VTTW Board Index

how much faster the Vols look this year compared to the recent past? Noticed how much more hustle the overall team has? Case in point is the long TD run by CP, there were linemen 40 yards down field sprinting. The linemen may have made mistakes but for the most part they put a hat on a hat and moved with a purpose. The Vols are not as deep as anybody would like them to be but the staff is workign really hard to fix that. Can this team compete and win the SEC East and win it? Yes. But injuries could derail that in a hurry. I don't know what the overall record will be at the end of the year, but if the Vols don't finish well people will be calling for Dooley's head. I'm not one of them. He has the team heading in the right direction and the future is bright for the VOls in my opinion.   

Been saying that exactly.  Dooley is making remarkable progress and is on the edge of bringing us back to every year relevance.  Unfortunately, he is at least one more recruiting class from getting to the depth levels needed to sustain every year relevance, and you and I will be in the minority if the W's don't appease the masses.  I have never wanted a team to achieve to its potential more than this one, and the opportunity to do that is dependent on avoiding injuries at critical and thin positions.  Here's hoping! 

I agree with you both other than I think it will take at least 2, maybe 3 more classes to get there depth wise due to defections and if anyone leaves early for next years draft. It is good to have that particular problem again though.

The only thing I am in wait and see mode for is Dooley's coaching ability or lack thereof to shine through this year. He can't help injuries or balls that bounce the wrong way but we are good enough to win all we should and some of the toss up games. We have a real shot at UF,SC,MSU, MIZZU and UGA. If we go ofer there Dooley is gone IMHO unless his buyout prohibits it. I hope that is a non issue of course.

I think the Vols can win all those games if healthy. if not I think UGA is a loss, SC is a tooss up at this point. The last thing that needs to happen is to let Dooley go. He's heading in the right direction and this program needs stability. He needs two more years.

You might as well add bammer to that list

1 - bigger and more physical
2 - playing faster
3 - tackling is greatly improved.

#3 was the item that jumped at me Friday night - much, much improved

Oh, and DBs that looked for the ball.  Teague was much improved and IMO the best DB on the field Friday night. 

I love the fact that we no longer have linemen whose bellies violate the neutral zone.  We definitely pass the look test now. 

I agree on all three points and things look better but then I remember the KY joke and the Arkansas meltdown then I have to shorten the leash again. I'm going to wait til we get a more significant victory like a Florida,  Georgia, or USCe before I believe we are really on the right track. I just don't think a win over a middle of the road ACC team like NCSU is something to get too gushy about. I'll be all better after we kick the snot out of Ga. St. and Fla.

Believe me, most of the rest of us are right there with you.  This was only one game.  We looked good, but a long season still lie ahead.

That was last year, totally different teams totally different situations.