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Dolgevillefootballfan
Well-Known Member
Tennessee
Last season: Much like arch-rival Florida, Tennessee had a miserable 2017 as they had a 4-win season. Like Florida, Tennessee had to switch coaches as Butch Jones said goodbye.
But UNLIKE Florida, Tennessee had a HELL of a time finding a replacement coach. And by the way, SEC fans: Wasn't that whole thing just funny to see? It was like, "Hey, it's Greg Schiano! No wait, it's gonna be Peyton Manning?! Sweet! Wait, he's only a consultant? Hey, Phillp Fulmer's coming back! Wait, he's only the new AD? Slow down!!"
2018 X-factor: New head coach Jeremy Platt- Thankfully, that whole mess was settled when the Vols landed Alabama's defensive coordinator. How quickly can Jeremy clean up this organizational mess in Knoxville? Let's find out!
Bad news: It'll take some time, however; the offense could be hot garbage again with a shaky O-line and uncertainty at QB. The defense might struggle to adjust to a new 3-4 scheme...
Good news: ...but it does have some good individual pieces; Nigel Warrior and Johnathan Kongbo are ones to watch. And if the O-line holds it together, the Vols run-game could be quite potent.
Key games:
Old-stand-by's:
9/22 vs. Florida (Florida will be having some growing pains as well, so I like the Vols's chances to beat the Gators for the 2nd time in 3 years.)
10/20 vs. Alabama (Here, Jeremy will get a visit from his old pal Nick Saban... knowing full well that he's 11-0 all-time against the Vols.)
11/10 vs. Kentucky (Okay, Tennessee. I know you're still mad over me picking the Wildcats to beat you last year. But let's hope that you can beat them back this time around, OK?)
11/24 @ Vanderbilt (The Commodores has won 4 of their last 6 against Tennessee. That trend must stop. NOW!)
Other big games:
9/1 vs. West Virginia [in Charlotte] (We know that West Virginia will score points in the 2018 season. Question is, can the Vols keep up with them here in Charlotte?)
11/17 vs. Missouri (If the Vols aren't careful, they could lose a shot at a bowl game here.)
Bottom line: Combine concerns about that Vols offense with a new coaching staff, and it does NOT look good for Tennessee in 2018. To me, the Volunteer fans will have to be patient and hope that this rebuilding phase doesn't last too long. 6 wins might be their ceiling in Jeremy Platt's 1st year.
Last season: Much like arch-rival Florida, Tennessee had a miserable 2017 as they had a 4-win season. Like Florida, Tennessee had to switch coaches as Butch Jones said goodbye.
But UNLIKE Florida, Tennessee had a HELL of a time finding a replacement coach. And by the way, SEC fans: Wasn't that whole thing just funny to see? It was like, "Hey, it's Greg Schiano! No wait, it's gonna be Peyton Manning?! Sweet! Wait, he's only a consultant? Hey, Phillp Fulmer's coming back! Wait, he's only the new AD? Slow down!!"
2018 X-factor: New head coach Jeremy Platt- Thankfully, that whole mess was settled when the Vols landed Alabama's defensive coordinator. How quickly can Jeremy clean up this organizational mess in Knoxville? Let's find out!
Bad news: It'll take some time, however; the offense could be hot garbage again with a shaky O-line and uncertainty at QB. The defense might struggle to adjust to a new 3-4 scheme...
Good news: ...but it does have some good individual pieces; Nigel Warrior and Johnathan Kongbo are ones to watch. And if the O-line holds it together, the Vols run-game could be quite potent.
Key games:
Old-stand-by's:
9/22 vs. Florida (Florida will be having some growing pains as well, so I like the Vols's chances to beat the Gators for the 2nd time in 3 years.)
10/20 vs. Alabama (Here, Jeremy will get a visit from his old pal Nick Saban... knowing full well that he's 11-0 all-time against the Vols.)
11/10 vs. Kentucky (Okay, Tennessee. I know you're still mad over me picking the Wildcats to beat you last year. But let's hope that you can beat them back this time around, OK?)
11/24 @ Vanderbilt (The Commodores has won 4 of their last 6 against Tennessee. That trend must stop. NOW!)
Other big games:
9/1 vs. West Virginia [in Charlotte] (We know that West Virginia will score points in the 2018 season. Question is, can the Vols keep up with them here in Charlotte?)
11/17 vs. Missouri (If the Vols aren't careful, they could lose a shot at a bowl game here.)
Bottom line: Combine concerns about that Vols offense with a new coaching staff, and it does NOT look good for Tennessee in 2018. To me, the Volunteer fans will have to be patient and hope that this rebuilding phase doesn't last too long. 6 wins might be their ceiling in Jeremy Platt's 1st year.