Cruitin' Forum Football Talk V

[Ericvol2096]

But I will agree, that ON PAPER, there is some potential talent to work with...especially in the starting 22.

But once again combine the lack of quality depth, all new everyting with a brutal opening schedule and you have a recipe for another tough year. Which is just year 1 in a brand new rebuild.

Not year 4 or 5 of some long rebuild that we as fans have all been on.

 

[sjt18]

SJT, to me you are carrying over the rebuilding process from Fulmer-Kiffin-Dooley into this Jones era.

This is a completely different rebuild and it all starts over. The roster is solid in spots but you can't deny that it is unbalanced heavily in some areas and UNFORTUNATLY for all of us, it will take time to fix those issues.

His situation is much better than Dooley's was. It doesn't all start over this year... it kind of does next year because of Dooley's last class and Jones' first. Not his fault... but that won't matter in year 3 just like it didn't matter for Dooley.

There are people here that act like Dooley intentionally failed and is the devil incarnate. He came in brash and energetic too. In 3 years he was broken and fired.

He has to fix those areas to compete for the SEC title. He doesn't have to fix all those areas to beat the 6 teams I mentioned and then Auburn and/or an upset plus a bowl.

Remember, new systems, new schemes, new plays, new coaches, new everything this year. That at least balances out, if not eliminates your "experienced team" argument.

Not in the least. Technique is pretty similar except they may have MORE added to their arsenal by a new coach. THat's especially true of DL, OL, and DB.

You don't go from UT's young '11 D's mid-pack performance to last year's disaster (with a TON of returning players) because everyone forgot how to play technique. It was schemes, playcalling, and game prep. IT was consistently putting guys in a position to fail.... IT WAS COACHING.

Peterman and Worley both ran similar systems in HS. Not sure about Peterman but Worley had never taken a snap under center. The OL is having NO trouble with the new schemes or expectations. Neal said what he's doing in the new system is pretty much the same as the last one. The WR's are more or less a blank slate... and that isn't all bad.


There's a reason you get new coaches... because the old one's failed to get it done with the players.

 

[SCvol333]

QB- Worley has started SEC games. EVERY team in CFB promotes a new QB at least once every 4 years. An above average coach wins with it.

LB- There is little depth... and will be less next year and possibly the next. How long would you like to accept that excuse?

WR- Do you remember Cut's last season in K'ville? L Taylor, A Rogers, J Briscoe, C Brown.... were the main receivers for the second most productive passing attack in the SEC. Talent wise, there is simply no question that Jones will have a better group than that.

RB- Both of those "average" RB's were highly regarded 4* recruits. Combined they avg'd about 5 ypc last year in spite of playing in a pass first offense. Neal was the only player on last year's team to rival CP's speed. He's also one of the quickest and strongest non-linemen players on the team.

DB- Scheme killed these guys last year. Wilcox produced a mid-SEC D with DB's that were no better than those UT will have this fall. Again... if Jones is the right coach... he'll coach over this potential issue.

Kickers- Palardy avg'd only 2 ypk less than the SEC leader in punting. He was 4th in the SEC in FG % though he didn't have very many opportunities and Dooley did not instill or have confidence in him. He avg'd 3 ypk less than the SEC kickoff leader. I don't know what else they have. Darr has been a tremendous disappointment.


The bottom line in all of this is that every team except Bama has holes to fill, problems to correct, and players to replace. Most have personnel deficiencies in one group or another.

The coach UT needs can take this team and win 7 or 8 regular season games, upset someone, and win a lower tier bowl. A guy who can't do it is probably not the right guy.... and is unlikely to survive long enough to prove it even if he is unless he has a better than expected '13.

i agree with every single statement in that post

only thing i would add is the DL - we have a lot of talent on the DL - Couch and big dan both have a very good chance at playing on sundays - Cmiller, Jsmith, Walls were all highly regarded coming out of HS - the whole line is full of seniors - many times it takes DL till their senior year to fully develop

i think we could have a very nasty DL and OL with proper coaching and CBJ just doesnt have any of the excuses UT had in 2010-11 when there was just not much there on the OL and DL with any experience/talent

i mean he could easily have 2 of the 4 DL drafted and 4 of the 5 OL drafted - and we are going to say CBJ doesnt have any talent?

