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in response to DennisVols:

Blaming Dooley or Wilcox or any other coach for the current situation on UT’s football team is just wrong. We have DE’s playing along the DL. If you don’t think that makes a difference just look at the weight difference. UT’s DL has an average weight of 265 Lbs. OL’s at this level average 300+ Lbs. With no real depth to replenish most of the defensive positions, especially along the line by the 2nd half they are being worn out by players 40 Lbs their size.
On offense a lot of the same is true with even less experience also being thrown in. I liked the decision to switch QB’s today. Yes the offensive line has not protected as well as we need them to but Simms has on too many occasions failed to read the blitzes and failed to get rid of the football. His mental mistakes have lead to turnovers that have either cost us the game or at the least cost us the chance to be in a game. Last week’s INT inside the red zone against Bama, two fumbles on sacks today cost us 14 points (the difference in the game). Bray has a quicker release and is a much purer passer. Bray will make mistakes like the INT for a TD he threw today until he gets enough game experience under his belt. His play however did put up 14 points and had the game tied early in the 4th quarter.
Things are going to get better at UT with this coaching staff. They are already playing competitive against teams whose coaches have been in place for years with systems in place for years. If you had a company that went through 3 CEO’s(HC), 3 VP’s(DC) and 4 CFO’s(OC) in less than 3 years and with that lose the upper management (scholarship players who left) you would expect to be there to bring along the future leaders it would crumble. This is no different. It is going to take some time to regroup, rebuild after the mess the previous leadership left this team in over the past decade. Face the facts UT has been losing to Bama, UF, LSU, GA and most top 20 teams regularly since 2000. Lost 3 SEC championship games since ‘99, 1-5 in bowl games since 2003 so it isn’t like Dooley and staff inherited a team that was use to winning big games.
These players are learning on the fly a new system, the 3rd or 4th for the seniors in 3 + years and they will be stronger and smarter in the years to come. The situation, as bad as it is, would only be worse with another coaching change. It would completely destroy any chance of rebuilding for at least 10 years. What high ranked recruit would want to commit to UT if they had yet another HC in 3 years time?
Give Dooley time, he deserves it. Be a true fan and support the Vols for it is the best thing you could possibly do for these young players and for the ones we need to commit to this team if we ever expect to become champions again.
Keeping it Real
GoVols!!!