Kirby Smart takes a jab at Butch Jones

[jbr82]

Fulmer never had to rebuild anything. As far as year 5 goes, can we let it actually let it play out before we judge him on it?

That's fair!

Ppl want to keep blaming Dooley for CBJ yr 4 shortcomings. We are past Dooley imo. First couple of yrs I understand. Yr 3 players were better than expected. That's my debate.

 

[sjt18]

I was disappointed in Jones' comment that he wasn't disappointed with last year. He tried to qualify and dance around that word... not sure why. But if he wasn't disappointed... I'm not sure where his heart is.

 

[MWAVolfan]

THIS!! How is it everybody knowing anything about college football saying UGA was talented last year (hello Chubb & Michel) and MORE talented this year than UT suddenly believing one year made that much difference in talent levels between teams?!?!? Lol Kirby having trouble developing talent is what it sounds like to me as well!!

People often equate the number of returning starters with an increase in talent. It's a fatal mistake. Tennessee proved that all the returning starters in the world don't add up to a better performance. Having more experience is not the same thing as being better players. Tennessee could roll out 11 new starters on offense and if they are better players than UGA well then they are better. Experience is not a direct substitute for talent.

 

[solivols]

THIS!! How is it everybody knowing anything about college football saying UGA was talented last year (hello Chubb & Michel) and MORE talented this year than UT suddenly believing one year made that much difference in talent levels between teams?!?!? Lol Kirby having trouble developing talent is what it sounds like to me as well!!

To be fair I think we can give Kirby a pass since he's been at UGA and a head coach for one year. This season will show how Kirby can develop talent, because UGA certainly does not have issues brining the talent in. They have a pretty loaded offense this year and Eason looks like the real deal. Smart being a great defensive mind shouldn't hurt their defense. Sounds like this "jab" is a way of underselling so they can over deliver.

 

[1chattyvols1]

the one thing I treasured about spurrier is that he never made an excuse for losing.

Never said we lost because the other team had some sort of advantage, or injuries, or you name it.

When we lost, we lost. He would express how he wasn't happy about losing and that losing was bad.

His "zingers" were almost always aimed at teams he beat or after winning. He very rarely zinged teams that he lost to.

This^^^^.

I didn't read the synopsis of the article as Kirby going after Butch. If anything it was as if he was trying to claim closeness to a team that beat him on a hailmary.

 

[sjt18]

Fulmer never had to rebuild anything. As far as year 5 goes, can we let it actually let it play out before we judge him on it?

Some of us don't judge Jones by where Fulmer was left... or Dooley (which was about as big of a mess) or Kiffin (which was about as big of a mess).

He is judge on what he's done with what he's had to work with. He's done some really great things. But he's also shown some things that are potentially fatal flaws.... and he has lost critical and winnable games in each of his first 4 years. If he wins even one of the two inexcusable losses last year then he probably gets the Sugar Bowl. That would be progress hard to argue against. If he had beaten Arkansas, OU, or UF the year before... that would have had to have been considered an "overachieving" year for such a young team.

But that's simply not what we've seen. We've seen a coach that consistently does not get the most out of his roster. Whatever excuses or reasons you want to give... that's still the bottom line.

 

[Behr]

That's fair!

Ppl want to keep blaming Dooley for CBJ yr 4 shortcomings. We are past Dooley imo. First couple of yrs I understand. Yr 3 players were better than expected. That's my debate.

People want to forget the mess that we were in on the field when Butch arrived, then they forget the mess our Administration was in up until now. Still have questions about it, but at least we have one. That's my debate.

 

[butchna]

My opinion is that Butch was severely disappointed to the point that he shook up his staff. The loyalty that he has to his assistants carries over to his players. To him, saying they had a disappointing season reflects on them. It's the wrong take imo. They're big boys in a big time program...they can handle it.

 

[Behr]

This^^^^.

I didn't read the synopsis of the article as Kirby going after Butch. If anything it was as if he was trying to claim closeness to a team that beat him on a hailmary.

Pretty much what you said two months ago.

 

[solivols]

I was disappointed in Jones' comment that he wasn't disappointed with last year. He tried to qualify and dance around that word... not sure why. But if he wasn't disappointed... I'm not sure where his heart is.