EDIT i mean we dont play bama every week - we will have more talent on the roster and more NFL guys than 3 of our ooc opponents, vandy, MO, KY, Auburn and USCjr (close but we will have more)

 

[sjt18]

If Tiny goes pro, UT could have its whole OL drafted.

 

[sjt18]

J Smith's experience at UT has just been sad. He is a VFL in the truest sense... and it has hurt him personally. I hope this group of coaches get his best from him.

 

[SCvol333]

But I will agree, that ON PAPER, there is some potential talent to work with...especially in the starting 22.

But once again combine the lack of quality depth, all new everyting with a brutal opening schedule and you have a recipe for another tough year. Which is just year 1 in a brand new rebuild.

Not year 4 or 5 of some long rebuild that we as fans have all been on.

everyone always says on this board that to win in the SEC you have to be talented and experienced on the OL and DL - if we aren't that then i don't know what is

 

[sjt18]

But I will agree, that ON PAPER, there is some potential talent to work with...especially in the starting 22.

But once again combine the lack of quality depth, all new everyting with a brutal opening schedule and you have a recipe for another tough year. Which is just year 1 in a brand new rebuild.

Not year 4 or 5 of some long rebuild that we as fans have all been on.

IT is a tough deal. Jones has to get more than the sum of this team's parts to survive.

But just remember I said so... if he wins on six this year then follows that up with something worse next year... the mass of Volnation will be out for blood again. His confidence is likely to be shattered just like Dooley's.

He NEEDS early success... fair or not.

 

[sjt18]

How are we with the most important position on the field at any level of football ... QB? How are our competitors at this position?

When Kiffin arrived, he had Crompton and pretty much nothing else.

When Dooley arrived, he had no one and pretty much nothing else... Simms was a JUCO and Bray a true Fr.

Jones has a Jr in Worley who has started SEC games behind this OL... when they weren't nearly as good. He was a Gatorade national poy or something like that iirc. Competing with him you have Peterman who was called the best HS QB in FL two years ago. He RS'd last year and is competing with Worley now for the starting job. UT has two Fr coming this summer. Ferguson... I never really understood why he was signed but we'll see. Dobbs is intriguing. He's tall and lanky with decent speed and a good arm. He is EXTREMELY intelligent to boot.

The short answer is that UT has 4 good to very good talents competing for the job.

 

[sjt18]

everyone always says on this board that to win in the SEC you have to be talented and experienced on the OL and DL - if we aren't that then i don't know what is

eric isn't usually like this but for some... what you need or should have is inversely related to what UT has as a strength.

A lot of people are just jaded by Fulmer's decline, Kiffin's stupidity, and Dooley's failure. After only getting bad... you come to expect it even when it isn't reasonable to do so.

 

[CobbVol]

QB- Worley has started SEC games. EVERY team in CFB promotes a new QB at least once every 4 years. An above average coach wins with it.

There are 9 returning starting QB's in the SEC next season.

LB- There is little depth... and will be less next year and possibly the next. How long would you like to accept that excuse?

I don't think this is an excuse.

WR- Do you remember Cut's last season in K'ville? L Taylor, A Rogers, J Briscoe, C Brown.... were the main receivers for the second most productive passing attack in the SEC. Talent wise, there is simply no question that Jones will have a better group than that.

I hope Worley is Ainge then throwing for over 3,500 yards and 30+ TD's. Not to mention having one of our RB's turn into Arian Foster for teams to have to respect the run.

RB- Both of those "average" RB's were highly regarded 4* recruits. Combined they avg'd about 5 ypc last year in spite of playing in a pass first offense. Neal was the only player on last year's team to rival CP's speed. He's also one of the quickest and strongest non-linemen players on the team.

Agreed, need our RB's to produce and not fumble or get banged up.

DB- Scheme killed these guys last year. Wilcox produced a mid-SEC D with DB's that were no better than those UT will have this fall. Again... if Jones is the right coach... he'll coach over this potential issue.

Agreed, just having them line up properly and take proper angles will make Jancek look like Dick LeBeau.

 

[Ericvol2096]

His situation is much better than Dooley's was. It doesn't all start over this year... it kind of does next year because of Dooley's last class and Jones' first. Not his fault... but that won't matter in year 3 just like it didn't matter for Dooley.

There are people here that act like Dooley intentionally failed and is the devil incarnate. He came in brash and energetic too. In 3 years he was broken and fired.

He has to fix those areas to compete for the SEC title. He doesn't have to fix all those areas to beat the 6 teams I mentioned and then Auburn and/or an upset plus a bowl.

Not in the least. Technique is pretty similar except they may have MORE added to their arsenal by a new coach. THat's especially true of DL, OL, and DB.

You don't go from UT's young '11 D's mid-pack performance to last year's disaster (with a TON of returning players) because everyone forgot how to play technique. It was schemes, playcalling, and game prep. IT was consistently putting guys in a position to fail.... IT WAS COACHING.

Peterman and Worley both ran similar systems in HS. Not sure about Peterman but Worley had never taken a snap under center. The OL is having NO trouble with the new schemes or expectations. Neal said what he's doing in the new system is pretty much the same as the last one. The WR's are more or less a blank slate... and that isn't all bad.


There's a reason you get new coaches... because the old one's failed to get it done with the players.

Well I hope you are right, and I think if you are setting the expectation that winning 7 games would be a very successful season then you are probably at the right level. Great coaching should be able to get us there and we should all be very excited if that were to happen.

7-7-9+would be a AMAZING 3 year win trend IMO.

 

[vol2002]

The coach UT needs can take this team and win 7 or 8 regular season games, upset someone, and win a lower tier bowl. A guy who can't do it is probably not the right guy.... and is unlikely to survive long enough to prove it even if he is unless he has a better than expected '13.

Excluding bowl games, Muschamp was 6-6 his first year at Florida. Same for Saban at Alabama. Same for Pete Carroll at USC. I'm sure I could go on if I had the time...

I'm not sure why we hold CBJ to a different standard.

Personally, I think CBJ is the right guy.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Brown, Corso To Be Honored At O&W Game - UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics

 

[Ron Swanson]

On what our new uptempo offense will look like...

I think it will look closer to Oregon's offense. They will try and signal in the play as quickly as possible and go from there. They may have some presnap adjustments as well, but I see them trying to get off plays quickly.

-Fortenberry

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

On what our new uptempo offense will look like...



-Fortenberry

How great would it be to see our offense in Autzen running at the Oregon tempo while just lining up and smashing the ball down the field. 16 play drives ending up in the endzone. I'll take it all day long. If our defense can keep them from scoring in 3 plays, I think we can wear them down.

 

[AllVol11717]

How great would it be to see our offense in Autzen running at the Oregon tempo while just lining up and smashing the ball down the field. 16 play drives ending up in the endzone. I'll take it all day long. If our defense can keep them from scoring in 3 plays, I think we can wear them down.

Don't be so quick to assume that we can wear them down. Their defense practices against an up-tempo offense as well. They'll be ready from a conditioning standpoint come game time.

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

Don't be so quick to assume that we can wear them down. Their defense practices against an up-tempo offense as well. They'll be ready from a conditioning standpoint come game time.

If Stanfords OL can wear them down, I think ours can. IMO the whole Oregon game depends on how our OL comes out to play. I really like our chances.

 

[jave36]

QB- Worley has started SEC games. EVERY team in CFB promotes a new QB at least once every 4 years. An above average coach wins with it.

LB- There is little depth... and will be less next year and possibly the next. How long would you like to accept that excuse?

WR- Do you remember Cut's last season in K'ville? L Taylor, A Rogers, J Briscoe, C Brown.... were the main receivers for the second most productive passing attack in the SEC. Talent wise, there is simply no question that Jones will have a better group than that.

