Coaching, Recruiting, Depth, & Expectations

[SmokeyFTW]

I'll begin by saying depth is what we're missing.


He's already recruited well, coached those recruits up, implemented his system, and shown these youngsters what he expects out of them.

The next step is to continue to recruit well, and continue to do the same things that's made us competitive so early. So that we can have depth behind these young starters and become a deep and developed team. Many ignore this. He's only in year 3. He's had 2 years of good recruiting and developing players.That's only enough time to give this team a solid starting rotation in year 3. We now have that, and imagine if didn't have the injuries we've had. He needs to continue the "process" to develop the depth in year 3 and 4. That's why 2016 was always going to be the year we possibly compete for the East, but everyone bought into the hype. I'm glad we're competing in every game this year, and the fans expectations have changed. We now expect to win the easy ones, and expect to be in the game at the end against the top teams. That's happening! That shows what he is doing is working. Adding depth will put us over that hump, and help us win the close ones in the 4th. People hate to be patient, but patience is what it's going to take. Keep the faith people. He's doing a great job.

Oh and on a side note. Coaches don't just stop learning. I'm confident in saying CBJ learns and takes something away from every game. I'm sure he knows he can be a better coach, learn from the mistakes, and develop himself into the great coach he wants to be for this university. He's not perfect, but he deserves the respect of the fans. Let him finish what he's started, because I believe we'll love the end result.

Also I'm not personally trying to call anyone on volnation out. Just trying to share my opinion, and maybe let people see something in a different perspective.

Thanks for reading, and Go Vols!!!

 

[SECVolFan]

I'll begin by saying depth is what we're missing.


He's already recruited well, coached those recruits up, implemented his system, and shown these youngsters what he expects out of them.

The next step is to continue to recruit well, and continue to do the same things that's made us competitive so early. So that we can have depth behind these young starters and become a deep and developed team. Many ignore this. He's only in year 3. He's had 2 years of good recruiting and developing players.That's only enough time to give this team a solid starting rotation in year 3. We now have that, and imagine if didn't have the injuries we've had. He needs to continue the "process" to develop the depth in year 3 and 4. That's why 2016 was always going to be the year we possibly compete for the East, but everyone bought into the hype. I'm glad we're competing in every game this year, and the fans expectations have changed. We now expect to win the easy ones, and expect to be in the game at the end against the top teams. That's happening! That shows what he is doing is working. Adding depth will put us over that hump, and help us win the close ones in the 4th. People hate to be patient, but patience is what it's going to take. Keep the faith people. He's doing a great job.

Oh and on a side note. Coaches don't just stop learning. I'm confident in saying CBJ learns and takes something away from every game. I'm sure he knows he can be a better coach, learn from the mistakes, and develop himself into the great coach he wants to be for this university. He's not perfect, but he deserves the respect of the fans. Let him finish what he's started, because I believe we'll love the end result.

Also I'm not personally trying to call anyone on volnation out. Just trying to share my opinion, and maybe let people see something in a different perspective.

Thanks for reading, and Go Vols!!!

THIS times 1000! I know ppl want it right now, but a great foundation has been laid. Considering CBJ has done this, the wins will come!

 

[Volitourt]

Great post - I went to the Bama game and watched our kids COMPETE against a process that has been in place for over 8 years - not 3 - and their process has provided 8 years of top 3 signing classes - they rotate 14 mostly 23 year old grown men on their front seven - we can play with anybody with our starting 22 - especially when healthy - just imagine rotating redshirt Juniors and Seniors in the near future - it is happening folks.

 

[Nocleats]

Sounds crazy but you have to be 3 deep at almost every position, 8 deep at WR! One more class can get us there if there is no attrition this year.. Some of the guys who left, got tossed, or flunked out would have played IMO.. Fulmer used to say If you stay you will play.. Many many times a 2 or 3 star 5th year Sr is much better choice than a 5 star Freshman, especially in the line..

 

[BearcatVol]

Great post and I agree. This is a journey and not a destination.

 

[governmentmule]

great post Smokey :hi:

 

[Nocleats]

Great post - I went to the Bama game and watched our kids COMPETE against a process that has been in place for over 8 years - not 3 - and their process has provided 8 years of top 3 signing classes - they rotate 14 mostly 23 year old grown men on their front seven - we can play with anybody with our starting 22 - especially when healthy - just imagine rotating redshirt Juniors and Seniors in the near future - it is happening folks.

Spot on! Jrs and Srs make a huge difference.. RS Jrs and RS Srs even more so.. That takes year after year after year of steady across the board top level recruiting.. Always recruit in every aspect..

