Recruiting Forum: Football Talk

[PKT_VOL]

40% sunseri

10% talent

20% transition

The remaining balance goes to the head coach.

I would say:

20% Sunseri

50% talent

25% transition

5% Dooley for not forcing Sunseri to dumb it down more.

I don't like coaches trying to micromanage other peoples' jobs. It tends to be more detrimental then helpful. Look at Fulmer and Clawson. Others probably disagree with me and would say "the buck stops here". There is a certain amount of truth to that. I would rather my head coach let his coordinator have more freedom. Hell, who knows, maybe it was Dooley pushing for them add more to the playbook. We simply don't know.

 

[SandoVOL]

we are 0-13 vs ranked teams. It's not the fans who are quitting. We easily out talented Miss st. , this staff is incompetent. I support the Volunteers. I don't support particular players or people on the staff above the "good" of the Vols. Why would I? College football is a revolving door, if something isn't working you change it. Dooley is not working.

We have not had 1 complete game in his tenure here. That is coaching. I hope this team doesn't quit, and can pull out a win in everyone one of the remaining games. Doesn't change the fact that this staff still isn't working.

 

[chavisut]

Recruiting hasn't been near as good as some make it out.

 

[rjd970]

There is more than enough talent on this team to at least win one game in October. As it stands, I don't see it happening. The lack of talent excuse is played out.

 

[WallyBalls]

Honestly don't understand the defense. Look untalented one play, and flat out lost on the next. Weird alignments, blown coverage, LBs covering the No.1 WR 25 yards downfield without a safety in sight...and on and on.

As for the rest, I'll just transfer my thoughts from the game thread:

I've got nothing. Not a moral victory, you inexplicably went limp for 2 quarters, and started punching too late.

I'm opening up to a change, but I'll say this for the "FAR 'EM NOW" crowd:

If UT is going to do this, it ABSOLUTELY MUST crank one out of the park. Any thing less and we're wandering the desert for 10-20 years. I honestly believe that. There's been too many changes, too many systems, too little stability just to do it all again. No flavor of the week. No up and comer. No college OC/DC with no HC experience.

You can not make yet another change just to roll the dice. That's why Vegas makes billions...idiots believing the next roll will make them rich.

 

[volstopfan14]

I'll give this a shot. Oh, you said 'rational'. Well, I'll try anyway.

- The defense sucked in the first half, played better in the second half and then went back to sucking on the last drive.

- Overall, Tennessee played better than Mississippi State in the second half. If we played with the fundamentals expected of high schoolers, then we would have won this game.

- I present to you a list of game-changing screwups:

A 14-yard punt by Durr - whoops, I mean Darr. Thankfully he never saw the field after this.
A brainfart by Mychal Rivera on a kickoff.
A dropped interception by Byron Moore when it hit him in the numbers.
A fumble on a crucial possession by Devrin Young.

Anybody who has ever touched a football knows that these are all bad things. I do not fault the coaches for these mistakes, because it is my belief that the players should already know these things. If they don't, they're playing the wrong sport.

I honestly don't know what to make of this game. I'm pissed, but it's not directed at Dooley like I expected - not entirely, at least. I honestly just think the team let itself down tonight. They were put in a position to take this game away from Miss State, but instead they pulled a gun, pointed it at their own collective crotch, and pulled the trigger*.

*CP is exempt from this statement. He almost won this game by himself.

Pretty much agree. I will put a little more blame on the coaches than you did because of all the 1st half screwups. We just made too many dumb mistakes to win.

I would throw the 2 bad coverages by Brewer and Teague at the end in there as game-changing plays. Those guys should have never been out there 1 on 1 with a WR and it cost us.

 

[vol2002]

Well, there you have it. I've pulled myself together. We'll get Bama next week. Time for bed. Go Vols!!!!

 

[amazingGRACE]

Am I wrong in thinking it isn't all Dooley's fault? I know it all falls down back on the head man but he had the team in position to win against Georgia and again tonight..the players just didn't make plays. If DY hangs on to that ball who knows what happens.


The defense completely dominated the second half and made the adjustments necessary to win the game after half time.

It hurts me just as much as anybody to see our team and program look like this. Honestly I'm not old enough to remember Tennessee ever being a powerhouse..but I know we can be..I don't think letting Dooley go right now would solve anything.

 

[ob79]

I didn't think it was possible, but we lost that game in a way where I still support Dooley. I really thought if we lost this game I would be completely off the Doolaid. But we are without a doubt an improved team. And we made the adjustments at halftime(where coaching is judged) and dominated the second half. And then it came down to our players making plays in a big moment, and we couldn't do it. Just like Georgia it came down to players not making plays.

