Early returns very strong for James Cregg

#1
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MikeHamiltonFan

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#1
Inasmuch as I was bashed on here for saying I was not impressed with Frank Wilson thus far and hope his results in coaching and recruiting improve, I want it to be clear that this is still a work in progress with every member of the coaching staff. With that caveat I think it is safe to say even at this early juncture that James Cregg is doing a great job.

He missed in recruiting on George Uko, and Ronald Powell, but look at who he brought. Tyler Bray, and Fulton the offensive lineman the staff loves most so far.

Cregg was a California high school football star and played very well as an O lineman for Colorado State. He worked as an assistant coach with the current coach of Az State (and I would think would be a good guy to try to talk to Bruce Irvin again if we want him back).

The guy along with Kiffin has lots of contacts in California and is doing great on the recruiting side. We are still in it for his recruits, Dietrich Riley, Josh Shirley and Kenny Stills (who he got out here on a visit) and also he is the guy recruiting Cullen who is here this weekend, a stud JUCO OL guy.

As far as coaching, people are happy to excuse Wilson because of the low talent level. Well our O Line was absolutely horrible last year. Clawson had them confused. The guy predicted by most as our best offensive lineman in McNeil has not played a snap all year and has a completely shredded career ending knee injury.

I think the Oline has been much improved this year. With a thin group we managed to make good holes for our RB's and give Crompton protection as a passer.

Early returns on James Cregg are very encouraging and I feel like he is a diamond in the rough in terms of a MUCH better recruiter than most thought, but also a great coach. If he can take a line next year that is going to be at best:
JUCO Cullen
Prep School Morgan Moses
Early Enrollee Leifheit
Early Enrollee JaWuan James
EE Fulton and EE Jose Jose
and existing guys no one thinks very highly of and make an O Line that can protect a skinny true freshman, I think he has got to start being considered one of the best assistants on the staff.
 
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#2
#2
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Inasmuch as I was bashed on here for saying I was not impressed with Frank Wilson thus far and hope his results in coaching and recruiting improve, I want it to be clear that this is still a work in progress with every member of the coaching staff. With that caveat I think it is safe to say even at this early juncture that James Cregg is doing a great job.

He missed in recruiting on George Uko, and Ronald Powell, but look at who he brought. Tyler Bray, and Fulton the offensive lineman the staff loves most so far.

Cregg is a California high school football star and played very well as an O lineman for Colorado State. He worked as an assistant coach with the current coach of Az State (and I would think would be a good guy to try to talk to Bruce Irvin again if we want him back).

The guy along with Kiffin has lots of contacts in California and is doing great on the recruiting side. We are still in it for his recruits, Dietrich Riley, Josh Shirley and Kenny Stills (who he got out here on a visit) and also he is the guy recruiting Cullen who is here this weekend, a stud JUCO OL guy.

As far as coaching, people are happy to excuse Wilson because of the low talent level. Well our O Line was absolutely horrible last year. Clawson had them confused. The guy predicted by most as our best offensive lineman in McNeil has not played a snap all year and has a completely shredded career ending knee injury.

I think the Oline has been much improved this year. With a thin group we managed to make good holes for our RB's and give Crompton protection as a passer.

Early returns on James Cregg are very encouraging and I feel like he is a diamond in the rough in terms of a MUCH better recruiter than most thought, but also a great coach. If he can take a line next year that is going to be at best:
JUCO Cullen
Prep School Morgan Moses
Early Enrollee Leifheit
Early Enrollee JaWuan James
EE Fulton and EE Jose Jose
and existing guys no one thinks very highly of and make an O Line that can protect a skinny true freshman, I think he has got to start being considered one of the best assistants on the staff.
Click to expand...

I agree. However, give all of these coaches time. Kiffin went through a rigorous process to hire each and everyone of these coaches. They all came with high praises from experienced people in the profession. If Ed Orgeron and Lane Kiffin thinks that Frank Wilson is a quality coach, then so do I.
 
#3
#3
volsfan75 said:
I agree. However, give all of these coaches time. Kiffin went through a rigorous process to hire each and everyone of these coaches. They all came with high praises from experienced people in the profession. If Ed Orgeron and Lane Kiffin thinks that Frank Wilson is a quality coach, then so do I.
Click to expand...

Getting rid of Mark Smith actually is also a very good sign to me because it means that unlike under the previous regime, guys who are not cutting it will not stick around for 5 years.
 
#4
#4
I agree. O Line is improved. Will need to fight hard this weekend. I hope it rains and we run the ball down their throats for 400 yards. Wishful thinking I know.
 
#5
#5
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Getting rid of Mark Smith actually is also a very good sign to me because it means that unlike under the previous regime, guys who are not cutting it will not stick around for 5 years.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the only problem is that Mark Smith "not cutting it" had nothing to do with his departure.
 
