Strengths and weakness of `13 Vols FB.

[KingtUT]

Anyone that takes ANYTHING positive from last years defense simply needs their head examined. 108th out of 120. Please stop.

That doesnt mean that we dont have some players that could excel next year. Just because Sunseri wasnt putting them in the best position to be successful doesnt mean the new DC will do the same. JMO but last year was 75% scheme issues and 25% player issues. Wilcox had less to work with the year before and got a much better results than SADsuri.

 

[sjt18]

Strengths: 1. O. Line 2. D. Line with the return of McCullers and Sentimore 3. Running backs 4. Safeties 5. Special teams


Weeknesses: 1. Corners 2. Depth at Linebacker 3. Quarterbacks 4. Wide Receivers 5. Depth a O. Line

Pretty close.

QB though could be a strength Worley has experience and should benefit from Jone's passing scheme. Peterman is a talented guy. Compared to what either Kiffin or Dooley inherited... it is a strength.

OL is as deep as it has been since I've been watching UT. They return about 7 or 8 guys with real game experience.

I wouldn't call ST's a strength though and the DL needs a rush end. J Smith never seemed able to fill that role. I am not sure who else even has the physical ability on this roster. UT's DT's should be as good and as deep as anyone's though- Couch, McCullers, O'Brien, et al.

Sentimore will be interesting. He will likely be asked to lose weight to play DE.

 

[sjt18]

Strengths= Fans
Weakness= talent + schedule

Yeah... the fanbase has been oh so supportive.... I guess you didn't see the attendance for UK, huh?

 

[sjt18]

That doesnt mean that we dont have some players that could excel next year. Just because Sunseri wasnt putting them in the best position to be successful doesnt mean the new DC will do the same. JMO but last year was 75% scheme issues and 25% player issues. Wilcox had less to work with the year before and got a much better results than SADsuri.

Absolutely true. I would not predict success at this point simply because LB is such a big question mark and rush DE. But UT has athletic players at DB and talent on the DL.

I am not sure what the disconnect was with Sunseri but the players never really seemed to know what they were supposed to be doing. It may have been complexity or simply an inability to teach the schemes.

 

[voldawgforever]

That doesnt mean that we dont have some players that could excel next year. Just because Sunseri wasnt putting them in the best position to be successful doesnt mean the new DC will do the same. JMO but last year was 75% scheme issues and 25% player issues. Wilcox had less to work with the year before and got a much better results than SADsuri.

I'm not saying the players were responsible. They weren't. But you can't measure it any other way. The defense was our weakness. No play makers. No game changers. No bright spots. I hope someone leads this team on the D side of the ball. A safety. A LB. Anyone. We need a star to set the standard.

 

[voldawgforever]

Yeah... the fanbase has been oh so supportive.... I guess you didn't see the attendance for UK, huh?

I did. I was there. It was fairly loud, although a lot of empty seats. When you think about it though, it should have looked like a Miami Hurricane game, but it didn't. Two 5-7 seasons back to back with losses to KY and Vandy? I say the fans are freaking awesome. But thats just me.

 

[fade route]

Western Kentucky has Bobby Pentrino just so you remember..

And yet another poster doesn't seem to know the guy's name is Petrino......unbelievable.

 

[sjt18]

I'm not saying the players were responsible. They weren't. But you can't measure it any other way. The defense was our weakness. No play makers. No game changers. No bright spots. I hope someone leads this team on the D side of the ball. A safety. A LB. Anyone. We need a star to set the standard.

I think the safety pair could step up and really shine.

IMHO, D comes down to just a few things. Find adequate CB's. Find at least one very good rush DE. Find some depth and speed at LB. I will be very surprised if Brewer isn't moved to LB... and will not be surprised if he excels as a 4-3 OLB. He would have in Chavis' system.

 

[sjt18]

I did. I was there. It was fairly loud, although a lot of empty seats. When you think about it though, it should have looked like a Miami Hurricane game, but it didn't. Two 5-7 seasons back to back with losses to KY and Vandy? I say the fans are freaking awesome. But thats just me.

Nebraska fans are awesome. They show up. Period. They supported their program even when it was down and Solich was embarrassing them with his behavior.

I think a 3/4 full stadium is pathetic. I think the constant carping over Jones being hired et al is pathetic.

