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A question for you nuts out there

  • Most of you said before the season started that we would go 7-5. My question, did you say 7-5 and down deep thought we would go 12-0? If you truly thought we would go 7-5, which five did you think we would loose? Did you think we would loose to Vandy, ky Troy and Mizzu. And beat bama, fl, ga, and miss state? All you true VOL fans out there keep talking up a coaching change saying things like "he has lost the fan base" it will draw those 5 stars right in. Let the down votes began I could care less what people with your reasoning abilities think about me.

    Pastor Jax

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    bigorange

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    Odie

  • I think most said 8 and 9 win seasons if I'm not mistaken. 8 was the "magic number" for most. Wes was the only one I remember saying 7-5. But no i didn't expect to beat bama. But i did expect to win 2 of the Florida,Georgia,USCjr, Miss State.

    butler0320

  • I was in the range of 8-4 to 9-3 during the pre-season. After Da'Rick was dismissed, I believe it was driz that said that would cost us a possible victory, and I am impressed for his foresight.

    I did not expect Florida to be as good as they are and certainly thought Miss. State was a possible win. The 3 "definite" losses that I projected was Bama, Georgia and a Lattimore led Gamecocks team. What is so frustrating about this situation, if we had the magical breaks of the '98 season, we could very well be 6-1 going to Columbia this Saturday. But then again, if a frog had wings . . .

    PJ, here is a +1, but I don't understand why anyone would downvote you on this one.

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    "Old School"! A strong defense wins championships!

    volviking ●

  • Pastor Jax said...

    Most of you said before the season started that we would go 7-5. My question, did you say 7-5 and down deep thought we would go 12-0? If you truly thought we would go 7-5, which five did you think we would loose? Did you think we would loose to Vandy, ky Troy and Mizzu. And beat bama, fl, ga, and miss state? All you true VOL fans out there keep talking up a coaching change saying things like "he has lost the fan base" it will draw those 5 stars right in. Let the down votes began I could care less what people with your reasoning abilities think about me.

    +1. Did u say up votes begin? biggrinvols

    allwillbeorange

  • I believe the noise is from a minority but they are loud.

    As you stated most believed we were 7-5 or 8-4 team this year.

    well we knock of USCjr this w/e and we are back to 500

    Then we have a real good shot at being 8-4. If we don't get the best of the gamecocks then we are looking at 7-5 maybe 6-6 but either way it is one or two breaks from being 8-4 this year.

    Thanks for bringing up the what do you think post--maybe Kevin or Ryan can find it and bump it up.

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    Jdbvols1

  • Reasonable question. I thought 8-4 or 9-3. I also wanted to see improvement. My biggest problem is the regression in the defense, QB, and other areas. I cannot reasonably conclude that the program is moving forward. I looked past too many men on field at LSU, I looked past 2011 blowouts, I looked past awful UK game. I got pumped after NC State game. I tried to look past UF game collapse. I tried to look past fact that we scored 44 points n a SEC game and lost (never thought I would live to see that), but I could not stomach the mistakes in the Miss State game in a must win game. This made me re-evaluate all the previous things I tried to ignore. The trajectory is not currently heading north. Thus, I ask myself does CDD have demonstrated track record in turning around a program? And I concluded that I could no longer ignore the blinking lights on the dashboard. We need a change. The Alabama game bothered me but I expected the thrashing. It was just a reminder of how far back we still are.......

    My two cents...

    orangetex

  • orangetex said...

    Reasonable question. I thought 8-4 or 9-3. I also wanted to see improvement. My biggest problem is the regression in the defense, QB, and other areas. I cannot reasonably conclude that the program is moving forward. I looked past too many men on field at LSU, I looked past 2011 blowouts, I looked past awful UK game. I got pumped after NC State game. I tried to look past UF game collapse. I tried to look past fact that we scored 44 points n a SEC game and lost (never thought I would live to see that), but I could not stomach the mistakes in the Miss State game in a must win game. This made me re-evaluate all the previous things I tried to ignore. The trajectory is not currently heading north. Thus, I ask myself does CDD have demonstrated track record in turning around a program? And I concluded that I could no longer ignore the blinking lights on the dashboard. We need a change. The Alabama game bothered me but I expected the thrashing. It was just a reminder of how far back we still are.......

    My two cents...

    Pretty much my exact words. Nc State game we really looked like 8 wins could happen.

    butler0320

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    ocoeerivervol

  • Yea not many people thought 7 wins on this board maybe a handful. Majority thought 8 or 9... It's not just wins and losses it's not that black and white. It's the same mistakes re-occuring over 3 years along with attendance issues, and average to poor recruiting.

    hdrizzle21 ●

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    ol dad

  • Pastor Jax said...

