Will the 2025 Season be a BUST?

[Shirleyudontmeanthat]

If we let Merk and Mac fight it out and go with the best, we will be fine. Not a fan of agular.

A skinny 18 yo and a 19 yo w barely any game experience isn’t at all a good idea to go into a sec schedule … and extremely unfair to those 2. They both need a veteran to be here to learn form and preferably sit behind this year. Get lots of work vs Etsu etc

 

[TexasVolfan1]

He won’t get anywhere close. Every team they play will dare them to pass and play run. It will be a rebuilding year. People just need to be okay with it.

We’ve been run heavy since heupel got here especially the last 2 seasons and not many teams have been able to stop it.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I have no idea what to expect. Lots of unknowns. Replacing QB, RB, almost the entire starting O-line, and almost the entire WR room. Some new pieces on defense as well.

The unknown is certainly a scary proposition, but I think it’s entirely possible we’re actually better in each of those rooms, except maybe running back. I think the 1-2 punch of Lewis and Bishop is going to be very formidable though. Honestly, these were my thoughts before the chaos of the past few weeks.

 

[Remy]

Realistically, the schedule now has several question marks:

- Syracuse: this team is no slouch, and it's the first game. Idk what the odds are, but this game can easily be lost if we aren't ready.

- vs ETSU: W

- vs Georgia: L

- vs UAB: W

- @ Mississippi State: They aren't good, but it's an SEC game on the road. Should win this, but you know.

- vs Arkansas: They beat us last year when they had no business. It's in Neyland, but who knows.

- @ Alabama: L

- @ Kentucky: W

- vs Oklahoma: They kept it within striking distance last year, and they look to be improved this year. It's at home, but easily another game that could go either way.

- vs NM State: W

- @ Florida: L

- vs Vanderbilt: W

This is about where my head is. 5 solid wins, 3 losses, and the rest toss ups.

 

[EZE]

I think Bama may be taking a step forward this year from what little I've seen and reports I saw.
Guess we'll see

Interesting how Bama can take a step forward by replacing a mediocre QB…. But Vols must take a step back by replacing a mediocre QB.

I think we will get better production from the QB position this upcoming season because it won’t take much. Nico’s numbers last season were less than pedestrian.

So, if the other position groups can be similar or better? Then this team actually could be pretty good.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

The unknown is certainly a scary proposition, but I think it’s entirely possible we’re actually better in each of those rooms, except maybe running back. I think the 1-2 punch of Lewis and Bishop is going to be very formidable though. Honestly, these were my thoughts before the chaos of the past few weeks.

My hope is the WR room is this year's version of the DB room from last year. For the running backs, Lewis flashed at times and this staff has proven to be able to plug and play RBs so I do think we're probably good there. O-line is my biggest question mark for this year. Having only 1 returning starter is usually not a good thing and this will also be the first year since Heup and company got here that Cooper Mays isn't the starting center. Add to all of that breaking in a new starting QB out of nowhere. That's a LOT of change. But to your point maybe it turns out to be the good kind of change. I sure hope so.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

I support what Heupel did and think it was in the best interest for the team and for College football.

Unfortunately, this late BAIL by Nico (Kiffin 2.0), could cause this season to be a bust. You basically flush the work from Spring practice on offense and start over from Square One.

Looking at the schedule, given the current QB situation, there are no lock wins (with the exception of the patsy games).

I hope people are patient this year and don’t start calling for heads to roll if this season goes bust. We could take a big step back this year.

I can’t grasp why people think we’re going to fall on our faces? Nico was mediocre at best against teams with a pulse. Sometimes the word mediocre was a stretch. If I’m not mistaken he had 9 TD against SEC teams. Keep in mind 4 of those came against Vandy. He rarely eclipsed 200 yards in any game against real competition. The hyped Nico we expected was a heisman contender, the real Nico we got was a subpar bottom tier QB for SEC play. Truth is we got into the playoffs due to our schedule. Nico was truly a 7-8 win QB which is where we prob land this coming season as well.

 

[Firebirdparts]

I"m no analyst of football. You would think the line is worse and of course Sampson is gone. The team should not be as good as they were last year, which obviously was a playoff year. We don't see the Jimmies and Joes. Maybe I'll be wrong.

For 95% of Vol fans, I guess this year will be a huge failure. That's my perception of our fans anyway. I think we will have threads this year about Heupel "hitting his ceiling" after taking the team to the playoffs. FWIW.

 

[865Original]

At what point do we hire a GM like other programs have?

 

[PC Jr.]

At what point do we hire a GM like other programs have?

I’m running for GM.