Don't support the hire? Fine. Say so then decide whether you want the Vols to succeed or not and get behind the team or go do something else. Jones was hired. It is done. Time to support UT or find another bus. The constant negativism by many (not you that I know of) does nothing but harm.

 

[voldawgforever]

Nebraska fans are awesome. They show up. Period. They supported their program even when it was done and Solich was embarrassing them with his behavior.

I think a 3/4 full stadium is pathetic.

That's 75,000 fans. More than most other stadiums will hold when they're sold out.

 

[voldawgforever]

Nebraska fans are awesome. They show up. Period. They supported their program even when it was down and Solich was embarrassing them with his behavior.

I think a 3/4 full stadium is pathetic. I think the constant carping over Jones being hired et al is pathetic.

Don't support the hire? Fine. Say so then decide whether you want the Vols to succeed or not and get behind the team or go do something else. Jones was hired. It is done. Time to support UT or find another bus. The constant negativism by many (not you that I know of) does nothing but harm.

What just happened? Did I time warp or something??

 

[99gator]

Yes. It was our secondary last year that was sad.

RB's and mobile QB's break through lines all the time, they are just usually brought down not long after. It made our D-line look bad that every time someone broke through, there was a good chance they were going for 6.

how many times this past season did you see anyone carrying the football have to make a linebacker miss a tackle?

how many times this season did you see a qb get hit?

how many times this season did you see a d-lineman disrupt a play at the line of scrimmage?

hardly ever.

mccullers made plays from time to time until he got tired.....which was around the 2nd quarter.

i think the safety play is god awful as well. no question about it. but, to play devil's advocate, it's no fun trying to tackle a dude running full speed who can cut any direction he wants to because all that's out there is you, him and a bunch of grass. the safeties were left in do or die situations on numerous occasions because the front seven was getting manhandled.

 

[sjt18]

That's 75,000 fans. More than most other stadiums will hold when they're sold out.

Not the top tier programs. If you want a top tier program then you learn to act like a top tier fan. Demanding? You have to be. Supportive? You have to be that too.

Whining? Defeatist? Negative? Sniping? You can't be those things. And no, those are NOT simply a product of getting what you want in a winning team NOW any more than a well behaved child is the product of getting everything it wants NOW. It is a product of making a choice to be a fan that deserves to expect a winner.

In all honesty, many of the Vol fans that "express" themselves here do not deserve a winner. It is doubtful they've ever been a part of a winner to even know how a winning fanbase and program actually "feels".

Fans don't make blocks, miss tackles, or catch passes. Fans DO contribute greatly to the program's image which in turn makes that program the one players want to play for... or not.

 

[sjt18]

What just happened? Did I time warp or something??

Nope. Truth doesn't change. If you are a fan it was the right thing to do to support the last staff... and also demand results. You can look back through my posts over the last 3 years. I always said year 3 was when Dooley had to prove himself. I said that he had to get a signature win or be fired. I even said that the decision should have been made after the USCe game since there were no more signature wins on the schedule.

You support your team and set a high bar. You don't have to descend into ridiculous namecalling and chronic complaining to do that.... winners don't.

 

[voldawgforever]

Not the top tier programs. If you want a top tier program then you learn to act like a top tier fan. Demanding? You have to be. Supportive? You have to be that too.

Whining? Defeatist? Negative? Sniping? You can't be those things. And no, those are NOT simply a product of getting what you want in a winning team NOW any more than a well behaved child is the product of getting everything it wants NOW. It is a product of making a choice to be a fan that deserves to expect a winner.

In all honesty, many of the Vol fans that "express" themselves here do not deserve a winner. It is doubtful they've ever been a part of a winner to even know how a winning fanbase and program actually "feels".

Fans don't make blocks, miss tackles, or catch passes. Fans DO contribute greatly to the program's image which in turn makes that program the one players want to play for... or not.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

5-7
7-6
6-7
5-7
5-7

Last 5 years. That will cause a drop off. And people running around trying to belittle the fans after past performances like this are the people that don't demand the best.

Does that make sense to you?

 

[Grayvol]

The ONLY strength the UT football program has next year is us, the fans, and our willingness to pull our team through our brutal schedule and not give up on them. As much as we don't like some of the decisions made and some of the recruits coming, we are die hard UT fans with orange blood, and we will always pull for UT, regardless of if we are terrible or not.

Yep. It's all about us.