    Most of you said before the season started that we would go 7-5. My question, did you say 7-5 and down deep thought we would go 12-0? If you truly thought we would go 7-5, which five did you think we would loose? Did you think we would loose to Vandy, ky Troy and Mizzu. And beat bama, fl, ga, and miss state? All you true VOL fans out there keep talking up a coaching change saying things like "he has lost the fan base" it will draw those 5 stars right in. Let the down votes began I could care less what people with your reasoning abilities think about me.

    Most level headed person on the board ... IMO!!

    JC is a VFL

  • Several on here are making points about the regression in some areas of play or the fact the same type mistakes are occurring. I thought it would be interesting to grade out the various positions with a grade of improved, no change or regression in comparison to last year. Here goes nothing:

    QB - same to regression. Actually Bray is hard to grade due to him missing several big games last year.
    RB - improved. No doubt Jay Graham should be in the running for a Coach of the Year award for position coaches.
    TE - same to improved. Tough call on this one. Rivera has show flashes, but if the ball don't come his way, he can't make plays.
    OL - improved. See Jay Graham above - same goes for Coach Pittman. NO sacks against Bama and only 3 all year, not to mention the improved run blocking.
    WR - same to regression? Hard call because CP brings much to the table, but has also had a couple of bad drops and bad routes. Hunter is perplexing. Makes some tough catches and then goes alligator arms on others or simply drops them. We miss Da'Rick.

    DL - improved. Still disappointed in sack totals and run consistency.
    LB - same to regression. I had hoped Lathers would be a big boost to AJ and Maggett. Injuries suck! Containment is poor to day the least and LBs in pass coverage constantly exploited. Speed anyone?
    CB - same to regression. Not enough speed, not enough discipline.
    S - same to regression. Again, injuries suck!

    Thoughts?

    signature image signature image signature image

    "Old School"! A strong defense wins championships!

    volviking ●

  • Pastor Jax said...

    Most of you said before the season started that we would go 7-5. My question, did you say 7-5 and down deep thought we would go 12-0? If you truly thought we would go 7-5, which five did you think we would loose? Did you think we would loose to Vandy, ky Troy and Mizzu. And beat bama, fl, ga, and miss state? All you true VOL fans out there keep talking up a coaching change saying things like "he has lost the fan base" it will draw those 5 stars right in. Let the down votes began I could care less what people with your reasoning abilities think about me.

    I get what you're saying, and I'll never down vote a respectfully submitted opinion. As others have already said, most of us on the board were thinking 8 wins with the outside chance of 9. Wes, who is more unbiased than any of us, predicted 7-5 and he's looking the most accurate so far.

    Was 7-5 a reasonable expectation? Yeah, it looks like it's going to be accurate. But let me ask this: what do you WANT the expectations to be? Do you want to go in to every season with 7-5 being the expecation? 7-5 is in the bottom half of the SEC. We are losing the games we are "supposed to lose", but do you want the expectation to be that we're "supposed to lose" against UA, UGA, UF, USC every season? I sure don't.

    Up until the last couple of weeks, I've been in a "wait and see" mode regarding Dooley. I like the guy. I think he's entertaining, and he's not afraid of anything. If he took this job, he's clearly up to any challenge and he's not a quitter, and I respect that. And while I don't think any of us can say definitively that he will never be able to take this team to the next level, he surely hasn't inspired much hope. The Cincinnati and NC State games were fun, and got us excited, but each minor hope has been followed by severe disappointment. Unfortunately, I think it's becoming clear that this team has a ceiling with Dooley. Do you want this team to have a ceiling? Are we committed to being supportive of this team or of this coach's employment? I want this team to be winners. I want these players to be winners. I just don't think Dooley is going to get us there anytime soon, and I don't think we owe him any more chances.

    smasher423 ●

  • volviking said...

    Several on here are making points about the regression in some areas of play or the fact the same type mistakes are occurring. I thought it would be interesting to grade out the various positions with a grade of improved, no change or regression in comparison to last year. Here goes nothing:

    QB - same to regression. Actually Bray is hard to grade due to him missing several big games last year.
    RB - improved. No doubt Jay Graham should be in the running for a Coach of the Year award for position coaches.
    TE - same to improved. Tough call on this one. Rivera has show flashes, but if the ball don't come his way, he can't make plays.
    OL - improved. See Jay Graham above - same goes for Coach Pittman. NO sacks against Bama and only 3 all year, not to mention the improved run blocking.
    WR - same to regression? Hard call because CP brings much to the table, but has also had a couple of bad drops and bad routes. Hunter is perplexing. Makes some tough catches and then goes alligator arms on others or simply drops them. We miss Da'Rick.

    DL - improved. Still disappointed in sack totals and run consistency.
    LB - same to regression. I had hoped Lathers would be a big boost to AJ and Maggett. Injuries suck! Containment is poor to day the least and LBs in pass coverage constantly exploited. Speed anyone?
    CB - same to regression. Not enough speed, not enough discipline.
    S - same to regression. Again, injuries suck!

    Thoughts?

    I generally agree with your assessment. Two areas of huge improvements are running backs and Oline. The rest to me are same to regression.

    orangetex

  • smasher423 said...