RB- Both of those "average" RB's were highly regarded 4* recruits. Combined they avg'd about 5 ypc last year in spite of playing in a pass first offense. Neal was the only player on last year's team to rival CP's speed. He's also one of the quickest and strongest non-linemen players on the team.

DB- Scheme killed these guys last year. Wilcox produced a mid-SEC D with DB's that were no better than those UT will have this fall. Again... if Jones is the right coach... he'll coach over this potential issue.

Kickers- Palardy avg'd only 2 ypk less than the SEC leader in punting. He was 4th in the SEC in FG % though he didn't have very many opportunities and Dooley did not instill or have confidence in him. He avg'd 3 ypk less than the SEC kickoff leader. I don't know what else they have. Darr has been a tremendous disappointment.


The bottom line in all of this is that every team except Bama has holes to fill, problems to correct, and players to replace. Most have personnel deficiencies in one group or another.

The coach UT needs can take this team and win 7 or 8 regular season games, upset someone, and win a lower tier bowl. A guy who can't do it is probably not the right guy.... and is unlikely to survive long enough to prove it even if he is unless he has a better than expected '13.

If we didn't play 5 top 10 teams you might have a point. This team is capable of 7-8 against a normal SEC schedule, but not ours. 7 would be incredible.

 

[jave36]

If Stanfords OL can wear them down, I think ours can. IMO the whole Oregon game depends on how our OL comes out to play. I really like our chances.

How do you like our defense's chances against the best offense in the country?

 

[Pacer92]

How do you like our defense's chances against the best offense in the country?

I think it will be hard to beat them without getting/making a few breaks on defense, jmo

 

[csprig9]

How do you like our defense's chances against the best offense in the country?

Honestly, UT d-line has the size and potential to give their Offense problems. They struggle against teams with big athletic d-lineman(Auburn, USC, Stanford). Now Im not saying UT will win, but anything can happen if UT can get a push upfront and stuff the pulling linemen.

 

[thomaseusin]

And they were still mid-pack in the Big East.

FWIW, I would rather him be a great coach and "good" recruiter than the reverse.

Would think mid pack recruiting but winning the Conference 2 of 3 times qualifies him as a good coach?

 

[bmaultbay]

I think it will be hard to beat them without getting/making a few breaks on defense, jmo

If UT can get a fast start on them, like in Knoxville 2 years ago, they may be able to keep it rolling this time. If that game had not been delayed, the outcome may have been way different.

 

[LebanonVolunteer]

How do you like our defense's chances against the best offense in the country?

If the defense can prevent the big play, I don't think they can drive the ball on 10-15 play drives and beat us. All the hitting the team has done this spring is going to pay off IMO.

 

[sjt18]

There are 9 returning starting QB's in the SEC next season.

Two of the top 4 teams in the SEC last year had new QB's. Either 6 or 7 of the bottom 8 teams had returning QB's.

I don't think this is an excuse.

Then call it a reason. How long do you accept it as a reason? It won't be better next fall in terms of experience or seasoned talent. If you are giving Jones a pass because you think LB is thin this year... looking at the big picture... when does he no longer get a pass?

I hope Worley is Ainge then throwing for over 3,500 yards and 30+ TD's. Not to mention having one of our RB's turn into Arian Foster for teams to have to respect the run.

Both Lane and Neal have the talent to be better than Foster was in college.

Your Ainge point brings something to mind about how much difference a coach can make. Ainge's confidence was shattered after his Soph year. Cut came in with a different philosophy if you don't care to call it "system". He coached Ainge for a year. In one year he went from a 45% passer to a 67% passer... 737 yds to 2989 yds.

Coaching if the talent is there to start with can turn a player around completely. The question then becomes "Is Jones a great coach or not?"

Agreed, just having them line up properly and take proper angles will make Jancek look like Dick LeBeau.

Not sure I would go that far but if they get the ppg back to the range Wilcox had them (low 20's) then this team should win 7 regular season games. One reason to believe they might is UT's OL + Jones' game philosophy should lead to sustained drives. Even with a hurry up tempo, a run game plus "dink and dunk" passing game will eat some clock.