Will the offense be better or worse?

[lincolncovol]

The O should be better, a second year in the system should do wonders.QB-Can't be any worse or hope not anyways.RB- More Lane will make that better not going to hype the freshmen rbs. OL- I believe the 3 interior guys are maulers which is what this O system has to have to truly work. Hope the tackles can do the job they need too or we could have another 3 - 4 qb year again. WR- gotta be better again another year in system and under coach Z can only help. Plus you have better playmakers with Pearson coming in ( really believe he will shine this coming year). Coaches- Here's where the biggest difference will be made. I don't believe they ever trusted our QB situation to truly open up the entire playbook. With another year together and a better QB relationship we should see all the options this power spread O has to offer

 

[KBVol]

I equate the "Best Staff" quote to the following

"I am not a crook"
"Read...My...Lips, No new taxes"
"If you like your health plan, you can keep your health plan"

"I did not have sex with that woman... Miss Lewinsky" IMO.

 

[armchair]

It's hard to know how the offense will be. I have to think the all-new OL will be a problem. That's a big thing. Our passing game should be a little better--assuming the pass-blocking is OK--but not sure it will be significantly better. QBs should be a little better--but Worley's issue is talent more than experience, while experience is still an issue with all the others. I truly can't see either our offense or defense being very good. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[butchna]

The passing offense can't be much worse.

True dat :vava:

 

[sjt18]

I think the O will be better. A QB should emerge, WR play should be much better, RB will be solid at worst, the OL depends on finding a LT but should be just as productive as a unit, and the TE position should be just fine with the athletes UT has there.

The biggest reason however is that I have a great deal more confidence in the OC and O staff overall than the DC.

I have a lot of concern about the D and most of it has nothing to do with players.

 

[jarnol32]

If Ferguson is good enough to take the starting job then the offense will improve tremendously. Ferguson can throw the deep ball well, just think how many times North had 3 steps on the defender only to be under thrown by 5 yards and had to come back to make the catch. If Ferguson isn't the man then Worley will probably be the starter once again, and the offense will be average at best. Peterman could be the dark horse, he has the physical attributes like a strong arm and good mobility, but can he overcome the mental meltdown he had in Gainesville? I don't think Dobbs is an sec caliber qb.

 

[Rudy123]

I think we will be better overall as a unit. The experience in this system is worth more than people realize. Plus I do believe that CBJ is purging the roster to get more of "his type players" on the field to run his system. There is only so much that can be done when changing systems when majority of your offensive unit has been taught a different scheme completely for the previous 3-4 years they were on campus! Call me optimistic but I'm looking for a different offensive game from team #118 in the fall. But with that being said I'm not setting the bar to high for the mattress burners in the room if they don't!!

Regardless of how well or how poorly we play next season, we will have a 5 - 7 record.

Next season is all about getting the offensive line better, getting the q.b. settled, getting the kicker settled and getting the receivers settled.

Then in 2015, we will be really good. A top #15 team nationally.

Next season, I will watch the games and expect nothing but a 5 - 7 team and a " no quit" team....

 

[jarnol32]

Regardless of how well or how poorly we play next season, we will have a 5 - 7 record.

Next season is all about getting the offensive line better, getting the q.b. settled, getting the kicker settled and getting the receivers settled.

Then in 2015, we will be really good. A top #15 team nationally.

Next season, I will watch the games and expect nothing but a 5 - 7 team and a " no quit" team....

5-7 no matter what huh? Considering you don't even know exactly what the roster will look like how can you say 5-7 no matter how they play? Your confidence in this ignorant statement baffles me...:ermm:

 

[Rock33]

I don't even consider that a play

That looked like something you would draw up in the palm of your hand

You do realize that, this is the New TN offense right ? Just asking, only because I heard for years "we weren't adapting"... Now all of the sudden, we're WV, Cinn, FL and keep them spread Team names rolling.... Is this not what the "Fans" SCREAMED for ?????

You want 7 on 7 ? Better have the Best Def. in the World or we WILL lose.

 

[butchna]

Anybody see the Eagles-Cowboys game tonight...the Eagles do a lot of POWER running out of a read option set..this with a QB that isn't a statue, but would never be labelled a running weapon...was waiting for Chip Kelly to panic and abandon this "fad" finesse, trick offense when the early struggles began...after all, defenses had CAUGHT UP and FIGURED OUT the RGIII and Collin Kapernick type attacks...run to the hills and the safe bosom of pro-sets...where the QB hands belonged...between the legs of a sweaty 300 lb center...none of that...this offense works...let Butch teach it :aggressive:

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

I have a question.
How essential is it that Butch Jones takes this team to a bowl game next year? I'll hang up and listen.

At this point it's at the "pay off whoever you have to pay off (refs, opposing team coaches, whoever) to get us to a bowl game" level of necessary.

Tennessee can't handle 5 consecutive losing seasons. That would just be bad news all around.

 

[DiderotsGhost]

While it's more of a hunch than anything, I think the offense will be better next year. 2nd year in the system will be a plus.

I agree that we will take a hit losing Neal and the O-line, but our QB play was atrocious in '13. Difficult to imagine us getting any worse at that position. Plus, our WRs struggled, particularly early in the season. Our WRs now have more experience, and so long as we hold things together on the recruiting front, we'll add Josh Malone and Lavon Pearson.

Add it all up:

++ Huge upgrade and improvements with WRs
+ Hopefully improvement on QB front
+ More experience with Jones' system
- Lose Neal, but still have Lane, and add Hurd
- Lose experienced O-line

I think it's a net positive, given the WR position. Also think that QB will be a bit of a wild-card; could see major improvement, or little improvement --- difficult to say.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

While it's more of a hunch than anything, I think the offense will be better next year. 2nd year in the system will be a plus.

