Dagreek1998
Junior Member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2005
- Messages
- 381
- Likes
- 22
Let me start by saying that I have at times, including this season, been very critical of Dooley and his supporters. I have used terms such as Dool-Aid and have stated all of my reasons for wanting him gone. With this in mind, I would like to say that I have had a change of heart and believe that nothing can be gained by all of the negative bickering back and forth. I also believe that the path we are currently on may in-fact leaf us back to prominence. I have reached these conclusions by taking the emotion out of the argument and this has provided me the clarity needed to come to this understanding.
If you take away the frustration of each lose and every setback, you will see that everything is not on Dooley and all is not lost.
Lets look at the factors at play this season.
1) Dooley loses his OL coach to Notre Dame.
2) Dooley loses his DC coach to Washington.
3) Dooley loses starting CB Izaeua Lanier prior to the season.
4) Dooley loses starting WR Rogers weeks before the season.
5) Dooley loses starting S Randolph during the Florida game.
Now, when you lose as many coaches as we have and struggle to find suitable replacements because of the uncertainty of Dooley job; it is difficult to gain the advantage of stability.
So what has he done in the face of these factors? He brought in a solid OL coach that has guided our offense to rushing for over 160 yards a game. This is even more impressive when you consider that we lack a true SEC caliber starting running back.
He has brought in an entirely new defense staff, which is in the first year of putting in a completely new system. During this implementation, Sunseri has lost two starting defensive back starters. This fact is critical to remember when you see wide opening receivers catch TDs like in the Bama game. I am pretty sure that it is not by design that we leave receivers wide open. I understand that giving up 33 points a game is not acceptable but I believe as the season continues, we will lower that average. Remember, Fulmer was let go in a year that his defense gave up an average of 16 points a game in route to a 5-7 record. Also remember, it was only a few years earlier in Fulmers career that the Vols reached the SEC championship and finished with 10 wins in spite of giving up over 27 points a game.
This would lead me to believe that the frustration is much more about the 3-4 record than how we got there. If this is the case then lets look at our record. Losses to the #1 and #2 teams in the nation. In the loss to Florida, we were leading half-way through the third quarter. In the lose to Bama, we had multiple chances to get back into the game and keep it close late. I would also say that other than a few missed assignments on the back-end, out defense actually performed well until late in the game.
As for the other two losses, both were against top 15 teams on the road. In both cases, the Vols showed fight and actually had a chance to win both games late.
So what does that mean for the remainder of the season? Simply this, the Vols will continue to fight and I believe will finish no worse than a 7-5 record. This will be good enough to get us in a respectable bowl game.
I would remind those of you that kneel at the feet of King Saban, his beginning looks a lot like Dooleys. Remember, Saban had one successful head coaching season at Toledo (9-2) before his first major head coaching stint at Michigan State. During his first three years at MSU, Saban finished 6-5-1, 6-6, and 7-6. That gave him a combined record of 19-17-1, and also saw him go 2-9 against ranked teams. If my prediction of 7-5 comes to fruition, Dooley will end the season with an 18-19 record. I would also argue that the quality of the Big 10 back then pales in comparison to the quality of the SEC now. Also, Saban did not have to replacing his staff every season like Dooley has had to do. I also cannot imagine Saban was as snake-bit as Dooley has been with player injuries, suspensions, and dismissals.
When one truly understands how even the most revered coaching careers had modest beginnings, it gives hope to a brighter Vol future. Think of it this way, Derek Dooley is trying to rebuild this historical program through the most dominating period of SEC football ever. If Tennessee was in the ACC or Big 12, I have no doubt that we would be ranked with much more success than we have seen at this point.
Now for those who are still wanting to jump off the bridge, I would say this. The only way to catch teams like Alabama and the rest, is to strengthen the team through talent and depth. This only occurs through continued recruiting gains. Those gains can only occur through coaching stability. If we continue to call for Dooleys head each week, we create a more venomous situation thus giving credence to the powers that be that a change is needed.