What he says to journalists and what he truly feels may be two different things. Butch has always been diplomatic and tactful at the podium, but then you see him as a loose cannon with the mic in practice. I don't mind that he remains classy when speaking to the public, as long as he minimizes the cliches which he has. It was disappointing because of the specific losses... USC, Vandy, 7 turnovers at A&M, but at the same time 9 wins isn't terribly disappointing all things considered. I wouldn't equate "not disappointed" with being complacent.

 

[MWAVolfan]

I was disappointed in Jones' comment that he wasn't disappointed with last year. He tried to qualify and dance around that word... not sure why. But if he wasn't disappointed... I'm not sure where his heart is.

I've been saying this since last year. I fully believe that he has no problem with the level of performance we have seen from UT. In his mind they have won 4 straight bowl games (never mind they were all meaningless) and then there was some drivel about winning some number of games over the span of 2 years even though again it's a meaningless stat. To him losing to USCe and Candy were totally withing the level of expectation that UT fans should have. Even though we beat the tar out of those teams for decades.

This kind of crazy crap is once again due directly to Derek Dooley and his ineptitude. Butch Jones says "look how much better we are" "look how far the program had come". No, the program is only marginally better than the worst period in UT football history from 2008 to 2013. Once you take a step back from the orange kool-aid stand you can have the proper perspective on things.

Now, he has recruited really really well. I have no doubt players are bought in to whatever he's selling. He lead the horse to the water but he sucks at getting them to drink it.

 

[Behr]

My opinion is that Butch was severely disappointed to the point that he shook up his staff. The loyalty that he has to his assistants carries over to his players. To him, saying they had a disappointing season reflects on them. It's the wrong take imo. They're big boys in a big time program...they can handle it.

I totally agree.

 

[MWAVolfan]

What he says to journalists and what he truly feels may be two different things. Butch has always been diplomatic and tactful at the podium

I directly challenge the notion that he's been tactful at the podium.. Lol

 

[SayNoToJorts]

I'm failing to see the "jab" in this. What am I missing?

"You have better talent!"
"No you have better talent!"

Someone call the cops

 

[sjt18]

What he says to journalists and what he truly feels may be two different things. Butch has always been diplomatic and tactful at the podium, but then you see him as a loose cannon with the mic in practice. I don't mind that he remains classy when speaking to the public, as long as he minimizes the cliches which he has. It was disappointing because of the specific losses... USC, Vandy, 7 turnovers at A&M, but at the same time 9 wins isn't terribly disappointing all things considered. I wouldn't equate "not disappointed" with being complacent.

All things considered... 9 wins is very disappointing as is Jones harping on the "9 wins" thing.

Whether he is hiding his feelings and isn't complacent or not, he is sending a message of complacency when he says that. And if his defenders have to explain it away... you can be sure that possibly the media and those who compete against him will make sure the point is driven home with recruits.

I still don't understand the aversion to the word "disappointment". How can he not be disappointed with a season tanked by losses to Vandy and USCe? That makes no sense.

 

[05_never_again]

Now, he has recruited really really well. I have no doubt players are bought in to whatever he's selling. He lead the horse to the water but he sucks at getting them to drink it.

How do you know that? He's been a HC for one year.

 

[sjt18]

I totally agree.

Thanks for the quote. Butchna made a good point there.

The changes in the staff contradict what he said... which still begs the question of what he thought he was gaining by being less than genuine or by avoiding the word.

 

[MWAVolfan]

My opinion is that Butch was severely disappointed to the point that he shook up his staff. The loyalty that he has to his assistants carries over to his players. To him, saying they had a disappointing season reflects on them. It's the wrong take imo. They're big boys in a big time program...they can handle it.

Severely disappointed or throwing dead wood off a sinking ship? Someone HAD to go after last year and it obviously wasn't going to be him. The notion that he is now "taking advice from others" is tantamount to admitting that you didn't actually know what you were doing in the first place. Bravo, I suppose, if he turns things around on the field. I just wish we hired someone who knew these things from day 1.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Some of us don't judge Jones by where Fulmer was left... or Dooley (which was about as big of a mess) or Kiffin (which was about as big of a mess).

He is judge on what he's done with what he's had to work with. He's done some really great things. But he's also shown some things that are potentially fatal flaws.... and he has lost critical and winnable games in each of his first 4 years. If he wins even one of the two inexcusable losses last year then he probably gets the Sugar Bowl. That would be progress hard to argue against. If he had beaten Arkansas, OU, or UF the year before... that would have had to have been considered an "overachieving" year for such a young team.

