Derek Dooley- Year One

#51
#51
I have to go B . Given the expectations going in, I thought they exceeded those just a bit. The positive for me is that we usually started competitive. I do not know of any coach who would have overcome our lack of depth. Other than the two late-game blowups, the problems we had were more a lack of personnel that management.
 
#52
#52
I'd give him a B-. Not bad considering he had "C-" talent and "F" depth to work with.
 
#53
#53
Due to the circumstances and everything that happened from day 1 in Dooleys past year, I'd say he's done a pretty good job. Had limited talent this year and not any depth, but he held the team together and we should have been 8-5. I think everything is going to continue to get better and I believe in Dooley 100%

I'll give em a solid B
 
#56
#56
By not evaluating the prexisting conditions I would give CDD a D. However we all know that this team didn't have a lot going for them. That being said, when I looked at the schedule in the beggining of the year I thought we would win exactly the games we did and that we would loose the games we lost. I also thought there could be a chance we could win one that we weren't suppose too...That didn't happen. But on the flip side, we didn't loose any games we weren't suppose too. C

Recruiting - Did anyone not think we should have had a top 15 or so team? I sure as hell thought we would have. Thats exactly what happened. C. Nothing more, nothing less.

CCD is a great guy and I'm glad he is at Tennessee. However he doesn't deserve a B. He deserves a C.
 
#59
#59
zjcvols said:
Derek Dooley's first year is complete. The football is done, Dooley has his first full, true recruiting class, and we are already looking to year two. So, how did he do in year one? Let's go over some things and give him a final grade.

1. How did he do in-game coaching? Obviously the most important thing for a head coach is...coaching. Well, this one has mixed reviews. In late game situations (LSU, UNC) the team failed miserably. From not running a QB sneak with inches to on 4th down to letting UNC drive down the field and get a FG (albeit some controversial calls), the team could not close out games. Doesn't 8-5 sound a hell of a lot better than 6-7 for the program? The team played solid against the SEC East champion the entire game, and competed very well in the first half of Oregon/Bama and had good gameplans. The sidelines were a zoo till later on the year, and we had too many illegal formation/shift/offsides penalties in my opinion. He did well rallying the team from a bad start and getting to a bowl. You can't put a lot of blame for Dooley against UNC. It was just a lot of help for UNC from the officials. The LSU game you can blame him. Letting Jarrett Lee convert a 4th & 13 just can't happen. And that thirteen men thing.

2. Did the team improve? Yes and no. The offense became better when Tyler Bray was named the starter and had some explosiveness to it. However, against a decent team we probably lose the final two games of the season if we play the way we did. Luckily it was Vandy and Kentucky. The Ole Miss game was impressive and the best game all year, and everything went our way. That was a solid win for this team. The defense didn't seem fixed and while the offensive line gelled pass protection wise, the running game was significantly worse.

3. How much can be blamed on the talent/depth of the team? A lot of it. To be honest, the defense was pathetic talent wise. We had very few bodies at tackle, and our ends were disappointing till late. The backers couldn't run with Bama's offensive line it seemed sometimes and our most consistent corner was playing wide receiver in the spring. The offense had talent, and had good moments, but with a green offensive line (three true freshman and a redshirt freshman started the UNC game), there just wasn't any consistency for the run game. This was, in no way, a nine or ten win team.

4. How did we do against the best team? The most exciting part of the Lane Kiffin era was how we played against the top tier teams. After getting destroyed by Bama and Florida the two previous years, Kiffin was a healthy kicker from shocking Bama and a decent quarterback from beating Florida. This year? It wasn't pretty. We played four good/solid teams (Oregon, LSU, Alabama, USCe) and went 0-4 with a total combined score of 143-61. That's an average loss of 36-15 (21 point loss on average). The team wasn't as good this year, and the depth hurt us a lot. However, we played Oregon and Bama well in the first half. But there is a first half and a second half.

5. How was the recruiting class? For a 6-7 team in the SEC getting a top ten-twelve class...very good. He addressed almost every need (still short on LB's) and pulled in very, very good players. There are guys who can contribute immediately and some interesting prospects for the future. You can't really ask for much else other than a better NSD finish, but it's not like we picked up nobody that week. We obviously need to see results, but in terms of getting good prospects ranking/offer list wise, it's look like we'll be solid as long as Dooley is here.

6. Is there stability? Yes. We only had one coaching casualty with Chuck Smith, but replaced him with someone inside the program who played in the pros. We had some players leave, but that was going to happen no matter who was coach. We haven't had any legal incidents in a while (knock on wood) and the fanbase is at peace for a moment (the first time in a while). Dooley has done a good job calming the storm.

