What I'm hoping to see this new season

[Other_Guy]

#1 Player development - I'm not expecting to be Auburn 2.0 but I want to really see where the new OL, QB and DL are at by the SEC stretch. If there isn't signs of improvement (at least from the returning players) I will be worried about this staff-early on even.
#2 Beating every middle of the pack teams - I said before that in my mind, you have to start at the bottom. Forget the Bamas and LSUs for a moment, focus on taking care of business. Year 2 isn't about getting into the elite category, it's about taking care of the teams on your level-this year being Vandy, Ole Miss, Florida and Georgia. There is no reason or excuse why they shouldn't go 3-1 with the loss not being due to being outcoached or lack of effort. Again, I know we're tired of being blown out by Bama, but I'm not worried about beating Bama right now. Let's focus on Florida.
#3 Consistency/competitiveness - NOW we can focus on making a game with it with the powerhouses. You can make Vol fans and tv stations very happy when your team is consistently the same.

 

[tm3]

I concur. But am concerned that inability to achieve those goals in 2013 with experience on the lines does not bode well for 2014 with newcomers in the trenches.

 

[VolFan4Life87]

A BOWL WIN! Period!!!

 

[Volfan2012]

A lot of player changes in the two deep coming next season. We will have a lot of young talented players with a lot of athletic ability but no experience. Hopefully we can get at least 6 wins out of the season.

 

[oregonvol]

From UT - significant improvement
from VN - significantly less excuses

 

[24/7vol]

A bowl game next year for me is a must. In 2015 with this class as sophmores we should win 8. When this class is juniors we had better be a front runner for SEC east. After that a top 10 finish every year. That's my expectation anyway.

 

[1972 Grad]

A bowl game next year for me is a must. In 2015 with this class as sophmores we should win 8. When this class is juniors we had better be a front runner for SEC east. After that a top 10 finish every year. That's my expectation anyway.

That may or may not happen, but those expectations are the reason for all the unhappiness here.

 

[keckjm]

That may or may not happen, but those expectations are the reason for all the unhappiness here.

Really? From where I'm sitting all those goals listed were very achievable.If 8 wins in 2015 is asking to much of this team we are in trouble.

 

[TheBigOne10]

The end of the streak to UF or Bammer or both would be nice. And a bowl victory.

 

[BeecherVol]

I concur. But am concerned that inability to achieve those goals in 2013 with experience on the lines does not bode well for 2014 with newcomers in the trenches.

Had that experience played extremely well Id agree. Some of the individuals had good seasons but as a group both sides of the LOS were not great by any means.

If this staff is able to develop to the level they need to be in this league that drop off may not be what some see.

 

[BeecherVol]

The end of the streak to UF or Bammer or both would be nice. And a bowl victory.

UT will have yet another chance to match up with UF very well and at home.

But until that actually happens its hard to feel confident.

Bama is a different story.

 

[sjt18]

#1 Player development - I'm not expecting to be Auburn 2.0 but I want to really see where the new OL, QB and DL are at by the SEC stretch. If there isn't signs of improvement (at least from the returning players) I will be worried about this staff-early on even.
#2 Beating every middle of the pack teams - I said before that in my mind, you have to start at the bottom. Forget the Bamas and LSUs for a moment, focus on taking care of business. Year 2 isn't about getting into the elite category, it's about taking care of the teams on your level-this year being Vandy, Ole Miss, Florida and Georgia. There is no reason or excuse why they shouldn't go 3-1 with the loss not being due to being outcoached or lack of effort. Again, I know we're tired of being blown out by Bama, but I'm not worried about beating Bama right now. Let's focus on Florida.
#3 Consistency/competitiveness - NOW we can focus on making a game with it with the powerhouses. You can make Vol fans and tv stations very happy when your team is consistently the same.

Agree with you... but when I've argued some of the same things... you've disagreed with me. :dunno:

I would add that I would like to see some gameplanning and playcalling similarly effective to what we saw from Malzahn vs FSU. He turned them inside out for much of the game.

I don't necessarily expect to beat the Bama's of the world but at least show up for a half.... At a minimum I would like to see them enter the game with a gameplan that throw a better opponent off balance requiring "halftime adjustments" for them to take over.

 

[oregonvol]

That may or may not happen, but those expectations are the reason for all the unhappiness here.

Nope. Losing is the reason for all the unhappiness here. 4 straight losing seasons. That should result in fans being unhappy. Where would any fans be happy with that?

With the size of UT's program, with their resources, and with the prices they are charging, it is utterly absurd to ask fans to expect less than a .500 record.

 

[sjt18]

I concur. But am concerned that inability to achieve those goals in 2013 with experience on the lines does not bode well for 2014 with newcomers in the trenches.

I'm not as concerned about the OL or O generally as I am about the D.

"Speed and talent" has been the excuse mantra for the D... but that was not the whole of it. The playcalling and game prep was not good.

 

[oregonvol]

I'm not as concerned about the OL or O generally as I am about the D.

"Speed and talent" has been the excuse mantra for the D... but that was not the whole of it. The playcalling and game prep was not good.

Yeah, I keep hearing about the lack of speed, but no one mentions the blown assignments where the receiver is just allowed to run free down the field. Or do folks really believe with more speed, we'd be able to catch up with a guy we didn't bother to cover, once the ball is thrown?

