Tennessee Volunteers
In 2007 the Volunteers snuck into the East Division’s top spot and battled the soon to be national champion LSU Tigers in the national title. Why say they snuck into the top spot? Well, that is because of their wins were not impressive. In a down division, the Volunteers got clobbered by rebuilding rivals Florida and Alabama. It took them 5 overtimes to be Kentucky and needed last second heroics to take down Vanderbilt at home. I was so unimpressed by their performance that I projected the Vols to finish fifth in the East in 2008. Not to my surprise, the Volunteers struggled early. They began the season with a heart retching overtime loss to UCLA in Pasadena and never fully recovered. Their head coach Phil Fulmer was fired after 17 seasons at midseason and the struggled to find any identity the rest of the season. This year is a new day in Knoxville. The Volunteers have been the most talked about team in college football thanks to recruiting violations and smack talk handed out by their new head coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin talks the talk and if he can get the Vols to “walk the walk”, Rocky Top might be able to bounce back from a disappointing 5-7 2008 campaign.
OFFENSE
Last season the Vols had to replace a senior quarterback for a junior that looked to have the tools to be a solid SEC quarterback. Jonathon Crompton is a 6’4 pocket passing quarterback that looked to be stronger than that of what he was replacing. But Crompton struggled early and was pulled in favor of sophomore Nick Stephens midway through the season. Inconsistency at quarterback held up the rest of the offense as their play maker, running back Arian Foster took leaps and bounds backward gaining a mere 527 yards last season. This year the starter at running back appears to be true freshman Bryce Brown. Brown was the number one running back recruit and should be ready to produce immediately for the Volunteer offense. The line returns bigger and stronger than last season’s group. All averaging at least 300 pounds, Tennessee should have enough experience to open holes and give Crompton more time to throw.
Last season the Vols had to replace a senior quarterback for a junior that looked to have the tools to be a solid SEC quarterback. Jonathon Crompton is a 6’4 pocket passing quarterback that looked to be stronger than that of what he was replacing. But Crompton struggled early and was pulled in favor of sophomore Nick Stephens midway through the season. Inconsistency at quarterback held up the rest of the offense as their play maker, running back Arian Foster took leaps and bounds backward gaining a mere 527 yards last season. This year the starter at running back appears to be true freshman Bryce Brown. Brown was the number one running back recruit and should be ready to produce immediately for the Volunteer offense. The line returns bigger and stronger than last season’s group. All averaging at least 300 pounds, Tennessee should have enough experience to open holes and give Crompton more time to throw.
DEFENSE
The defense should improve on their #3 ranked SEC defense with athe addition of NFL defensive guru coordinator Monte Kiffin. Returning for senior season in are the middle of the defense—tackle Wes Brown and Dan Williams. The experience in the middle will help slow down the SEC’s top rushing attacks and give the linebackers the ability to see the plays develop and get to the ball. The line will need to make plays early especially, because the line backers are inexperienced and untested. In the defensive back field all eyes will be on strong safety Eric Berry. Tennessee has put Berry on the Heisman watch list as he looks to improve upon last seasons 72 tackles, 3 sacks, and 7 interceptions. Having Berry roam the field will be critical to the Vols success early this season.
The defense should improve on their #3 ranked SEC defense with athe addition of NFL defensive guru coordinator Monte Kiffin. Returning for senior season in are the middle of the defense—tackle Wes Brown and Dan Williams. The experience in the middle will help slow down the SEC’s top rushing attacks and give the linebackers the ability to see the plays develop and get to the ball. The line will need to make plays early especially, because the line backers are inexperienced and untested. In the defensive back field all eyes will be on strong safety Eric Berry. Tennessee has put Berry on the Heisman watch list as he looks to improve upon last seasons 72 tackles, 3 sacks, and 7 interceptions. Having Berry roam the field will be critical to the Vols success early this season.
SEASON PROJECTIONS
Inability to move the ball caused the Volunteers to start off slow and never get into a winning groove. Last year was tumultuous in Knoxville. The Vols lost to all their rivals—Florida, Auburn, Georgia, and Alabama. As well as suffer the most embarrassing loss ever- at home to Wyoming on Homecoming. This year,look for the Volunteers to avenge some losses and retake their place nationally in college football. Although they have to go to Gainesville, which will be humbling for Kiffin, the Vols will be able to pull upsets against West foes Alabama and Mississippi. Rocky top should bounce back to form this season….
Inability to move the ball caused the Volunteers to start off slow and never get into a winning groove. Last year was tumultuous in Knoxville. The Vols lost to all their rivals—Florida, Auburn, Georgia, and Alabama. As well as suffer the most embarrassing loss ever- at home to Wyoming on Homecoming. This year,look for the Volunteers to avenge some losses and retake their place nationally in college football. Although they have to go to Gainesville, which will be humbling for Kiffin, the Vols will be able to pull upsets against West foes Alabama and Mississippi. Rocky top should bounce back to form this season….
9-3
No comments:
Post a Comment