This is why I am calling for a cease-fire for the remainder of the regular season. No more Anti-Dooley threads. If you truly care for this program, you support this program. Dooley is part of the program. Now, if my prediction does not come to fruition and the Vols finish 6-6 or worse, I will lead the charge for his firing. I do not believe this will be the case but never the less, I will support the Negavols if this occurs.
:salute:
If you take away the frustration of each lose and every setback, you will see that everything is not on Dooley and all is not lost.
Lets look at the factors at play this season.
1) Dooley loses his OL coach to Notre Dame.
2) Dooley loses his DC coach to Washington.
3) Dooley loses starting CB Izaeua Lanier prior to the season.
4) Dooley loses starting WR Rogers weeks before the season.
5) Dooley loses starting S Randolph during the Florida game.
Now, when you lose as many coaches as we have and struggle to find suitable replacements because of the uncertainty of Dooley job; it is difficult to gain the advantage of stability.
So what has he done in the face of these factors? He brought in a solid OL coach that has guided our offense to rushing for over 160 yards a game. This is even more impressive when you consider that we lack a true SEC caliber starting running back.
He has brought in an entirely new defense staff, which is in the first year of putting in a completely new system. During this implementation, Sunseri has lost two starting defensive back starters. This fact is critical to remember when you see wide opening receivers catch TDs like in the Bama game. I am pretty sure that it is not by design that we leave receivers wide open. I understand that giving up 33 points a game is not acceptable but I believe as the season continues, we will lower that average. Remember, Fulmer was let go in a year that his defense gave up an average of 16 points a game in route to a 5-7 record. Also remember, it was only a few years earlier in Fulmers career that the Vols reached the SEC championship and finished with 10 wins in spite of giving up over 27 points a game.
This would lead me to believe that the frustration is much more about the 3-4 record than how we got there. If this is the case then lets look at our record. Losses to the #1 and #2 teams in the nation. In the loss to Florida, we were leading half-way through the third quarter. In the lose to Bama, we had multiple chances to get back into the game and keep it close late. I would also say that other than a few missed assignments on the back-end, out defense actually performed well until late in the game.
As for the other two losses, both were against top 15 teams on the road. In both cases, the Vols showed fight and actually had a chance to win both games late.
So what does that mean for the remainder of the season? Simply this, the Vols will continue to fight and I believe will finish no worse than a 7-5 record. This will be good enough to get us in a respectable bowl game.
I would remind those of you that kneel at the feet of King Saban, his beginning looks a lot like Dooleys. Remember, Saban had one successful head coaching season at Toledo (9-2) before his first major head coaching stint at Michigan State. During his first three years at MSU, Saban finished 6-5-1, 6-6, and 7-6. That gave him a combined record of 19-17-1, and also saw him go 2-9 against ranked teams. If my prediction of 7-5 comes to fruition, Dooley will end the season with an 18-19 record. I would also argue that the quality of the Big 10 back then pales in comparison to the quality of the SEC now. Also, Saban did not have to replacing his staff every season like Dooley has had to do. I also cannot imagine Saban was as snake-bit as Dooley has been with player injuries, suspensions, and dismissals.
When one truly understands how even the most revered coaching careers had modest beginnings, it gives hope to a brighter Vol future. Think of it this way, Derek Dooley is trying to rebuild this historical program through the most dominating period of SEC football ever. If Tennessee was in the ACC or Big 12, I have no doubt that we would be ranked with much more success than we have seen at this point.
Now for those who are still wanting to jump off the bridge, I would say this. The only way to catch teams like Alabama and the rest, is to strengthen the team through talent and depth. This only occurs through continued recruiting gains. Those gains can only occur through coaching stability. If we continue to call for Dooleys head each week, we create a more venomous situation thus giving credence to the powers that be that a change is needed.
This is why I am calling for a cease-fire for the remainder of the regular season. No more Anti-Dooley threads. If you truly care for this program, you support this program. Dooley is part of the program. Now, if my prediction does not come to fruition and the Vols finish 6-6 or worse, I will lead the charge for his firing. I do not believe this will be the case but never the less, I will support the Negavols if this occurs.
:salute:
