It's here

[MRM]

College football season is here, the pros start next week. Even though the start of football season means cold weather isn't too far behind, the start of a new season is always exciting. Here are my worthless predictions.

I can't help but feel that UT will win 7 games this year. I think the O-line will be better than expected. They are young and going to take their lumps early in the season. But I think they will get better as the season goes. They have a good stable of running backs, look to be loaded at WR, and Simms seems to be a smart player. We'll see how good of a passer he is.

The defensive line is the part that will take the biggest beating this year. The LBs are pretty good, just not much depth. The secondary will be good, but will have their brain farts from time to time. I don't know what to make of the kicking game.

Having said that, as long as the OL matures and there are no more major injuries on defense, I think this team will surprise some people and pull out 7 wins. There are some really good position coaches over there and I don't think Dooley is clueless like some people tend to think.

For the SEC, everyone is picking another Bama-UF rematch in the title game. It's hard to pick against that since they have the most talent, best coaches, and none of the other teams have asserted themselves as a challenger to either one. But since everyone is picking those two, I can't help but think one, if not both, will not make it to Atlanta.

This seems to be the most wide-open in who will win the national championship in many years. Name me a team in the top 10 and I can name two or three weaknesses or huge question marks. My initial thought is to go with Ohio State and Virginia Tech to play for the title because they have the easier schedules. For some reason, I think this is the year a team currently way down in the rankings will march their way to the top and make it to the title game.

I'm going to be wrong, so let the season begin and have some fun!

[Rocky Top]

UT's depth will be their downfall. No way in hell they can go through the season without some injuries. They might not be season ending injuries but even if they lose a couple of key players for a game or so, they have ZERO depth. UT has 1st stringers and 3rd stringers. That will get your azz beat in the SEC. UT's top 30 players are as good as most other teams top 30. It's the backups that will be UTs downfall. I dont see anyway possible that UT wins 7 games. They will beat Martin, UAB, Memphis and Vandy. They will lose to Oregon, UF, Uga, Bama and LSU. The toss ups are...USCe, UsuK, and Ole Mess.

I was hopeful that the kicking game would be an assest instead of a liability like it has been for the last 8-10 years. However, I have seen UT's kickers and they are pathetic. I just dont see how it is possible that this unit will be a difference maker and thats what the Vols need to steal a couple of games. After seeing who won the job, I just shook my head...same ol, same ol. Hell, our kicker is liable to hurt one of our O-Lineman when he kicks them in the azz with one of his typical low linedrives...

In your scenerio, UT would have to win all the toss ups and upset one of the ones that I see as a loss and I aint buyin it. I certainly hope you are right and anything is possible but since we are playing these games on paper, It looks like a 5 win season for the Vols.

As far as the SEC goes, if Bama doesnt win it all, it will be the biggest choke job of this decade. The SEC is as down as I have seen it in quite sometime and it wont take a great team to win it. The SEC will NOT win a NC this year. NO way...No how! However, the season has begun and thats why they play the games. stranger things have happened and I will enjoy this season just like all the rest. The poor Bama fans who have already said anything less than a championship season will be jumping from bridges all over the southeast. Never seen a bunch of fans that feels so entitled.

It looks like a 5 win season if everything plays out like it appears. A bunch of injuries and it could be worse. A few breaks and the Vols could possibly win 6. Those that are saying 8 wins... 

[Charleston]

UT's depth will be their downfall. No way in hell they can go through the season without some injuries. They might not be season ending injuries but even if they lose a couple of key players for a game or so, they have ZERO depth. UT has 1st stringers and 3rd stringers. That will get your azz beat in the SEC. UT's top 30 players are as good as most other teams top 30. It's the backups that will be UTs downfall. I dont see anyway possible that UT wins 7 games. They will beat Martin, UAB, Memphis and Vandy. They will lose to Oregon, UF, Uga, Bama and LSU. The toss ups are...USCe, UsuK, and Ole Mess.

In your scenerio, UT would have to win all the toss ups and upset one of the ones that I see as a loss and I aint buyin it. I certainly hope you are right and anything is possible but since we are playing these games on paper, It looks like a 5 win season for the Vols.

As far as the SEC goes, if Bama doesnt win it all, it will be the biggest choke job of this decade. The SEC is as down as I have seen it in quite sometime and it wont take a great team to win it. The SEC will NOT win a NC this year. NO way...No how! However, the season has begun and thats why they play the games. stranger things have happened and I will enjoy this season just like all the rest. The poor Bama fans who have already said anything less than a championship season will be jumping from bridges all over the southeast. Never seen a bunch of fans that feels so entitled.

I do not see an elite team that can absolutely dominate anyone anytime they step on the field.

I think we are as good as Georgia and can't wait to play them next week.  If we beat them, you can remove us from your toss up category.