I'll take it from the haters, but I still support Dooley!!

I'm curious, does Dooley have to tank an entire game, from kickoff to quadruple 0, for you to kick your addiction to the Doolaid?

 

[Atzar]

Pretty much agree. I will put a little more blame on the coaches than you did because of all the 1st half screwups. We just made too many dumb mistakes to win.

I would throw the 2 bad coverages by Brewer and Teague at the end in there as game-changing plays. Those guys should have never been out there 1 on 1 with a WR and it cost us.

Good call on the Brewer-vs-Bumphis matchup at the end of the game. I have no idea why or how that happened, and that falls on Sunseri.

 

[Atzar]

Am I wrong in thinking it isn't all Dooley's fault? I know it all falls down back on the head man but he had the team in position to win against Georgia and again tonight..the players just didn't make plays. If DY hangs on to that ball who knows what happens.


The defense completely dominated the second half and made the adjustments necessary to win the game after half time.

It hurts me just as much as anybody to see our team and program look like this. Honestly I'm not old enough to remember Tennessee ever being a powerhouse..but I know we can be..I don't think letting Dooley go right now would solve anything.

I'm teetering on the "he's not the answer" side of the seesaw after this game, but I do agree that he wasn't the biggest issue tonight. High schoolers are expected to make several of the plays we messed up tonight.

 

[AppStVol]

Why is nobody critical of Sunseri?

Sunseri is garbage. I thought he was a great hire, but its been an obvious glare on our team. I mean with Brewer and Teague still getting burned its obvious Sal can't plan-coach. Not to mention our entire sideline of C team coaches didn't even notice the clock running inadvertenly.

 

[ORANGE & WHITE]

My major complaint is if brewer has to come up and cover he can't give a free release on that play. The dude benches 4 bills and he can't at least attempt to jam him? Not to mention bumphis is not a burner.

 

[PKT_VOL]

There is loads of talent in the backend. Being out of position and giving 10 yard cushions hurt more than the personnel did tonight. When your defensive coordinator has to pull the LBs aside and ask them if they understand what they are supposed to be doing midway through the season it falls squarely on the coaching staff.

The lack of talent is largely BS at this point. This staff can recruit, its easy to justify that. Coaching, however, is an entirely different matter.

We play with a cushion in the secondary because we don't have secondary. We might as well have stick figures back there.

Our D-Line has no depth. If they are on the field for awhile, it is obvious.

Where is the talent on the backend? What does that mean?

I mean, when your leader on defense is Lathers, you have big, big, problems. He shouldn't be on the field at all if we ever want to compete. I think the only reason he is out there is because he has it between the ears (and the backups, other starters don't). I thought Sapp played a hell of a lot better. Lathers embarrasses himself every game, multiple times. I just stopped counting all the mistackles. Not to mention he is slower than molasses for an SEC linebacker.

 

[pharmvol10]

Dooley is not the best recruiter, and certainly not the best head coach. But what he has done here over the last three years with what he started out as is amazing. Now with that being said, he has replenished this roster with some good talent and some playmakers. What he has failed to do is take them from that "I want to get into the League" attitude to "I am here to prove I deserve to be in the League" attitude. I do not want to fire Dooley, or anyone, for that matter because I think this coaching staff will emerge next year. I also think that even though this recruiting class isn't the best, it is was this team needs to move forward and I think if we lose this coaching staff we may lose this recruiting class. We are in a bind folks. Let's let it all play out and see if we can make Bama find a way to lose a game on the road next week!

 

[coolorange]

No it didn't, but the next 3 or 4 will.

Yeah I agree as bad as that loss hurts its not the end of him. As much as an unlikely upset would be in the next two weeks that would put us right back on par for an 8-4 season.

 

[volstopfan14]

Am I wrong in thinking it isn't all Dooley's fault? I know it all falls down back on the head man but he had the team in position to win against Georgia and again tonight..the players just didn't make plays. If DY hangs on to that ball who knows what happens.


The defense completely dominated the second half and made the adjustments necessary to win the game after half time.

It hurts me just as much as anybody to see our team and program look like this. Honestly I'm not old enough to remember Tennessee ever being a powerhouse..but I know we can be..I don't think letting Dooley go right now would solve anything.

