Changing my tune: Think maybe Heupel should keep Banks

[#1fulmerite]

Are we firing him or nah? You guys are confusing me so much I’m getting a headache.

 

[Skooter]

They catch teams some with it. Denying that would be sheer ignorance. It must be done far more often when there's a depletion of players at DB. You go Zero in those situations as to back end play. As I have stated a few times, great NFL DCs do it effectively when they are depleted on the back end due to injuries

You don’t know what you are watching if you think that’s been a good defensive call for us. And it’s not zero it’s a zone blitz.
No coach responds to thin at cb by dropping their best pass rusher 15 yards deep on 3rd and 5 and blitzing an already thin backfield.
You should be careful using the word ignorant at other people as it shows you to be oblivious.

 

[AthensVol2007]

What is Heupel’s edge in recruiting? The loyalty he shows to players and coaches because that’s what creates the “family” atmosphere all the recruits rave about. Some say loyalty will be his undoing, but it could just as easily be what carries him to the top.

Is it ok we have the #14 defense in the SEC? Heck no. But this time last year we were #2. If Banks can convince Heupel that he knows why and present a confident path to correction, I think he should keep him.

To the “Heupel will never fire anyone” crowd, have you ever asked yourself why? The answer is in Heupel’s past. He didn’t get a chance to fix OU’s offense despite likely knowing it could be fixed. He hires people who he thinks can be great and he commits to helping them get there. That is leadership. That doesn’t mean firing people isn’t on the table! But if his coaches have the same commitment to greatness they had when hired, same work ethic, same innovative mentality, why fire them at the first sign of struggle? He can demand a schematic change without firing anyone. He can demand a pivot in desirable player attributes without firing anyone.

Is it Banks fault we wasted NIL dollars on Boo or that his top 2 CBs missed the entire season? I think maybe if we strengthen the middle of our defense (DT, MLB, S) Banks and the rest of our staff together can figure things out.

He didn’t have to fix the OU offense, they avg like 38 PPG that year, the defense was the problem. Imagine that!

Heup was the scapegoat for Stoops to protect his ****** DC also known as his brother.

 

[Skooter]

Embarrassing. Again. What coach in their right mind on a huge 3rd down play while still in the game on 3rd and 2 drops 7 10 yards behind the sticks.
He’s the worst and maybe dumbest DC in the SEC

I mean wtf is our defender in the middle of the field doing? It’s 3rd and 2. Qb is about to throw and he’s got his back to him running to a spot in zone. Looks like one of the electric football game players that gets turned the wrong way. What a joke.
Anybody defending the multitude of calls like this every game by big game banks needs to make their own changes, like watch a game with somebody who knows what’s going on.

 

[AthensVol2007]

First off: we weren't 14th in the SEC. That's based on garbage stats (pure yardage; not advanced stats that take into account turnovers, # of plays, etc).

Based on FPI's defensive efficiencies, we had the #4 defense in the country last year and #21 the year before. We had a slew of injuries this year and finished #41, which is above-average, but still below where we want to be. Btw, Vandy's offense was #1 in the country.


My take: whether we keep Banks or not should 100% be Heupel's decision. Not the fans. Not the boosters. Not the AD.

There are good reasons to keep Banks. There are some valid reasons to move on. But 1 loss shouldn't determine it. So many great DCs have had bad losses and gotten better as a result of it.

But something has to change. If it's not personnel, then Banks needs to be a bit less dogmatic in his approach. We just kept blitzing when it made no sense. We never adapted to Pavia's scrambling; and it was more schematic / play-calling then the players not executing.

I'm definitely not in the "FAHHHRR EVERYONE" camp. Banks has been pretty good overall, but Heupel has to decide whether he can evolve his game or whether we need to move on. I don't feel like anyone else has the first-hand view that Heupel does to be qualified to answer that question. This isn't like Sal Sunseri where even a blind person could see that he had to go.

No one gives a **** about yards, we gave up 34 PPG in SEC play and that’s with only giving up 11 to UF. Last I checked, points is what wins games not yards.

 

[bpalmer28]

No one gives a **** about yards, we gave up 34 PPG in SEC play and that’s with only giving up 11 to UF. Last I checked, points is what wins games not yards.

It feels like we try so hard to create turnovers that we make it easy for teams to pick up chunks of yards. I like turnovers as much as the next guy but a defense that can consistently force 3 & outs is a defense that wins championships. Turnovers will come as teams get frustrated with not being able to move the ball and make mistakes as a result.