 

[TerribleTowel]

Simms seems to be a smart player

  I'll be shocked if you hold the same opinion on Simms after a few games.

[Rocky Top]

I do not see an elite team that can absolutely dominate anyone anytime they step on the field.

I think we are as good as Georgia and can't wait to play them next week.  If we beat them, you can remove us from your toss up category.

 

Charleston, I know you really desire to be included with the elite teams of the SEC. However, until you actually compete for a east title, no one will ever take USCe serious. You need to understand, IF, USCe beats Georgia, thats only one game. Your program has a history of failing badly whenever they play in a big game plus they fall flat on their face when October rolls around. I watched the game last night and USCe looks very average at best. No way in hell will your team EVER be considered anything more than a toss up game and thats because UT is as low as they have been since you entered the conference.

As pathetic as UT was last year, they absolutely beat USCe eyes shut. The Cocks were never even in the game last year. I am sorry to say, out of UT's toss up games, I like the Vols chances against USCe better than any of the other toss up games.

Face it...until USCe accomplishes something...anything at all, they will ALWAYS be looked at in the same breath as a Vandy or UsuK. Your higwater mark in the history of your program is a token upset or a weed-wacker bowl win...

[Shoneys Buffet Director]

Masoli back at Ole Miss. UT back to 4 or 5 wins.

[Rocky Top]

Masoli back at Ole Miss. UT back to 4 or 5 wins.

 

[plumbervol]

RT
About our kicking game, the coaching is improved 1000% over what we have seen the last 5-6 years. The kicking game will not be as awful as it has been in the past. Last year I listened to all the genuis  about that staff and we got kicks blocked, terrible directional kicking and coverage, and poor execution for the most part from those damn genuises scheming and coaching them up from your boy friends RT.  Expect much better execution and performance. This staff may not have the horses to pull off miracles but they really do practice what they preach as far as the kicking game.

[Rocky Top]

RT
About our kicking game, the coaching is improved 1000% over what we have seen the last 5-6 years. The kicking game will not be as awful as it has been in the past. Last year I listened to all the genuis  about that staff and we got kicks blocked, terrible directional kicking and coverage, and poor execution for the most part from those damn genuises scheming and coaching them up from your boy friends RT.  Expect much better execution and performance. This staff may not have the horses to pull off miracles but they really do practice what they preach as far as the kicking game.

Plumber, I sure hope you are right. My "boy friend" may have sucked at improving UT's kicking game but your fat lover was even a bigger joke. You like to rip last years staff and rightfully so but by all means, dont forget all the pathetic attempts the "other staff" made at ruining what was once a proud tradition at UT.

If Dooley wants to earn some respect from true UT fans, coaching up the kicking game and stealing a win here and there due to the kicking game, will go along way to gaining that respect. We all know UT is gonna suck but it's the lil things that take heart...hard work...and good coaching will get Vol fans through these hard times. I guess I will believe it when I see it and I have seen enough of Lincoln to know he is NOT a Div 1 kicker. Hell, he would have a hard time making a good high school team. He is without question the worst kicker I have ever seen at this level. Just pathetic.

[Shoneys Buffet Director]

How good can Palardy be if he can't beat out Daniel freaking Lincoln?

I'd feel just as good with Greg Burke trying to make a game winner as Lincoln and the chances of the former K are the same as the current K......zero.

[Yo Mamma]

Poor old  Rocky Douche Bobby. So let me get this straight. The "Fat Boy" was a horrible coach. How in the hell did he:

1. win 75% of his games?
2. Be the last SEC coach to win Back to Back SEC Titles?
3. Win 2 SEC Titles and an undisputed only won in school history National Title?
4. Have Chuck Smith singing his praises in the Knoxville Journal?
5. Go to 5 of 11 SEC Title games? (several that would be SEC titles in the pre 1992 way of counting)
6. Average 9.5 wins per year?
7. Develop more kids to the NFL than almost anyone in college football history?
8. Do this at a school with no in state talent in an era where 85% of the players are minorities?
9. Sell out every home game he coached?
10. Do this at a school that had 7 outright SEC titles and no legit National titles and won at a 65% clip before he took over?

Enlighten us jerkface on how such a bad coach could redefine success at UT???? We are waiting for your retarded geeky study hall triangle paper football player response.

By the way, I hope you enjoyed it. No one for at least a generation if ever will as much as approach that level of success. You loved Meat Kiffin and his boy. Nuff said about your sports IQ.

[TerribleTowel]

Because he took over a solid program with almost no staff turnover & the rest of the league had either coaching problems (UGA, LSU) or NCAA trouble (Ole Miss, Auburn, Bama)  If Phil were a great coach, UT wouldn't be in the pathetic shape they are in now, and have been since 2005.