Coach Matthews opines that this current Fr class is the best in over

#3
#3
I was just talking to my Dad a couple of days ago about how unusual this freshman class seemed to be, both for how many seem to be getting immediate praise and also retention. We haven't lost any of them yet (that I can recall) to grades or attempted gas station robberies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 7 people
#7
#7
Yep and many were bad mouthing it, that why star rankings aren't perfect science and many times very flawed. Some folks put the people that rank these players as experts, when in fact sometimes folks are not evaluated very well at all by these people many times. When you see a 3 star getting offers from a ton of big schools you can pretty much bank that the kids has a lot of talent. But some look strictly at the star ranking like it is the end all. We recruited several 3 star players that at least had a 4 star ranking by someone, but people would dismiss it because the majority had him a 3 and too them it makes him less of a player. The ranking are a guide, but player offers tell a much bigger story much of the time. GBO!!!!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 7 people
#10
#10
It's the best I've ever seen since the early 90's and the two coming behind them are even better. Rated top 5 in the country and the best in the SEC, and IMO the best in the country because it pretty much loads us with top national talent for several years to come alapansies style. These are big time classes people.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8 people
#11
#11
Volsfaninva917 said:
Playing devils advocate here but what does that say about the development in Butchs system
Click to expand...

Butch's "system" has several players playing far above their draft level in the NFL preseason thus far....

This board and Vol fans everywhere would have lynched Jones if he'd passed on guys like Bates, McKenzie, Creamer, Kelly jr, and even the Berry twins. Facts are other than Evan's Kick return ability and a few INTS by Kelly, jr, the legacy players haven't done much at critical points in any game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 10 people
#12
#12
wildorange said:
Yep and many were bad mouthing it, that why star rankings aren't perfect science and many times very flawed. Some folks put the people that rank these players as experts, when in fact sometimes folks are not evaluated very well at all by these people many times. When you see a 3 star getting offers from a ton of big schools you can pretty much bank that the kids has a lot of talent. But some look strictly at the star ranking like it is the end all. We recruited several 3 star players that at least had a 4 star ranking by someone, but people would dismiss it because the majority had him a 3 and too them it makes him less of a player. The ranking are a guide, but player offers tell a much bigger story much of the time. GBO!!!!
Click to expand...

Valid points that have all been made before. The counter argument , also stated many times before, remains that the teams that are in the playoffs/NC games consistently have top 6-7 ranked classes 4-5 years in a row.

I'm all for a core of smart blue collar players. They can be coached up and win a lot of games they shouldn't. But if you want to consistently compete for titles then you have to recruit consistently too.

Having said that, I do hope the 17 class is a sleeper.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#13
#13
Between last year and this one we will be losing lots of players to the NFL. We need the underclassmen to be ready to fill those shoes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#14
#14
We are starting to look a lot like the west teams were we have guys in waiting that you don't even know their names until they get on the field plug and play style. Tennessee is on the verge of looking like a big time SEC program. In about two more seasons UT will be one of THOSE teams. I agree that Butch might not be able to last that long if he has a bad season. Pressure from the fan base (and frightened NON UT fans) is too great.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#15
#15
wmcovol said:
Butch's "system" has several players playing far above their draft level in the NFL preseason thus far....

This board and Vol fans everywhere would have lynched Jones if he'd passed on guys like Bates, McKenzie, Creamer, Kelly jr, and even the Berry twins. Facts are other than Evan's Kick return ability and a few INTS by Kelly, jr, the legacy players haven't done much at critical points in any game.
Click to expand...

Devils advocate again, why wasn't that production on display here? Is he not putting these players in the best position to succeed?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#16
#16
wmcovol said:
Butch's "system" has several players playing far above their draft level in the NFL preseason thus far....

This board and Vol fans everywhere would have lynched Jones if he'd passed on guys like Bates, McKenzie, Creamer, Kelly jr, and even the Berry twins. Facts are other than Evan's Kick return ability and a few INTS by Kelly, jr, the legacy players haven't done much at critical points in any game.
Click to expand...

Legacy players grow up having smoke blown up their asses all their lives about how great they are. They are rarely able to fill the footprints left by their famous fathers or uncles. (The Mathews family notwithstanding)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#17
#17
UT Hill Man said:
Legacy players grow up having smoke blown up their asses all their lives about how great they are. They are rarely able to fill the footprints left by their famous fathers or uncles. (The Mathews family notwithstanding)
Click to expand...

or the colquitts.......:p
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#18
#18
If true... then Jones should surely by now have no excuse for depth or talent problems. He should be able to win big, right?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#19
#19
UT Hill Man said:
Legacy players grow up having smoke blown up their asses all their lives about how great they are. They are rarely able to fill the footprints left by their famous fathers or uncles. (The Mathews family notwithstanding)
Click to expand...

It is hit and miss just like any other group. In the same period of time, there have been plenty of highly rated non-legacy players who have been disappointments.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#20
#20
IluvdoubleD's said:
We are starting to look a lot like the west teams were we have guys in waiting that you don't even know their names until they get on the field plug and play style. Tennessee is on the verge of looking like a big time SEC program. In about two more seasons UT will be one of THOSE teams. I agree that Butch might not be able to last that long if he has a bad season. Pressure from the fan base (and frightened NON UT fans) is too great.
Click to expand...

I personally do not think Butch is on the hot seat, but if he is asked to leave (and sensing how much the players and recruits love him), how big a step do we take back ?

I agree that we are on the cusp of being one of THOSE teams in the next couple years, and I also think Butch is becoming a better coach every year. I would hate to see the fan base pressure ruin what is going to be a great thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 11 people
#21
#21
thegasman54 said:
A decade. A bold statement
Click to expand...

As in every signing class, what concerns me is the one's who may not stay in the program the full four years. For instance, off the field issues, grades, transfers, family emergencies.....
If we can keep the class together for the full four season's, then we might have something....
 
#23
#23
Volsfaninva917 said:
Devils advocate again, why wasn't that production on display here? Is he not putting these players in the best position to succeed?
Click to expand...
Kamara 2016 = 5.8 yds per carry / 9.8 yds per catch / 13 tds
Malone 2016 = 972 receiving yds / 19.4 avg / 11 tds
Dobbs 2016= 2946 yds passing / 831 yds rushing / 39 total tds / 150.6 qb rating
JRM 2015 = 105 tackles / 14 tfl / 6 sacks
Barnett = all time sack leader at UT

But yeah, we're seeing no production on display here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 22 people
#24
#24
gburgvol said:
Kamara 2016 = 5.8 yds per carry / 9.8 yds per catch / 13 tds
Malone 2016 = 972 receiving yds / 19.4 avg / 11 tds
Dobbs 2016= 2946 yds passing / 831 yds rushing / 39 total tds / 150.6 qb rating
JRM 2015 = 105 tackles / 14 tfl / 6 sacks
Barnett = all time sack leader at UT

But yeah, we're seeing no production on display here.
Click to expand...

You're butt hurt, calm down.

Kamara- Don't you agree he was underutilized during his time at Tennessee?

Malone- Another player that was underutilized?

Dobbs- Great ambassador for Tennessee but what could have been if he had a true QB coach during his tenure here.

JRM- Had a great career here

Barnett- what a freak
 
#25
#25
Volsfaninva917 said:
Playing devils advocate here but what does that say about the development in Butchs system
Click to expand...

Why would you even think this? Anytime someone comes in with something positive, someone has to counter. Just one time I would love for a thread to make it 1 page without negas making an appearance..
I can only imagine what it will be like once play actually begins...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top