 

[pastorvol]

Great post!!!

 

[vols4evah]

good post

 

[valoisvol]

Good post, we are no different than SMU when they got the death penalty they're still not back. People have to realize we are four recruiting years behind everyone else. So until Butch gets his four years, don't complain

 

[jkleno]

When you have a team down by 17, put your foot on their throat and end the game. Watch the New England Pats- they could care less what the score is- they are going to keep playing their game and demolish their opponent. We have to stop letting teams back in games and this is a clear coaching issue. They truly need to progress. I feel our players are there. They have bought in the system. It's time the coaches (mainly OC) to quit playing tight with the lead and crush our opponents. Truthfully, if the USCe TE hadn't fumbled, I feel they were ready to score a TD and we would have LOST. Imagine what would have been written then.

 

[Boca Vol]

Spot on! Jrs and Srs make a huge difference.. RS Jrs and RS Srs even more so.. That takes year after year after year of steady across the board top level recruiting.. Always recruit in every aspect..

I agree about the upper classmen. But Bama has 20 on their 2-deep that are Fr or Sophs...mostly on offense (WR).

But 11 of the 2-deep front 7 are upper-classmen. That's huge. Conversely, only 5 of their 2-deep OL are upper classmen.

 

[jkleno]

I'll begin by saying depth is what we're missing.


He's already recruited well, coached those recruits up, implemented his system, and shown these youngsters what he expects out of them.

The next step is to continue to recruit well, and continue to do the same things that's made us competitive so early. So that we can have depth behind these young starters and become a deep and developed team. Many ignore this. He's only in year 3. He's had 2 years of good recruiting and developing players.That's only enough time to give this team a solid starting rotation in year 3. We now have that, and imagine if didn't have the injuries we've had. He needs to continue the "process" to develop the depth in year 3 and 4. That's why 2016 was always going to be the year we possibly compete for the East, but everyone bought into the hype. I'm glad we're competing in every game this year, and the fans expectations have changed. We now expect to win the easy ones, and expect to be in the game at the end against the top teams. That's happening! That shows what he is doing is working. Adding depth will put us over that hump, and help us win the close ones in the 4th. People hate to be patient, but patience is what it's going to take. Keep the faith people. He's doing a great job.

Oh and on a side note. Coaches don't just stop learning. I'm confident in saying CBJ learns and takes something away from every game. I'm sure he knows he can be a better coach, learn from the mistakes, and develop himself into the great coach he wants to be for this university. He's not perfect, but he deserves the respect of the fans. Let him finish what he's started, because I believe we'll love the end result.

Also I'm not personally trying to call anyone on volnation out. Just trying to share my opinion, and maybe let people see something in a different perspective.

Thanks for reading, and Go Vols!!!

In my response, I was being more critical of OC Debora, but inevitably it starts with the HC. I would think we should be able to finish off teams by now. Also, I am tired of being outcoached at halftime as well. USCe has a interim HC who really does not know what the heck he is doing, but somehow made better adjustments than us at the half. Combo with an OC Debord who coaches tight with a lead, it nearly cost us another game.

 

[jakez4ut]

When you have a team down by 17, put your foot on their throat and end the game. Watch the New England Pats- they could care less what the score is- they are going to keep playing their game and demolish their opponent. We have to stop letting teams back in games and this is a clear coaching issue. They truly need to progress. I feel our players are there. They have bought in the system. It's time the coaches (mainly OC) to quit playing tight with the lead and crush our opponents. Truthfully, if the USCe TE hadn't fumbled, I feel they were ready to score a TD and we would have LOST. Imagine what would have been written then.

it would have been more piling on from the OU, FL and ARK games. and it would have been valid.

the difference this time was somoene made the play to save the game against SC, where we didn't in the other games. that's the biggest takeaway from the USCe game. WE we made a play that we hadn't shown we could make.

I agree about the upper classmen. But Bama has 20 on their 2-deep that are Fr or Sophs...mostly on offense (WR).

But 11 of the 2-deep front 7 are upper-classmen. That's huge. Conversely, only 5 of their 2-deep OL are upper classmen.

Bama red shirted more 5*'s last year than we have playing right now.

that's a significant difference in their program, and ours....and really most other programs across the country.

5 straight #1 classes will do that for you.

