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re: Why is Tennessee not getting more love
Posted on 7/19/24 at 6:22 pm to PurpleSingularity
Posted on 7/19/24 at 6:22 pm to PurpleSingularity
I think it really boils down to unproven talent. Most of the clueless media aren’t really familiar with the roster. The most depth we’ve had under Huep and top 5 in the league on both lines of scrimmage.
If Nico can put it all together, and we can stay healthy, then it could be a fun year.
If Nico can put it all together, and we can stay healthy, then it could be a fun year.
2
Posted on 7/19/24 at 6:28 pm to Yukons Worst
Knowing and stopping something are two different things entirely. Your defense has to think and align very fast and not get gassed.... simple as that. I doubt he has faced anything as potent in our style of offense as what we will be fielding thus year. Yall saw what we did with Hooker and company. Nico and company will be even more impressive as we actually have some depth on defense now.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 6:31 pm to BigOrangeBri
quote:
I think it really boils down to unproven talent. Most of the clueless media aren’t really familiar with the roster. The most depth we’ve had under Huep and top 5 in the league on both lines of scrimmage.
If Nico can put it all together, and we can stay healthy, then it could be a fun year.
This is fair.
Until you beat Florida, a horrible Florida, nobody is going to take you seriously. You got'm in '22 but damn.
I think it comes down to whether or not Nico is the second coming of Jesus Christ or not. We'll see.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 6:58 pm to PurpleSingularity
quote:
feel like they are much stronger than 7th or 8th place.
Where are you placing them?
Posted on 7/19/24 at 7:01 pm to PurpleSingularity
They aren’t good. No one has ever gotten more mileage out of one win than Josh Heupel for beating Alabama at home.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 7:22 pm to TrueLefty
quote:
LSU fans will be in a huge shock when LSU ends up losing 3 regular season games again.
I won’t. Defense is going to be a major concern again particularly on the line. Schedule is somewhat favorable though so hoping for 10-2 but expecting 9-3 or 8-4.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 7:42 pm to PurpleSingularity
quote:
depth is the issue, why was Heupel so competitive in his first year?
Tennessee will be alot better than what they are given credit for right now. When the Vols finish 10-2, Heupel will be SEC coach of the year. The Vols will be an overall better team this year than they were last year. The Vols have a lot of talent, and this will be the best defense Heupel has had since coming to Knoxville. Issue with the talent is, a lot of people are not sure about it as they are 1st year starters, or from the portal.
Offense
QB- Nico(5*), Merklinger(4*), Moore
RB- Sampson(4*) Sledon(4*), Lewis(4*),
WR- McCoy(5*), Matthews(5*), White(4*), Brazzell(3*), Thornton(4*), Staley(4*), Webb(4*), Nimrod(3*)
TE- Staes(4*), Davis(4*),Kitselman,
LT- Heard(5*), Johnson III, Warren(4*)
LG- Lampley(4*), Umarov(4*), Anderson(4*)
C- Mays(4*), Lang(3*), Satterwhite(4*)
RG- Spraggins(4*), Bussells, Reddick
RT- Campbell Jr(3*+), Davis(3*), Duncan
Defense
DE- Bailey(4*), West(4*), Weathersby(4*)
NT- Thomas(4*), Simmions(3*), Hobbs(5*)
DT- Eason(4*), Norman-Lott(4*), Moi(3*)
LEO- Pearce Jr(5*), Josephs, Ross(5*),Herring
MLB- Pili, Telander(3*), Spillman(4*)
WLB- Carter(4*), Perry(3*), Smith(4*)
LCB- Jermod McCoy(3*+), McMurray, Goree Jr.
RCB- Gibson(4*), Matthews(4*), Beasley(4*)
SS- Turrentine(4*), Slaughter(3*), Farooq(3*)
FS- Thomas, Brooks, Charles
STAR- Boo Carter(4*), Thomas(3*), Harrison
Specialist
PT- Ross
PK- Turberyville
Punt Return- White or Carter
Kick Return- Seldon or Carter or White
As you see, Tennessee has enough talent on the 3 deep to compete with anyone if they play to their star ratings. Pearce is projected top 3 pick, Nico currently has the 6th best odds to win the Heisman this year, and Tennessee WR room is deep if they stay healthy.
The strength of this year team will be the O-Line and D-Line. Freshman like Boo Carter, Braylon Staley, Beasley, Ross, and Mike Matthew’s will be significant players for the Vols this year. This year team will better than last years and will look similar to what the Vols and 2 years ago, just with a better defense.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 7:45 pm to BigOrangeBri
quote:
If Nico can put it all together, and we can stay healthy, then it could be a fun year.
Nico currently sits 6th for the best odds for the heisman
Posted on 7/19/24 at 7:46 pm to BigDickRick16
quote:
Nico currently sits 6th for the best odds for the heisman
Do not forget to print these shirts.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 8:44 pm to TrueLefty
quote:
LSU fans will be in a huge shock when LSU ends up losing 3 regular season games again.
I wouldn't be
Posted on 7/19/24 at 8:48 pm to BigDickRick16
quote:
Nico currently sits 6th for the best odds for the heisman
You were saying all of these same things this time last year.
Tennessee has been a good, solid program under Heupel, I'm not sure why Tennessee fans keep attempting to make more out of it than what it's been.
This post was edited on 7/19/24 at 8:49 pm
Posted on 7/19/24 at 9:17 pm to deeprig9
quote:
Until you beat Florida, a horrible Florida, nobody is going to take you seriously. You got'm in '22 but damn.
