There is no lack of talent on the offensive side of the ball

#51
#51
photovol said:
I disagree with your assesment, the Vols don't have a proven SEC running Back or proven SEC receivers. We are also lacking a proven SEC QB. Granted, our offensive line has proven it can pass block but has not provided enough proof to say they will be dominant in run blocking.....I hope this will change, but I see a Vol offensive that lacks at almost all skill positions compared with other SEC teams.....time will tell....if we win 5 games I will be suprised....a 4-8 season is entirely possible.
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Odd logic. People don't become talented because they prove themselves; they prove themselves because they are talented. We have a lot of talent on our team. It is yet to be proven how some of them translate in SEC play.
 
#53
#53
daj2576 said:
I think what you mean is that Oregon will be "sickly" experienced in their system. Do not make the mistake of discounting the importance of a coach in their specific system. Arkansas promoted an assistant to take over after Petrino, too. They performed exactly the way their talent would predict. That isn't a fluke.

But where did all of Oregon's supposed world beater talent come from?

Here are their rivals numbers.

Overall Stars
Year.....Rank.....5*....4*....3*....Other*
2013......22.......1......7.....7.........4
2012......16.......0......10....9........2
2011.......9........2......9.....12.......0
2010......13.......1......10.....9.......3

Average Rivals Recruiting Rank: 15

Tennessee has a Rivals recruiting rank of 15 during the same span.

The first counter argument that many people make is that Tennessee has had an unusual amount of attrition during that same period.

I don't think you will find that the exodus you guys have seen is terribly unusual across the 120+ team NCAA docket, you just pay far more attention to a small subset of teams. In essence, we haven't really lost talent, just the experienced talent.

The second counter argument that many people will make is that Oregon just "looks" better than Tennessee, and more people talk about them.

A few things to consider here: Strength of Competition and a system that produces more offensive flash. Oregon plays in the PAC. Couple that with Oregon running a more high scoring offensive system in a league with defenses far inferior to SEC defenses and you see why the talking heads get all slobbery when discussing Oregon.

The third counter argument that people will make is that Oregon "coaches up their talent" better than Tennessee has "coached up theirs".

That is absolutely true. What it means, though, is that Oregon had hit a ceiling and had been performing at a level far above their intrinsic talent would indicate. Tennessee, on the other hand, has been performing consistently about 4 games below their talent would indicate. In other words, there is far more upside to this UT team and far more downside to this Oregon team.

The final counter argument that people make, and this is the most silly, is that the talent on defense was proportional to the on the field performance last year. As defense is what will stop Oregon's offense, this must mean that we are doomed. Last year was an amplified example of what under or mis utilizing talent can look like. The results on the defensive side of the ball aren't simply that we don't have the horses, it is that our horses were blind folded, shackled and beat.

Now, we play Oregon early enough in the year that if there are going to be problems with the coaching transition and the utilization of talent, it will be exploitable. The downside to that is that we play them early enough in the season that the kinks in Jones' system will probably be more easily exposed.

This game will be won between now and August, depending on how both teams react during the off-season work outs and summer training. Granted, that puts Tennessee at a disadvantage because they have to surpass years of under performance, and all Oregon has to do is not drop off significantly.
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Love your optimism and hope you're right. I agree our defensive talent was not as bad as we looked last year with one exception, SPEED. We don't have enough speed on D yet to hang with a team like Oregon, IMO
 
#54
#54
1985Vols said:
Love your optimism and hope you're right. I agree our defensive talent was not as bad as we looked last year with one exception, SPEED. We don't have enough speed on D yet to hang with a team like Oregon, IMO
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Thank you.

Although, I wouldn't say that anything I said in there was optimistic. I tried to show both sides of the argument.

The point being that Oregon is probably a L, but not a definite L like some want to point out. The teams are really more equally aligned than many, who seem determined to use subjective measures, would suggest. I think this game, played at Autzen, is probably 60/40 in favor of Oregon.

The team that scares me is Auburn. With the talent they have recruited over the past few years, they should be a top 10 team, and they have been awful.

Overall, the current UT roster is nowhere near as bad as our last two years would lead one to believe.
 
#55
#55
a good OL, potentially, and two proven running backs. They may not be the best backs in the SEC, but they should be solid. Our running game should be solid or better. Trouble is, our passing game could sux, and that will make it harder to run the ball because teams will stack the LOS.

What I would do, if I were OC of this team, is focus like a laser on the short passing game. Find the QB and the three receivers who can execute the short passing game. It's always easier to complete short passes than long, especially when your skill talent is inexperienced. If we want to have a decent offense, we need a collection of pass plays and players that can dependably get us 5-15 yards. Good teams have good short passing games--it's why Manning and Brady are going to the HOF. This can be done if the coaches are fanatical about execution.
 
