What area(s) might be our undoing this season?

[RDU VOL#14]

If our defense improves by 20% this year we should have no trouble with anyone except Bama and Georgia. I believe Bama is beatable, and GA will have played such an easy schedule they could come in way overconfident. Overconfidence has killed a lot of teams when they realize they're having to fight for their lives.

I think getting UGA into a game that’s competitive late into the third quarter and early fourth where they start to feel game pressure for maybe the first time all season would be a definite plus.

We have to run the ball against Georgia if we want any chance to win. I don’t see how we can win if we don’t get a push against them. We do that and then Milton can hit the big ones over the top.

 

[AlsaceFreak]

I feel good about qb. Iffy on d backs. Running backs average or a little above. Thoughts?

Out of the 12 team categories for the SEC last season..... Tennessee finished #1 or #2 in 6 of them. Georgia did NOT even accomplish this.

Tennesse was #1 in Total Offense, Scoring Offense, Pass Offense and Turnover Margin. Tennessee was #2 in Rushing Defense and Punt Return AVG.

That is a spectacular accomplishment for a season. Also, anytime you can lead the SEC in turnover margin is very special.

Can we do all that again ?? When you see those statistics it make you sick to think the South Carolina game kept us out of the playoffs.
I'm hopeful for 2023 but last season was a rare one ..

 

[Eastknox865]

The linebacker and offensive line rooms are the two biggest question marks on this team as we head into fall camp and then the 2023 season.

I disagree with LB

 

[Enki_Amenra]

I have my worries with Milton, but kinda think he's going to be okay. I'm more worried about the defense.

If he can just be average we'll win a lot of games. If he's great, no one will stop our offense.

Our d-line should be outstanding. Beasley @ LB will be great. They should be good enough to mask poor DB play. . . but I've heard our defensive backfield could shock a lot of people with how improved they are.

 

[Volfan39]

Same here. Im worried about the swamp. That game will decide how the rest of the season goes. Is Milton the guy or are we going to have a QB controversy? We will know after that game - and I am not super confident. I recently rewatched the orange bowl. Our offense was completely average through 3 quarters, scoring just 21 points. That's not good enough.

That may be true but you also have to remember how elite Clemsons defense is. It’s not like Milton was going against some slouch but one of the best defense in the country.

 

[SonOfGodVolforlife]

I feel good about qb. Iffy on d backs. Running backs average or a little above. Thoughts?

The two most important things to an offense. Offense line and qb. I’m still waiting for the Florida game to reserve judgement if this is gonna be another year we could have a run at the sec

 

[benholt06]

If we can’t generate enough pass rush to help our secondary. Somebody will need to have a breakout year off the edge.

Good news is that was a problem last year and we still won 11 games.

 

[Zues1]

Negativity

 

[DirtyDawg]

I would be concerned with the defense. Particularly the depth on Defense. The fast TN offense is great so long as they are scoring every possession, but in tough or close games that offense can cause the defense to get gassed pretty quick.

 

[vol_smoothie]

Though last season was heady stuff and could have been even more amazing if not for meathead Jeremy Banks screwing with the entire team's head during South Carolina week, I'm looking at the seasons following this one as our real return to consistent Top 10 football. Be hopeful, but realize that another 9+ win season will be a solid building block towards bigger things to come. Having said that, I want the Florida game bad. Put them back in their place looking up to us once again, those white trash, no-pedigree pretenders.

 

[jasonvol18]

I feel good about qb. Iffy on d backs. Running backs average or a little above. Thoughts?

I'll need to see Milton do it for a full season before I'm completely feeling good about the QB position, but the talent is definitely there. We are VERY good at RB and WR. Online, Dline and secondary are what has me nervous. We could be really good and at OL, DL and Secondary, but there's still ?'s.

 

[jasonvol18]

Though last season was heady stuff and could have been even more amazing if not for meathead Jeremy Banks screwing with the entire team's head during South Carolina week, I'm looking at the seasons following this one as our real return to consistent Top 10 football. Be hopeful, but realize that another 9+ win season will be a solid building block towards bigger things to come. Having said that, I want the Florida game bad. Put them back in their place looking up to us once again, those white trash, no-pedigree pretenders.

Has Fla ever looked up at us? Don't recall a time in my 35+ yrs watching Vol football that we ever owned them. If anyone we've been their 8itch for 3 decades outside of a few scattered wins.

 

[vol_smoothie]

Has Fla ever looked up at us? Don't recall a time in my 35+ yrs watching Vol football that we ever owned them. If anyone we've been their 8itch for 3 decades outside of a few scattered wins.

You haven't been watching long enough and are ignoring college football history.
The 50's, 60's and 70's count just as much as post-1992. Plus the beatdowns we gave them in '90 & '92 and a nice little run from '98 - '04.
I will give you that post-'04 has been pretty miserable, but we were wandering in the desert with bad coaching hires after Coach Fulmer.
Think of the games we lost to Vandy and Kentucky during that time.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

My concerns are with the O-line and Milton’s mobility. If we have more injuries along the line of scrimmage and/or Mays struggles with nagging injury it could be a rough season. Milton doesn’t seem to have the elusiveness that Hooker had and there isn’t much you can do to try to scheme around an offensive line that isn’t getting it done.

 

[Vfl2407]

We have I believe 17 db's on scholarship surely 5 can improve

I think Heupel has said to Martinez that here’s a whole lot of pieces for you to work with.
Now go ahead and find 5 that are at least serviceable.
Im more concerned that this guy doesn’t have as much to work with. Hope I’m wrong.
Glen Elarbee - Football Coach - University of Tennessee Athletics

 

[Raebo]

Milton is not as mobile as Hooker and our OL play will be more critical this year IMO. For most games they should be fine but how well the OL plays against teams like Georgia/Bama will determine how well Milton performs. If he has time, he will do great. If he is consistently pressured, then???