So I got bored at work this morning. I created a spread sheet with the starting 22 for Tennessee and our biggest games this year (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M) I did VT also as it was really what started the conversation that lead to the spreadsheet. I averaged the star ratings for the starting offense and defense. I used ourlads for the projected depth charts and 247 composite for the start rating. As you can see from the data below we are not quite to the talent level of some of our biggest games this year. Now I know a lot of other factors come into play, but I wanted to show where our talent is compared to what we project as our toughest games. VT Alabama Florida Georgia Texas A&M
**** that. Our roster is better than Florida's, and the players, coaches, and fan bases for both teams know that. If Tennessee goes 9-3 in the regular season, we failed.
You left off Kamara. Florida badly needs a QB, the game shouldn't be close.. but there's always the Butch factor.
I bet if you only accounted for starters that have seen a decent number of PT that gap closes a lot. Experience matters and we've got as much of it as anybody.
Composite Recruiting Rankings 2013-2016 Tennessee: 12.25 Appy State: 110.5 VT: 29.5; New coaching staff Ohio: 106.75 UF: 11.5; New QB, most likely true frosh UGA: 8; New coaching staff, new QB likely frosh TAMU: 11; New QB Bama: 1; New QB; replacing a lot of talent per usual South Car: 20.5; New coaching staff Tenn Tech: FCS Kentucky: 32.25 Missouri: 37.5; New coaching staff Vanderbilt: 43
Doubtful. It will happen the Sunday after the UT game. Bad things don't happen to teams until directly after they play UT.