Talent Gap Dooley Inherited......

[jmoore_21]

Was watching the Sports Source show today, they had a few great segments (I usually can't stand that show) about the NFL Draft & how it correlates to the talent drop off at Tennessee. Here are some eye opening #'s & it really shows you the talent gap/differential that Coach Dooley inherited.

1984-1988:

Head Coach: Johnny Majors
Total Vols Drafted: 28
Vols Drafted In The Top 7 Rounds: 17
All-Americans: 5
All-SEC: 29
Overall Record: 38-18-4
SEC Championships: 1 ('85)

1989-1993:

Head Coach: Johnny Majors/Phillip Fulmer
Total Vols Drafted: 28
Vols Drafted In The Top 7 Rounds: 20
All-Americans: 6
All-SEC: 24
Overall Record: 48-11
SEC Championships: 2 ('89, '90)

1994-1998:

Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer
Total Vols drafted: 33
Vols Drafted In The Top 7 Rounds: 30
All-Americans: 3
All-SEC: 24
Overall Record: 53-15
SEC Championships: 2 ('97, '98)
National Championship: 1 ('98)

1999-2003:

Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer
Total Vols Drafted: 38
Vols Drafted In The Top 7 Rounds: 38
All-Americans: 7
All-SEC: 46
Overall Record: 46-17

2004-2008:

Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer
Total Vols Drafted: 21
(NFL Draft Dropped To Only 7 Rounds)
All-Americans: 7
All-SEC: 15
Overall Record: 39-24

2009-2011:

Head Coach: Lane Kiffin/Derek Dooley
Total Vols Drafted: 10
(NFL Dropped To Only 7 Rounds)
All-Americans: 1
All-SEC: 9
Overall Record: 18-20

* The only Vol drafted in the 2012 draft was Malik Jakson, a transfer from USC that Dooley brought in.

* The only teams w/ less draft picks in the SEC over the past 5 years are Ole Miss, Vandy, Arkansas, & Kentucky.

Now I know I've said a lot of dumb crap on here & my twitter out of frustration of losing, but if these #'s don't show you the signifant drop off of talent & the type of below SEC players Dooley has been dealing w/ over the past few years then you're blind.

Plain & simple, the talent that Fulmer & Kiffin left Dooley to work w/ was flat out TERRIBLE. IMO Dooley has done a very good job of restocking the roster over the past few season. We are NOT where we need to be in terms of talent level but IMO the gap is closing. The only teams I think that are flat out more talented than us in the SEC are Alabama & LSU. I could make a case that we are even w/ UGA, USCjr, & Florida but I don't want to get into a drawn out argument.

From MY projected starters going into the 2012 season, this is the # breakdown of how many players I think could get drafted w/in the next few seasons that are currently on the roster:

Offense: 9
Defense: 5

[keckjm]

I think another big factor is that everyone else around us has gotten better, way better. Look at Bama, SC, Georgia, FL, LSU, and Auburn. Eight years ago, LSU, Auburn, GA, SC, and Bama were almost guaranteed wins every year for us.

[Volsbackto1998]

in before CDD can't coach um up

[supersmo18]

Nice breakdown, thanks.

[Spartacavolus]

But we lawst to kentuckee with a whide receiver playing cue bee!

[VolMaster14]

What CDD did his first year here was nothing short of miraculous. AS jmoore said he was left with NOTHING and almost won 8 games. Actually he was 8-7 in post game hand shakes.

[VolMaster14]

Originally Posted by Spartacavolus

But we lawst to kentuckee with a whide receiver playing cue bee!

I think I see sarcasm here but the people that actually uses this argument makes me sick. That guy had 120 something yards total offense and Kensuckys entire offense had just under or over 200. We lost because our offense couldnt do jacks**t that day.

[Volsfaninva917]

Originally Posted by Spartacavolus

But we lawst to kentuckee with a whide receiver playing cue bee!

Best argument of all time considering he only accounted for 6 of their 10 points lol

[UGA insider]

Talent is one thing but you still have to coach them up IMO.

Look at Boise. They had like 6 guys drafted, 2 first rounders if I'm not mistaken. Boise is a team that has nowhere near the resources or ability to attract big time recruits into their program like most SEC schools. Just my two cents.

[fade route]

Originally Posted by keckjm

I think another big factor is that everyone else around us has gotten better, way better. Look at Bama, SC, Georgia, FL, LSU, and Auburn. Eight years ago, LSU, Auburn, GA, SC, and Bama were almost guaranteed wins every year for us.

This.....and the reason they're all better is because they all upgraded in the coaching dept significantly.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

[VolFromNashville]

Yeah I can really see this thread staying on topic..

[chavisut]

Definite talent upgrade. I dunno about nine, but there is definitely more NFL talent on this roster.

[Volsfaninva917]

Originally Posted by fade route

This.....and the reason they're all better is because they all upgraded in the coaching dept significantly.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

Can't argue with that, but as for auburn gene chizick was a pretty big shot in the dark there were alot of pissed of auburn fans when that hire was announced

[VolMaster14]

Originally Posted by fade route

This.....and the reason they're all better is because they all upgraded in the coaching dept significantly.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

All but Auburn. Cheesecake has proven to be a decent head coach at best unless he has a guy named Cam. From UT standpoint, when you have three coaches in three years and major attrition, you're pretty much all but guaranteed to be bad. We now have a 3rd year coach, some talent, upperclassmen and close to a full roster. Dooley wasnt only left with crappy players, but a crappy situation period. This will be the first year we can fairly judge Dooley and the team as a whole.

[AstonRoyal]

Doesn't matter you don't lose to Kentucky, EVER