatvol96]

You two should get along just fine.

If you can find the positive in 5-6 and seven years without an SEC title, have at it.