Per Hubbs, "lack of depth biggest concern for this team"

#101
#101
jakez4ut said:
yeah, it probably has been since the early 2000's where you had real quality depth across the board. we've had spots of it the last two years, but not enough.

as to why...we've been recruiting DL like crazy. we've got talent at the top. i think most of it falls in the development category. something i hope is changing with Hoke and Rock manning the ship now.
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If CBJ ever wants to win 10+ games in this league, he will have to able to recruit quality depth (especially on D). Lets face it, last year after guys like DKJR, JRM, Sutton, Tuttle, Mckenize, & O'brien couldn't play because of injury or dismissal, our defense flat out sucked because the reserves were not that good.
 
#102
#102
jakez4ut said:
i don't think we're winning the East regardless. i have us going 7-5, losing all three of those games mentioned.

8-4, if we win one of them.
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Looking at the big picture, that's my concern-- if the team struggles in Sept because of all the new parts, it will be tough to bounce back and win the SECe. That's the goal and it starts with beating our SECe rivals in Sept.
 
#103
#103
barrylee said:
It's agenda, there's 11 or 12 on here who will throw a like on any post that is derogatory towards Butch. You can predict who is going to show up by the title of the thread and this one was tailor made for them!
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Actually, it seems that most people are having a civil discussion on depth at key positions and its impact on the season. I don't see many agendas at all-- just posters making points that may or may not coincide with the opinions of others.
 
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#105
#105
LA Vol said:
Actually, it seems that most people are having a civil discussion on depth at key positions and its impact on the season. I don't see many agendas at all-- just posters making points that may or may not coincide with the opinions of others.
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This.
 
#107
#107
jakez4ut said:
i know this, we do not want to find ourselves reaching down to the 3rd and 4th levels of the depth chart to find guys that HAVE to start multiple games like we did last year.

if there is any good news about what happened last year, a lot of guys got a lot of game reps. take it for what it is, bad play and all, at least you do have a good # of guys that have seen significant game reps.

if nothing else that gives the new staff something to look at when the lights were on vs. just practice video or mop up duty in a homecoming laugher....may be what helps them develop this group more than anything else...seeing what they did when live bullets were flying?
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That is indeed a silver lining. Those who played against Alabama last season should never need any more motivation to push themselves to their absolute limits. Getting your butt whipped every snap can be a good thing...and I mean that sincerely.
 
#108
#108
Two fold issue though: Depth & Experience.

WR: Experience
OL: Neither just need to be "Rocked" into S&C shape
RB: Depth & Experience
QB: Experience
DB: Depth (need a Lockdown or two to emerge) but mainly I think/hope Coaching, Safety position should be fine.
LB: Somewhat experience (Will-OLB), depth is much better thanks to Jumper getting valuable reps last year.
DE: Depth & Experience. If Phillips is healthy, I think we have 3 good ones though.
DT: Depth, we really need Picou and Alexis to step up
ST: Just need a solid PR, I think Calloway looked good doing it last year. Healthy Josh Smith could but do we want to risk him if he finally gets healthy?
 
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#109
#109
Nationdom said:
No excuses. Butch has been here 5 years, any attrition, lack of depth, or any other bs excuse is on Butch. The guy thinks he's done something here lol. This is Tennessee. You haven't done anything that any other average coach could do here. Win 10 games this year or good bye.
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Average coach wins 9 games? Make and wins 3 consecutive bowl games? Break our streak to UF?

Some of yall whining about Butch just think the grass is always greener. You will never be happy, you think there are millions of Saban's in the world, we just don't want them. There are only so many top tier coaches in the world. They all already have a job and are well compensated. All that persistent moaning and groaning will do is keep any coach from wanting to be here.

Some of yall think "Beat Saban in the first couple of years or leave. That's just unrealistic.
 
