2006 Football Season: Don't blame on field coaching

#1
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rockydoc

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#1
Just read today's Nashville Tennessean article discussing the lack of QB sacks by our defense.(I apologize for not knowing how to do a "link"). Anyway, the writer quotes defensive end coach Steve Caldwell as saying most of this is due to "lack of athlethic ability".

Unfortunately, we are not going to the SEC championship game or a BCS bowl, not because the coaches are doing a piss-poor job, but because our talent level is off. I know everyone blames the losses this year on injuries, but last year we did not have many significant injuries (Riggs and Hardesy) and still weren't competetive.

Just as a fluid will seek it's on level based on it's inherent specific gravity, a football program will eventually return to a certain level, and at Tennessee we may be returning to a level like we were in the "70's and '80's before the glory years of the mid '90's to early 00's. I am beginning to understand that the 1998 NC could have been an extraordinary phenomonen due to a collection of superior players recruited primarily by one man(Garner), the likes of which we probably won't see on the Hill in the near future.

I hope I'm wrong but that is my take. Of course the coaches are responsible for recruiting so you could a make a case for firing Fulmer for this. But for the talent that he has to work with, I think he has done a pretty good job.
 
#2
#2
the coaches are responsible for bringing in the talent and garner didnt bring in Heath Schuler, peyton manning, or quite a few others
 
#3
#3
rockydoc said:
Just read today's Nashville Tennessean article discussing the lack of QB sacks by our defense.(I apologize for not knowing how to do a "link"). Anyway, the writer quotes defensive end coach Steve Caldwell as saying most of this is due to "lack of athlethic ability".
Click to expand...

The talent gap from 1st to 2nd team is pretty wide. In the past, a key players is injured there are other comparable players to take his place. Now it decimates the team. Plus the parity in the league now, a small drop in talent is enough to knock the team out of the championship, its so competitive.
 
#4
#4
Fulmer did bring those magical players in 98 and he's consistently gets top recruiting classes and doesn't develop them to the potential they are supposed to have. While i understand not every player will live up to his expectations, it seems UT gets way more than their fair share of players who never live up to what they're supposed to do
 
#5
#5
I'm not talking about second team but rather about first liners. The two players that Caldwell are talking about are first teamers X. Mitchell and A. Reynolds. They are both juniors and probably won,t get any better than what you see now. Also the two key guys that were lost for the season were no highly recruited coming out of HS (Harrell was a project signed as a tight end and Inquoris though big of heart was short on talent and size).

I still say the problem this year is lack of talent, from top to bottom. Or I should say AVERAGE talent.....so expect average results even with good coaching.
 
#6
#6
C'mon, teams that cannot stop the run rarely have success applying QB pressure. Our linebackers are not of the quality (besides Mayo) or experience to handle the running game without significant line help (which they lost with Harrell). Any effective (not necessarily great) college D must start by handling the run. Otherwise, the defense tends to fail in every respect.

Great D lines tend to be cyclical and can rarely be projected by looking at recruiting classes. One great D lineman can make all the difference by making everyone else better (a la John Henderson making remainder of that line NFL material). USC has killed everyone in recruiting over the past few years and has absolutely zero ability against the run today.
 
#7
#7
BigPapaVol said:
C'mon, teams that cannot stop the run rarely have success applying QB pressure. Our linebackers are not of the quality (besides Mayo) or experience to handle the running game without significant line help (which they lost with Harrell). Any effective (not necessarily great) college D must start by handling the run. Otherwise, the defense tends to fail in every respect.

Great D lines tend to be cyclical and can rarely be projected by looking at recruiting classes. One great D lineman can make all the difference by making everyone else better (a la John Henderson making remainder of that line NFL material). USC has killed everyone in recruiting over the past few years and has absolutely zero ability against the run today.
Click to expand...
Good point. But Stopping the run starts with the D-line.
 
#8
#8
BigPapaVol said:
C'mon, teams that cannot stop the run rarely have success applying QB pressure. Our linebackers are not of the quality (besides Mayo) or experience to handle the running game without significant line help (which they lost with Harrell). Any effective (not necessarily great) college D must start by handling the run. Otherwise, the defense tends to fail in every respect.

Great D lines tend to be cyclical and can rarely be projected by looking at recruiting classes. One great D lineman can make all the difference by making everyone else better (a la John Henderson making remainder of that line NFL material). USC has killed everyone in recruiting over the past few years and has absolutely zero ability against the run today.
Click to expand...

I can't think of a DB we have that has proven more talented than Inquorois. Hefney has done more this year, but he was oushone last year by Inky. Also, I like Steve Caldwell, but I think it's a major copout to say the players aren't athletic enough to get it done. He should take responsibility. I don't want to criticize him too much, though. He's one of our best coaches.
 
#9
#9
On paper the talent on the DL doesnt look that bad:

Fischer *****
Bolden ****
Mapu Freshmen All-SEC

Why these guys don't contribute more? I know Fischer has been hurt and Mapu came back from a 2 yr layoff. Bolden spent last year at Hargrave, this his first yr with the UT staff.

Maybe next year these guys will be the player UT thought they were.

That big freshmen tight-end UT has would probably be better off moving to DE where UT needs the help. He was another star high school player. Wes Brown was highly recruited as well.
 
#10
#10
Fisher and Mapu should play DE. They are not strong enough IMO to play DL. Bolden is eithe lazy or uninspired.
 