    I get what you're saying, and I'll never down vote a respectfully submitted opinion. As others have already said, most of us on the board were thinking 8 wins with the outside chance of 9. Wes, who is more unbiased than any of us, predicted 7-5 and he's looking the most accurate so far.

    Was 7-5 a reasonable expectation? Yeah, it looks like it's going to be accurate. But let me ask this: what do you WANT the expectations to be? Do you want to go in to every season with 7-5 being the expecation? 7-5 is in the bottom half of the SEC. We are losing the games we are "supposed to lose", but do you want the expectation to be that we're "supposed to lose" against UA, UGA, UF, USC every season? I sure don't.

    Up until the last couple of weeks, I've been in a "wait and see" mode regarding Dooley. I like the guy. I think he's entertaining, and he's not afraid of anything. If he took this job, he's clearly up to any challenge and he's not a quitter, and I respect that. And while I don't think any of us can say definitively that he will never be able to take this team to the next level, he surely hasn't inspired much hope. The Cincinnati and NC State games were fun, and got us excited, but each minor hope has been followed by severe disappointment. Unfortunately, I think it's becoming clear that this team has a ceiling with Dooley. Do you want this team to have a ceiling? Are we committed to being supportive of this team or of this coach's employment? I want this team to be winners. I want these players to be winners. I just don't think Dooley is going to get us there anytime soon, and I don't think we owe him any more chances.

    smasher, I agree with several of your points, but I think, for me at least, that 7-5 was the expectation for THIS year. Next year under the same coaching staff, I would certainly expect upward movement. For one thing, if the OLine and RBs continue to improve, that is the basis of success in the SEC. With or without Bray/Hunter/CP, we SHOULD be adequate to good in the passing game. The defense is the big question. If the D improves any at all, the Vols should be able to win at least 8 or 9 next year. If the D had showed up at all this year, we wouldn't be having these conversations, with probable victories over FL, GA and MsST. So short answer, no, 7-5 on a regular basis would never be good enough.

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    "Old School"! A strong defense wins championships!

    volviking ●

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    "Count it down with me. Five, four, three, two, one. The national champion is clad in Big Orange!"

    kyvolunteer

  • volviking said...

    Several on here are making points about the regression in some areas of play or the fact the same type mistakes are occurring. I thought it would be interesting to grade out the various positions with a grade of improved, no change or regression in comparison to last year. Here goes nothing:

    QB - same to regression. Actually Bray is hard to grade due to him missing several big games last year. RB - improved. No doubt Jay Graham should be in the running for a Coach of the Year award for position coaches. TE - same to improved. Tough call on this one. Rivera has show flashes, but if the ball don't come his way, he can't make plays. OL - improved. See Jay Graham above - same goes for Coach Pittman. NO sacks against Bama and only 3 all year, not to mention the improved run blocking. WR - same to regression? Hard call because CP brings much to the table, but has also had a couple of bad drops and bad routes. Hunter is perplexing. Makes some tough catches and then goes alligator arms on others or simply drops them. We miss Da'Rick.

    DL - improved. Still disappointed in sack totals and run consistency. LB - same to regression. I had hoped Lathers would be a big boost to AJ and Maggett. Injuries suck! Containment is poor to day the least and LBs in pass coverage constantly exploited. Speed anyone? CB - same to regression. Not enough speed, not enough discipline. S - same to regression. Again, injuries suck!

    Thoughts?

    Fair assessment, viking. The OL is definitely playing well, and can't wait to see those guys play every week. Inexperience and lack of speed is killing our defense against some of the most talented offenses in the country.... +1

    allwillbeorange

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    bigorange

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    Boomer020

  • volviking said...

    smasher, I agree with several of your points, but I think, for me at least, that 7-5 was the expectation for THIS year. Next year under the same coaching staff, I would certainly expect upward movement. For one thing, if the OLine and RBs continue to improve, that is the basis of success in the SEC. With or without Bray/Hunter/CP, we SHOULD be adequate to good in the passing game. The defense is the big question. If the D improves any at all, the Vols should be able to win at least 8 or 9 next year. If the D had showed up at all this year, we wouldn't be having these conversations, with probable victories over FL, GA and MsST. So short answer, no, 7-5 on a regular basis would never be good enough.

    agreed 100%. This conference is won and lost on the line of scrimmage, and with great defenses. +1

    allwillbeorange

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    "Count it down with me. Five, four, three, two, one. The national champion is clad in Big Orange!"

    kyvolunteer

  • allwillbeorange said...

    agreed 100%. This conference is won and lost on the line of scrimmage, and with great defenses. +1

    +1 to you 'orange. One of the main reasons I can maintain my optimism is the improved play in the "trenches". Add in the fact that for the first time in years, linemen on both sides of the ball are now being redshirted. That was a common practice back in the 90's . . .

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    "Old School"! A strong defense wins championships!

    volviking ●

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    orangetex

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