Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXXIV

[jave36]

Every sport is having issues with the length of games. The NFL is the only league who has it perfected. NBA just made some changes to cut down time. We live in a world now where we have other distractions and things to do, and people don't want to spend the time.

I wish football lasted longer. I love when games go long.

 

[WarMachine]

Sobering, but pretty sound reasoning 😑

unusual to disagree with you Nick... I can see where he's coming from, but I think it takes the pieces out of the context of the whole.

 

[nicksjuzunk]

Part of it is sound reasoning, maybe 3/5 of it.

One thing unaccounted for, and maybe we are over emphasizing it as fans, is the difference the S&C program will make for those underachieving 4&5 ⭐️ Players

 

[nicksjuzunk]

unusual to disagree with you Nick... I can see where he's coming from, but I think it takes the pieces out of the context of the whole.

I'm not quite as bullish on our team this year as some around here. I see the potential, but am not ready to oversell, as I tend to do.

Basically, I realize my overoptimistic viewpoint and am trying to adjust based on my outcomes

 

[WarMachine]

I'm not quite as bullish on our team this year as some around here. I see the potential, but am not ready to oversell, as I tend to do.

Basically, I realize my overoptimistic viewpoint and am trying to adjust based on my outcomes

I tend to be cautiously optimistic, but I also think we will see team 121 with some fire in their gut from all the disrespect.

*CAN'T WAIT*

 

[McGeesPub]

The way the program has been down in recent years, it's easy too predict less than stellar seasons and be right. Doesn't mean he has any special insight or knowledge, just that he tends to be on the negative side and that just so happens to align with where we have been as a program.

Anything positive or negative is an educated guess at this point and nothing more. Hyams has seen a lot at UT, so his opinion probably has more substance behind it than anyone's here.

That said, I'll never understand why anyone would take it personally.

 

[BigZiti09]

Here's what Hyams isn't considering....

Yes, we will miss Josh Malone. But he didn't blow up until last season. Who is to say that Byrd along with an older JJ won't be just as good if not better than JJ and JM?

But just going by what he knows as of this moment I've gotta say Jimmy hit it on the head.

 

[vol2002]

I wish football lasted longer. I love when games go long.

I have plenty of nonfootball fans in my life (my wife and her family) who hate how long football games last (kills your Saturday, they say). Last years A&M game was disastrously long.

I think football should limit the replays to two or less a half or something like that - let the coaches use them like they use timeouts. My biggest complaint with football is that it feels like you spend as much time watching replays and watching injured players carted off the field as you do watching the actual game.

I went to the Oklahoma game two years ago and that second half was atrocious. So much standing around waiting for action. It's no wonder we lost momentum and fell apart at the end...

 

[jave36]

I have plenty of nonfootball fans in my life (my wife and her family) who hate how long football games last (kills your Saturday, they say). Last years A&M game was disastrously long.

I think football should limit the replays to two or less a half or something like that - let the coaches use them like they use timeouts. My biggest complaint with football is that it feels like you spend as much time watching replays and watching injured players carted off the field as you do watching the actual game.

I went to the Oklahoma game two years ago and that second half was atrocious. So much standing around waiting for action. It's no wonder we lost momentum and fell apart at the end...

I should say I like when games go long because of overtime. I hate when officials drag the game out.

 

[BigZiti09]

I should say I like when games go long because of overtime. I hate when officials drag the game out.

How about when cbs has a million commercials?

 

[theutvolunteers]

How about when cbs has a million commercials?

Way too many commercials.

 

[BJHSVol]

CBS needs to get rid of the touchdown-commercial-PAT-commercial-kickoff-commercial thing they do every score.

 

[onevol74]

Yes. I can't remember his sister's name, now. My wife will remember it.

Oh, its ok, go ahead and remember it. You're amongst friends here on Volnation.

Just don't mumble it in your sleep.

 

[31VFL]

Photo Credit: Mason Burgin/RTI
The Vols have made the top 25 of the FEI Ratings. So what are the FEI Ratings, you ask?

According to their website, the Fremeau Efficiency Index is “a college football rating system based on opponent-adjusted drive efficiency.” So what does that mean exactly? “Preseason projected ratings are a function of five-year program ratings, recent recruiting success, and returning offensive and defensive experience,” says the website.

So the FEI Ratings are based on a program’s performance over a five-year period, their recruiting prowess, and returning offensive and defensive experience. And with that in mind, the Vols have made the top 25 of said ratings, coming in right at No. 25 on the list.

The rating system charts out each team’s probability of losing a number of games in the season. And according to the FEI Ratings, the Vols have the highest likelihood of losing between 4-6 games in 2017.

Here’s a breakdown of the percentages for the Vols’ probability of losing anywhere between zero and all 12 games in 2017:

Undefeated: 0.0%
One loss: .004%
Two losses: .028%
Three losses: .106%
Four losses: .224%
Five losses: .292%
Six losses: .216%
Seven losses: .095%
Eight losses: .031%
Nine losses: .004%
Ten-twelve losses: 0.0%

In last year’s ratings, the Vols were ranked 20th, and that’s fairly close to where Tennessee ended up ranked in the final polls of 2016. The Vols finished 22nd in the final AP Poll of the year.

According to the actual FEI score, the Vols are tied with Miami for No. 24 on the list with a score of .98 in the system. But the Hurricanes have a higher percentage of losing fewer games, so they land just ahead of the Vols.

Alabama is No. 1 in the FEI Ratings, and several other SEC teams fall in line behind them.

Georgia comes in at No. 7, LSU at No. 9, Auburn at No. 13, Florida at No. 14, and Texas A&M at No. 21. Ole Miss (28th) and South Carolina (30th) make it just inside the top 30. Kentucky is the lowest-rated SEC team, coming in at No. 59 on the list.

The Vols have made a number of preseason top 25 rankings, but only time will tell if they make the AP Poll’s top 25 to start the season.

-Rockytopinsider

 

[The Breakerboy]

No. Some dicey areas, but it is quickly improving. Has a well-earned bad rep for communities around Nashville, but like I said, it's getting better and bad in Nashville could be a lot worse

I've dealt with Birmingham which is top ten in the country for killing. I should be fine lol

 

[The Dog]

Oh, its ok, go ahead and remember it. You're amongst friends here on Volnation.

Just don't mumble it in your sleep.

My bad. There just hasn't been any Carvin news lately and I got side tracked

 

[SpringBokVol]

Jimmys take is interesting off-season material to give a different perspective.

The truth is we don't have any proven first or second round 2018 NFL draft talent as it stands today.

That is different from last year.

This can be blamed on a missed recruiting cycle but the Soph and Jrs that we do have are elite and can be expected to be just as draft worthy with some experience.

 

[jave36]

How about when cbs has a million commercials?

Don't like that either. So obnoxious. At least Verne is gone.

 

[Blake25p]

-Jimmy Hyams (Gridironnow)

I think coaching staff should also be factored in. This years staff is miles ahead of last years. So we may not be more talented than last years team but we will be better coached.

 

[InVOLuntary]

I think the biggest thing here are the unknowns. He's assuming the players that are replacing the Derek Barnetts, Kamaras, and Josh Dobbs are not as good, which is wrong. He's never seen Guarantano take a snap in live action and he's already determined that he's not as good as Dobbs. Same with the other positions to a large extent. Those players we starters for a reason and there is no reason to believe the new starters won't step up and perform just as good. Sure we had some players move on but in many cases I think the new players are more talented. Take Malone for instance. While he was a very good player, he would disappear at times. I think we definitely could be as good as last year. It's the unknown that scares these media prognosticators.

 

[slickstirs]

-Rockytopinsider

that's why they line up every week and play the games. nobody has a clue. too many variables.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

At quarterback, I don’t think anyone would argue that you’d rather have Josh Dobbs over Quinten Dormady or Jarrett Guarantano.

Well, I would certainly prefer the experienced, senior Josh Dobbs to unproven Dormady and JG, so I can't really argue with this. However, I honestly feel very good about Dormady this season.

At running back, you’d prefer Jalen Hurd, Alvin Kamara and John Kelly over Kelly and either Ty Chandler or Carlin Fils-Aime at running back.

Well, Hurd didn't do jack last season, but I do prefer Kamara to CF-A and the unproven Chandler, although I think Chandler and Jordan are both the real deals, and the good thing is that quality RBs can often come in their freshmen season and be major contributors. Just keep them out of pass-blocking situations as much as possible.

At receiver, I’d rather have Josh Malone and Jauan Jennings than Jennings and Tyler Byrd or Marquez Callaway.

Yep, as long as we are talking about Malone on the Saturdays he didn't have the dropsies. But Byrd and Calloway both have the potential to be stars in the SEC immediately.

Along the defensive line, it’s tough to replace the 20-plus sacks of Derek Barnett, Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis. I can’t imagine Jonathan Kongbo, Darrell Taylor and Kyle Phillips chalking up 20 combined sacks. They might not get 10. Tackle play could be better this season, but Danny O’Brien, who was suspended midway through last season, will be missed.

The last sentence is key because O'Brien was gone midway through game 5 of last season. If we can keep one of KMac and Tuttle healthy all of 2017 it will be one more than was available all of 2016. And he is selling Kongbo, Taylor, and Phillips short if he can't imagine they can get 10 sacks between them.

I give this season’s secondary the edge because I think it will have more depth and get a boost from the addition of grad transfer cornerback Shaq Wiggins, the improvement of corner Justin Martin and the talent of safety Nigel Warrior.

Agree.

I would take last season’s special teams because it had Cam Sutton and Alvin Kamara as punt returners. Otherwise, the same subjects are involved: Evan Berry is a terrific kick returner, Trevor Daniel is a top-notch punter and Aaron Medley is an average kicker.

Not sure why he is even using Sutton as a loss on ST considering he was done as a punt returner by the 3rd game of the season. And Berry missed the last few games as KO returner. Kamara had a few very good returns, but did not break any last season. I think we have some very good options this season who can be as good as Sutton was in 2015.

