Take a moment to appreciate that 8-4 is basically worst case for a down year

#31
#31
Last year was a blessing, surprise, and rare to say the least. Current state is reality until proven, imo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Raebo
#32
#32
I agree, OP. There’s lots of sourpusses in the world and some of them support our power T and they’re just fussy and can’t help but be sour on a down year.
 
#33
#33
VFLCodyGBO said:
With a real shot at 9-3…Just a few years ago we’d celebrate 9-3, this year after losing our Heisman contender QB, a first round right tackle, our top 2 WRs…You get the idea.

Stoked for the next couple years with a full team of Heup’s talent and a QB that was essentially hand picked for his offense that has had time to learn the offense and grow into his body.

The future is bright Vol fans.
Click to expand...
Good post. But necessary?

Who had us at 10 wins losing what we did to the draft. Every talking head said the OL is suspect, and WR would take a step or five, back.

Thornton just hasnt had enough time to pick up the offense. Keyton isnt a 1 guy.

Point is this, anyone with any sense had us at 9-3. 8-4, while dissapointing, is still a good bowl game.

The other stuff to worry about in the offseason, ie offensive line depth, and talent upgrades, WR speed and depth, defensive line recruiting, QB talent can only be changed then.

This is JM3's team.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Raebo and 08Vol
#34
#34
BenGrimm said:
The point is we were lucky to even make bowl games just 3 years ago. This is still a building project and we are a couple recruiting cycles away from regularly having 10 wins.
Click to expand...

I expect that for us and most teams in the SEC 9-3 going forward with the new teams and schedule changes will be a very good year.
 
  • Like
Reactions: b_gann
#35
#35
We lost our All SEC QB, our Biletnikoff winner, Tillman who was our best WR the year before, our top 10 Tackle, another NFL lineman and we replaced our offensive coordinator because Golesh was good enough to get a HC gig. That is a lot of big time turnover. Throw in that our starting center was out the first month, our best WR is out for the year and our middle linebacker being down since UVA, we’re fighting our tails off to potentially a double digit win season. One thing that I don’t think gets mentioned enough is the loss of Pili. I think he would’ve made a huge difference for us. I don’t think we give up 26 and 27 points unanswered if he’s playing .
 
  • Like
Reactions: Winchester73, Coach_Z, General Jack and 2 others
#36
#36
b_gann said:
Has the floor been raised? Absolutely.

However, next year could be a real concern. This team has Sr. starting everywhere. Need a real big transfer portal year. Heup's "talent" isn't showing very well. We're still riding with Pruitt and/or transfer guys. Dylan Sampson and Squirrel are really the only two recruits that have shown anything. At some point we have to recruit an OL that can be a factor. Defense recruiting has been solid.
Click to expand...

I have been pointing this out with several post in the last few days..
 
  • Like
Reactions: b_gann
#41
#41
lifeisdeep said:
Maybe you would celebrate 9-3. Some of us would not.
Click to expand...
And some of you are delusional, believing the state of the SEC is the same as it was 25 years ago.

Only 3 SEC teams have consistently won 9 games or more per season over the last 10 years. LSU, Bama, and UGA. Each one of these teams have advantages that we don't and have been far more stable than we have been. If you think Huepel or any coach for that matter, should come to TN and immediately make TN on par with these 3 teams on yearly basis before their first recruits have even cycled out, then you are delusional.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CornDontGrow
#43
#43
b_gann said:
Has the floor been raised? Absolutely.

However, next year could be a real concern. This team has Sr. starting everywhere. Need a real big transfer portal year. Heup's "talent" isn't showing very well. We're still riding with Pruitt and/or transfer guys. Dylan Sampson and Squirrel are really the only two recruits that have shown anything. At some point we have to recruit an OL that can be a factor. Defense recruiting has been solid.
Click to expand...
James Pearce is a Pruitt guy? Nimrod is a Pruitt guy? Arion Carter is a pruitt guy?

Bro all of Huep's guys are freshmen and sophomores and several of them are doing great for the playing time they're getting. Chill TF out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Coach_Z, 'Boro-vol and VFL-82-JP
#46
#46
lifeisdeep said:
Maybe you would celebrate 9-3. Some of us would not.
Click to expand...
9-3 with Joe Milton and a first year OC is solid. I’d consider 10-2 “good”. 11-1 “great”. And anything better to be miraculous.

I think so much is made of Milton that we forget about Halzle being a first year OC. While I don’t think Tennessee should be hiring people to learn on the job, that’s what Heupel is doing. It’s worked out great with Banks and there’s no reason to think Halzle won’t take in everything he’s learned this season and come back better in 2024.
 
#47
#47
volfan_28 said:
9-3 with Joe Milton and a first year OC is solid. I’d consider 10-2 “good”. 11-1 “great”. And anything better to be miraculous.

I think so much is made of Milton that we forget about Halzle being a first year OC. While I don’t think Tennessee should be hiring people to learn on the job, that’s what Heupel is doing. It’s worked out great with Banks and there’s no reason to think Halzle won’t take in everything he’s learned this season and come back better in 2024.
Click to expand...
hiring from within is one of the best practices you can do. Yeah he's going to make mistakes but he's going to know the system better than some outside guy
 
  • Like
Reactions: bpalmer28
#49
#49
lifeisdeep said:
Maybe you would celebrate 9-3. Some of us would not.
Click to expand...
No understanding of what an accomplishment that is in today's SEC. Especially when you play Alabama and UGA every year. I doubt this poster has ever played in a sporting event where he had to change clothes in a locker room.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BernardKingGOAT
#50
#50
volfan_28 said:
9-3 with Joe Milton and a first year OC is solid. I’d consider 10-2 “good”. 11-1 “great”. And anything better to be miraculous.

I think so much is made of Milton that we forget about Halzle being a first year OC. While I don’t think Tennessee should be hiring people to learn on the job, that’s what Heupel is doing. It’s worked out great with Banks and there’s no reason to think Halzle won’t take in everything he’s learned this season and come back better in 2024.
Click to expand...

One great point is the new OC. Typically teams struggle on offense a little with a new offensive coordinator as well. The OC has to rebuild those relationships sometimes.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top