#11
#11
oklavol said:
The talent gap from 1st to 2nd team is pretty wide. In the past, a key players is injured there are other comparable players to take his place. Now it decimates the team. Plus the parity in the league now, a small drop in talent is enough to knock the team out of the championship, its so competitive.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the world of 85 scholarships. Throughout the mid to late 90s I heard coach after coach lament what it would do to depth and I thought they were blowing smoke, but lo and behold they were right.

Now the guy who used to be the 4th linebacker at a place like Tennessee or Alabama is starting for Louisville.
 
#12
#12
GAVol said:
Welcome to the world of 85 scholarships. Throughout the mid to late 90s I heard coach after coach lament what it would do to depth and I thought they were blowing smoke, but lo and behold they were right.

Now the guy who used to be the 4th linebacker at a place like Tennessee or Alabama is starting for Louisville.
Click to expand...

I read where Fulmer was talking about the 12 game season. He went on to say that if they keep the 12 game format, the NCAA should give schools more scholarships or 2 off weeks..
 
#13
#13
This may sound weird because the kids 6'6 290, but Bolden just looks slinky. He doesn't look like a hoss out there. It may just he me but he doesn't look like a DT.
 
#14
#14
oklavol said:
On paper the talent on the DL doesnt look that bad:

Fischer *****
Bolden ****
Mapu Freshmen All-SEC

Why these guys don't contribute more? I know Fischer has been hurt and Mapu came back from a 2 yr layoff. Bolden spent last year at Hargrave, this his first yr with the UT staff.

Maybe next year these guys will be the player UT thought they were.

That big freshmen tight-end UT has would probably be better off moving to DE where UT needs the help. He was another star high school player. Wes Brown was highly recruited as well.
Click to expand...


I remember a couple of years ago, we had to a lot of good DEs, and had to move Jason Witten from DE to TE...
 
#15
#15
OWB said:
I read where Fulmer was talking about the 12 game season. He went on to say that if they keep the 12 game format, the NCAA should give schools more scholarships or 2 off weeks..
Click to expand...

I agree . . . Either throw in another off week or let everybody schedule somebody like Northern Guam Prepatory School for Girls as one of your OOC opponents in the opener.
 
#16
#16
The coaches voted against the 12 game schedule.

I heard Bill Curry on Mike and Mike this morning he was saying a reason against the playoff was the number of players. He said if they had a playoff that scholarships would have to be increased.

Golic asked what about D1-AA. Which was a good question.

Curry said they can split their scholarships up like they want or some business like that. Saying that some coach he knew in D2 had 200 players on his team.

Also he was saying that the main reason for no playoffs is these cats on Bowl Committies not wanting it because it will deminish their bowl. Basically saying these guys have money, and money talks.

Anyway I dont know what you all think about Curry but since I've been listening to Mike and Mike he makes some really good points about things.
 
#17
#17
I heard that too. I've always thought Curry was a classy guy . . . Not the greatest color commentator, but you can tell he's pretty thoughtful.
 
#18
#18
I had the opportunity to meet Bill Curry and speak with him on several occasions. He is very intelligent, but I always got the feeling that his wife (a college professor) was giving him his talking points. Sometimes I felt as though he was trying too hard.
 
#19
#19
Most of the starters are starting by default! The talent level is at such a low level there is no competion among players. This is more vitial than coaching (imo). However I have seen coaches who have had the ability to 'coach up' lesser skilled players. You would think a "darn good" program would be three deep at most positions.
 
#20
#20
crimedawg12 said:
Most of the starters are starting by default!
Click to expand...

CD you are right on target. With the exception of the secondary these guys have not been pushed by their backups.

When you are talking D-line, with the possible exception of McBride, everyone else would have been on the third team when UT had the talent.
 
#21
#21
rockydoc said:
Just read today's Nashville Tennessean article discussing the lack of QB sacks by our defense.(I apologize for not knowing how to do a "link"). Anyway, the writer quotes defensive end coach Steve Caldwell as saying most of this is due to "lack of athlethic ability".

Unfortunately, we are not going to the SEC championship game or a BCS bowl, not because the coaches are doing a piss-poor job, but because our talent level is off. I know everyone blames the losses this year on injuries, but last year we did not have many significant injuries (Riggs and Hardesy) and still weren't competetive.

Just as a fluid will seek it's on level based on it's inherent specific gravity, a football program will eventually return to a certain level, and at Tennessee we may be returning to a level like we were in the "70's and '80's before the glory years of the mid '90's to early 00's. I am beginning to understand that the 1998 NC could have been an extraordinary phenomonen due to a collection of superior players recruited primarily by one man(Garner), the likes of which we probably won't see on the Hill in the near future.

I hope I'm wrong but that is my take. Of course the coaches are responsible for recruiting so you could a make a case for firing Fulmer for this. But for the talent that he has to work with, I think he has done a pretty good job.
Click to expand...

I really dont understand the talent drop off. Our recruiting as far as going back to 2002 has been in the top 10. Last year was supposed to be one of our worst recruiting years under Fulmer, but football fans should know that those players wont impact the team for a couple of years. Heck the year before we had 3rd ranked recruiting class on rivals and #1 on scout. So is it the coaches are paying too much attention to the star sysem, and not really evaluating the recruits themselves or what? I really dont understand all this talk about the talent not being there. And I know I will hear that the talent is there we just are not developing it, but that is not what the majority of the post are saying.
 
#22
#22
Big Vol Nasty said:
This may sound weird because the kids 6'6 290, but Bolden just looks slinky. He doesn't look like a hoss out there. It may just he me but he doesn't look like a DT.
Click to expand...

I may be wrong but so far Bolden is the Benoit Benjamin of college football.
 
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