I had no idea this series was as fricked as it is for UTk until I looked it up just now. Encourage everyone to do the same. Wow.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 9:20 pm to PurpleSingularity
Because Heupel’s offense consistently gets exposed at each stop the longer he is there.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 10:12 pm to PurpleSingularity
quote:
If depth is the issue, why was Heupel so competitive in his first year?
It was his second year that he was in the playoff picture.
And it’s not depth. This team is deeper than any Tennessee team in my memory. The issue is a general lack of interest from the media. Last year was an amazing coaching job by Heupel but it hurt the momentum in the media. So starting a new QB, having a ton of secondary guys leave, and just not a lot of buzz outside the program mean a preseason top 15 team that likely goes 9-3 or 10-2 just gets overlooked in the preseason.
The Defense is deep and well coached with a top 5 nfl pick on the Dline. The O has the ability to score on anyone consistently but it’s not a flashy team. They are not new to the conference or have a new coach or dealing with a bunch of off the field stuff so they get overlooked.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 10:20 pm to PurpleSingularity
Short version:
The media pays attention to the top 3 or so teams and beyond that they rely on whatever quick stat explainer an intern hands them alongside a healthy dose of recency bias. From that POV it’s easy to see why they’re putting us where they are. It’s a safe spot that won’t make them look like total morons if the team either exceeds or fails to meet expectations.
Longer version:
A lot of the media is woefully misinformed regarding the roster. One knocked us for losing a starting LB who was only starting due to injury (Pilli is healthy now and was always going to start ahead of the guy who left). They’ve also gotten our WR situation wrong. Bru’s early injury would have many who are only looking at quick stat lines believe we don’t have much in the way of production beyond Squirrel White returning when in reality we’re returning a monster jumbo WR in Bru, 2 speedsters in White and Thornton (Thornton was starting to shine when like Bru injury took him out. We also added Tulane WR Chris Brazell who was a freshman All American and averaged 16 yards a catch last season at Tulane.
We also have the top defender in CFB but while the NFL has noticed Pearce (with scouts stating had he been eligible last season he would’ve been the first defender selected overall) he’s gotten surprisingly little attention for a player of his caliber.
Despite this (and more) the media seems to think the roster is in far worse shape than it is. Between the transfer portal and early season injuries they have a pretty skewed take. TBH though I think that is actually a good thing for us as it relieves a lot of external pressure.
The media pays attention to the top 3 or so teams and beyond that they rely on whatever quick stat explainer an intern hands them alongside a healthy dose of recency bias. From that POV it’s easy to see why they’re putting us where they are. It’s a safe spot that won’t make them look like total morons if the team either exceeds or fails to meet expectations.
Longer version:
A lot of the media is woefully misinformed regarding the roster. One knocked us for losing a starting LB who was only starting due to injury (Pilli is healthy now and was always going to start ahead of the guy who left). They’ve also gotten our WR situation wrong. Bru’s early injury would have many who are only looking at quick stat lines believe we don’t have much in the way of production beyond Squirrel White returning when in reality we’re returning a monster jumbo WR in Bru, 2 speedsters in White and Thornton (Thornton was starting to shine when like Bru injury took him out. We also added Tulane WR Chris Brazell who was a freshman All American and averaged 16 yards a catch last season at Tulane.
We also have the top defender in CFB but while the NFL has noticed Pearce (with scouts stating had he been eligible last season he would’ve been the first defender selected overall) he’s gotten surprisingly little attention for a player of his caliber.
Despite this (and more) the media seems to think the roster is in far worse shape than it is. Between the transfer portal and early season injuries they have a pretty skewed take. TBH though I think that is actually a good thing for us as it relieves a lot of external pressure.
This post was edited on 7/19/24 at 10:28 pm
Posted on 7/19/24 at 11:20 pm to Smokeyone
quote:
Last year was an amazing coaching job by Heupel
What made it so amazing through your orange colored glasses?
Posted on 7/19/24 at 11:30 pm to djsdawg
quote:
What made it so amazing through your orange colored glasses?
They only lost to Sunbelt Billy by two touchdowns, could have been worse.
Posted on 7/19/24 at 11:39 pm to PurpleSingularity
Starting a 1st time qb. Defensive line should be really solid and deep. The secondary is pretty much all brand new, but some good transfers. Hopefully they remember what their old coach told them because I don't think our secondary coach can improve players. Defensive coordinator shows flashes but is inconsistent and doesn't seem to adapt very well. It could be a good year. Adding oklahoma and Texas is going to make schedules that much harder. Playing a solid ooc acc opponent. Just a super deep league. Always play uga and bama, add ou, we somehow always lose to Florida and there is no reason to assume otherwise until we can beat them with any kind of consistency. I can see hesitancy. Fortunately we play the games.
Posted on 7/20/24 at 12:19 am to SidewalkTiger
quote:
They only lost to Sunbelt Billy by two touchdowns, could have been worse.
They also didnt get shut out by Mizzou. Impressive.
Posted on 7/20/24 at 1:08 am to PurpleSingularity
Doesn’t matter to me until we start stacking up those SEC titles.
To me the SEC title means much more than a natty.
Not sure if we enough depth for a deep run.
Couple key people get injured and we are last years FSU
To me the SEC title means much more than a natty.
Not sure if we enough depth for a deep run.
Couple key people get injured and we are last years FSU
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