Toughest part of the schedule is yet to come....

[MWAVolfan]

At the beginning of the year, I think most people agreed that the toughest stretch of our schedule began with Oregon and ended with Alabama.

While Oregon was most certainly our toughest game of the year so far, in hindsight, I think the real tough stretch begins with Alabama and ends with Auburn.

Nobody knew that Florida would be such a joke or that Georgia would be decimated by injury. If we had a decent QB and could have capitalized a little more on mistakes, we could be sitting here at 6-1 and nationally ranked. We chalked those up as losses before the season started, however, we now know that Missouri and Auburn, which were once considered toss-up games on our schedule, may actually be two of the toughest games we play all year. And along with Alabama, this may actually end up being the toughest 3 game stretch on our schedule this year.

Thoughts?

 

[white65]

I'm thinking both Auburn and Mizz are over rated and we have a shot at both of them.

 

[MWAVolfan]

I'm thinking both Auburn and Mizz are over rated and we have a shot at both of them.

Missouri is definitely not the #5 team in the country. If you look at who they beat, a severely depleted Georgia team is their only "quality" win.

They could very easily lose 4 out of their last 5 games if things dont go their way.

Auburn beating A&M and Ole Miss is more impressive to me though. I am glad that game is in K-ville.

 

[Vol in]

The whole thing is brutal, but I think you make a valid point. Missouri and Auburn are better than most thought they would be at this point. The good news is, team 117 is steadily showing improvement and I think we will win at least one of the next three.

 

[MWAVolfan]

The whole thing is brutal, but I think you make a valid point. Missouri and Auburn are better than most thought they would be at this point. The good news is, team 117 is steadily showing improvement and I think we will win at least one of the next three.

Yes, this! If UT can "run the table" after the Bama game, and finish 8-4, considering that we would have faced SEVEN top 25 teams this year, It would be an epic first year for Butch Jones.

 

[Grand Vol]

Yes, this! If UT can "run the table" after the Bama game, and finish 8-4, considering that we would have faced SEVEN top 25 teams this year, It would be an epic first year for Butch Jones.

I think going 7-5 would be an epic year for the entire program, much less Butch himself.

Think about the offensive talent we lost in Hunter, Bray, Patterson, Rivera and Rogers.

Think about a bunch of underclassmen and freshmen playing in key positions on both offense and defense.

Think about where Palardy was a year ago and where he is now.

And consider our record for the past four years.

The entire program going 7-5 would be a harbinger of things to come, much less what our coaches have done.

 

[TBtheGBwiththeTD]

Mizzou is legit.

 

[DocVOLiday]

we'll know a bit more about mizzu based on their play against USCe. Granted, if shaw is out, that might not tell the whole story

 

[WhatInVolnation]

I think going 7-5 would be an epic year for the entire program, much less Butch himself.

Think about the offensive talent we lost in Hunter, Bray, Patterson, Rivera and Rogers.

Think about a bunch of underclassmen and freshmen playing in key positions on both offense and defense.

Think about where Palardy was a year ago and where he is now.

And consider our record for the past four years.

The entire program going 7-5 would be a harbinger of things to come, much less what our coaches have done.

I'm hoping for 7-5. I think it is possible that we will compete with Bama this Saturday but I doubt that we win in Tuscaloosa. That gets us to 4-4. I think UK is a definite win. I think Vanderbilt is a likely win. That means we need one out of Missouri and Auburn to get to 7-5. My guess is we get Auburn at home.

 

[sjt18]

At the beginning of the year, I think most people agreed that the toughest stretch of our schedule began with Oregon and ended with Alabama.

While Oregon was most certainly our toughest game of the year so far, in hindsight, I think the real tough stretch begins with Alabama and ends with Auburn.

Nobody knew that Florida would be such a joke or that Georgia would be decimated by injury. If we had a decent QB and could have capitalized a little more on mistakes, we could be sitting here at 6-1 and nationally ranked. We chalked those up as losses before the season started, however, we now know that Missouri and Auburn, which were once considered toss-up games on our schedule, may actually be two of the toughest games we play all year. And along with Alabama, this may actually end up being the toughest 3 game stretch on our schedule this year.

