Looking at the offenses we face going forward, we're not going to be returning many kickoffs.  Too bad for Evan, but that's a good thing.

[in a green no-contact jersey]

I can take that criticism. I just can't believe he thought Worley would give him a better shot at winning than Dobbs. Anytime, anywhere. I do understand he was trying to save his redshirt so he would be with us longer. I get that. No way was Worley better than Dobbs at any time. Even in the few games Dobbs played the year before. But that is history. I do have a lot of things I think Jones has done well. I think we expect him to just come in an be Saban. He came from the MAC. He is learning to coach in the SEC, just like his young players are learning to play in the SEC. I forget that at times. I think he will get the job done. How soon is the question? I just hope the fans(me) are patient enough. It is hard to be patient when McIlwain(sp) can come in and get UF back to relevancy in his first year. We were just laughing at UF and how bad their recruiting was going before this season. I guess coaching can make a difference. Does this not aggravate everyone here?

I'll venture to say that Worley was better than Dobbs in a green no-contact jersey.  On those rare occasions when he had time to throw, Worley was pretty good.  The game situation changes things considerably, particularly with a poor offensive line.

We're a young team.  To get a good assessment of new, untested talent, you have to let them play in game-like situations.  That means injuries.  It also means you have a reasonable expectation that the kids will perform under game situations.  With more experience, you can dial back the practice intensity and thereby the injuries.  So, you're right that it's not random, but it's a consequence of putting a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the field.

country. It has to be true, Finebaum said it on his show. This team just needs to learn or be taught to win. I am coming around to be a fan of Jones. Can he teach this group to win. They have to win these games. I just want an SEC championship. The rest will take care of itself. An SEC title almost guarantees a spot in the playoff.

I think this sentiment is better expressed by saying this team competes. They've been in every game. While the losses have been painful they've certainly not been embarrassing.

Maybe we could loan them Mack Crowder?

Sure would be nice to have him back in 2 weeks...

Hard to call that a sacrifice...

I'm just glad Casey Clausson's out.

Trying (successfully)  not to get his uniform dirty?

Hate to break it to you, but the Vols aren't beating UGA this year. Or Bama.   

 

GA is looking pretty solid, and Bama won't be turning it over 5 times in a game anytime soon.  I think we can give you both a game, and if freshmen emerge and we get a few breaks, it's not impossible.  But with a weak OL and a good, but not great, QB, you're probably right.

Give any coach in America who is worth his salt a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, at home, and he can strategize around his lack of depth. I guarantee you that Nick Saban would not have lost that game. Urban Meyer wouldn't have lost that game.

How about Steve Spurrier?

[Once you take a 17-3 lead to the fourth quarter, depth shouldn't be as big a concern.]

I see both sides. I predicted Oklahoma to win because I think we need one more good recruiting class to compete with the big dogs of college football. So I was prepared to lose the game, yet I was still bitterly disappointed in the coaching once the game was over. It wasn't the fact that Tennessee lost, but the way the game was lost. Once you take a 17-3 lead to the fourth quarter, depth shouldn't be as big a concern. Obviously if we had more depth on defense, those guys wouldn't have been as tired. You could make the argument that OU wouldn't have made the comeback if we had more fresh bodies to sub in on the defensive side of the ball. But it still shouldn't have come to that. Our offense completely went into a shell and that's on the coaches. It's troublesome, and it's more troublesome to see how defiant Butch is to the criticism. That worries me. If he's too stubborn to learn from his mistakes, we're going to be going through another coaching search sooner than we'd like.

Isn't that EXACTLY when you should be concerned about depth? 
The defense played great, but ran out of gas.
Turns out a walk-on middle linebacker can cost you. 
A freshman in his second game may well have been a better choice, but to criticize Jones for not playing freshmen soon enough is... 
OK dialed up the pressure on D.  Our OL and Dobbs couldn't handle it.
Their QB was a gamer with the game on the line.  Ours wasn't. 
The only other time Dobbs has faced that kind of pressure was Missou last year.  Same result.  Teams are going to come after him now.  We'll see how he and the coaches respond.

Not as bad as suggested by the criticism here.  We've got a weak OL.  OK should have recognized that from the start, but didn't.  They adjusted and put extra pressure on the OL, and press coverage to take away quick screens.  The way to beat that is with a quick, accurate and decisive QB and big, strong receivers that can be into their routes quickly and go up and get the ball from a smaller corner.  Without that, there's not much the coaches can do.

Similarly, I agree it was a mistake to kick the FG on 4th & goal, but in the coaches defense, we're again talking about a weak OL trying to punch it in against a strong defensive front ready to make a stand.  With a stronger OL, it's a no-brainer.  With ours...

 We have a young team but remarkably experienced team considering how many freshman played last year.  We have a coach who recruits lights out.  We have young talent itching to see the field of just about every position.  Our on field leadership includes a freaking aerospace engineer.  Our team finished last year with an absolute demolition of Iowa. That breeds confidence.

GEAUX VOLS!! 

McNeil out too - how does that shake up the secondary?

http://www.knoxnews.com/govolsxtra/football/howard-suspended-mcneil-out-surgeries-for-croom-perry_56383791

I think both religion and science have the same problem - How did it all start?  Neither can prove anything when it comes to how things really got going.  One relies on faith and one relies on science/theory - I'm ok with both.   

Faithful: "Where did the universe come from?"
Scientist: "The Big Bang"
Faithful: "Where did the Big Bang come from?"
Scientist: "You can't ask that - it's settled science"
Faithful: "Then our conversation is over.  Good day"

Actual answer: "That's a great question - how can we find out?"

...and therein lies the difference.

Larry Fitzgerald (see latest Outside magazine)

I like that, too.  Certainly consistent with physical reality.

a logical and and scientific case can't be made for God, Bandit. Not God as defined by the religions of the world anyway.  You can say that we have so many things in the Universe which we can't explain, but most people just say "God did it". No evidence - It's about faith. You need faith to believe in God - and faith isn't about logic and proof. By the way I don't think a person needs religion to believe in God either. I think religion is a man-made idea to control the masses.

Dying isn't a human concept. We're made of the same stuff as the earth. The earth will die. We're just here, living. So what?
I agree there's probably tons of life, even intelligent life out there - all a part of the universe, and all a part of cause and effect. Cause and effect is the truth of the universe, and if you're looking for a "force" that created life - look no further than Gravity, without which the universe would never have expanded into what it is.

Logical scientist: "Where did the universe come from?"
Faithful: "God made it"
Logical scientist: "Where did God come from?"
Faithful: "You can't ask that - it's blasphemous"
Logical scientist: "Then our conversation is over.  Good day"

I hear you, 'Nut, but let me add this to your philosophy:

BUCK FAMA!!! 

A mobile quarterback with a bruising RB and a WR that's both a deep threat and a bubble screen threat can really make an average OL look good...

 The receiving corps just took a quantum step up. His skills after the catch on screens will make a big difference with a questionable OL as well.

OK, I'll bite.

What is your name?
What is your quest?
What is your favorite color?
What is the average flying speed of a swallow?

Beat Bama and they can take the field with bras and panties painted on for all I care.