Talent Difference

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.

 

Did you calculate the B#tch factor?

 

You left off Kamara. Florida badly needs a QB, the game shouldn't be close.. but there's always the Butch factor.

 

they'll probably find a guy to lead a TD drive or 2 to beat us who'll be benched by week 9

 

.

 

Walk-on

 

This is actually a little sobering.

 

Time to win.

We need to win the SECCG this year.

 

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.

 

I bet you're right. We do have a ton of experience compared to some of these teams.

 

But we are still young! We have 23 freshman on our team! TWENTY THREE!

 

A fourth of the team?! Does Coach BJ have a fountain of youth in the locker room or something?

 

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

 

So that means we are going 8-4

 

Because the coaching gulf is really wide in most of those games. We should be better defensively.

 

Luckily we catch A&M in the point of the season where they have a QB controversy

 

I'm hoping we have the kind of defense that spawns controversy and not ends them.

 

Would love that. I plan on being at that game.

 

Doubtful. It will happen the Sunday after the UT game. Bad things don't happen to teams until directly after they play UT.