Conclusion: So what's the final verdict? Dooley didn't do anything spectacular for the season. There wasn't any sort of stamp on the season. When your best win is against a 5-7 Ole Miss team, what does that say about the year? The team was young, didn't have a lot of talent, and had to go through another type of system however. The recruiting will help this year and in the future. The talent base is getting better. Jim Chaney and the offense has a bright future and I believe that it will only get better. I'm not sold in any capacity on the defense and Justin Wilcox. You can't show me anything that says Derek Dooley is a championship coach. You can't show me anything that says Derek Dooley won't be a championship coach.

My final grade for year one: B-

Go Vols!!! :hi:
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Douche Bag Kiffen had SIX players drafted. The experience and talent on Lame Kittens team was 2-3 years ahead of this years team. Douche Bags highlights are LOSSES!!! Had he stayed more potential felons would be on this team, attrition would be tremendous, morale terrible. No way they would win 6 games.

Dooley took FRESHMEN and went to a Bowl game that Tennessee likely WON with a 15 yard illegal participation penalty!

To say the defense didn't improve! Did you watch the games?

Dooley had a remarkable season most coaches would have been lucky to win 4 games with this team.
 
#60
#60
If they could have finished against LSU and NC I would have given an A, as is a B. The Goal in 2011 is to finish.
 
#62
#62
BearBryant said:
Douche Bag Kiffen had SIX players drafted. The experience and talent on Lame Kittens team was 2-3 years ahead of this years team. Douche Bags highlights are LOSSES!!! Had he stayed more potential felons would be on this team, attrition would be tremendous, morale terrible. No way they would win 6 games.

Dooley took FRESHMEN and went to a Bowl game that Tennessee likely WON with a 15 yard illegal participation penalty!

To say the defense didn't improve! Did you watch the games?

Dooley had a remarkable season most coaches would have been lucky to win 4 games with this team.
Click to expand...

I agree with you.
 
#65
#65
BearBryant said:
Douche Bag Kiffen had SIX players drafted. The experience and talent on Lame Kittens team was 2-3 years ahead of this years team. Douche Bags highlights are LOSSES!!! Had he stayed more potential felons would be on this team, attrition would be tremendous, morale terrible. No way they would win 6 games.

Dooley took FRESHMEN and went to a Bowl game that Tennessee likely WON with a 15 yard illegal participation penalty!

To say the defense didn't improve! Did you watch the games?

Dooley had a remarkable season most coaches would have been lucky to win 4 games with this team.
Click to expand...


Yes, and the last highlight I have is UNC's 3rd string RB going for 150 and T.J. Yates playing one of the best games of his career.
 
#66
#66
zjcvols said:
Derek Dooley's first year is complete. The football is done, Dooley has his first full, true recruiting class, and we are already looking to year two. So, how did he do in year one? Let's go over some things and give him a final grade.

1. How did he do in-game coaching? Obviously the most important thing for a head coach is...coaching. Well, this one has mixed reviews. In late game situations (LSU, UNC) the team failed miserably. From not running a QB sneak with inches to on 4th down to letting UNC drive down the field and get a FG (albeit some controversial calls), the team could not close out games. Doesn't 8-5 sound a hell of a lot better than 6-7 for the program? The team played solid against the SEC East champion the entire game, and competed very well in the first half of Oregon/Bama and had good gameplans. The sidelines were a zoo till later on the year, and we had too many illegal formation/shift/offsides penalties in my opinion. He did well rallying the team from a bad start and getting to a bowl. You can't put a lot of blame for Dooley against UNC. It was just a lot of help for UNC from the officials. The LSU game you can blame him. Letting Jarrett Lee convert a 4th & 13 just can't happen. And that thirteen men thing.

2. Did the team improve? Yes and no. The offense became better when Tyler Bray was named the starter and had some explosiveness to it. However, against a decent team we probably lose the final two games of the season if we play the way we did. Luckily it was Vandy and Kentucky. The Ole Miss game was impressive and the best game all year, and everything went our way. That was a solid win for this team. The defense didn't seem fixed and while the offensive line gelled pass protection wise, the running game was significantly worse.

3. How much can be blamed on the talent/depth of the team? A lot of it. To be honest, the defense was pathetic talent wise. We had very few bodies at tackle, and our ends were disappointing till late. The backers couldn't run with Bama's offensive line it seemed sometimes and our most consistent corner was playing wide receiver in the spring. The offense had talent, and had good moments, but with a green offensive line (three true freshman and a redshirt freshman started the UNC game), there just wasn't any consistency for the run game. This was, in no way, a nine or ten win team.

4. How did we do against the best team? The most exciting part of the Lane Kiffin era was how we played against the top tier teams. After getting destroyed by Bama and Florida the two previous years, Kiffin was a healthy kicker from shocking Bama and a decent quarterback from beating Florida. This year? It wasn't pretty. We played four good/solid teams (Oregon, LSU, Alabama, USCe) and went 0-4 with a total combined score of 143-61. That's an average loss of 36-15 (21 point loss on average). The team wasn't as good this year, and the depth hurt us a lot. However, we played Oregon and Bama well in the first half. But there is a first half and a second half.

