I just looked up Tennessee's offensive stats. The last three seasons (including this year) their QBs have a combined TD to INT ratio of 75-6. Mind blowing. I think that stat right there might explain their recent success.
Thanks, Gatorhead. UVA had a slight run a few years ago... when Bronco Mendenhall coached for them a few years back. But you are right Tennessee hasn't played anyone. I hope the Gators find and exposed all their warts in this game. This Tennessee team is not the same team we played last year. And even that team was part smoke and mirrors. The week after we kicked the crap out of USCe the Gamecocks beat the crap out of Tennessee... putting like 63 points on them in the process. This Vols team has more flaws... all we have to do is play hard, sound, assignment, mistake-free football. We need to stop the run and that includes Milton. If we do that then we take a big chunk of their offense way from them... stop the run. Watch out for trick plays, and we need to tackle in space. The usual remedy for successful football.
Top 5 QB, that was very inconsistent... he also left some decent players, sure, but he left Napier ZERO depth.
Offense: Kinsgly, Barber, Leonard, Odom. Defense: Sapp, Princely, Scooby, Hill, Marshall, 50% Kimber. 9.5 of 22 starters on this weeks depth chart are from Mullen. 1 season and 2 games removed from his tenure, that is awful. Heck lets go a step farther, of those listed above how many are on any of the 3 levels of all SEC? Maybe 1 or 2? Possibly 0? Decent is honestly a pretty favorable evaluation.
I said... that some players were decent players... Lol. Yep, some of them turned out to be less than Gator material.
You only mentioned this year's class as a great one. Last year's was really good despite the ranking gurus' ranking of the class. That is why I said quibble. Otherwise I have full throttle agreement with you.
I also think that the few that transferred out, some of them were good, was becasue of the other coaches encouragement. It sure felt like that's how it went down. A handful are still playing for other schools. That pissed me off... Mullen is a POS.
I mentioned this years class as an example of the general population on this site giving credence to the recruiting services rankings/evaluations. Any connection of mentioning this years class as being exceptional implying that the pervious class was bad is done by you. I'm not trying to be a jerk, not trying to start a back and forward, simply frustrated at negative conclusions being drawn from things I have typed, and not you specifically. I'm glad we are in agreement.
this year's Tennessee is NOT last year's Tennessee, on the offensive side of the ball. Thus far, Milton has been FAR less effective than Hooker was.
It would suck to lose all those games no doubt. We will be big underdogs in every one of them . The experts think we can beat any of them. Td dog at home to the weakest of them tomorrow
Rarely are all 4 strong in the same year. Tomorrow night may be the best chance to snag one. Although the last home game this year could be a classic.
BN isn't going anywhere before '25 or '26 at the earliest. I'm not calling you a hater, but the Billy haters among us either need to get over it or find another team for the next several years. And FTR, we didn't go 0-10-1 last year either, so a slightly less hyperbolic take regarding all-time lows might be appropriate as well. Just saying.
It is absurd to call any game a must win for a coach only starting out his 2nd season. I think we have more to gain with this game than to lose. Winning would be a huge shot in the arm for this season. Lose, and people will grumble but life will go on. I like our chances here. —coming to you live from Hogtown
This sure feels like a must-win. 0-4 against rivals last year was abysmal. Need to go at least 2-2 this year and it starts tomorrow.