But that's simply not what we've seen. We've seen a coach that consistently does not get the most out of his roster. Whatever excuses or reasons you want to give... that's still the bottom line.

And I agree with every bit of this. I think Jones has far exceeded my expectations when it comes to rebuilding the roster. Having said that I don't buy the injury argument for the Vandy loss. With the way he's recruited since he's been here we should be able to beat Vandy with more than half of our starters out. It comes down to development. Hopefully that will improve with the coaching changes. We'll see.

 

[MWAVolfan]

How do you know that? He's been a HC for one year.

I'm talking about Butch, not Kirby.

 

[The Artful Dodger]

To be fair I think we can give Kirby a pass since he's been at UGA and a head coach for one year. This season will show how Kirby can develop talent, because UGA certainly does not have issues brining the talent in. They have a pretty loaded offense this year and Eason looks like the real deal. Smart being a great defensive mind shouldn't hurt their defense. Sounds like this "jab" is a way of underselling so they can over deliver.

I think he had one of his best (if not best) games against us last year, and I still wasn't overly impressed with his accuracy. The throw to Ridley was on the money, but his overall accuracy throughout the season didn't look great to me. We will see though. I realize he was just a freshman, but 55% completion percentage is not good, escpecially as much as they run the ball. Dobbs was at 59% as a freshman. It also doesn't help them that Chaney is slowing down their development on offense. I was never impressed with him, when he was here.

 

[Behr]

I've been saying this since last year. I fully believe that he has no problem with the level of performance we have seen from UT. In his mind they have won 4 straight bowl games (never mind they were all meaningless) and then there was some drivel about winning some number of games over the span of 2 years even though again it's a meaningless stat. To him losing to USCe and Candy were totally withing the level of expectation that UT fans should have. Even though we beat the tar out of those teams for decades.

This kind of crazy crap is once again due directly to Derek Dooley and his ineptitude. Butch Jones says "look how much better we are" "look how far the program had come". No, the program is only marginally better than the worst period in UT football history from 2008 to 2013. Once you take a step back from the orange kool-aid stand you can have the proper perspective on things.

Now, he has recruited really really well. I have no doubt players are bought in to whatever he's selling. He lead the horse to the water but he sucks at getting them to drink it.

We are way better than "marginally better".

Butch has done a great job in several important areas.

He has tripped over his "Johnson" a few times, especially last year and 2015.

He has made major changes in an attempt to fix major issues.

We have a new AD now. Who knows what to expect, but I would imagine he will handle the situation accordingly.

I'm sure he won't need your input.

 

[MWAVolfan]

I think he had one of his best (if not best) games against us last year, and I still wasn't overly impressed with his accuracy. The throw to Ridley was on the money, but his overall accuracy throughout the season didn't look great to me. We will see though. I realize he was just a freshman, but 55% completion percentage is not good, escpecially as much as they run the ball. Dobbs was at 59% as a freshman. It also doesn't help them that Chaney is slowing down their development on offense. I was never impressed with him, when he was here.

Do you happen to know the average yards per completion before the receiver ran as compared to Dobbs? One thing about Dobbs numbers is that the offensive scheme usually resulted in very short completions out in the flat. I don't know if the same was true for UGA given that he was a freshman.

 

[05_never_again]

I think he had one of his best (if not best) games against us last year, and I still wasn't overly impressed with his accuracy. The throw to Ridley was on the money, but his overall accuracy throughout the season didn't look great to me. We will see though. I realize he was just a freshman, but 55% completion percentage is not good, escpecially as much as they run the ball. Dobbs was at 59% as a freshman. It also doesn't help them that Chaney is slowing down their development on offense. I was never impressed with him, when he was here.

Eason has Heisman Trophy-caliber arm talent; just not sure if he will ever be on a team good enough for him to actually win it. Eason only hit 55% of his passes but they had him chucking it downfield quite a bit.

I agree with you about Chaney. I don't really think he's all that good of an offensive coordinator.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

And then our injuries piled up starting game 1. Here's you a news flash, just because someone named "Booger" says we will be 12-0 doesn't mean you should believe it. Way to many factors.

Probably the only analyst I put real stock in is Phil Steele and he did have us in the SECCG last year with an outside shot at the playoff. I like Boog for entertainment but I'm not taking him to Tunica.