 

[Trakentombstone]

With the amount of freshman coming in and some experience from the defensive sife last season. I feel our D will be way better, I mean there will be a couple freshmen who breakput on D. Offense will also be way better since they have a year in the new offense! This season may be one we get a few surprises and wins!

 

[Gandalf]

What I am expecting/hoping:

Expected Wins:
Utah State
Arkansas State
Chattanooga
Kentucky

Should Win 2/3 or 3/3
Vandy
Ole Miss
Florida

Probable Losses:
Oklahoma
Georgia
South Carolina
Alabama
Missouri

If Franklin leaves and with new QB we should take Vandy, Ole Miss is doable and Florida had an even worse year than we did - so those 3 games in my mind are the ones that are MUST wins. If we take all 3 and go 7-5 then pretty good, if we take all 3 + an upset like Georgia and go 8-4 then friggen awesome but should be able to at least take 2 of 3 and end up with 6-6. If that doesnt happen, there will be some well deserved questions being asked of the coaching staff.

 

[sjt18]

Had that experience played extremely well Id agree. Some of the individuals had good seasons but as a group both sides of the LOS were not great by any means.

But why?

I would agree that there were some talent issues in places but overall the line "talent" was not terrible. There were some development issues due to past coaching and coaching changes. I think the OL suffered from a generally lack of positive aggression.

But when it is a "as a group" issue... coaching is a big factor. Schemes, prep, gameplanning, and playcalling are factors when the whole group does not play well.

If this staff is able to develop to the level they need to be in this league that drop off may not be what some see.

I agree and feel relatively positive about the O. I like the OL's coming back because of attitude. They're "meaner" for lack of a better word. I think the O will take a step forward.


The D concerns me primarily because of the DC.

 

[sjt18]

With the amount of freshman coming in and some experience from the defensive sife last season. I feel our D will be way better, I mean there will be a couple freshmen who breakput on D. Offense will also be way better since they have a year in the new offense! This season may be one we get a few surprises and wins!

If the season is dependent on a bunch of Fr being anything more than back ups and ST's players... it will not go well.

Next season depends primarily on this staff's ability to develop the players that are on the roster right now.

 

[jackaro]

More than anything I want to see quality quarterback play next season.

 

[Catbone]

What I am expecting/hoping:

Expected Wins:
Utah State
Arkansas State
Chattanooga
Kentucky

Should Win 2/3 or 3/3
Vandy
Ole Miss
Florida

Probable Losses:
Oklahoma
Georgia
South Carolina
Alabama
Missouri

If Franklin leaves and with new QB we should take Vandy, Ole Miss is doable and Florida had an even worse year than we did - so those 3 games in my mind are the ones that are MUST wins. If we take all 3 and go 7-5 then pretty good, if we take all 3 + an upset like Georgia and go 8-4 then friggen awesome but should be able to at least take 2 of 3 and end up with 6-6. If that doesnt happen, there will be some well deserved questions being asked of the coaching staff.

Ole Miss will be pretty good next year IMO FL and Vandy toss ups. We always give USCjr a good game

 

[BeecherVol]

But why?

I would agree that there were some talent issues in places but overall the line "talent" was not terrible. There were some development issues due to past coaching and coaching changes. I think the OL suffered from a generally lack of positive aggression.

But when it is a "as a group" issue... coaching is a big factor. Schemes, prep, gameplanning, and playcalling are factors when the whole group does not play well.



I agree and feel relatively positive about the O. I like the OL's coming back because of attitude. They're "meaner" for lack of a better word. I think the O will take a step forward.


The D concerns me primarily because of the DC.

Could be a combination of things. Sometimes changes comes too late. Sometimes your upper classmen don't take to it. Or you re not good enough at developing whats there.

Hopefully for UTs sake its not more of the latter. We should be able to tell with this next group.

 

[rickyyrs]

Our QBs will be better because of the good class of WRs we have coming in. We did not have any playmakers last year.

 

[terrypedigo]

#1 Player development - I'm not expecting to be Auburn 2.0 but I want to really see where the new OL, QB and DL are at by the SEC stretch. If there isn't signs of improvement (at least from the returning players) I will be worried about this staff-early on even.
#2 Beating every middle of the pack teams - I said before that in my mind, you have to start at the bottom. Forget the Bamas and LSUs for a moment, focus on taking care of business. Year 2 isn't about getting into the elite category, it's about taking care of the teams on your level-this year being Vandy, Ole Miss, Florida and Georgia. There is no reason or excuse why they shouldn't go 3-1 with the loss not being due to being outcoached or lack of effort. Again, I know we're tired of being blown out by Bama, but I'm not worried about beating Bama right now. Let's focus on Florida.
#3 Consistency/competitiveness - NOW we can focus on making a game with it with the powerhouses. You can make Vol fans and tv stations very happy when your team is consistently the same.

If you get 6 and 6 out of this bunch jump for joy, we will be a lot better but will not show in the record going in 80percent of the fans new it would be at least 2015 before we will sniff 8 wins, now if for some strange reason FERGI is johnny football 2 then we can win 8 with this bunch, hang in there 2015 will be here in 21 months in football terms, then we can do some azz kicking to the bamas gators dawgs of the world, we just quiet not there yet, but the BUTCHER is grinding.:good!:

 

[terrypedigo]

More than anything I want to see quality quarterback play next season.

Just a 10 yard out with zip on the ball, and one time I wish I could see a QB over throw a receiver, seems like the receivers are always coming back or having to wait on the ball.:lolabove: