Recruiting Football Talk VII

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Maybe I’m just delusional. I choose not to specifically pull out the worst stretch in modern UT football era and set the bar for acceptance as better than that.

I mean the season is/was over a couple of games ago so just a lost cause of arguments and opinions now.

It was a travesty that we didn’t pick up a QB in the portal. Very clear that, whether planned or unplanned, Nico wasn’t going to be a factor whatsoever. We really only had 1 QB this year that had a really good bowl game last year over a team that wasn’t nearly as talented as people thought and that pulled the wool over most peoples’ eyes. Josh couldn’t do anything during the season because they put all their eggs into the Overthrow Joe basket. CJH isn’t a QB whisperer that’s for sure.

Every one of our opponents was beatable this year. Even Bama and UGA. Preseason I was not counting Bama and UGA as wins but in-season expectations can change and was certainly optimistic about competing with them. Well, we didn’t. Vandy was more competitive vs UGA than us. With the talent we had, and knowing that we could possibly have added to it with a portal QB (that part is hypothetical at this point), and definitely with how all of our opponents looked…. 8-4 is definitely a disappointment. We didn’t show up and play a competitive 4 full Qtrs vs any ranked opponents. Didn’t beat anyone with a pulse. And got worse in every facet as the year went on.

Again, maybe I’m just living in another unrealistic realm. Call me a nega or whatever but I’m not going to be happy just because we matched the best of the worst in UT football.
You have to compare it to recent history for now. If we do not continue to improve, then changes should and will be made. It was not a travesty. I think they had a plan that did not play out like they thought it would and then it was too late.
 
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I hated Jeremy Pruitt from day 1 thought it was a terrible hire by Fulmer and it was....couldn't coach a lick.only good thing he did was getting Hyatt, Tillman, Hooker, Bryon Young, and the OT drafted y Bears...
I was so relieved it was not Schiano, I was willing to give Pruitt a chance. I still wonder where we would be if Brohm had accepted the job.
 
So, bowl prep, do we stay the course with Joe or look toward the future with Nico?
By this I mean QB1 reps between Joe and Nico 50/50? Joe plays half the game? Most of the game? Maybe 3 quarters.
I know a lot of this depends on who we are playing and how the game is going but next season starts November 26 for Nico and Tennessee.
 
We aren’t panicking the seasons over. The time to panic was after Florida. Or after second half bama. Or Missouri. It’s just over now and Nico will either be great or he won’t. This year he rode with Milton and we paid the price.
At this point in the rebuild, an 8-4 season isn't the time to panic.

(Not directed at you or anyone in particular. Unless it steps on toes. If it steps on toes, it probably applies.)

I swear, I think our fanbase has blunt force trauma damage. It's like everyone forgot the state of program that this staff took over, the impossible skill deficit, and the win/loss expectations everyone (including this fanbase) were projecting.

To repeat. We'll be alright. The rebuild is ahead of schedule (but it's still a rebuild, folks).
 
They aren't going to pull Joe for Senior Day vs Vandy or his last college game in the bowl. If Nico gets reps in either it's because we dominated or because Joe got hurt.

Joe is what he is and the hay is in the barn on this season. Tune out until the spring game or accept that you will see Joe finish this thing out.
 
Those upper classmen arent good, we wouldve done better starting the younger guys, and Moore is better than Joe, it wouldve been better with him on the field.
And that would've produced several more instances like yesterday on defense where the starter is injured, the backup gets injured, and suddenly you have a walk-on playing. You saying Moore is better than Joe based off a spring game and very few snaps in live games is laughable. It's all a knee-jerk reaction and an oversimplification of the issues Heupel is dealing with. Those decisions you want to make would probably have resulted in a worse record. Nico starting over Joe a few games into the season is the only reasonable argument you could make.
 
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I hate Joe Milton as our QB with every fiber of my being. He is so bad. So so bad.

The fact that he is still playing makes me seriously question this coaching staff.
The fact that you found three people to like that post makes me seriously question the IQs of four people in our fanbase.
 
There is zero doubt in my mind that he should have. It tells me he overvalued Joe as he always has.

The choices made by any HC today concerning the transfer portal portend the future decisions a coach will make as the season plays out. Heup told us his plan without being forced to tell us his plan. He has always said Joe. He said Joe three seasons ago. Joe blew it and got hurt as well. HH saved their bacon. He believed in Joe as the HC at UCF as he came out of HS and wanted him. Joe went to Michigan. So Joe fails two previous times and Heup still goes with Joe again this season. It's OK to say he has been irrational about his belief in Joe.