 

[GreyhoundMan]

Agree with OP and as some here have pointed out, a lack of depth is part of the problem with our finishing games. By the time we get to the fourth quarter our starters have to be getting tired.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Agreed, quality recruiting and building depth are very important and the staff is doing that. The biggest problem I see is closing out these games. Is that depth or coaching? I would lean more to coaching because we go into this conservative shell when we build leads into the majority of our games we have lost. It is apparent on offense and defense. For example SC made adjustments and our coaches did not do a great job of countering SC's adjustments. I understand that turnovers and the dropped TD lead to that SC surge in the second half but we have to take control of these game and not allow a team to hang around when we are clearly better.

 

[orangeluvr]

Our 2nd half 'O' stats are dismal due to conservative play calling and adjustments made by opposing defenses that use blitzes on alternating downs. :question:

 

[Boca Vol]

it would have been more piling on from the OU, FL and ARK games. and it would have been valid.

the difference this time was somoene made the play to save the game against SC, where we didn't in the other games. that's the biggest takeaway from the USCe game. WE we made a play that we hadn't shown we could make.


Bama red shirted more 5*'s last year than we have playing right now.

that's a significant difference in their program, and ours....and really most other programs across the country.

5 straight #1 classes will do that for you.

Good point. It certainly helps when your youngins are 4 & 5* players. :good!:

 

[smokey0625]

When you have a team down by 17, put your foot on their throat and end the game. Watch the New England Pats- they could care less what the score is- they are going to keep playing their game and demolish their opponent. We have to stop letting teams back in games and this is a clear coaching issue. They truly need to progress. I feel our players are there. They have bought in the system. It's time the coaches (mainly OC) to quit playing tight with the lead and crush our opponents. Truthfully, if the USCe TE hadn't fumbled, I feel they were ready to score a TD and we would have LOST. Imagine what would have been written then.

We are getting better at this. We won versus the cocks. Also, look at Foreman's development as proof they are developing the roster during the season. Against Florida, he gave little effort to tackle the wr on the game winning td catch. Against sc, he came across the field and forced a fumble when he had no business around the play.

 

[led0321]

Watching the BAMA vs LSU game it was amazing to see the number of Juniors and Seniors starting on Bama's defense.

 

[jkleno]

We are getting better at this. We won versus the cocks. Also, look at Foreman's development as proof they are developingg the roster during the season. Against Florida, he gave little effort to tackle the wr on the gsme winning td catch. Against sc, he came across the field and forced a fumble when he had no business arpund the play.

Nice comment and good comparisons. Making a play at the end was huge. I just hate that it had to get that far. Maybe next year we will be able to turn those 17 point leads into 24 and win a game like USCe by 14 instead of holding our breathe at the end.

 

[40Cap]

Our 2nd half 'O' stats are dismal due to conservative play calling and adjustments made by opposing defenses that use blitzes on alternating downs. :question:

I think our biggest issue against SC was execution. We were actually pretty aggressive with out play-calling, as far pass/run ratio in 2nd half. We just didn't have much success with our run plays, and penalties, turn-overs, drops and slips killed many of our drives. The TD drive, and the FG drive (which would have been TD if not for Malone drop) were both great drives. The bigger negative in the 2nd half was the play of our defense.

 

[Volitourt]

I have not given it 100 percent effort - but WHERE can you find the real ages of college football players - every roster from ESPN/FOX, even the schools themselves do not post their actual age - i got into a good argument about our youth with a Bama fan - its very evident that they are older on defense - expected early NFL and skill players on offense tighen up the age gap a bit with our starting 11 on offense - but I did find out that their true freshman WR - Ridley - he is 20 years old...!

 

[knox73]

Butch and the staff have done superb recruiting. The 4/5 star guys are as good as originally thought, with a couple exceptions, and numerous lower rated players are really good. Their evaluations are spot on. However, the depth problem is very apparent. The best offensive linemen with true SEC potential are true freshmen. Losing Marcus Jackson hurt badly. Playing Jumper and Kirkland at middle LB - Kirkland will be one of the best ever before he leaves - really hurt the defense the first part of the year. An experienced middle LB would have been the difference in a couple of losses. The squad is just now adjusting to the loss of curt Maggitt who was the team leader on defense. The inconsistency in the passing game and fumbles by Dobbs are partly due to the rebuilding offensive line. The staff has done a marvelous job juggling personnel but few, if any Vol offensive or defensive linemen would be playing for the top Sec West schools. The skill players could play for anyone but the linemen no. There are no shortcuts around this rebuild and letting the team mature - I know it is frustrating as the Vols have improved enough to be in striking distance of top teams. The closing out games will not be an issue once comparable SEC calibre line depth is built. The vols will wear down opponents rather than running out of gas in the second half. I predict some blowouts of SEC opponents in 2016 that could seem laughable now.

 

[Volitourt]

Could not agree more.