[Bye Week Blues] Mid Season Rants

This has honestly been a good season so far for the Vols, certainly has been and will continue to be precarious, but good nonetheless. I think we are exactly who we thought we were preseason, a good team trying to be great. We've obviously still got the pieces, but we're a (I think good) combination of young and experinced. This coaching staff is elite. To the point that I'm worried about being poached more than figuring out who should be replaced. And that's a good feeling to feel, I don't know that I was that old last time that was true for us. Heupel is the guy, what I see out of that locker-room is a family. They look happy and supportive and driven. And I like the dna of this team on the field as well. Playcalling is agressive in all 3 phases (We onside kicked up by 30 in the 1st quarter against Kent St). And for the most part I like what I see from our guys. Offensive line is what I have to talk about first. I think at this point this is the one area we are not consistent enough in. I don't think the problem is with either the players or the staff necessarily. I think both could be improved but I think depth is the ultimate answer, and yes I know that's a hard position group to really get depth at, but it gives the big boys more air so they can play to tempo easier. The conditioning is there, they can contiue to be explosive later even now. But in a drive when we get some tempo going, they get gassed and grab jerseys. Iamaleava looks like a young but talented qb, and the o line has got to be able to help a young qb. Sampson in the back field is absolutely carrying right now. He can slip past and run through defenders even when the oline isn't helping, and (especially when they do) is explosive. Wide Recievers are dissapointing to be honest. I really love these guys on paper, but there have been several crucial drops that would really help Nico as well. Potential is obviously there through the air. On the defensive side, wow, that line. Pearce has feasted since conference play began (we didn't use him too much in the openers) and he's not even really standing out from the crowd. And boy is it a crowd. 8 different players account for a sack with 15 total through 7 games. Secondary is majorly improved, and even though we lost Pili, it looks like his positive influence has really stuck with that secondary, they were certainly ready to step up. Big shout-out to Brooks here. He's been lockdown. Corners are FINALLY getting good at coverage, Jermod McCoy especially really showed up against the nations most famous 17 year old last week. Like I said all in all, a good team trying to be great, I just hope we can take that next step. We've got a tough schedule ahead of us, we've still got to take on Georgia and vandy. We've got to at least split those for a chance at a playoff spot. I don't know that any thing short of winning out "garuntees" a spot though. SECCG is also probably out of the running unfortunately. Shot I'm calling now: Disney seeds us at 8th to get Neyland to host the first ever extended playoff game to break the "not a college game atmosphere in the playoffs" narrative that I peddle.