Ekeler is out - headed to Nebraska

#53
#53
****! The one assistant besides Garner I really wanted to hang onto!

What’s dudes obsession with this guy? Because he has a bit a of a nut job personality? Lol he’s a decent ST coach but not great. Had a crucial roughing the punter play in the Arkansas game, allowed a KR to Vandy of all teams. Also a golden opportunity to replace with an actual good recruiter
 
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#55
#55
You just listed 3 guys that are naturally gifted with ball in hand. I've seen far more fair catches and downed punts that I remember special returns. My point is only that I don't think we are losing some special teams wizard that schemed up key plays that helped us win any games.
Instilling confidence in your return man is a big part of special teams… how much is he didn’t design any special team plays vs heup choosing not to use them… we did block some punts under him and we got an onside kick that we got criticized for up 30… we also recovered a pooch kickoff Vs lsu in Death Valley… I’m not saying he was a “wizard” either but he was a very good coach for us. Don’t move the goalposts now I was responding to you saying you don’t remember any returns. Also good teams rarely should have to fake a punt that’s usually desperation time… our overall special teams units were some of the best in the country we rarely gave up returns of any kind.
 
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#56
#56
He was not a great special teams coach. If he was truly in charge of special teams we can do better. Just one example was placement of punt returners in multiple games. Never made adjustments.
 
#58
#58
Bittersweet for sure - in my opinion, the last few years have been some of the best ALL AROUND special team units Tennessee has ever fielded.
That is all credit to Coach Ek.
Love his passion and enthusiasm for the game.

Other side of the coin, he gets a chance to go coach at his alma mater with better opportunity for advancement.
Realistically, was he eer going to be more than ST Coordinator here at UT?...probably not.
At Nebraska, I think he has a chance to move to other roles and grow his career - I can never be mad at a guy that take that chance.

Thank you for all you have done to advance the brand - GO VOLS !!!
I believe his alma mater is Kansas State
 
#61
#61
You don’t actually believe we get hurt on extra points, do you?
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#65
#65
Besides his great personality, I have no idea if our special teams were good or not. We rarely returned a punt or kick or faked anything.
This, we let so many punts drop and roll for major yardage. I kept wondering if Boo was bad at fair catching or what. Been watching the Vols for a long time, most non punt returns I can remember. Not sure if that was on conservative coaching afraid of a muffed punt or the player lost confidence. I know Boo was supposed to be dynamic, but he was just a freshman, so I digress.
 
#68
#68
He did a good job and I wish him well. Is coach Chop really in the on-deck circle here?
Idk. I don’t think you can afford to lose him honestly. Martinez and Garner likely retire soon. Chop really is talked about by all dline recruits; they seem to love the guy. Would hate to ever lose Garner but if we did chop is the guy I would want.
 
#69
#69
What’s dudes obsession with this guy? Because he has a bit a of a nut job personality? Lol he’s a decent ST coach but not great. Had a crucial roughing the punter play in the Arkansas game, allowed a KR to Vandy of all teams. Also a golden opportunity to replace with an actual good recruiter
He punched Pruitt in the damn mouth; that makes him okay in my book. 😂
 
#73
#73
I wonder if Heupel wanted to part ways to upgrade and told him to look around for something. The timing seems that way. That seems like Heupel’s way of doing things to honor them and not fire them publicly. That’s what I would do for good staff members that you want to upgrade.
 
#75
#75
I would've fired Ek after he didn't have Boo drop back on the Ohio State field goal. That was a coaching fail. Did they not scout the kicker at all? All the Ohio fans around us said, "Watch, this will be 10 yards short."
 
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