#56
#56
volfanhill said:
Talent wins and CBJ is doing that but to think 8 or more wins is even possible is flat out ignorant
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NO ONE expected a NC for 'Barn a couple years ago and NO ONE expected USC to lose 5 games last year. That's why they play the game. I suspect that you might just be eating some crow and extending some apologies come December... anything can happen
 
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#57
#57
armchair said:
a good OL, potentially, and two proven running backs. They may not be the best backs in the SEC, but they should be solid. Our running game should be solid or better. Trouble is, our passing game could sux, and that will make it harder to run the ball because teams will stack the LOS.

What I would do, if I were OC of this team, is focus like a laser on the short passing game. Find the QB and the three receivers who can execute the short passing game. It's always easier to complete short passes than long, especially when your skill talent is inexperienced. If we want to have a decent offense, we need a collection of pass plays and players that can dependably get us 5-15 yards. Good teams have good short passing games--it's why Manning and Brady are going to the HOF. This can be done if the coaches are fanatical about execution.
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The above pretty much describes CBJ's offense. lol
 
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#58
#58
Voldemonium said:
I've seen this sort of talk a lot lately and I'm not picking on you but I'm gonna use your post to highlight areas where I believe Vol fans err on the side of seeing only the positives.

Oregon is winnable?
- Is Marcus Mariota gone? He was a Heisman candidate at one point last season. Their new coach was also their OC for the last 3yrs. So what if thier offensive production drops 7-10pts per game. They averaged 50 something pts/gm last year. Every game against the Ducks is a shootout. With Bray, Patterson, Hunter, & Rivera gone how can anyone reasonbly predict that we have the bullets to hang in such a contest. Again, I'm all for optimism but I just think it should be tempered with the facts. You don't walk into Outzen with an unproven QB, WR's, RB's, no pass rush, questionable CB's and leave with a W. It just doesn't happen.

South Carolina?
Of the three you listed I actually think this one is at least plausable however last year's game was close due in large part to Bray, Hunter, Rivera, Z.Rogers, & Patterson. Until I see anybody in class 117 with their levels of production I think the edge has to stay with USC.

Georgia?
We haven't beaten them since Lane was in K'ville and they've out-recruited us annualy. Their "Dream Team" recruits should begin to see the field with more regularity this year. Again, with the exception of the O-line we don't currently line up talent wise with UGA, UF, Bama, LSU, and ATM.


Coach Jones = X-Factor
I do believe Jones is a much better coach and motivator than Dooley. From what I've seen so far, I at least think he's qualified to be here, unlike Dooley. Can Jones coach up the team to perhaps win a game that (on paper) it shouldn't? It's possible but I don't know that people should leap to the conclusion that it's probable. Make no mistake, this schedule is brutal. Bama would do well to go 10-2 with our schedule yet somehow folks think we could go 8-4 with it when we haven't won 8-games since 2007? Sorry but right now we're more than 2 games worse than Bama. 6-6 this year is a decent season. 7-5 and I KNOW we've got the right guy. This rebuild is gonna take time and I'm prepared to give it to Jones. Building up unrealistic expectations imo is kinda setting Jones up to fail. :twocents:
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Your does make sense in the light of reality. Nonetheless:

I believe for every drop of rain that falls
A flower grows,
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night
A candle glows,
I believe for everyone who goes astray,
Someone will come to show the way,
I believe, I believe.

I believe in our team and its coaches. I believe the team's attitude and hunger. Win, lose, or draw, I believe when this team hits the field, all hell is going break loose.
 
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#59
#59
Nashvol2 said:
Assuming this is our starting line-up, we have a decently talented offensive team. I know alot of folks don't like to look at the stars but it can give you an overall indication of talent. These are the ratings per Rivals.

Offense

QB- Worley 3* 5.6
RB- Neal/ Lane 4* 5.8 / 4* 5.8
FB/TE: Justin King/Brendan Downs 4* 5.8 / *3 5.6
WR- Croom 4* 5.8
WR- North 4* 6.0
WR- Young 3* 5.5
OT- Tiny 4* 5.9
OT- James 4* 5.9
OG- Fulton 3* 5.7
OG- Jackson 4* 5.8
OC- Stone *4 5.8


There's enough talent to win on this side of the ball. I think it's just a matter of finding playmakers. I think Neal, Lane, and Hill will move the chains behind this offensive line.
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Problem will also be when those guys get hurt. Who is there to replace them? Good OL helps out a lot but going through the SEC is hard if you don't have a good replacement group behind the starters.
 