 

[AthensVol2007]

It feels like we try so hard to create turnovers that we make it easy for teams to pick up chunks of yards. I like turnovers as much as the next guy but a defense that can consistently force 3 & outs is a defense that wins championships. Turnovers will come as teams get frustrated with not being able to move the ball and make mistakes as a result.

I want OU’s defense. They do EVERYTHING well.

 

[bpalmer28]

I want OU’s defense. They do EVERYTHING well.

Was thinking same thing when I typed that out

 

[TartanTurff]

That family atmosphere gets blown out of the water when the word N I C O comes up and Heupel looted the NIL coffers to keep the drama in pajamas on the roster and in the lineup, it's not family, it's an ongoing experiment for Heupel as he tries to identify and harness talent that might be better suited to playing in a non power 4 conference.

 

[bpalmer28]

That family atmosphere gets blown out of the water when the word N I C O comes up and Heupel looted the NIL coffers to keep the drama in pajamas on the roster and in the lineup, it's not family, it's an ongoing experiment for Heupel as he tries to identify and harness talent that might be better suited to playing in a non power 4 conference.

Nobody bats 1000. Nico had enough talent to justify the risk. So did Boo.

 

[UTK]

Banks brings zero value to this program. Zero.

 

[BigOrangeCrush32]

Good grief, this isn't baseball where 1-5 is ok, not great, but ok. ONE good season, even thats debatable once you delve deeper, out of FIVE is not ok in SEC football.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

Letting staff go is a last resort and god knows we know how that goes around here, but I think it’s time to find a new DC. Our guys look like they don’t know what to do at times on the backend, especially at safety and it’s year 5. And when they do get in position, they take horrible angles and make bad mistakes and penalties at the worst times. The DC rarely makes adjustments, and it’s been that way for multiple seasons. Even with last year, when the defense was good overall, when we played good teams like Georgia and Ohio State we got manhandled by their offenses.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

We should double Banks salary as a show of faith

 

[Jackcrevol]

If you’ve watched Banks the last few years and can’t understand his ability to scheme is a problem, there’s no hope.

Brooks Austin says the opposite. That he calls right plays, issue is he's calling plays he doesnt have the personnel for.

I went back and looked at all his historical recruiting success. At PSU he had a top safety every year. Why did that change? Safety, and Corner should be absolutely gonzo every year at Tennessee.

 

[Skooter]

Brooks Austin says the opposite. That he calls right plays, issue is he's calling plays he doesnt have the personnel for.

I went back and looked at all his historical recruiting success. At PSU he had a top safety every year. Why did that change? Safety, and Corner should be absolutely gonzo every year at Tennessee.

Brooks says Banks has to go

 

[gobigorange91]

I’ve watched him. And I’ve noticed his defense getting better year after year for 4 consecutive years leading up to 2025. His ability to scheme resulted in us having one of the best defenses in the SEC last year. This year was bad. Needs to convince Heupel he can fix it.

The reason we had a defense that looked good last year was that we didn’t play any teams with a half way decent offense. Look what happened when we did, Ohio state, we got rocked. Banks never has been able to adjust especially coming out of half time. He gets turnovers but it’s not worth the rest of the defense being so bad.

 

[Tin Man]

What is Heupel’s edge in recruiting? The loyalty he shows to players and coaches because that’s what creates the “family” atmosphere all the recruits rave about. Some say loyalty will be his undoing, but it could just as easily be what carries him to the top.

Is it ok we have the #14 defense in the SEC? Heck no. But this time last year we were #2. If Banks can convince Heupel that he knows why and present a confident path to correction, I think he should keep him.

To the “Heupel will never fire anyone” crowd, have you ever asked yourself why? The answer is in Heupel’s past. He didn’t get a chance to fix OU’s offense despite likely knowing it could be fixed. He hires people who he thinks can be great and he commits to helping them get there. That is leadership. That doesn’t mean firing people isn’t on the table! But if his coaches have the same commitment to greatness they had when hired, same work ethic, same innovative mentality, why fire them at the first sign of struggle? He can demand a schematic change without firing anyone. He can demand a pivot in desirable player attributes without firing anyone.

Is it Banks fault we wasted NIL dollars on Boo or that his top 2 CBs missed the entire season? I think maybe if we strengthen the middle of our defense (DT, MLB, S) Banks and the rest of our staff together can figure things out.

Has anyone labeled the OP a delusional sunshine pumper yet?