Thoughts?

We have a decent QB. The problems were a combination of learning a new system, his being a first time starter, and WR's who are green, green, GREEN. Almost any "thought" you have after throwing everything on Worley is negated.

Now I'll try to ignore that non-sense and actually answer your question.

UF and UGA were both better teams when they played UT than they are now. UT would beat both now... and UT is a big part of the reason their rosters are so decimated. It would be a big mistake to read too much into Mizzou's victory over either. They may beat UT and win the East. But they are on the Vandy/UK level in terms of raw talent. They have a great system and players who fit it... but they are not overly talented.

Auburn otoh is a very talented team. Chizk was not a very good coach but he did a good job of recruiting. Malzahn is still a bit of an unknown as a HC this being his 2nd year but he looks pretty solid so far. I predicted them to be a tougher win than USCe before the season started. UT will have to keep getting better and play extremely well to beat them.

Neither of those teams were nearly as talented as UGA or UF when UT played them much less at the beginning of the season. Mizzou is not as talented as USCe regardless of this week's outcome.

So really the expectation of the beginning of the season has pretty much played out as expected for UT. UF and UGA were pretty much who we expected them to be when UT played them. Both games were winnable but neither were won for a host of reasons... one of which was a bad coaching decision. UT left those teams hurt and missing key players. Those injuries benefited those who faced those two teams later far more than they did UT.

None of that means that anyone from here out is better than we should have expected. Auburn is talented and Mizzou has been charmed. Bama is Godzilla... and Vandy/UK should be wins.

 

[Rudy123]

I think going 7-5 would be an epic year for the entire program, much less Butch himself.

Think about the offensive talent we lost in Hunter, Bray, Patterson, Rivera and Rogers.

Think about a bunch of underclassmen and freshmen playing in key positions on both offense and defense.

Think about where Palardy was a year ago and where he is now.

And consider our record for the past four years.

The entire program going 7-5 would be a harbinger of things to come, much less what our coaches have done.

Should we win 7 games, it would show me just how important a good offensive & defensive line are.

We lost our receivers & q.b. and had to break in new d.b.'s, but the lines were are dependable parts of the team all season long.

 

[VolFan4Life87]

@ Mizzou will be tough, they proved in the UF game that their offense is the real deal.

Auburn outlasted TAMU, but can we shut down their offense? I don't see us "outlasting Auburn" in a shootout; defense will be key.

 

[fade route]

Missouri is definitely not the #5 team in the country. If you look at who they beat, a severely depleted Georgia team is their only "quality" win.

They could very easily lose 4 out of their last 5 games if things dont go their way.

Auburn beating A&M and Ole Miss is more impressive to me though. I am glad that game is in K-ville.

So Mizzou moped the floor with UF, who beat us, but we have a good shot to beat them on their field?.....:question:

 

[sjt18]

I think going 7-5 would be an epic year for the entire program, much less Butch himself.

.

Nope. I said before the season started that if Jones was the "guy" this was a 7 win roster and that 6 would be "average"... and anything less an underperformance. Eight or 9 wins would be "epic".

But what would that entail? Bama has clearly more talent than UT and almost anyone else in CFB. Winning vs them is "epic" and maybe even if they finish only beating UK after.After Bama, you have Mizzou. They have a system. They have confidence. UT is a more talented team.

Auburn has more talent than UT but also has a new coach and their own set of issues.

To win vs Aub or Bama would be a clear case of beating a more talented team. All three of the other remaining opponents are less talented than UT. To get to 7 wins from here only requires Jones to outcoach teams with less talent. Eight requires him to beat someone with more talent.

 

[KBVol]

I'm thinking both Auburn and Mizz are over rated and we have a shot at both of them.

Wish I agreed. They're both very good. Auburn, for anyone who's watched them I think will agree, is simply more talented than us. Very athletic dual threat QB, the type that always gives us fits.

Missouri is undefeated, scoring a ton of points on everybody, has one of the best DLs in the league.

We have a shot at both. I'll gladly take 1-1

 

[MWAVolfan]

So Mizzou moped the floor with UF, who beat us, but we have a good shot to beat them on their field?.....:question:

yes. We have a shot. UF was a worse team when Missouri played them than when we did. And it was on their field.

