Recruiting Football Talk VII

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Bray had nfl OL and wr all around him, and he had an offense built for him. He'd crumble in cjh offense with the OL and wr Joe is working with.
Gotta disagree here. He'd be paired with a top rushing attack and Bray could see the field and execute.

Now idk how he'd do in an uptempo offense ofc. But outside of that unknown, I think he'd kill it. He could make all the throws.
 
You think he was planning to be here for 5 years? I don’t. Play behind Joe this year, start next two and go to NFL. I don’t think you try and preserve a redshirt. That is pointless imo
They have no idea how the future will unfold. You don't limit your options by planning to leave early for the NFL. That's a terrible strategy. No harm in redshirting in his situation. Plenty of positives for him.
 
No one expected the team to repeat last year. Everyone with more than 2 brain cells knew the team would take a step back. My steps to rebuilding TN football was pretty simple, get to a point where you consistently beat SC, Vandy, KY, and MO be competitive with AL, FL, and GA. I thought we'd have taken step one, probably a little earlier than anticipated. If you judge this season based on that criteria, we've not achieved that. Not really competitive against the 3, disappointing considering how pathetic FL is. Obviously, completely dominated by Mizzou. It's not about the record, 8-4 isn't all that bad. I think most thought that was about right preseason. It's really about how those losses occurred. Totally embarrassed.

I'm 100% behind Heup but I have to admit doubt is creeping into my head. Hoping Nico fixes a lot of what ails this team. Joe's done a lot of damage to Heupel 's "qb whisperer " reputation. Here's to hoping Nico fixes that.

I'm done with the '23 vol footballers. Looking forward to basketball, baseball and the '24 football team.
 
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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).
We have been beaten repeatedly over the head with sub-par coaching. We all needed helmets for the last 15 years.
 
The thing is, the UGA defenese we played yesterday isnt close to what we faced the last 2 years. With a competent QB that couldve been a game in the 4th quarter.
In watching UGA this year, they made some good D’s look bad. They were going to get theirs on O regardless. Our only hope was to have an offense that could keep up.
 
Looking to next season, Milton will be gone, so no more blaming Milton. We either need to talk some OL guys into staying, or we need to get really lucky in the portal. To be honest, I'm not sure any of our starters have high draft potential. They all have the ability to return. They could come back and maybe improve their draft stock, or they could just take their chances and just go ahead and start their NFL career. I'm not sure the decision is clear cut for any of them. I hope at least a couple stay, especially Cooper, and we get lucky in the portal as well.

I think WR will be fine next year. I can definitely see us looking for a playmaking WR in the portal, but I also think we're okay with who we have.

Still think our biggest problem is defense. Depending on who stays and who goes, DL could be a huge need. LBs have to develop. DBs have to get better. The latter two go back to coaching, which is a whole other discussion. Heupel needs to improve his staff.
OL is by far the biggest concern. Linebacker and DB after that.

WR will be fine. People don't give enough credit/put enough blame on the OL. Everyone points to the QB, but even in the NFL you rarely see a good QB with a bad OL. If a QB doesn't feel safe back there, all kinds of issues arise with mechanics, accuracy, decision making, etc... Yes elite QB can rise above, but most can't.

You're seeing it this year with Williams. When his pressure rate goes up, his performance goes down. But he's the same QB as last year.
 
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I'm going to lay off the defense for now despite some obvious shortcomings and changes I would like to see made. Our bad loses definitely involved some poor defensive play, but they were on the field a ton and didn't exactly lay down and give up a ton of points. The offense just never helped keep the team competitive.

When I see lopsided scores, I see the games one of two ways; either a gradual beat down or a blowout. To me, a blowout happens when the defense is totally ineffective and there's just a total meltdown where the other team runs away with it. A gradual beat down happens when the offense is ineffective despite multiple chances to keep the team in the game and the defense gives up 7-10 points every quarter.

Our loses to UF, Missouri, and UGA were gradual beat downs where the offense didn't give us a reasonable chance. The Alabama game could be considered a blowout in the second half but I'm still inclined to blame poor officiating for the way that unfolded. Those gradual beat downs are so maddening because you see so many opportunities to make a play and stay in the game but they don't materialize. Had the offense been more effective, we would've scored more and kept their offense off the field more resulting in fewer points for them. On the other hand, these type of games show that you're closer to getting where you need to be compared to a blowout.

This team isn't miles away from being back to a top 3-4 team in the SEC. We were there last season. Before that, our best seasons in the last 15 years were 9-4...which we have a good shot to match.

We all knew this season really depended on how Joe would do. He just couldn't get it done. I know it isn't all his fault, but the drop off on offense comes down to the passing game and he's too inconsistent. I'll always appreciate how he handled things and how he helped us get that sweet payback on Clemson.
 
Gotta disagree here. He'd be paired with a top rushing attack and Bray could see the field and execute.

Now idk how he'd do in an uptempo offense ofc. But outside of that unknown, I think he'd kill it. He could make all the throws.
Yea there's 0 comparison between Bray and Joe. Bray could complete passes over 5 yards.
 
Gotta disagree here. He'd be paired with a top rushing attack and Bray could see the field and execute.

Now idk how he'd do in an uptempo offense ofc. But outside of that unknown, I think he'd kill it. He could make all the throws.
Yes. It would have been the whole Heupel offense, we would have seen major growth from our young WR's
 
Gotta disagree here. He'd be paired with a top rushing attack and Bray could see the field and execute.

Now idk how he'd do in an uptempo offense ofc. But outside of that unknown, I think he'd kill it. He could make all the throws.
That's my point. You need above average intelligence to process a warp speed offense, and Bray does not have that. Couple that with the constant feeling that you're going to be pressured, and Bray would look completely different in this offense.
 
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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.
Ah, the “guess you’ve never made mistakes in your life” argument. I literally had these same arguments with Dooley, Butch, and Pruitt followers.

I like Heupel. You don’t win 11 games without some coaching chops. But, the fact that he continued to have an obsession with Milton being his QB is troubling and yes, I’d call it coaching malpractice. He started him over Hooker in 2021 and would’ve continued to do so except Milton got hurt. He didn’t bring in a transfer QB to play over him this year. The fact that he’s seen Joe play for 3 years and still is pedal to the metal with him is maddening and shows his stubborn streak. He doesn’t seem to have the ability to admit mistakes and correct them. I continue to see it in coaches and in players. He’s still a young coach so I’m hoping he learns and has a mentor that will wake him up to that fact.
 
That's my point. You need above average intelligence to process a warp speed offense, and Bray does not have that. Couple that with the constant feeling that you're going to be pressured, and Bray would look completely different in this offense.
Do agree processing speed is a premium in this offense. Why some guys just weren't good fits, like HB15, no idea how quick Bray was tbh. But a valid concern.
 
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Have some sad news I need to share with you guys..Today, I lost my 12yr old gray cat today around 4:30 and I sat with him as he took his last breath..😢💔We think he died of a heart attack because it was so unexpected..So would you all say a prayer for my hubby and I?? Napoleon was always wearing his Big Orange collar.🧡
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🙏🙏🧡🧡😢
 
In watching UGA this year, they made some good D’s look bad. They were going to get theirs on O regardless. Our only hope was to have an offense that could keep up.
Yeah their offense is improved for sure, but defensively they werent nearly as dominant as they have been.
 
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.

Accepted and good with it!

Excited to see how this group finishes the season and even more excited for next year.
 
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