What are you looking for in the upcoming 2013 season?

#1
zjcvols

zjcvols

"On a Tennessee Saturday night."
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#1
What's up guys? In case you don't know, I spend most of the time in the bball forum, but decided to venture over here since UT basketball season is over. Hopefully you guys don't crucify me greatly.

I was thinking about Butch Jones and this upcoming season. I'm not expecting much. Not because I don't believe in Jones, it's because I still think UT is lacking behind the SEC in terms of overall talent.

However, that doesn't mean 2013 means nothing. I think this year, for Butch Jones, it's important to improve/find several aspects. These are the biggest ones.

1) Find your starting QB for the future

I look at Texas A&M. Kevin Sumlin is a good coach. But he has an incredibly talented QB to make things go. Finding that QB can do so much for you. Now, I'm not saying UT has a Johnny Manziel. But I feel like it's highly important for UT find our QB for 2014. You don't want a QB carousel. If Jones finds the guy, be it Worley, Peterman, or Dobbs, you go with them. Period.

2) Improve the back seven on defense

Obviously, this is a given. But I'm looking for more specific examples: How is the speed of the back seven? Can they chase down players? Has our tackling improved? Are they aggressive in their ball pursuit? Is UT able to play man coverage and not be strictly a zone team? Those are really important.

3) Find a consistent running game

I felt like UT had a decent run game last year. The problem being is that there wasn't much consistency last year. UT needs to find a running back that hits the holes hard and doesn't dance. Rajion Neal and Marlin Lane both had those moments, but overall they have to find consistency. Even the offensive line can be more consistent and needs to get to that second level quicker. I also want them to be physical. When is the last time UT has a physical backfield?

4) Special Teams

UT not only has bad punting/field goal kicking, they are also losing a prolific returner in Cordarrelle Patterson, AND they need to improve their kickoff/punt return defense. The last three coaches at Tennessee have not done a good job with the special teams unit. General Neyland thought those were the most important facet of the team, and it's true. You lose games because of bad special teams. I think a sign of a great coach is good special teams play. If UT can improve it's return defense, and find solid kicking, that's a great sign moving forward.

5) Establish a positive, winning attitude

Butch saw this from day one, and is doing a great job with it. We fans are confident UT isn't winning the SEC this year. But there must be a mindset of the players that they can. Jones understands how important a positive attitude is, especially in a sport that has so much adversity from play to play. It's about mental toughness. UT has not had that in the past. Can they establish that in 2013? That is the most important thing. We can talk X's and O's, jimmy's and joe's all day, and those are important. But football is a game of mental toughness. It's time for UT to have it.

So what are the keys for you? Is there something else that UT has to improve on? Or do you think UT is fine in one of these aspects? I'm curious to here your thoughts.

Go Vols!!!!!!!!!! :hi:
 
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#2
#2
1. A no quit attitude. This is prime and will be necessary to demonstrate a change.
2. Stop somebody at some point.
3. Win a game or so that is an upset.
4. Make winning a game no longer an upset.
5. Act like a team instead of a group of individuals.

If those 5 are accomplished, it will be a season beyond expectations and lead to better things going forward.
 
#4
#4
I really want a pass rush we can be proud of again. Used to be the calling card for a UT defense. It's been dormant for far too long.
 
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#5
#5
1. Improved Defense, which shouldn't be to hard since our defense was an absolute disaster last year.
2. Find the skill players to replace the lost offensive production that just left.
3. Get some of the younger OLinemen as much playing time as possible this year. Next year will be really rough if we don't.
4. Play for a full 60 minutes each game and show improvement from one game to the next.
5. The coaches being able to make adjustments during the game.
6. Last but not least, legalize marijuana on saturdays so Palardy can get a couple of hits before each XP and FG. I'm sure it will improve his accuracy. It damn sure couldn't hurt.
 
#6
#6
Play sixty minutes with effort and pride, that has been missing the past few years. The new schemes on both sides of the ball will help attract the talent needed to compete in this league , we need two strong recruiting classes to speed up the turn around, CBJ just might get it done in two years. Patience VN, from all indications we have the right man in charge. :yes:
 
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#7
#7
I just want to see a well coached team that improves as the season goes along. We need to win all of the games that we're supposed to win, and an upset or two would be nice.
 
