http://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...n-penn-state-recruiting-tennessee-vols-072816
All four of Tennessee’s losses last year were by a touchdown or less and in the final minutes of most of those games. Now there’s lots of hype surrounding the Vols going into this season. Do you see them closing out those close games this year? If so, will it be the offense or defense getting the job done?
— Jeff Hostetler, Pensacola, Fla.
At some point a narrative emerged — which I’ve perpetuated — that Tennessee constantly fails to live up to its preseason hype. In actuality, the Vols barely cracked last year’s preseason AP poll at 25th, and remarkably, that was their first appearance since 2008. In fact Tennessee technically overachieved in 2015, finishing the year 22nd.
And yet … it still feels like Butch Jones’ teams have a penchant for choking. Perhaps it’s because of his relentless optimism or keen Signing Day acumen, but mostly because he blew a 27-14 fourth-quarter lead against Florida last year and a 17-3 fourth-quarter lead against Oklahoma.
But the Vols unquestionably improved over the course of last season, beating Georgia at home, taking Alabama to the wire in Tuscaloosa and throttling a 10-win Northwestern team in the Outback Bowl. Not only will Tennessee be extremely experienced in 2016 with 17 returning starters, but it also boasts a number of players — running back Jalen Hurd, defensive end Derek Barnett, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, defensive backs Cam Sutton and Evan Berry — who I’d rank among the top five to 10 nationally at their positions.
On paper, this is a very good team. And that’s before factoring in the addition of respected defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, the architect of two highly ranked defenses at Penn State. If the Vols’ defense plays to its potential, then it should have little trouble closing out close games, because opponents should struggle to get into the end zone against them.
Tennessee should be expected to win 10 games at a minimum, and if it doesn’t win the SEC East, it did something terribly wrong. But I still can’t help shaking the feeling the Vols will lose a game or two they shouldn’t. For Jones’ sake, better hope it’s not the heavily anticipated Week 2 Battle at Bristol against Virginia Tech. The Hokies are rebuilding under new coach Justin Fuente. The Vols should be well past that point.
All four of Tennessee’s losses last year were by a touchdown or less and in the final minutes of most of those games. Now there’s lots of hype surrounding the Vols going into this season. Do you see them closing out those close games this year? If so, will it be the offense or defense getting the job done?
— Jeff Hostetler, Pensacola, Fla.
At some point a narrative emerged — which I’ve perpetuated — that Tennessee constantly fails to live up to its preseason hype. In actuality, the Vols barely cracked last year’s preseason AP poll at 25th, and remarkably, that was their first appearance since 2008. In fact Tennessee technically overachieved in 2015, finishing the year 22nd.
And yet … it still feels like Butch Jones’ teams have a penchant for choking. Perhaps it’s because of his relentless optimism or keen Signing Day acumen, but mostly because he blew a 27-14 fourth-quarter lead against Florida last year and a 17-3 fourth-quarter lead against Oklahoma.
But the Vols unquestionably improved over the course of last season, beating Georgia at home, taking Alabama to the wire in Tuscaloosa and throttling a 10-win Northwestern team in the Outback Bowl. Not only will Tennessee be extremely experienced in 2016 with 17 returning starters, but it also boasts a number of players — running back Jalen Hurd, defensive end Derek Barnett, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, defensive backs Cam Sutton and Evan Berry — who I’d rank among the top five to 10 nationally at their positions.
On paper, this is a very good team. And that’s before factoring in the addition of respected defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, the architect of two highly ranked defenses at Penn State. If the Vols’ defense plays to its potential, then it should have little trouble closing out close games, because opponents should struggle to get into the end zone against them.
Tennessee should be expected to win 10 games at a minimum, and if it doesn’t win the SEC East, it did something terribly wrong. But I still can’t help shaking the feeling the Vols will lose a game or two they shouldn’t. For Jones’ sake, better hope it’s not the heavily anticipated Week 2 Battle at Bristol against Virginia Tech. The Hokies are rebuilding under new coach Justin Fuente. The Vols should be well past that point.