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#110
#110
jonnon111 said:
Why can't Saban get a QB? LK got Sims and that the FSU transfer, and now hurts up to speed. However they are always looking for a QB in the spring and now the QB guru is gone.
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For Saban, I think it is basically an intentional decision to not "get a QB" (i.e., an uber-athletic, dynamic player who takes over games). He doesn't necessarily want or need one.

Even if he did have one, he'd be pretty discretionary and pick spots where he turned him loose. His offense, relatively speaking, is still a ball control style that seeks above all to control the line of scrimmage and run behind a great offensive line.
 
#111
#111
PEPPERJAX said:
If CBJ ever wants to win 10+ games in this league, he will have to able to recruit quality depth (especially on D). Lets face it, last year after guys like DKJR, JRM, Sutton, Tuttle, Mckenize, & O'brien couldn't play because of injury or dismissal, our defense flat out sucked because the reserves were not that good.
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no disagreement. the injuries were bad. bad enough that you should expect a fall off. but it shouldn't cost you your season in the process.
 
#112
#112
jonnon111 said:
Average coach wins 9 games? Make and wins 3 consecutive bowl games? Break our streak to UF?

Some of yall whining about Butch just think the grass is always greener. You will never be happy, you think there are millions of Saban's in the world, we just don't want them. There are only so many top tier coaches in the world. They all already have a job and are well compensated. All that persistent moaning and groaning will do is keep any coach from wanting to be here.

Some of yall think "Beat Saban in the first couple of years or leave. That's just unrealistic.
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The past two seasons we had the talent to get to ATL but did not. Most fans are frustrated because Butch has yet to win the east and for good reason.
 
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#113
#113
LA Vol said:
Looking at the big picture, that's my concern-- if the team struggles in Sept because of all the new parts, it will be tough to bounce back and win the SECe. That's the goal and it starts with beating our SECe rivals in Sept.
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i think the early schedule will be rough, cause there are going to be, most likely anyway, some growing pains, communication things that need to work out, chemistry issues etc...

tough draw considering who we play. i expect them to get better as the year goes on, and talent wise, so long as we don't experience injuries like we did last year, we'll get better and better and handle the teams 'we're supposed to'.

i think as it stands right now the LSU game is probably a loss, but if things fall right, and they develop a little quicker than i think, then LSU game in November provides an opportunity for a signature win for the season....so we'll see.
 
#114
#114
jonnon111 said:
Average coach wins 9 games? Make and wins 3 consecutive bowl games? Break our streak to UF?

Some of yall whining about Butch just think the grass is always greener. You will never be happy, you think there are millions of Saban's in the world, we just don't want them. There are only so many top tier coaches in the world. They all already have a job and are well compensated. All that persistent moaning and groaning will do is keep any coach from wanting to be here.

Some of yall think "Beat Saban in the first couple of years or leave. That's just unrealistic.
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Not true at all. Most just want UT to win the SECe and get to ATL. Everybody from Joe DiP to Butch Jones has said that's the goal, so why should fans expect anything less?
 
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#116
#116
Everybody gets 85 scholarships what you do with them is the Coaches job. Being here five years he should have the numbers right at every position. I really don't want to hear the injury excuse all next season when someone like Vandy runs and throws all over our defense. It will be time to say we haven't recruited or developed players well enough because it is time to win against the Vandy's and SC's and be competitive against the Bamas and LSU's.
 
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#117
#117
jonnon111 said:
Average coach wins 9 games? Make and wins 3 consecutive bowl games? Break our streak to UF?

Some of yall whining about Butch just think the grass is always greener. You will never be happy, you think there are millions of Saban's in the world, we just don't want them. There are only so many top tier coaches in the world. They all already have a job and are well compensated. All that persistent moaning and groaning will do is keep any coach from wanting to be here.