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#8
#8
All 5 of those are needs. The most important thing I think needs to be done is to get to a bowl game. I want a big winning season, but getting to a bowl game and beating the teams we are supposed to beat will be the first steps to bringing back the winnings days.
 
#10
#10
I expect CBJ and the Vols to win the games they're supposed to win and pull off one upset at least. The defense should be as good as it was under Justin Wilcox, maybe better. If I remember correctly, they ranked 37th nationally with the 4-3 defense that they are going back to. That should get them to a bowl game and help recruiting. They now have commitments from the 15th and 59th ranked players in the Rivals top 100. If they get Dillon Bates(58th) and Alex Bars(55th), that is a good start toward a top ten class. I expect CBJ to hold the commits he gets. I agree with Hart that CBJ is the right man to lead the Vols back to prominence. Go Vols!!!
 
#12
#12
The farther away we get from Dooley, the better. So on that note, this season is already a success.

Good job, CBJ!
 
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#14
#14
I just want a stud defense that teams fear again. Have 5-7 future NFL players on the field at the time and knock some heads off.
 
#20
#20
Focus more on the run. Improved defense, ability to win a tight game against a good team in the 4th. I would like to 55-45 ratio on run pass. If we can do that we should make a bowl.
 
#22
#22
Win all of the games you are 'supposed' to win.

Do not let those teams hang around. Land a knockout punch.

Win your share of the toss up games.

Pick off one (maybe 2 if I dare to dream) team you are not expected to beat.

Do the simple things UT has been missing for 5 or 6 years now.
 
#23
#23
We have to beat Vandy.

The game is at Neyland, and hopefully the players will want revenge for last year's embarrassment. And the coaches know how important that game is for recruiting purposes. This program can't afford to lose two in a row to the 'Dores.
 
#24
#24
-It would be nice to have your team get lined up on defense and not be shuttling players in and out 10 seconds or less before snap. CBJ's coaches have already made several comments about that after 'looking at the film.'
-Looking for an improved kicking game.
-Looking for D to give up less big plays.
-Looking to have a 1,000 yard rusher. (Maybe two)
-Looking to have much improved secondary. I just can't believe that with Jones, Moore, Randolph, McNeil, Coleman and crew UT can't present a formidable pass defense.

-As far as talent. UT has a top 5 (in the nation) talent in the O-line, and several quality back-ups.
-I think Couch, McCullers, Williams, Miller and a few others are all high quality D-line talent.
-No team has recruited as well at UT at WR in the past few years. Period.
That said, Jones has to overcome a culture of losing. I think he can. Maybe he is a snake oil salesman, but this guys seems to be pushing the right buttons and flipping the right switches. That doesn't mean he is going to win 9 games. I think 7 wins would be a huge step in the right direction. But with that schedule who knows. It's a bear. So fans should temper their expectations.
 
#25
#25
Roustabout said:
-It would be nice to have your team get lined up on defense and not be shuttling players in and out 10 seconds or less before snap. CBJ's coaches have already made several comments about that after 'looking at the film.'
-Looking for an improved kicking game.
-Looking for D to give up less big plays.
-Looking to have a 1,000 yard rusher. (Maybe two)
-Looking to have much improved secondary. I just can't believe that with Jones, Moore, Randolph, McNeil, Coleman and crew UT can't present a formidable pass defense.

-As far as talent. UT has a top 5 (in the nation) talent in the O-line, and several quality back-ups.
-I think Couch, McCullers, Williams, Miller and a few others are all high quality D-line talent.
-No team has recruited as well at UT at WR in the past few years. Period.
That said, Jones has to overcome a culture of losing. I think he can. Maybe he is a snake oil salesman, but this guys seems to be pushing the right buttons and flipping the right switches. That doesn't mean he is going to win 9 games. I think 7 wins would be a huge step in the right direction. But with that schedule who knows. It's a bear. So fans should temper their expectations.
Click to expand...

Jones seems like the furthest thing from a snake oil salesman. His "working class football coach" persona seems 100 percent genuine to me.
 
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