#60
#60
WoodsmanVol said:
Your does make sense in the light of reality. Nonetheless:

I believe for every drop of rain that falls
A flower grows,
I believe that somewhere in the darkest night
A candle glows,
I believe for everyone who goes astray,
Someone will come to show the way,
I believe, I believe.

I believe in our team and its coaches. I believe the team's attitude and hunger. Win, lose, or draw, I believe when this team hits the field, all hell is going break loose.
Click to expand...

I believe...


Love is the answer.

Love will find a way...

Love will find a way...

Love will find a way.
 
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#61
#61
armchair said:
a good OL, potentially, and two proven running backs. They may not be the best backs in the SEC, but they should be solid. Our running game should be solid or better. Trouble is, our passing game could sux, and that will make it harder to run the ball because teams will stack the LOS.

What I would do, if I were OC of this team, is focus like a laser on the short passing game. Find the QB and the three receivers who can execute the short passing game. It's always easier to complete short passes than long, especially when your skill talent is inexperienced. If we want to have a decent offense, we need a collection of pass plays and players that can dependably get us 5-15 yards. Good teams have good short passing games--it's why Manning and Brady are going to the HOF. This can be done if the coaches are fanatical about execution.
Click to expand...

In that case, Worley is the QB. He's sort of a shortage specialist by necessity due to not having a 155 howitzer as an arm.
 
#63
#63
daj2576 said:
If you make the bet, strictly on recruiting averages, you would be right 60-70% of the time.

I have done the math, back to 2002.

If you use UT's recruiting average, we should go 7-5 this year with a coach who only coaches to his talent.

Jones, typically, performs more than 2 games a year over his talent level. This is also true of Petrino, or Chip Kelly, or Brian Kelly, or Spurrier.

Dooley, like Kiff and a ton of other recently fired coaches, has a history of under performing by a magnitude of 3 or more games a year.

The converse question can be applied to you: would you bet something real that Tennessee will be an under .500 team this year? If so, I am totally in on the bet.
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Best dog.
 
#64
#64
Our OL and RBs have solid experience and fortunately that's a great foundation to build on.

We have talent at QB and WR, but little experience. So as long as our WRs learn their routes and do their job we should be fine there. Our QBs are talented and smart enough. As long they learn the play book, check down when needed, keep to the coaches game plan(key), and we should be pretty solid on O.

This is all imo though and believe that CBJ took over a really good foundation on O. The D on the other hand is thin but better set up for 4-3 so it will be easier to work with.

Our schedule is though but not tougher than what these kids r use to last few yrs. Its going to be all on the coaches to get these kids ready. So as long as the coaches "get it" like so many so they do we shouldn't have a problem winning 6-7 next season. These kids are use to playing tough games to the end, so not concerned with their heart. This group of kids that cbj inherited are solid kids, for the most part, so glad that cbj doesn't have to purge the team of a bunch of trouble players. Not saying all the kids are perfect, but better that for sure. Which will allow CBJ to succeed if he's truly able to.
 
#65
#65
if we can find a qb this year we will have the ability to compete on offense with all but maybe 1-2 teams on our schedule - if we don't then we are going to really struggle

Dools won 5 games with a similar schedule last year so I don't think expecting CBJ to do 1 or 2 better than that is crazy - i mean aubie went 0fer last year - so beating aubie, vandy, UK, MO, and 3 ooc is 7 wins - that is not really anything to brag about - you could lose to every decent team you play, not have 1 upset and still get to 7 wins
 
#66
#66
VolBraniac said:
Best dog.
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No, If my world goes to crap my dog is all I have left (I only have one dog, and that's my boy). Also, I am certain no matter what dogs you have, you don't have any I want.

There are other interesting things that could be wagered, however.

Email me and we can work out the details.
 
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#67
#67
1truevol said:
Don't get caught up in star gazing. There is a difference between potential/talent and actual game experience in the south eastern conference. We need both....and we'll get it. Just don't be devastated if doesn't happen this year.
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Again, i'm saying we got the talent on this side of the ball to get to 7 wins. I'm not saying we take it all of the way to Atlanta.
 
#68
#68
daj2576 said:
No, If my world goes to crap my dog is all I have left (I only have one dog, and that's my boy). Also, I am certain no matter what dogs you have, you don't have any I want.

There are other interesting things that could be wagered, however.

Email me and we can work out the details.
Click to expand...
I did.

Your partner in avatar told me to get fooked. Looks like she protects your money.

Good on her. :whistling:
 
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