Some of yall think "Beat Saban in the first couple of years or leave. That's just unrealistic.
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Yeah he won 9 games two years in a row beating a bunch of piss poor teams and choking away sure victories(OU and UF) that should of had us playing in Atlanta both years. Had a chance to secure the sugar bowl and couldn't get it done against Vandy, with 6 draft picks. Will owns him. And yea he beat three power houses in the bowl games. Dooley could have coached those rosters to wins over Northwestern, Iowa, and Nebraska. O yeah and there is no excuse losing to Arkansas at home. at Neyland. Especially when Berry brings one back.
 
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#118
#118
Volfan2012 said:
Everybody gets 85 scholarships what you do with them is the Coaches job. Being here five years he should have the numbers right at every position. I really don't want to hear the injury excuse all next season when someone like Vandy runs and throws all over our defense. It will be time to say we haven't recruited or developed players well enough because it is time to win against the Vandy's and SC's and be competitive against the Bamas and LSU's.
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here's the thing. we've been, and are, competitive with the FL and GA's of the world in our division. we were competitive with Bama, once. :p

what it has boiled down to the last two years are:

game day decision making (FL, OU games 15)
Depth/Attrition issues (back half 16)

these are both the responsibility of the head coach...

all you can say today is that he's taken some action in an effort to rectify these issues with the staff changes made this off season.

either they'll work, or they won't. either way, it's on him. so if we do wind up going 9-3 or better, get ready for the praise (deservedly so), and if we go 7-5 or worse, get ready for the fall out (deservedly so).
 
#119
#119
AllVolForLife_16 said:
"Some guys haven't been what we thought they'd be." My issue with that quote is under Butch Jones, the players who were supposed to make an immediate impact, rarely ever do. The lack of player development from this staff has been down right puzzling.
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Generally, not a star-gazer, but sometimes I think we're trying too hard to find 10 3* Cam Sutton's or developmental players in every class...which would be nice. But, in reality, more 3*'s than 4*'s just won't pan out. This season and recruiting cycle critical.
 
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#120
#120
njvols said:
Generally, not a star-gazer, but sometimes I think we're trying too hard to find 10 3* Cam Sutton's or developmental players in every class...which would be nice. But, in reality, more 3*'s than 4*'s just won't pan out. This season and recruiting cycle critical.
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especially with the quality that's there in the state of TN this year. he could probably get a top 10 class if he can keep 8-12 of all those 4* TN kids at home.
 
#122
#122
jonnon111 said:
Why can't Saban get a QB? LK got Sims and that the FSU transfer, and now hurts up to speed. However they are always looking for a QB in the spring and now the QB guru is gone.
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His qb was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year last season. Won a national title with Coker, went to the playoffs with Sims. Just signed the 5 Star kid from Hawaii. I'm not seeing where they're struggling finding QBs.
 
#124
#124
KBVol said:
His qb was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year last season. Won a national title with Coker, went to the playoffs with Sims. Just signed the 5 Star kid from Hawaii. I'm not seeing where they're struggling finding QBs.
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It's really only in the preseason that there is this confusion. This year, some Bammers think (want?) Tua to take the starting job from Hurts. Last year they didn't know if it was going to be Hurts or Barnett. In 2014 they didn't know if it was going to be Coker or Sims.

They have always "found" one, despite the QB never being a truly dynamic player/gamebreaker, and they win titles despite that.
 
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#125
#125
DenmarkVol said:
This all day long.
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personally, i think that's a big deal. i think he can go 7-5 and he'll survive just fine if he's getting commits from those kids.....7-5 at least maintains winning season/bowl game status quo, and if we're able to keep that many of those kids in state, that will say a lot about what the direction of the program really is........

perception wise, when talking about the future, it's a lot easier to do that with a straight face when you're sitting on a class like that, and convinced those kids to stay home. especially on the heels of losing 3 really good in state kids this past cycle. it would also validate the new staff to a certain degree.

for all those reasons, i think it's important to keep those kids this year. too many good ones to watch them all go elsewhere....can't do it. 7-5, with mass defections.......says the exact opposite, perception wise.

imo anyway.
 
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