Alvin Kamara on the football experience in Knoxville: "F---ed up"

[Freak]

After one season, and one conference offensive player of the year award, Kamara transferred to Tennessee, finally back in the SEC. But he’d soon learn that something felt off, again. “F---ed up” is how Kamara describes the football experience in Knoxville. Kamara is clearly a dynamic force on the field, but a coach must scheme for his abilities. To fully actualize his impact on the field, an offense needs to adapt around him, create specific packages and plays that utilize his rare versatility and skill set. Tennessee chose not to do that.


For two years he was the backup to Jalen Hurd, despite averaging 2.31 more yards per touch than the starter. Of course it was frustrating. But Kamara still believed that wherever he ended up in the NFL, whatever round he was drafted, it would work out. As long as I get the chance, he would tell friends before the draft, I’ll shine.

At Tennessee, Kamara had gotten his hair dreaded and begun to wear the gold grill in his mouth during games. He had discovered his own vibe, figured out who he was. And he had learned that the more he could simply be himself, the better he played.

“I have to be unapologetically me,” he says.

Alvin Kamara, the Saints and New Orleans: a perfect fit | SI.com

 

[UTVolax24]

More good BJ press.... what a coach

 

[allvol123]

He is correct.

Butch was running a sh** show.

 

[Biopsyman]

He is correct.

Butch was running a sh** show.

He was all hat and no cattle

 

[m1al]

Ouch... Butch really uhhh "f**ked up" with Kamara.. I'm so glad for him it did not hurt his professional career..

 

[Vol_til_I_die]

You build your offense around your best players. You don't make your best players run a BS offense; or have them on the sidelines for that matter.







I sell insurance btw.

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

Butch was catering to promises he made to kids (specifically Hurd in this case) when they were still in HS.

A.K.'s performance this year in the NFL perfectly epitomizes Butch's incompetence as a HC. All that talent and Butch couldn't see it. Hurd had to force Butch's hand (by transferring) for him to get any reasonable production out of A.K.

Seriously doubt anyone touches him for another P5 HC gig again. He proved that he got to UT not by his own accomplishments, but by riding the coattail of Brian Kelly. It's amazing how much he held this team back. You could see it early then year and you could see it after Bama in 16 when the team practically quit on him only for Dobbs to ball out and save the season (and Butch's job, for that matter).

 

[RollerVol]

yep, we know...

GO VOLS!

 

[m1al]

You build your offense around your best players. You don't make your best players run a BS offense; or have them on the sidelines for that matter.







I sell insurance btw.

You have be creative to tailor your offense to your talent.. I think Butch was severely lacking in the creativity department..

 

[NEVolFan]

That itch Butch has needs to be seen by a Doctor... treat it now, before it spreads to another program.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Hurd was overrated.

He got away with it in high school when he was faster than everyone else.

In the SEC, it’s a whole another ball game. He was always getting chased down by Defensive Lineman & Linebackers.

Kamara is simply the better RB and should have played more while Hurd should have sat more on the bench.

Damnit Butch!

 

[EricFreakingBerry]

We know, AK, we know.

How they kept #6 on the bench during some of those games we absolutely needed his dynamic playmaking ability, I will never understand. I just have to chalk it up to Butch's ineptitude, which has become a large box to put things in.

 

[jakez4ut]

it makes me angry to watch him play for the saints. a) i hate the saints. b) hindsight being what it is, CBJ should have been fired for completely misusing and underutilizing AK.

what a waste.

 

[overseasorange2]

If AK would have played for a Saban or a Meyer, he probably would have been a candidate for the heisman.

 

[Volz4lif3]

it makes me angry to watch him play for the saints. a) i hate the saints. b) hindsight being what it is, CBJ should have been fired for completely misusing and underutilizing AK.

what a waste.

Yup he should of had the ball in his hands 15-25times a game...

 

[vol-un-tear]

Hurd was overrated.

He got away with it in high school when he was faster than everyone else.

In the SEC, it’s a whole another ball game. He was always getting chased down by Defensive Lineman & Linebackers.

Kamara is simply the better RB and should have played more while Hurd should have sat more on the bench.

Damnit Butch!

Absolutely!

 

[jakez4ut]

Yup he should of had the ball in his hands 15-25times a game...

ugh.

 

[SaintLouisVol]

Hurd was overrated.

He got away with it in high school when he was faster than everyone else.

In the SEC, it’s a whole another ball game. He was always getting chased down by Defensive Lineman & Linebackers.

Kamara is simply the better RB and should have played more while Hurd should have sat more on the bench.

Damnit Butch!

A good coach would have had packages that allowed both players to be far more successful than they were. Yes, in the offense as it was, Kamara was the better player by far. But, Hurd had skills. Good hands, powerful runner. Lots of talent there if used correctly.

 

[jpope9]

If AK would have played for a Saban or a Meyer, he probably would have been a candidate for the heisman.

well technically he did play for a Saban....lol

but yes I agree, he was basically our Reggie Bush game changer with his running and pass catching, yet Ole Butchy was a dumbass.

 

[OnlyGodForgives]

I agree that both Hurd and Kamara could have succeeded simultaneously under a competent head coach, see what GA is doing currently and TN has in fact done in the past. We got so fleeced by Dave Hart, Butch was who he was.

 

[Jeepkuntry]

Not a positive for us, but for him sitting on the bench was he escaped major injury while in college.

 

[checkerboards09]

This all goes right back to Dobbs. He masked a horrible offensive scheme that made our OL look like complete sh*t. No opposing defenses feared QD and JG. Kamara and Hurd would’ve been in really big trouble behind that OL if defenses didn’t have to gameplan for Dobbs as well.

 

[livefaith]

Not a positive for us, but for him sitting on the bench was he escaped major injury while in college.

This is true.

I've often wondered if Butch promoted AK to starter after the UGA game. Jalen (and his mom) went on a p1ss parade at that point. After Hurd got chewed for that stupid end zone fumble at UGA, he rarely was in the game. He made that one TD catch later and then I saw him in on the "good hands" final kickoff before the Dobbnail boot play. But AK was in there blocking on the hail mary pass, not Hurd. Hurd's protection ability has never been up to question either.

AK played the next week at ATM and Hurd didn't make the trip. And as we know now Hurd did not have a "lower extremety injury" after UGA. He was perfectly fine on the TD and the next to last play with not even a limp. Jones was just lying to the media with another "fell on a helmet" story to cover for the dog house it appears.

But, it seems like Hurd made a pathetic appearance at the USC loss before he quit. Did he start that game or play as a backup?

 

[volger]

My favorite quote from the article.

“I got my signing bonus and I put that s--- in the bank and I went and got some motherf---ing wings,”

 

[landscapingvol]

Hurd was overrated.

He got away with it in high school when he was faster than everyone else.

In the SEC, it’s a whole another ball game. He was always getting chased down by Defensive Lineman & Linebackers.

Kamara is simply the better RB and should have played more while Hurd should have sat more on the bench.

Damnit Butch!

Too tall, should have been a tight end