I’m a fan of middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. but too many others are unproven at this position. And Kirkland must stay healthy, which he didn’t a year ago.

Considering JRM didn't play enough last season to even really be mentioned, 2017 should be better for the LBs assuming that position can stay healthy this season. Sapp should be back to 100%, Bituli has had another off-season to develop, and McDowell should also be 100% healthy, stronger, and more acclimated to the position. And possibly contributions if needed from some talented newcomers. At worst a wash, but I think better in 2017.

All in all his assessment is not terrible, but he definitely prefers to see the glass half-empty.

 

[UTProf]

I'll handle this one for him. This isn't communism. It's a corporatocracy.

The SEC is communism and it works quite well for us. The only problem with communism is that it works best on a small-scale like we do in the SEC. It tends to fall apart on the larger scale.

The NCAA is more corporocracy and run by technocrats. It's always going to be flawed as will any regulatory body trying to balance the interests of very different institutions on multiple issues.

 

[BruinVol]

-Jimmy Hyams (Gridironnow)

This is well written and hard to argue with. Jimmy is the best in Knoxville imo.

However games aren't won with talent alone. They are won with talent,experience, coaching and chemistry. This team has more of that than last years.

9 wins coming

 

[ChismsHeadband]

At quarterback, I don’t think anyone would argue that you’d rather have Josh Dobbs over Quinten Dormady or Jarrett Guarantano.

Well, I would certainly prefer the experienced, senior Josh Dobbs to unproven Dormady and JG, so I can't really argue with this. However, I honestly feel very good about Dormady this season.

Agreed. Furthermore, Dormady does have limited playing time albeit against scrubs when we're up 30+. But I also feel really good about QD after the O&W game. He nailed every single throw, something Dobbs could never do.

At running back, you’d prefer Jalen Hurd, Alvin Kamara and John Kelly over Kelly and either Ty Chandler or Carlin Fils-Aime at running back.

Well, Hurd didn't do jack last season, but I do prefer Kamara to CF-A and the unproven Chandler, although I think Chandler and Jordan are both the real deals, and the good thing is that quality RBs can often come in their freshmen season and be major contributors. Just keep them out of pass-blocking situations as much as possible.

Kelly will be good if not better than good, but I'm not quite sold on him being top-5 in the conference. We'll need CFA or Chandler, one of them at least, to step up and share the load. We're still in decent shape if QD wins the job as a thrower.

At receiver, I’d rather have Josh Malone and Jauan Jennings than Jennings and Tyler Byrd or Marquez Callaway.

Yep, as long as we are talking about Malone on the Saturdays he didn't have the dropsies. But Byrd and Calloway both have the potential to be stars in the SEC immediately.

Haven't seen enough of Callaway, but I'm sold on Byrd. (Is there a specific game I should find from last year to see some Callaway film?)

Along the defensive line, it’s tough to replace the 20-plus sacks of Derek Barnett, Corey Vereen and LaTroy Lewis. I can’t imagine Jonathan Kongbo, Darrell Taylor and Kyle Phillips chalking up 20 combined sacks. They might not get 10. Tackle play could be better this season, but Danny O’Brien, who was suspended midway through last season, will be missed.

The last sentence is key because O'Brien was gone midway through game 5 of last season. If we can keep one of KMac and Tuttle healthy all of 2017 it will be one more than was available all of 2016. And he is selling Kongbo, Taylor, and Phillips short if he can't imagine they can get 10 sacks between them.

Yeah, we spent the back half of last year missing Danny O'. DL is hard to argue that we'll be equal or better than last year, but if there's one position group we're reloading rather than rebuilding, it's DL. I got faith in Hoke.

I give this season’s secondary the edge because I think it will have more depth and get a boost from the addition of grad transfer cornerback Shaq Wiggins, the improvement of corner Justin Martin and the talent of safety Nigel Warrior.

Agree.

Yep, apparently Justin Martin had a really good Spring. I'm just hoping he doesn't have another half like Florida's first half.

I would take last season’s special teams because it had Cam Sutton and Alvin Kamara as punt returners. Otherwise, the same subjects are involved: Evan Berry is a terrific kick returner, Trevor Daniel is a top-notch punter and Aaron Medley is an average kicker.

Not sure why he is even using Sutton as a loss on ST considering he was done as a punt returner by the 3rd game of the season. And Berry missed the last few games as KO returner. Kamara had a few very good returns, but did not break any last season. I think we have some very good options this season who can be as good as Sutton was in 2015.

Special teams has always been our biggest strength under Butch. Kamara and Cam may be gone as punt returners, but we'll still be good.
Not too concerned about their replacements.

All in all his assessment is not terrible, but he definitely prefers to see the glass half-empty.

I’m a fan of middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. but too many others are unproven at this position. And Kirkland must stay healthy, which he didn’t a year ago.

I'm really looking for our LB corps to take a step forward this year. We had a lot of guys getting reps in DKJr's and JRM's absences last year.
Colton Jumper took a step forward; Sapp and McDowell got playing time; Bituli also had a really good spring if I'm remembering correctly. I'm actually really looking forward to Bituli.

.