For the record, at this moment, I agree with your stay the course outlook, OP. I don’t see an available upgrade to UT’s coaching staff.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Brooks says Banks has to go

That must he new info.

 

[bpalmer28]

Has anyone labeled the OP a delusional sunshine pumper yet?

For the record, at this moment, I agree with your stay the course outlook, OP. I don’t see an available upgrade to UT’s coaching staff.

The answer to your question is yes but I’ve also been labeled a negavol, so I guess I’m an extremist who switches teams

 

[bpalmer28]

The reason we had a defense that looked good last year was that we didn’t play any teams with a half way decent offense. Look what happened when we did, Ohio state, we got rocked. Banks never has been able to adjust especially coming out of half time. He gets turnovers but it’s not worth the rest of the defense being so bad.

haha Ohio State was a little better than halfway decent my man

 

[CAVPUT]

What is Heupel’s edge in recruiting? The loyalty he shows to players and coaches because that’s what creates the “family” atmosphere all the recruits rave about. Some say loyalty will be his undoing, but it could just as easily be what carries him to the top.

Is it ok we have the #14 defense in the SEC? Heck no. But this time last year we were #2. If Banks can convince Heupel that he knows why and present a confident path to correction, I think he should keep him.

To the “Heupel will never fire anyone” crowd, have you ever asked yourself why? The answer is in Heupel’s past. He didn’t get a chance to fix OU’s offense despite likely knowing it could be fixed. He hires people who he thinks can be great and he commits to helping them get there. That is leadership. That doesn’t mean firing people isn’t on the table! But if his coaches have the same commitment to greatness they had when hired, same work ethic, same innovative mentality, why fire them at the first sign of struggle? He can demand a schematic change without firing anyone. He can demand a pivot in desirable player attributes without firing anyone.

Is it Banks fault we wasted NIL dollars on Boo or that his top 2 CBs missed the entire season? I think maybe if we strengthen the middle of our defense (DT, MLB, S) Banks and the rest of our staff together can figure things out.

Keep Banks? I'll change your tune...

 

[UT97Vol]

First off: we weren't 14th in the SEC. That's based on garbage stats (pure yardage; not advanced stats that take into account turnovers, # of plays, etc).

Based on FPI's defensive efficiencies, we had the #4 defense in the country last year and #21 the year before. We had a slew of injuries this year and finished #41, which is above-average, but still below where we want to be. Btw, Vandy's offense was #1 in the country.


My take: whether we keep Banks or not should 100% be Heupel's decision. Not the fans. Not the boosters. Not the AD.

There are good reasons to keep Banks. There are some valid reasons to move on. But 1 loss shouldn't determine it. So many great DCs have had bad losses and gotten better as a result of it.

But something has to change. If it's not personnel, then Banks needs to be a bit less dogmatic in his approach. We just kept blitzing when it made no sense. We never adapted to Pavia's scrambling; and it was more schematic / play-calling then the players not executing.

I'm definitely not in the "FAHHHRR EVERYONE" camp. Banks has been pretty good overall, but Heupel has to decide whether he can evolve his game or whether we need to move on. I don't feel like anyone else has the first-hand view that Heupel does to be qualified to answer that question. This isn't like Sal Sunseri where even a blind person could see that he had to go.

I don't know where you got your numbers from, but you might want to double check.

Total Defense: 86
3rd Down Def: 83
Red Zone Def: 99
Scoring Def: 91

This is how you lose every meaningful game. And we did.

 

[Rickyvol77]

I’d still like an explanation of the 3rd and 2 late in the third quarter against Bama. They showed pressure, then dropped everyone 10+ yards, leaving the middle of the field wide open for a simple pitch and catch with the tight end.

I agree...I'd rather play super tight man and make them throw a deep pass to beat you then give up that much space...

we coach too much on defense out of fear with the younger inexperienced players...sometimes you have to just trust them even if they fail

 

[West Vol]

Brooks Austin says the opposite. That he calls right plays, issue is he's calling plays he doesnt have the personnel for.

I went back and looked at all his historical recruiting success. At PSU he had a top safety every year. Why did that change? Safety, and Corner should be absolutely gonzo every year at Tennessee.

His stuff is interesting, but I very much doubt he is watching entire games. Setting your CBs up 15 yards off the line of scrimmage and 3rd and 3 is never the right play.

Last year against Arkansas when they put that giant RB in on their final drive in an obvious running situation and we had no one in the box to stop him and he rumbled forward for like 35 yards. He does a lot of nonsensical stuff.