5. How was the recruiting class? For a 6-7 team in the SEC getting a top ten-twelve class...very good. He addressed almost every need (still short on LB's) and pulled in very, very good players. There are guys who can contribute immediately and some interesting prospects for the future. You can't really ask for much else other than a better NSD finish, but it's not like we picked up nobody that week. We obviously need to see results, but in terms of getting good prospects ranking/offer list wise, it's look like we'll be solid as long as Dooley is here.

6. Is there stability? Yes. We only had one coaching casualty with Chuck Smith, but replaced him with someone inside the program who played in the pros. We had some players leave, but that was going to happen no matter who was coach. We haven't had any legal incidents in a while (knock on wood) and the fanbase is at peace for a moment (the first time in a while). Dooley has done a good job calming the storm.

Conclusion: So what's the final verdict? Dooley didn't do anything spectacular for the season. There wasn't any sort of stamp on the season. When your best win is against a 5-7 Ole Miss team, what does that say about the year? The team was young, didn't have a lot of talent, and had to go through another type of system however. The recruiting will help this year and in the future. The talent base is getting better. Jim Chaney and the offense has a bright future and I believe that it will only get better. I'm not sold in any capacity on the defense and Justin Wilcox. You can't show me anything that says Derek Dooley is a championship coach. You can't show me anything that says Derek Dooley won't be a championship coach.

My final grade for year one: B-

Go Vols!!! :hi:
Click to expand...

Not that I disagree with your assesment at all. I am a bit curious how you would rate Fulmers 1st complete year. I think alot of us forgot it took Fulmer till year 6 to make it to the SEC title game.
 
#67
#67
93AllvolSc said:
Not that I disagree with your assesment at all. I am a bit curious how you would rate Fulmers 1st complete year. I think alot of us forgot it took Fulmer till year 6 to make it to the SEC title game.
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with a full roster....:twocents:
 
#69
#69
Escape Goat said:
B- because we beat everyone we should have minus UNC (yes I know we were dogs in this game).
I would have given an A had we not had TONS of sub issues multiple times, and beat a team we had no business beating ex: LSU.

All in all a great year, and look forward to more with Dooley at the helm.
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Just speculative but any one else think the sideline shenanigans left last weekend ?
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#70
#70
93AllvolSc said:
Not that I disagree with your assesment at all. I am a bit curious how you would rate Fulmers 1st complete year. I think alot of us forgot it took Fulmer till year 6 to make it to the SEC title game.
Click to expand...

I didn't watch the 1993 season, so I wouldn't know to be honest. For what it's worth, I would have given Kiffin a B- for the regular season.
 
#71
#71
zjcvols said:
Yes, and the last highlight I have is UNC's 3rd string RB going for 150 and T.J. Yates playing one of the best games of his career.
Click to expand...

Our two-minute defense was horrendous throughout the year. But our defense against North Carolina during the other 56 minutes of the game was outstanding. They didn't score a single point between their two-minute drive in the first half and their two-minute drive in the second half.

So I'd say the defense as a whole improved, but there were still parts of it lagging behind.

Overall, I give the season a B. Would've gone A if we'd won LSU and Carolina. Might've gone B- if I didn't love his press conferences so much.
 
#72
#72
Incipient said:
Our two-minute defense was horrendous throughout the year. But our defense against North Carolina during the other 56 minutes of the game was outstanding. They didn't score a single point between their two-minute drive in the first half and their two-minute drive in the second half.

So I'd say the defense as a whole improved, but there were still parts of it lagging behind.

Overall, I give the season a B. Would've gone A if we'd won LSU and Carolina. Might've gone B- if I didn't love his press conferences so much.
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I wouldn't call it outstanding by any means. What helped was he ripped off a 60 yarder, but still, I didn't think we played great by any means. That team was not a juggernaut.
 
#73
#73
TAF said:
I would say B+ for year 1. CDD is/was certainly above average.

And…although I enjoyed and appreciated the OP's post and agree with most all of his points...

The reason I say B+ over his B- is I feel the OP left out a category that MUST be considered. And that is the total state/abysmal disarrayof the UT Football organization that was inherited…which was more than a mess.
CDD's professionalism, organizational skills and demeanor were (and continue to be) EXCEPTIONAL, especially considering what the organization looked like 13 months ago.

Are we in much better hands and heading in a much better direction than we have in years? Yes.

Just my 2 cents...
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I agree on all points about the state of the program. Plus Bar Knox hitting shortly after he got here and how that was handled. That LSU game erases any pluses though and I score him a B.


Edit: suprised no one scored him a DD.
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