Vols will do much better in 06

#26
#26
sjt18 said:
BTW, I don't think asking him to play to the established standard for UT QB's is too much to ask.
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Who's established standard? The one set by 2 heisman runners-up or the one who won a NC? UT has some big QB shoes to fill.
 
#28
#28
utvolpj said:
Who's established standard? The one set by 2 heisman runners-up or the one who won a NC? UT has some big QB shoes to fill.
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Exactly. And even Clausen lived up to it.

... or is the program really ready to decline into mediocrity?

No one said that being QB for an elite program was easy or had a low standard.
 
#29
#29
sjt18 said:
Exactly. And even Clausen lived up to it.

... or is the program really ready to decline into mediocrity?

No one said that being QB for an elite program was easy or had a low standard.
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It may just be a little reaching to expect every UT QB to be Manning, Shuler or Tee. I would take a Francis, Kelly or Clausen however.
 
#30
#30
hohenfelsvol said:
All he has to do is not turn it over like last year. Don't throw it if you ain't sure. This is where he looked like crap. This is for sure Cut's focus in the next two weeks. Put him pressure situations to learn how to make the right decisions. He will be fine. :crossfingers:
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i agree about Cut's focus...i think he's stated on more than one occasion..."we will protect the football".
and i hope so.

sjt18 said:
If he can't handle the pressure of a scrimmage and actually winning the job for once then how's he going to react when he's behind by 4 with a minute left on UGA's 45 facing a 4th and 14?

He hasn't performed at 70%+ since his Fr year, has he?

Ainge doesn't have to do it all. He just can't undo it all.

Shuler won the job.
Manning won the job.
Martin won the job.
Both Clausen's won the job.

My question is when is Ainge going to fill out his own skin and be man enough to take charge of this team?

You know what? It might not even be that. Sometimes you can reach a point in a leadership, high profile position when there is so much water under the bridge that the best option is to move on.

There comes a point when no matter what you do, you can't win people back over. I've been through it myself and it is very painful. You never want to admit that you can't do it. You never want to acknowledge that you have ultimately failed at something you had more than enough talent to do well.

He wouldn't be the first good leader/guy to have a relationship with a group of people and an opportunity go bad beyond repair. Maybe the only thing that will ever turn EA around is if he goes somewhere else and starts over. If there is any truth to the rumor that his teammates still don't accept him, nothing else really matters.

Heath Shuler's downhill slide in the NFL started with just that kind of situation in Washington. For whatever reason... you even had people like Desmond Howard... that's Desmond Howard a near complete flop himself and very conceivably the worst Heisman choice ever... calling Heath the worst QB he'd ever played with.
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i was really just kidding around...you don't get the starting qb job and any major D1 college program and not have pressure to perform well...and i've heard the same rumors about the team not completely trusting him...but it is a rumor. everything publically being said is that he's gotten better....he just has to prove it on the feild and the trust factor with fans and players alike will take care of itself...

i mean, if you are EA, it's not like we all want him to fail....every TN fan out there wants him to be as successful as he possibly can be...we are all rooting for him. But we do that because we want the team to be successful, and for that to happen, he has to be successful. that's just the way it is...i have no problem with that.
 
#33
#33
utvolpj said:
It may just be a little reaching to expect every UT QB to be Manning, Shuler or Tee. I would take a Francis, Kelly or Clausen however.
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Why? I don't think it is too much to expect a top 10 program to have top 10 play at the QB position, do you? Those guys all brought something special to the table but folks back home have made some favorable comparisons between Crompton and Shuler.

For that matter, Ainge was compared to Manning in his freshman year and some Vol fans were buzzing about his Heisman possibilities at this time last year.

I think Ainge and Crompton both have the talent to play their names into your first sentence.
 
#34
#34
jakez4ut said:
i mean, if you are EA, it's not like we all want him to fail....every TN fan out there wants him to be as successful as he possibly can be...we are all rooting for him. But we do that because we want the team to be successful, and for that to happen, he has to be successful. that's just the way it is...i have no problem with that.
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:good!:
 
#35
#35
volfan1437 said:
We should have a better season this year. I only see us loosing a few (maybe3). The only time I see our :censored: handed to us is in the Bama game due to the :censored: coach Fulmer screwing it up for us. Other than that we should be fine. I say we can beat CAL in a close one.
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What ever you're drinking or smoking please don't drive
 
#36
#36
UT doesn't have the defense to carry the team this year. If Ainge plays anything like last year its going to be another long year. Cutcliffe is a good coach, but he's not a miracle worker as has been said. I'm afraid with the new offensive line and a QB trying to find himself it maybe another 8-5 type season.

Special teams are an achilles heal and the front 7 the heart of last year's defense is gone. I think Fulmer will have to turn in one of his best coaching jobs ever to get this team above 8-5.
 
#37
#37
1. If you believe internet rumors, I guess you believe the National Inquirer.

2.Everone makes a big deal about EA throwing interceptions, but every QB throws them. What really got me about last year was over thrown passes when guys were open for the TD. I lost count at 8, but some were by Rick also. In fact A. Kelly was the king of throwing it up for grabs.

3. I'm glad all three of our LB's are gone. I realize a lot of it had to do with injuries, but they were underachievers. I think our defense could be special. We've never had a secondary like we have this year.
 
#38
#38
am i the only one left that thinks we win the sec this year? i mean honestly, the schedule stacks up for it, and had last season not been the travesty that it was, we would all be licking our chops just waiting for anyone to come to neyland. i talk a lot of crap about EA but i think he will be fine, and by fine, i mean he will be good. all these miscues in practice are just that, miscues in practice. our secondary may just be THAT good. i'd rather him work his kinks out in practice than against cal anyways
 
#39
#39
emainvol said:
am i the only one left that thinks we win the sec this year? i mean honestly, the schedule stacks up for it, and had last season not been the travesty that it was, we would all be licking our chops just waiting for anyone to come to neyland. i talk a lot of crap about EA but i think he will be fine, and by fine, i mean he will be good. all these miscues in practice are just that, miscues in practice. our secondary may just be THAT good. i'd rather him work his kinks out in practice than against cal anyways
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the schedule is brutal; LSU, Arkansas, and Bama for out of conference opponents. Ark game comes after a brutal stretch of games. The opening game with Cal is no cakewalk either,they are ranked 9th in AP.

I do think UT will run the ball heavily and hopefully will neutralize Ainge's problems. Big question mark at offensive line and defensive line though. Lot of injuries on the Dline.
 
#40
#40
emainvol said:
am i the only one left that thinks we win the sec this year? i mean honestly, the schedule stacks up for it, and had last season not been the travesty that it was, we would all be licking our chops just waiting for anyone to come to neyland. i talk a lot of crap about EA but i think he will be fine, and by fine, i mean he will be good. all these miscues in practice are just that, miscues in practice. our secondary may just be THAT good. i'd rather him work his kinks out in practice than against cal anyways
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I've seen a fair share of people predict UT to win the East, myself included.
 
#41
#41
I think it possible for us win the East. There are some hard games but believe we can win everyone of them. Problem is we probably won't. I do think we will put ourselves in the hunt. Will be interesting to see which ones we come out on top. Will enjoy the ride.
 
#42
#42
emainvol said:
am i the only one left that thinks we win the sec this year?
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Nope.

I love this team. I think their DT's will be at least as good. They are thin but still good 3 deep at DE. The LB's may be better than last year in spite of the inexperience. DB is the best in years.

The O-line has slimmed down and gotten stronger at the same time. I believe they'll be more effective at virtually every element of the game. In particular, I look forward to seeing them lead screens for guys like Williams, Hardesty, and Coker... and for the return of power traps at UT.

The WR's will drop less balls, run better routes, and block better with TT in charge. One of my main gripes against Sanders was that he didn't let the WR's and QB's develop a rapport. Two QB's and 8-10 WR's is just plain stupid. This year they'll use a 5 man rotation... though I really wouldn't be surprised to see Briscoe and Rogers as 5a and 5b.

The RB's are very good and at least 4 deep with great speed and ability. All appear to catch the ball well too. The story is that Foster worked on getting faster and quicker so all of them should be trouble in the open field.

Special teams will be improved but hard to say how much until we see who is out there.

The big concern I have is at the QB position. I hope that Ainge pulls it together. If not, I hope that a change is made next week so Hardegree or Crompton can have time to prepare for Cal.

The confidence factor on offense is very important this year. If they get off to a good start then they could be very productive.

Due to the confidence factor, I think a lukewarm record is less likely than a hot or cold record. I think they'll either be very good or else a near repeat of last year. The Cal game is critical.
 
#43
#43
"The big concern I have is at the QB position. I hope that Ainge pulls it together. If not, I hope that a change is made next week so Hardegree or Crompton can have time to prepare for Cal."

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Since playing QB is much more than "pitch & catch" with receivers, I believe Crompton will be the man in the end.
 
#44
#44
I dont see us having a problem winning the East. The SEC will be tough but I think will will pull it off and win the championship.
 
#46
#46
I'm much relieved to hear that Ainge played better and that he did so under pressure.
 
#48
#48
volmoon said:
"The big concern I have is at the QB position. I hope that Ainge pulls it together. If not, I hope that a change is made next week so Hardegree or Crompton can have time to prepare for Cal."

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Since playing QB is much more than "pitch & catch" with receivers, I believe Crompton will be the man in the end.
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As much as I want Crompton to get his opportunity early on to play, I hope he doesn't since that will mean that things have really gone south for Ainge and the team this year or Ainge has been injured- neither are desirable.
 
#49
#49
UT should beat Bama by 3 or 4 TD's this year. Croyle and much of the defense are gone. The line is young but has decent experience... and when all is said and done, they won games last year including UT that they shouldn't have won. The ball bounced their way like it bounced against UT.
 
#50
#50
sjt18 said:
UT should beat Bama by 3 or 4 TD's this year.
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I understand where you're going with this, but that's expecting way too little from Alabama. They still have loads of talent, and I think JPQ turns out better than Croyle. And Ken Darby is a top 3 back in the SEC.
 
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