Anyway, there is a good chance that they pound us and there is a good chance that we beat them.

 

[jkleno]

At the beginning of the year, I think most people agreed that the toughest stretch of our schedule began with Oregon and ended with Alabama.

While Oregon was most certainly our toughest game of the year so far, in hindsight, I think the real tough stretch begins with Alabama and ends with Auburn.

Nobody knew that Florida would be such a joke or that Georgia would be decimated by injury. If we had a decent QB and could have capitalized a little more on mistakes, we could be sitting here at 6-1 and nationally ranked. We chalked those up as losses before the season started, however, we now know that Missouri and Auburn, which were once considered toss-up games on our schedule, may actually be two of the toughest games we play all year. And along with Alabama, this may actually end up being the toughest 3 game stretch on our schedule this year.

Thoughts?

Good points. Georgia and Florida are not nearly the teams they were when we played them. AU and Mizzou are going to be tough games, especially AU. The dual threat QB is going to be tough on us. Also, we aren't the team we were at the beginning of the season. We are drastically improved (DEF for sure). If we can keep the Bama game close, I think we might finish 4-0. GBO

 

[sjt18]

So Mizzou moped the floor with UF, who beat us, but we have a good shot to beat them on their field?.....:question:

Mizzou beat a shadow of the team that UT lost to... after Jones spotted them the first half by starting Peterman. UT is a MUCH better team than the one that played at UF in every phase of the game.

UT has more talent than Mizzou. Mizzou may win... but it will not be because they have more talent.

 

[MWAVolfan]

Mizzou beat a shadow of the team that UT lost to... after Jones spotted them the first half by starting Peterman. UT is a MUCH better team than the one that played at UF in every phase of the game.

UT has more talent than Mizzou. Mizzou may win... but it will not be because they have more talent.

Tennessee is 1000 times the team now that they were against UF.

 

[Grand Vol]

Nope. I said before the season started that if Jones was the "guy" this was a 7 win roster and that 6 would be "average"... and anything less an underperformance. Eight or 9 wins would be "epic".

But what would that entail? Bama has clearly more talent than UT and almost anyone else in CFB. Winning vs them is "epic" and maybe even if they finish only beating UK after.After Bama, you have Mizzou. They have a system. They have confidence. UT is a more talented team.

Auburn has more talent than UT but also has a new coach and their own set of issues.

To win vs Aub or Bama would be a clear case of beating a more talented team. All three of the other remaining opponents are less talented than UT. To get to 7 wins from here only requires Jones to outcoach teams with less talent. Eight requires him to beat someone with more talent.

Okay, epic only because it's Bama lol

Otherwise, I think the fact that a team that has lost so much in the past four years, both on the scoreboard and in talent would take a huge step forward just to go above the .500 mark and make it to a bowl. And I think beating the #5 or #11 team (twice) in the nation would be such a confidence booster that the program would start to roll back into relevancy.

I don't disagree with the more talented opponents theory, but I think at this point any ranked opponent we beat is a huge step forward for the program.

 

[Orange And Garnet]

Missouri and auburn are better than we thought but so are we. I'm more worried than before but I still think we pull them both out. At least one

 

[sjt18]

Epic because Bama is loaded with talent without regard to the rivalry aspect.

 

[DougVol]

I'm thinking both Auburn and Mizz are over rated and we have a shot at both of them.

Agree. We hurt Ga. They are super thin now. Texas AM's defense is awful. We could for run for 400 yds on em. We play smart w/o major screw ups we win those games.

 

[Grand Vol]

Epic because Bama is loaded with talent without regard to the rivalry aspect.

Yes, I was making a funny...

 

[sjt18]

Mizzou played a weak early schedule. They caught UF and UGA minus key contributors. They have lived a charmed life but they are not appreciably better than we should have expected them to be when the season started.

UF's O could not keep their D off the field ie 11 first downs for the whole game.

UGA's D could not get their O on the field.

Avoid turnovers. Make first downs. And limit their possessions.... and it will work out fine.