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Rocklion2000 said...

Okay, I'm a noob here, but you guys seem like a pretty reasonable bunch compared to the other forums out there. So, I just wanted to post my preseason thoughts and see what you all think as we are just mere days away from hearing Rocky Top in the Georgia Dome.

So, here is the view from my window.

Overall - I'm a big believer in what you "have" and not what you "had." Looking back on prior seasons in college ball I think accounts for some things, but not a lot. Past history shows us this. In 1997, I was going into the barber shop in Maryville and hearing about how the Vols wouldn't be as good that year. Those guys did pretty good since they won the NC. I can't remember what year this was, but remember a few years ago when we won the Cotton Bowl and then the next season we were being touted as a National Championship contender but fell flat on our butts? That's why I'm skeptical as all get out to say this team can or can not do something because they did or didn't do it last year. Which leads to...

Offense - I think the run game is going to be significantly improved this year. You don't go out and hire a running backs coach and a new offensive line coach and expect the same old same old. Those guys on the team have to be tired of hearing about how they can't run the ball. I think UT is going to have its best offense in years, with or without Darick Rogers. Just as long as Patterson steps up. If he falters, things could go down in a hurry. We'll need him to scrape by NC State, so to speak, and then by Florida he should be fairly familiar with the system. While everyone else is worried about Rogers leaving, I'm not. The most important position in football is not wide receiver. It's the quarterback. And I think we have a damn good QB who will keep us in games.

Defense - For all the talk about the offense, Rogers leaving and whether or not we will have a run game, I think one major factor is lost in the shuffle. We have a brand new defensive scheme. We just went from a 4-3 to 3-4. Will these kids really have it down this year? The running game and Rogers leaving aren't my biggest fears. My biggest fear is that we have an offense that can put up points and a defense that can't stop points from being scored.

So, NC State is just around the corner. I'm looking forward to seeing the passing game, the run game and the defense.

I just hope I'm looking at a Ferrari and not a train wreck.