It's like the homecoming queen you wanted to date in HS that went with other guys through the years. You are still not over the crush on her and given the opportunity you date her. She was not into you when it mattered most, now you are just the backup dude and she has baggage. You date and she messes up. You let some time go by and reconcile. You try it again and it fails, yet you keep trying anyway.

The difference is Heup married his career at UT to Joe for a few years. Joe had proven baggage that could not be addressed. It will be over soon, thankfully. But the damage the relationship caused the family (team) and friends (fans) is going to leave a mark that will need time to heal.

So Heup has to begin with fixes that heal this offseason to get the program back on track. he needs to learn the lessons about player fixation and hiring high quality coaches. The money is there for the later, so do it. Saban, Smart, Day, etc. do. So should UT.
it’s hard to sell a qb from the portal when they know that they probably won’t be starting..Our qb situation will be fixed in two years when we have Nico….. Merck……and a true freshman.
 
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I will say, regarding the bowl game, if the other youngsters at other positions (non-QB) don't get reps then that's a problem.

We need to keep the young, hungry guys that we have happy and invested, and out of the portal. And we need to identify who is not going to cut it so we can do our own portaling.

I guess it depends on the bowl game and opponent, but I'd rather some young guys, particularly in the secondary and on the OL, get some reps
 
So this means fans can’t call out coaching malpractice when they see it?
Calling it coaching malpractice for dramatic effect is over the top. Criticize away. It is always good to debate. But don't use stupid phrases like that. No one knows the whole story. We just know how it played out. I am sure you have never made any crucial decisions that did not work out how you planned.
 
CJH dug in on this long ago. This staff values experience-- you see it all over the field. And CJH has been loyal to Joe, despite his inconsistency and limitations. I agree that CJH owns his decisions -- those he has made and will continue to make.
I still like Huepel and think he could be the one. Hopefully he learns quickly that blind loyalty to experience can cost you games and ultimately get you fired.
 
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People scream Portal, Portal, Portal...yes you will find some help ..but development of the younger guys are the most important thing for a team...No team is going to get 4 quality OL players and 2 or 3 secondary studs from the portal too many teams going after them......
Agree on the OL deal. Which a blemish on this staff. It'll just have to be NIL for guys to come back, and, transfer guys. What we have is going to have to contribute.

I wouldnt expect any more than 2 OL from the portal. Getting two DB's shouldnt be that big of a deal, can be done.

The real and most immediate issue needs to be WR. Have to find a big bodied difference maker. Not one made of glass.

Like a Dewaylon Ingram - a take on name alone - is a D2 1000+ yd receiver. 6'3, 215. Let him transfer up, and get drafted.
 
Don't you think that them valuing experience might have something to do with simply trying to have a full roster? All those super seniors that are starting probably would have left if they weren't starting this season, and then the roster would be in really bad shape. Heupel seems to be having to walk a tightrope on managing this roster until he has at least three full recruiting classes.
Hopefully it is just circumstantial like you say. If it’s more like a pattern of behavior though, it could be a problem.
 
I think we win 2 more games if the Florida game and Georgia game would have been flipped on the schedule this season. 😏
While I do not believe we would've beaten Georgia earlier in the season, the game would most certainly been closer. As for Florida, I cannot stand that we play them every year in September. That 100% plays to their advantage. They have always played better early in the year. Look at their history. They have never played well in cold weather environments and have struggled in Oct/Nov games on the road (and at home in the past 10 years). If we had any sense, we would make sure the game against them in 2024 is in Oct/Nov.
 
Don't you think that them valuing experience might have something to do with simply trying to have a full roster? All those super seniors that are starting probably would have left if they weren't starting this season, and then the roster would be in really bad shape. Heupel seems to be having to walk a tightrope on managing this roster until he has at least three full recruiting classes.
I think CJH believes in his philosophy and decided to stay the course. They're loyal to the older guys they convinced to come back another year. Using the portal successfully gives coaches the chance to reshape their roster every year. The days of a long rebuild are over, but lack of quality depth and injuries are a bad combo.
 
I still like Huepel and think he could be the one. Hopefully he learns quickly that blind loyalty to experience can cost you games and ultimately get you fired.
probably felt he had to due to our roster issues…. those guys would have been gone if they weren’t playing…. it is concerning that more young players are not appearing in the depth chart.
 
I agree...question though do you boo the Cubs or Raiders...?
I have never been to a Raiders game and have only been to Wrigley once. The Cubs lost 2-1. I did not boo, nor would I have. I would not boo in person. I just wouldn't do it. I would boo the hell out of officiating and the other team. I definitely will bitch and cuss when watching at home. I also saw the Cubs once in Atlanta and they won. Shawon Dunston scored on a wild pitch from second and George Bell, Mark Grace and Ryne Sandberg all homered. Just added that last part for fun.
 
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