#6
#6
yea the o line has improved, and they are lacking in depth. we have 2 walk ons starting on the line and the pass protection has been pretty good each game, and the running game has been strong with hardesty leading the sec in rushing still. just imagine what we could do with 5 stud recruits in 4 years
 
#7
#7
Ok, I have been out of the country for a few weeks and not staying on top of things here but did I totally miss something...what do you mean he missed on Uko, I didn't know he had signed.
 
#8
#8
I have to agree with the assesment of Cregg. I admit that I used to cringe every time I heard "zone blocking" used at UT. However, the improvement in the run blocking this year is phenominal considering what UT has to work with.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#9
#9
Volmorning said:
I have to agree with the assesment of Cregg. I admit that I used to cringe every time I heard "zone blocking" used at UT. However, the improvement in the run blocking this year is phenominal considering what UT has to work with.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

This is not your Fulmer/Adkins zone scheme that would be used here and there with lineman not physically suited to running it efficiently.
 
#10
#10
volsfan75 said:
If Ed Orgeron and Lane Kiffin thinks that Frank Wilson is a quality coach, then so do I.
Click to expand...

This is where the affirmative action, politically correct thinking in our society can actually cost qualified black people. In spite of myself... when the thread critical of Wilson was hot and heavy my mind drifted back to the fact that the staff got criticism for not being very "colorful" before Wilson and Garza were added at the end.

I hope Wilson is a great coach... and truly wish we could have a genuinely colorblind society. But the PC stuff makes it hard not to wonder.
 
#11
#11
You might want to give a tip of the hat for the excellent OL play to Mitch Browning as well. It's way too early to judge the coaching staff.:hi:
 
#12
#12
air_force_vol said:
Ok, I have been out of the country for a few weeks and not staying on top of things here but did I totally miss something...what do you mean he missed on Uko, I didn't know he had signed.
Click to expand...

George eliminated us to focus on schools out west.
http://www.volnation.com/forum/tennessee-vols-recruiting/70160-10-ca-dt-george-uko-6.html
Apparently Rivals was wrong and he will not be visiting this weekend. I would love to be wrong on that.

Ronald Powell is down to USC and Florida. We need to all hope that he is going to USC. It is rumored his mom has been looking at places in Gainesville. I am not going to lie and pretend I did not want both guys but:

I think if we end up keeping J Smith and the Byrnes boys and pick up Kelcy Quarles or Todd Chandler which is very possible we will not miss Powell or Uko too much.
We also could possibly get Lemonier at DE as well.

If we did that and Powell stayed at USC I would be so happy. We could finally start closing the talent gap a little with Florida this class, but after watching us play them this year, I think we can beat them even if they have more talent because I truly believe we have better coaching.
 
#13
#13
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Inasmuch as I was bashed on here for saying I was not impressed with Frank Wilson thus far and hope his results in coaching and recruiting improve, I want it to be clear that this is still a work in progress with every member of the coaching staff. With that caveat I think it is safe to say even at this early juncture that James Cregg is doing a great job.

He missed in recruiting on George Uko, and Ronald Powell, but look at who he brought. Tyler Bray, and Fulton the offensive lineman the staff loves most so far.

Cregg was a California high school football star and played very well as an O lineman for Colorado State. He worked as an assistant coach with the current coach of Az State (and I would think would be a good guy to try to talk to Bruce Irvin again if we want him back).

The guy along with Kiffin has lots of contacts in California and is doing great on the recruiting side. We are still in it for his recruits, Dietrich Riley, Josh Shirley and Kenny Stills (who he got out here on a visit) and also he is the guy recruiting Cullen who is here this weekend, a stud JUCO OL guy.

As far as coaching, people are happy to excuse Wilson because of the low talent level. Well our O Line was absolutely horrible last year. Clawson had them confused. The guy predicted by most as our best offensive lineman in McNeil has not played a snap all year and has a completely shredded career ending knee injury.

I think the Oline has been much improved this year. With a thin group we managed to make good holes for our RB's and give Crompton protection as a passer.

Early returns on James Cregg are very encouraging and I feel like he is a diamond in the rough in terms of a MUCH better recruiter than most thought, but also a great coach. If he can take a line next year that is going to be at best:
JUCO Cullen
Prep School Morgan Moses
Early Enrollee Leifheit
Early Enrollee JaWuan James
EE Fulton and EE Jose Jose
and existing guys no one thinks very highly of and make an O Line that can protect a skinny true freshman, I think he has got to start being considered one of the best assistants on the staff.
Click to expand...

Until the LOI is signed you cannot count any recruits yet.
 
#14
#14
MikeHamiltonFan said:
Inasmuch as I was bashed on here for saying I was not impressed with Frank Wilson thus far and hope his results in coaching and recruiting improve, I want it to be clear that this is still a work in progress with every member of the coaching staff. With that caveat I think it is safe to say even at this early juncture that James Cregg is doing a great job.

