This season hinges on two things IMO

[ReVOLver]

1.) Overall health of the team
2.) Sentimore and McCullers

Obviously last season went to hell when Hunter and then Bray got hurt. Our best players have to play for us to win 8 or more games.

And defensively the weakness has not been in the back 7 but in the front 4... pass rush and run stopping. If Sentimore and McCullers come in and play well, our back 7/8 will get a boost from that.

If both of those things happen we can win 9+ games, I firmly believe it. If neither one of them happens, we are looking at 7 wins or less.

I really think it is that simple.

[10EC]

1.) Overall health of the team
2.) Sentimore and McCullers

Obviously last season went to hell when Hunter and then Bray got hurt. Our best players have to play for us to win 8 or more games.

And defensively the weakness has not been in the back 7 but in the front 4... pass rush and run stopping. If Sentimore and McCullers come in and play well, our back 7/8 will get a boost from that.

If both of those things happen we can win 9+ games, I firmly believe it. If neither one of them happens, we are looking at 7 wins or less.

I really think it is that simple.

If I could add a third it would be mental attitude/confidence.  I know everyone is pointing to Florida, but this team needs to gut stomp N.C. State to start the season.  I think they need that get the past behind them.  If that game is really close or God forbid they lose, I see the season tanked.

[Hollerboy]

Along with health on the offense, I think it is paramount for our most talented overall unit (the O-line) to play up to their potential.  If they just do what they are capable of, our running game will be solid and Bray will have time.

[MIAUTIGER]

1.) Overall health of the team
2.) Sentimore and McCullers

Obviously last season went to hell when Hunter and then Bray got hurt. Our best players have to play for us to win 8 or more games.

And defensively the weakness has not been in the back 7 but in the front 4... pass rush and run stopping. If Sentimore and McCullers come in and play well, our back 7/8 will get a boost from that.

If both of those things happen we can win 9+ games, I firmly believe it. If neither one of them happens, we are looking at 7 wins or less.

I really think it is that simple.

So, what role does Dooley's coaching ability play?  As an outside, but interested, observer, even if you have everyone healthy and playing to potential, if Dooley is as ineffective as some of you think he may be, it won't matter and UT will still only get about 7 wins or so.  Just putting it out there for futher discussion.  To me, even if you have a talented team, coaching still plays a large role in success.  Or do you guys have more confidence in Dooley than you are letting on?

[ReVOLver]

So, what role does Dooley's coaching ability play?  As an outside, but interested, observer, even if you have everyone healthy and playing to potential, if Dooley is as ineffective as some of you think he may be, it won't matter and UT will still only get about 7 wins or so.  Just putting it out there for futher discussion.  To me, even if you have a talented team, coaching still plays a large role in success.  Or do you guys have more confidence in Dooley than you are letting on?

Good coaching has to be implied. I don't have any confidence in Dooley but I have hope that the circumstances against him have made things worse. If the coach allows the team to fall apart nothing else will matter.

[Stogie Vol]

I haven't lost confidence in Dooley, but I haven't gained any either.  There is quite a bit of evidence pointing in the direction of him being in over his head, but there is also unforeseen variables that could cause one to set that evidence aside. 

What has changed, though, is the time frame in which he has to show something. I hope Hart isn't patient to a fault.

[Inspector Vol]

I am going to go with O-line and staying healthy. If the o-line plays up to potential we will run the football and that will take loads of pressure off of Bray and more importantly the defense. We desperately need to stay healthy this year even though depth is better we still aren't there yet.

[ReVOLver]

I am going to go with O-line and staying healthy. If the o-line plays up to potential we will run the football and that will take loads of pressure off of Bray and more importantly the defense. We desperately need to stay healthy this year even though depth is better we still aren't there yet.

I didn't say the running game because I believe if we stay healthy we can win 8 or more games with the passing game if the defense plays reasonably well. Before Hunter got hurt last year our passing game was humming. It should be as good or better this year.

[Volznut]

1 is crucial...but I'd add

2 - Placekicking and punting
3 - run game needs to be at least average
4 - LB depth emerges. We have good starting LBs, but quality depth at that position has to emerge from guys like Bohannon, Williams, and King

[PirateVOL]

1 is crucial...but I'd add

2 - Placekicking and punting
3 - run game needs to be at least average
4 - LB depth emerges. We have good starting LBs, but quality depth at that position has to emerge from guys like Bohannon, Williams, and King

I would probably meld your and bossman's list:
1) HEALTH
2) kicking game - all phases
3) LB Depth
4) DL
5) Running game (despite all the crying, if our passing game is as good as it potentially is, then we will be a 70-30 P/R team in any case)

As an aside, I'm not as sown on Dooley as most are but the team and he have to produce this year, though the change is defense will result in big plays at times

[BigOrange Maniac]

Regarding coaching, my biggest cause for hope with Dooley is that he has a lot of the intangibles that are necessary to be a successful head coach. I think he has clearly demonstrated that he's out of his league at times, but he's still relatively new at this head coaching business, so I'm hoping he's maturing as he goes along and will begin to come into his own. I'm not overly confident that's going to happen, but I feel better about the future under Dooley than I felt about the future under Fulmer in '08...although, obviously, if this team under-achieves again this year, I'm finished with him.

[Inspector Vol]

I didn't say the running game because I believe if we stay healthy we can win 8 or more games with the passing game if the defense plays reasonably well. Before Hunter got hurt last year our passing game was humming. It should be as good or better this year.

I agree we could lethal in the pass game......if Hunter is healthy and the new guy meets expectations. I just had rather be able to run the ball when needed unlike last year.

[BanditVol]

I agree we could lethal in the pass game......if Hunter is healthy and the new guy meets expectations. I just had rather be able to run the ball when needed unlike last year.

We have a pretty good tight end also, but adding a running threat can only help.

[RipleyVol12]

Running the ball like we did against Florida in the 00-01 games would be nice.

GO VOLS!