No it isn't all on Dooley. Young's fumble was a killer. But the problem is we had multiple mental errors, horrific special teams, questionable offensive playcalling in the 1st half, and a lack of defensive adjustments. Not all of that falls on the coaches, but a lot of it does. We were clearly outcoached by Mullen and his staff.

Letting Dooley go may not be best, but I really can't see us being at a championship level with him as head coach.

 

[Atzar]

My major complaint is if brewer has to come up and cover he can't give a free release on that play. The dude benches 4 bills and he can't at least attempt to jam him? Not to mention bumphis is not a burner.

I'm sadly coming to the conclusion that any play in which Brewer is in the game is a mistake by the coaches. I hate ragging on players when they go out and bust their asses out there while I sit here in my chair, but he's not an SEC-caliber player in any phase of the game.

 

[AlexHay13]

Why is nobody critical of Sunseri?

I would rather be critical of the HC who hired a lifetime posistion coach to call plays for an SEC defense.

 

[AppStVol]

My major complaint is if brewer has to come up and cover he can't give a free release on that play. The dude benches 4 bills and he can't at least attempt to jam him? Not to mention bumphis is not a burner.

I hate to be negative, but Brewer is a liability. He couldn't cover a decent TE. I mean at least Gordon or Coleman would have knocked him off his route.

 

[PKT_VOL]

we are 0-13 vs ranked teams. It's not the fans who are quitting. We easily out talented Miss st. , this staff is incompetent. I support the Volunteers. I don't support particular players or people on the staff above the "good" of the Vols. Why would I? College football is a revolving door, if something isn't working you change it. Dooley is not working.

We have not had 1 complete game in his tenure here. That is coaching. I hope this team doesn't quit, and can pull out a win in everyone one of the remaining games. Doesn't change the fact that this staff still isn't working.

1) That statistic is only relevant if he has equal talent; which he hasn't.

2) MSU does not "out talent" on the defensive side of the ball. On the offensive side of the ball? Yes. Defense wins games in this league. Their offense is good enough to get the job done.

3) We have played a lot of teams who we had no business being on the same field with very tough until lack of talent/depth took over.

 

[volstopfan14]

My major complaint is if brewer has to come up and cover he can't give a free release on that play. The dude benches 4 bills and he can't at least attempt to jam him? Not to mention bumphis is not a burner.

Firstly, Brewer should never be put in man coverage with a WR. How many times are we going to watch him get burnt? You would think at some point Sal/Dooley might say, "Hey, this isn't working! Might want to try something else."

Second, I do agree. If he has to be in man let him use his strength. The problem is that his lack of speed could lead to him getting burnt deep. That last play shouldn't have been an issue as everyone in the stadium knew it would be a short pass or a run.

 

[AbarVolfan15]

I hate to be negative, but Brewer is a liability. He couldn't cover a decent TE. I mean at least Gordon or Coleman would have knocked him off his route.

Brewer was covering the guy on the 4th and 6 before their last TD drive

 

[rjd970]

We play with a cushion in the secondary because we don't have secondary. We might as well have stick figures back there.

Our D-Line has no depth. If they are on the field for awhile, it is obvious.

Where is the talent on the backend? What does that mean?

I mean, when your leader on defense is Lathers, you have big, big, problems. He shouldn't be on the field at all if we ever want to compete. I think the only reason he is out there is because he has it between the ears (and the backups, other starters don't). I thought Sapp played a hell of a lot better. Lathers embarrasses himself every game, multiple times. I just stopped counting all the mistackles. Not to mention he is slower than molasses for an SEC linebacker.

Answer this, as a whole, which team was more talented tonight?

and...which team was better coached?

I suspect the your answer to both these questions would say alot as to whether or not I even want to expend the energy debating this subject.

 

[ob79]

Dooley is not the best recruiter, and certainly not the best head coach. But what he has done here over the last three years with what he started out as is amazing. Now with that being said, he has replenished this roster with some good talent and some playmakers. What he has failed to do is take them from that "I want to get into the League" attitude to "I am here to prove I deserve to be in the League" attitude. I do not want to fire Dooley, or anyone, for that matter because I think this coaching staff will emerge next year. I also think that even though this recruiting class isn't the best, it is was this team needs to move forward and I think if we lose this coaching staff we may lose this recruiting class. We are in a bind folks. Let's let it all play out and see if we can make Bama find a way to lose a game on the road next week!

He's done a good job a restocking the pantry, so the next coach can come in and win.

That's really about it. It's somewhat unfair to definitivly call him a bad coach because of what he's had to work with but he's not going to get the time to prove me wrong, JMO.