 

[voldawgforever]

Nope. Truth doesn't change. If you are a fan it was the right thing to do to support the last staff... and also demand results. You can look back through my posts over the last 3 years. I always said year 3 was when Dooley had to prove himself. I said that he had to get a signature win or be fired. I even said that the decision should have been made after the USCe game since there were no more signature wins on the schedule.

You support your team and set a high bar. You don't have to descend into ridiculous namecalling and chronic complaining to do that.... winners don't.

I have no idea why you are telling me this. Are you using me for a sounding board? Because you've chosen the wrong target if not.

 

[99gator]

Not the top tier programs. If you want a top tier program then you learn to act like a top tier fan. Demanding? You have to be. Supportive? You have to be that too.

Whining? Defeatist? Negative? Sniping? You can't be those things. And no, those are NOT simply a product of getting what you want in a winning team NOW any more than a well behaved child is the product of getting everything it wants NOW. It is a product of making a choice to be a fan that deserves to expect a winner.

In all honesty, many of the Vol fans that "express" themselves here do not deserve a winner. It is doubtful they've ever been a part of a winner to even know how a winning fanbase and program actually "feels".

Fans don't make blocks, miss tackles, or catch passes. Fans DO contribute greatly to the program's image which in turn makes that program the one players want to play for... or not.

i'm sure that there weren't any nebraska fans whining, negative, defeatist or sniping after getting their face kicked in at the Big 10 championship game.

fans are fans and they are going to be fans. when they are made to sit and watch what you all had to watch the past few seasons, they aren't just going to sit and clap like a trained seal trying to get a fish.

there isn't a more negative, whining, and petulant fan base than those who cheer for kentucky basketball. if they don't win by 30 and play flawless basketball, there is hell to pay. there are few, if any, more successful college basketball programs in the history of the game than kentucky basketball.

 

[Milehigh_Vol]

And yet another poster doesn't seem to know the guy's name is Petrino......unbelievable.

my phone changed it to pentrino just so you know

 

[voldawgforever]

i'm sure that there weren't any nebraska fans whining, negative, defeatist or sniping after getting their face kicked in at the Big 10 championship game.

fans are fans and they are going to be fans. when they are made to sit and watch what you all had to watch the past few seasons, they aren't just going to sit and clap like a trained seal trying to get a fish.

there isn't a more negative, whining, and petulant fan base than those who cheer for kentucky basketball. if they don't win by 30 and play flawless basketball, there is hell to pay. there are few, if any, more successful college basketball programs in the history of the game than kentucky basketball.

What you did there, I see it.

 

[fade route]

my phone changed it to pentrino just so you know

Don't let your phone push you around like that.

 

[Blackburn]

O line and keeping J Graham are our definite strengths.

LBS could be a strength if someone steps up as solid starter with AJ and CM and some of the depth fills out

D Line could also be a strength with McCullers and Sentimore coming back but the rest of the players are very unproven or are inconsistent at best.

Everything else is up in the air.

 

[sjt18]

Correct me if I'm wrong.

5-7
7-6
6-7
5-7
5-7

Last 5 years. That will cause a drop off. And people running around trying to belittle the fans after past performances like this are the people that don't demand the best.

Does that make sense to you?

Where did I say that was acceptable? Did I say that Dooley didn't deserve to be fired? Or Fulmer?

The team does not know how to win. They do not have a championship attitude or confidence... and neither do many UT fans. That isn't "belittling"... that is a fact. They do not know how to be positive AND demanding. Being defeated and quitting your support of the team is NOT what a great fanbase does.

A losing run causes a drop off if you are a fair weather fanbase.

 

[sjt18]

I have no idea why you are telling me this. Are you using me for a sounding board? Because you've chosen the wrong target if not.

It is a general statement. From my knowledge of you... I wish more UT fans were like you.

 

[sjt18]

i'm sure that there weren't any nebraska fans whining, negative, defeatist or sniping after getting their face kicked in at the Big 10 championship game.

fans are fans and they are going to be fans. when they are made to sit and watch what you all had to watch the past few seasons, they aren't just going to sit and clap like a trained seal trying to get a fish.

there isn't a more negative, whining, and petulant fan base than those who cheer for kentucky basketball. if they don't win by 30 and play flawless basketball, there is hell to pay. there are few, if any, more successful college basketball programs in the history of the game than kentucky basketball.

You don't know any Nebraska fans, do you?

Living in Missouri, I know many. They get mad. They certainly move on coaches when they need to. They do NOT betray or withhold support from their team.