I agree that we will take a hit losing Neal and the O-line, but our QB play was atrocious in '13. Difficult to imagine us getting any worse at that position. Plus, our WRs struggled, particularly early in the season. Our WRs now have more experience, and so long as we hold things together on the recruiting front, we'll add Josh Malone and Lavon Pearson.

Add it all up:

++ Huge upgrade and improvements with WRs
+ Hopefully improvement on QB front
+ More experience with Jones' system
- Lose Neal, but still have Lane, and add Hurd
- Lose experienced O-line

I think it's a net positive, given the WR position. Also think that QB will be a bit of a wild-card; could see major improvement, or little improvement --- difficult to say.

Since we're drawing water from a well that hasn't been dug yet, here's my take.

2013 OL was underachieving but still better than our record indicate.

2014 OL will be a hodgepodge of guys whose primary goal will be to learn to play as a unit. So growing pains are a-coming. Expect missed assignments. Being out-muscled by experienced defense units but seeing marked improvement around the 5th game.

2014 QB play - Justin Worley will get his shot but Robert Rocket has too much upside to remain on the bench. Now, I haven't seen Iceberg Ferg in action. He might upstage both Whirlybird Worley and Robert Rocket, but for now, I'm saying the Missile Man will be our main QB. He isn't scared to run if necessary. Now, that seems a bit strange to say, but here's why. JW rarely ran the ball even when defenses gave him 8-12 yards scott free if he'd have taken it. Dobbs will take it and a bit more if you dare to do that. Plus, I just can't get out of my mind that one close up and head on picture of JW running the ball and he looked unconditionally terrified. Try as I might, I can't locate that picture now. I do think he's a better passer than most give him credit for.

2014 RB play - Despite what I said about the OL, I believe we're going to be very surprised with the RBs.
Lane has been kept on the fringes and been patient. This year, we get to see a juking, tough running, I'm going to hurt you anyway I can back. I hear the talk about Hurd and hope it's all true. But I got this sneaky feeling we're going to see some effective scat backs. That kid Pickett and very possibly Pig or Young put back there are going to be ideal for a smaller, slightly quicker OL that can block downfield. The real problem will be keeping these men healthy. Then there's Summerhill who isn't going to be kept off the field no matter what.

2014 Defense - They'll have their moments but there are a lot of new faces. They haven't really played together so it will be a work in progress. I do expect to see a bit more aggressiveness than 2013. Mainly due to new people seeking to make a name for themselves. However, they won't really be what they can be until maybe 2015.

 

[thebjd]

The offense should be better. I am not a fan of the scheme but with another year in the system everyone should be better. Next year could be really bad if we don't take care of UF at home.

 

[MFL]

break out year coming

 

[CountVolcula]

break up year coming

Fyp

 

[IndieB]

I dont know if it is going to be good or bad but once it starts clicking, it should look like what UCF did yesterday.

Please someone who knows schemes better than me can confirm that or not.

 

[oregonvol]

I dont know if it is going to be good or bad but once it starts clicking, it should look like what UCF did yesterday.

Please someone who knows schemes better than me can confirm that or not.

I don't think you can simply say "Well because this scheme is in the same ballpark as this scheme, we're going to have similar results." Otherwise, everyone who runs a West Coast offense would have the same success and we know that hasn't been the case over the years. There are alot of other factors - gameplans, playcalling, player development, etc.

I think it's more enlightening to look at the specific coaching staff's past accomplishments. For instance, Malzahn's offense has put up big numbers everywhere he's been. Obviously, he's had to tweak it alot, with different teams and personnel, but he's made it work well each time.

I don't know the specific numbers for how Butch's offense performed at Cincinatti. I hope some can fill us in on where they ranked each year. I know I looked at their rankings for the 2012 season, when Butch was hired, and the offensive ranking was not impressive. It was somewhere in the 50-70 range, if I recall correctly. The defense ranked much higher and seemed to be their strength.

 

[Burger]

Also a side question, many don't consider SCjr a "signature win". Would an upset in Norman be it? Or would it have to be a Florida or Georgia team that could easily be another 8 win team next year?

You can't be kidding me with that. Only idiots don't consider SC a signature win.

 

[jasonvol18]

USCe was a signature win. Beating a ranked, Steve Spurrier coached team with the #1 overall draft pick playing his best game of the entire season is a signature win no matter what moron on this message board might say otherwise.

I agree. Dont think Clowney is the #1 pick but definitely agree. Looks like Bridewater is the first pick but Clowney is def top 5. Anyone that thinks beating S.Car isnt a sig win is crazy. They will be top 6-7 by time the final rankings come out.

 

[jasonvol18]

The OLine didn't dominate this yr like most expected and penalties killed us on many drives, especially last half of the season. I think Riley takes control of the offense like the Coach's seem to be counting on. A healthy Lane is just as good or better than Neal. Health is his biggest hurdle. We should be a lot better at WR and definitely have more speed at skill positions and in the secondary. I see a lot of FR atleast getting special teams play to improve our speed there, which obviously killed us this yr. Yr 2 has been where Butch and his teams have shown real improvement and hoping that trend continues. Getting to a decent bowl will be huge for next season and moving forward.

 

[DaddyChad]

Better but a lot will depend on how the offensive line comes together. I think the skill positions will be much better and the QB play will be better as well. A lot of speed and talent in this class coming in. We will play a lot of freshmen this year which will be rough but I think the talent will be much better.