You think they stick with Dobbs as the starter next year?
I think that Furgeson is going to win the starting job in the offsason. They did everything that they could to not burn his redshirt. I don't mind Dobbs, because he's a freshman. It's easy to say "he can't throw, he doesn't have the skills" etc etc, but he's a freshman. I didn't put much stock in any of our QBs. I was hoping that our "veteran" line would open more holes for our RBs and we could control more games that way. Needless to say that didn't work out at all.
From what I've seen of Dobbs, I think that he has a lot to build on, and I think that he could ultimately be a great QB. His interviews are always impressive, and he's obviously putting a lot of work in. He scrambled in for what would have been the game-clinching TD, but it got called back from clipping. It sucked that it got called back, but he's gotten more comfortable out of the pocket making those "just run" decisions. He kept a few drives alive. Our WR just aren't getting open and we don't really have a presence at TE.
I wish more than anything that Butch and the Vols offense could have kept Justin Hunter, Cordarelle Patterson, and Mychal Rivera. We had a really good shootout offense last year, we just couldn't play D for shyt. I think we would have a couple more wins with that offense and the defense we've had this year.
Once again, all of these player problems really have nothing to do with the current staff. They're trying to do everything that they can with the players that Dooley left them. It's just frustrating to watch week in and week out because the tape has been out on us since Oregon zoomed all over us early in the season.
Keep ya head up man. I know the feeling. I've watched a few Tenn games this yr and I see some potential at some positions. I don't know if Butch is the guy and I know y'all have traditionally recruited nationally but you guys need someone who has that early 80s Schnellenberger state of mind. Lockdown your state, get what you can from N. Bama and MS, reach out to W. South Carolina, parts of KY and Missouri then get what you can nationally. Then get some coaches who can coach up players. That's the only way I see you cats making a come up
shyt if I was the AD there, I'd offer Peyton the HC job the second after he retires
Yeah, I've definitely developed a ton of fan patience since 2008. This loss really hurt simply because I can't stand James Franklin and I think he's the smuggest piece of shyt that's ever walked the Vandy campus. Which is saying A LOT. Just the fact that he can say "I beat UGA, Florida, and Tenn the same season" really irks me.
As far as the locking down the state and stealing some players from other areas. Butch has said since day one that Tennessee has to bring in all of the best in-state talent. He's made an emphasis on making the state ours again. It's a start.
We used to go into GA, SC, NC, VA, AL for a lot of our talent. This was before Spurrier/Clemson took over their own state. Before VaTech hit the scene and Vick stuck a Blue-Chip magnet on that campus. Before Richt and UGA started keeping their talent. Before Vanderbilt emerged, before Saban took over the southeast. Before teams like Urban Meyer's Ohio State still had a say in what recruits in the southeast were doing. Before Les Miles and LSU were actually worth a damn. The point that I'm making is that we were in every conversation for every player in the southeast, and we usually had first pick. We lost our spot at the big dogs table and now there's not an empty seat for us to reclaim. Butch LOOKS like he's doing it this year, bringing in what is likely to finish as a top 10 class. We'll see.
As far as the Peyton Manning thing goes. UT fans have been calling for Peyton as the next head coach since he won a Super Bowl lol. Vols fans will never let it go.
I don't think they have to worry about recruiting. Tenn has always brought in good players. That coaching staff, not Butch himself, might be a little suspect.
I could probably agree with this. You don't see the kind of development you'd hope to see by now. But like I said, most of our skill players on offense are young or simply not SEC-level talent. The defense is SLOW, which doesn't help against any team.
Ultimately, we were a fumble away from upsetting UGA, and we were a ref review away from a win against Vanderbilt. We didn't catch the breaks that hopefully a talent influx can help with. We always come up just short and need that PUSH late in the game to win. Better players and an offseason to work on things can only help.
I'm reserving my judgment on the team and the coaching staff until after next year (unless we lose to Kentucky).
I appreciate the words of encouragement my Coli brethren, I'm just so sick of saying "Well there's always next year" right around this time of the year.
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