Bama exposed us. Recruiting must improve if Vols are going to step forward.

#52
#52
The only thing Bama exposed was the fact that we are decimated with injuries and that they have more talent in their pinky fingers than the entirety of the rest of the teams in the nation, including the rest of the SEC. Had UT been healthy we might have given them a good game but that's no different than any other good team in the league. Period. That and for whatever reason Jones et al seemingly decided to fold up tents and call a vanilla game to protect the QB would be my guess. Nobody will beat Bama unless they get incredibly lucky IMO.
 
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#53
#53
The only part of the 2017 class that I really feel good about is DL. It's hard to get a discussion on this subject going in the recruiting forum for whatever reason. Maybe an expert can come over here and explain to us how this class is supposed to help us take the next step.
We are going to need to look a lot more like Alabama to ever beat them. That means four & five star talent everywhere and NFL linemen on both sides of the ball.
 
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#55
#55
The only thing Bama exposed was the fact that we are decimated with injuries and that they have more talent in their pinky fingers than the entirety of the rest of the teams in the nation, including the rest of the SEC. Had UT been healthy we might have given them a good game but that's no different than any other good team in the league. Period. That and for whatever reason Jones et al seemingly decided to fold up tents and call a vanilla game to protect the QB would be my guess. Nobody will beat Bama unless they get incredibly lucky IMO.

Any team which has the #1 recruiting class 6 years in a row, should be undefeated for at least 4 years in a row. Recruiting is still the name of the game.
 
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#56
#56
I heard on the CBS or USA Today podcast that 81 out of 85 of Alabama's scholarship players are 4 or 5 star recruits.

This isn't something you just turn around overnight. They are elite because they have been recruiting and playing at a top 5 level for nearly a decade.
 
#57
#57
And yet we lead in the 4th quarter last year in *Tuscaloosa*. Recruiting rankings are subjective and are by no means based on facts. I imagine almost every coach would have a different top 100 list. I disagree about the coaching angle that some of you 24/7 "preach".

Recruiting rankings are subjective and they do miss on players both ways but that doesn't debunk the idea that if you continuously get the #1 class your gonna have better players than a team getting the #10 class.

There is a reason Bama has not dropped off since Saban righted the ship. They have at worst (and thats a stretch) equal players to the best teams in the country (assuming recruiting rankings are subjective) and they have the staff. UT is not equal in either department right now. And the only people seeing it that way are drinking the kool aid before hand.
 
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#58
#58
Any team which has the #1 recruiting class 6 years in a row, should be undefeated for at least 4 years in a row. Recruiting is still the name of the game.

Yeah I agree. They have more talent in their pinky fingers than anyone else in the nation. They are the biggest cheaters in the nation. Been that way forever now. Doubt anyone beats them so long as the status quo remains.
 
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#59
#59
College recruiting is rigged. The NCAA needs to implement a draft. You know it's not fair. It's like having a team full of #1 draft picks.

Which is why some coaches go to the NFL and quickly return to college...

I can tell you from my extensive career as a little league coach, having the best players is the key to winning...:)
 
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#60
#60
I heard on the CBS or USA Today podcast that 81 out of 85 of Alabama's scholarship players are 4 or 5 star recruits.

This isn't something you just turn around overnight. They are elite because they have been recruiting and playing at a top 5 level for nearly a decade.

One of Bobby Dodd's major complaints when he pulled Ga Tech from the SEC in the early 60s centered on AL and recruiting. He didn't think they played by the book either - apparently good recruiting at AL by whatever Means is necessary (including Alberts) is institutional. "Albert" and "Means" go together for those of you who haven't been around UT football beginning with the Fulmer years.

Probably most of AL's recruiting success is that winning attracts winners - just don't bet that it ends there.
 
#61
#61
This seems like a bit of an overreaction to me. Yes Saturday's game was awful, but before that the last time Tennessee lost a game by more than 1 possession was the 2014 Bama game. Your post makes it sound like we are getting run out of the stadium against elite teams.

From my perspective I don't think there are big recruiting issues, with the exception of the need for more LBs.
 
#62
#62
Recruiting has always been the most important factor for UT, hard to win without the best Jimmy's and Joe's, as witnessed against Bama (I know the injuries) but still:ermm:
 
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#63
#63
Recruiting has always been the most important factor for UT, hard to win without the best Jimmy's and Joe's, as witnessed against Bama (I know the injuries) but still:ermm:

Recruiting of quality players is the lifeblood of a program because it gives the depth to continue competing when those injuries do happen. AL doesn't win by cornering all the best players - they win because of the depth at every position.

Kinda funny to think that Fulmer was dumped because the offense didn't play well and his recruiting wasn't what it had been.
 
#65
#65
Recruiting has improved. Imagine how bad Saturday would have been with the roster from 2 or 3 years ago with those injuries. We dressed 70 scholarship players and lost 6 more during the game. That is 25% of your scholarship roster not there. NOBODY can overcome that attrition and expect to compete with that Alabama team. How we are 5-2 at this point is a testament to the recruiting the last 3 years. Most people said 5-2 was likely before the season started and we had a healthy roster. Who gets credit for being 5-2. I've heard several say about Saturday..."well, a loss is still a loss". In that case, all our wins are still wins regardless of how ugly some looked.

We need to get healthy, Cheer Arky and LSU, then hopefully put up a better showing in Atlanta.
 
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#66
#66
Recruiting rankings are subjective and they do miss on players both ways but that doesn't debunk the idea that if you continuously get the #1 class your gonna have better players than a team getting the #10 class.

There is a reason Bama has not dropped off since Saban righted the ship. They have at worst (and thats a stretch) equal players to the best teams in the country (assuming recruiting rankings are subjective) and they have the staff. UT is not equal in either department right now. And the only people seeing it that way are drinking the kool aid before hand.

Clemson, LSU and others are pretty talented. My point is that there isn't that much difference between the #1 and #10 player of any position. We can just agree to disagree. I dont think there is that much difference in the top 10. That's just me tho.
 
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