He missed in recruiting on George Uko, and Ronald Powell, but look at who he brought. Tyler Bray, and Fulton the offensive lineman the staff loves most so far.

Cregg was a California high school football star and played very well as an O lineman for Colorado State. He worked as an assistant coach with the current coach of Az State (and I would think would be a good guy to try to talk to Bruce Irvin again if we want him back).

The guy along with Kiffin has lots of contacts in California and is doing great on the recruiting side. We are still in it for his recruits, Dietrich Riley, Josh Shirley and Kenny Stills (who he got out here on a visit) and also he is the guy recruiting Cullen who is here this weekend, a stud JUCO OL guy.

As far as coaching, people are happy to excuse Wilson because of the low talent level. Well our O Line was absolutely horrible last year. Clawson had them confused. The guy predicted by most as our best offensive lineman in McNeil has not played a snap all year and has a completely shredded career ending knee injury.

I think the Oline has been much improved this year. With a thin group we managed to make good holes for our RB's and give Crompton protection as a passer.

Early returns on James Cregg are very encouraging and I feel like he is a diamond in the rough in terms of a MUCH better recruiter than most thought, but also a great coach. If he can take a line next year that is going to be at best:
JUCO Cullen
Prep School Morgan Moses
Early Enrollee Leifheit
Early Enrollee JaWuan James
EE Fulton and EE Jose Jose
and existing guys no one thinks very highly of and make an O Line that can protect a skinny true freshman, I think he has got to start being considered one of the best assistants on the staff.
Click to expand...

I'd be willing to bet that Douglas and Schoefield will be in the starting line-up. Cullen would be a great add.
 
#15
#15
VolinDawgland said:
This is not your Fulmer/Adkins zone scheme that would be used here and there with lineman not physically suited to running it efficiently.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Remember Cheney was an offensive line coach with the Rams as well, so we have several guys with experience coaching the line. The o-line coaches we have now make Adkins look like a middle school coach.
 
#16
#16
Just can't believe any Coach could be questioned for anything this early.........
 
#19
#19
sMi.Spite said:
Give Mitch Browning some love too.
Click to expand...

This is a good point as far as coaching. Mitch Browning works with the guards and centers primarily right? Our OL coach has the OL coach for Minnesota during many of its best rushing years who was offensive coordinator at Syracuse working under him as a GA.

He also has Jim Chaney working above him as O Coordinator, a guy who was a recruiting coordinator at Purdue, who brought on a guy named Drew Brees and coached him and who most recently was coaching the OL in the NFL for the Rams.

Chaney has to get some of the credit also for Fulton and credit for Fugate but it would seem other than that he is on no one big except Ricky Heimuli who eliminated us before his top 5.

I do not know who Browning is working on for recruiting. He cannot contact recruits off campus except via phone. The below article is exciting though:

"Mitch's trademark is a dominant offense with an effective running game and an efficient throwing game to create a balanced attack," Robinson said. "He directs offenses that advance the ball downfield and score points. He creates a balanced attack."


The Daily Orange - Starting over: Mitch Browning was hired to fix the Syracuse offense. The no-nonsense coach is not afraid to change everything

Browning will tell you the key to any offense, and especially his system, is the offensive line. The line's struggles doomed Syracuse last year, too often leaving Andrew Robinson on his back.

That's why Browning spends so much time with SU's offensive line. He sees the playmakers - a stacked group of running backs and an all-Big East receiver in Mike Williams - and assumes if he fixes the offensive line, he can fix SU's offense.

Knowing this, it's understandable why Browning is so neurotic when it comes to his lineman's fundamentals. Coupled with his straight-shooting nature, Browning has no problem calling his players out.

Ryan Durand found that out in a hurry. The first time the SU senior guard ever met Browning, the coach invited him into his office, only to spend the next several minutes confronting Durand about a missed assignment that led to sack in a September loss to Illinois.

"He was just like 'What the hell were you doing?'" Durand said. "That doesn't happen very often. I was like, 'Oh, here we go.'"

But more than just blocking technique is being refined. Browning issued his much-publicized 300-pound edict - that all his offensive linemen had to be at or around 300 pounds or they wouldn't play.

That was just an extension of the discipline Browning preaches on the field. Overweight players get tired. Tired players make mistakes, and Browning won't let his offense have many of those.

He wants things done the way he wants them done," said rising sophomore guard Adam Rosner, who has lost 30 pounds since Browning's arrival, down from 330. "You mess up once? That's alright. You mess up twice? He starts getting angry. You mess up three times? He'll kick you in your butt. He's very focused."


It makes me believe he will be part of the solution with Cregg getting Jose Jose to lose twenty more pounds starting in January.
 
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