I Drank The Kool-Aid

[rexvol]

On running the ball, at what point is it coaching and scheme? You mean Cal State Sacramento can rush for almost twice what Tennessee did against Montana and that's not coaching?

If you can't run against florida, fine. If you can't run against Montana, it's coaching. We definitely need an upgrade in talent at RB to run against good SEC teams, but poole is good enough for our out of conference games.

As several posters have pointed out, we're actually worse at running the ball this year. Explain that with something other than coaching.

from a poster on TOS

 

[DERELICK_MY_VOLS]

Our program simply has to keep recruiting the best athletes we can get at all positions...depth, depth, depth period. We simply can't afford to lose a Hunter, Janzen, and Bray level of player....the talent drop off is not fair.

Why Dooley was a river boat gambler early in the season and Saturday night he turned into Fulmer on a couple of those 4th downs is besides me....but it bit us in the tail...damned if you do damned if you don't I guess.

The phantom pass interference calls on Vereen yet the obvious pass interference calls on our receivers....especially on Rivera in the endzone....was frustrating not to get....especially at home but it is what it is....and it seemed to rattle the passing game IMO.

Point blank this team has shown flashes of being really good on both sides of the ball. This season is going to be tough to swallow but Dooley spoke of scars....well I guess he knew what he was talking about. He also said before the season started during every presser we still are not a very good football team. The staff has seen these flashes of greatness but getting these youngsters to do it for 60 minutes has been the tough task to accomplish....this is where the youth factor keeps showing its head IMO.

 

[DC Vol]

Well, the question is "coaching" or "scheme". You could take one of the best OLs in history in the 80s Redskins or 90s Cowboys and put them into Mike Shanahans ZBS and they'd suck.

It seems like we're recruiting for a power running game but trying to force them into a scheme that doesn't fit their abilities.




Someone correct me if I'm wrong, namely OhioVol or whoever it is that is a coach and knows OL inside and out.

 

[rexvol]

This program is not at the point where it can lose 3 players as talented as Jackson, Hunter, and now Bray without having a serious drop off.

The problem I see... and honestly predicted awhile back... is that fans are turning on Dooley before he has been given a reasonable chance to succeed. I have never thought UT could afford to give him more than 3 or 4 years... and the reactions to this loss are a BIG part of the reason why. Some of the same people formerly saying "he's the guy" or "he has to be given 5 years" or.... whatever... are now calling for his head and carping about being outcoached.

Answer one question. What position group does UT have 2-deep that is as talented as UGA's 2-deep? The answer: prior to this game... QB. Nothing else.

So until the current talent gets experience and gets added on to... the question is "Did Dooley fail to find the coaching answers or did the talent limitations leave too few options to find?"

what will turn the fans on CDD is not the loss, but how inept we looked losing.

 

[rexvol]

Well, to clarify some opining I've laid forth...


I thought Dooley had a chance to be able to make it past 4 years. Now I don't see that possibility. Firing him now would be insane as nobody would take this job. At least Dooley is doing a knockout job recruiting. Let him at least restock the talent level and roster with an even 20-20-20-25 (Sr/Jr/So/Fr) roster like most schools have and a replenished OL/DL.


He's doing that right. The UGA game proved a series of errors that are becoming patterns... and proving that he is more Shula and less Saban. He's not the answer.... he's the stopgap. In a way, he's a great Strategic general but a terrible Tactical one.


Perhaps that will change? Who knows. Maybe he fires Heistand and pulls in a guy that can actually squeeze out the talent we do have and Chaney adjusts his scheme away from zone-blocking. Dooley must make personnel changes if he wants to survive and the first one on the chopping block is Heistand. The Offensive Line has regressed from last year with the same people. That doesn't bode well for the OL Coach.

he is not doing a "knock out job" in recruiting. He's doing a good job, above average even, but not elite by any stretch.

 

[rexvol]

Good post Rex....as a bystander in the stands with no dog in the hunt I thought TN was doing well to have it tied at 6 at the half. My concern was with the safety help over the top on the posts with the dbs on an island. You have to keep them in front of you regardless. Once UGA got the 2 possession lead I knew it was going to be an uphill battle. The run game again is what was most disappointing even with the fans I was around.

Our OLine as a whole has been a huge disappointment, moreso than anything else. We are worse than last year and that falls squarely on the staff. The alignment mistakes also had me concerned.

 

[ob79]

The team needs to learn how to win again and develop short term memories b/c mistakes and injuries take a noticeable toll on them when they happen.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Bottom line, we do nothing to scare opposing SEC defenses. They throw the kitchen sink at our line and dare us to throw them out of it. Bray could not against Georgia. Simms will not in the coming weeks.

 

[EZE]

1) I thought we were better than we are. The reality is that we are just super young and not a very good team.

2) Our margin for error is so slim that we just cannot afford to make any mistakes.

3) I love Dooley, but we looked like a poorly coached team Saturday.

4) I heard all week about how sloppy we looked in practice and the reality is that you play like you practice.

5) Bray had his worst game as a Vol and was customarily inaccurate. He couldnt hit that 10 to 20 yard out and that's normally is strength.

6) What can you say about our O Line? Have we overestimated the talent or is it coaching?

7) Im not going to lie, this one hurt me. I honestly thought this would be a statement win for CDD and for the program. The truth is that we were seriously outclassed by a team that middle of the pack in the SEC.

8) Why we didnt give Da'Rick more of an opportunity to make a play mystifies me. Find a way to get your #1 play maker a chance to make a play. Thats on CJC imo.

9) Despite the big plays I was actually impressed with out Defense. In the years to come they will be a strength, book it.

10) Hard to understand why we didnt take some chances with blitzes in the 2nd half. What did we have to lose?

11) Simms looks like he panics way too easily. Maybe we wont see that after he gets all the 1st team snaps this week.

12) Im so tired of losing. Will it ever end?

I am disappointed in how the team has failed to play well against two East rivals that aren't exactly worldbeaters.

I love Dooley, but am starting to doubt that he is going to be a great coach. His strenth seems to be more in the administrative part of things. It is one thing to organize practice and have everything in its place, and quite another thing to get a team ready to play. Only time will tell.

And this takes me to my next point. Regardless of the results, it would be disastrous to make any coaching changes for at least one more (and I would say two). The one thing I think Dooley can at least do is get a full roster of decent talent.

I am hoping that he can coach it to success. But if he can't at least the cupboard will not be completely bare if we have to hire (yet again) another coach.

Finally, Fulmer IS NOT THE ANSWER AND WAS NOT THE ANSWER WHEN HE WAS FIRED.

 

[VolClass75]

"Perhaps that will change? Who knows. Maybe he fires Heistand and pulls in a guy that can actually squeeze out the talent we do have and Chaney adjusts his scheme away from zone-blocking. Dooley must make personnel changes if he wants to survive and the first one on the chopping block is Heistand. The Offensive Line has regressed from last year with the same people. That doesn't bode well for the OL Coach."

I totally agree DCVol. I don't know how Heistand coaches but the OL is bad. And if we think it looks bad now, wait until LSU and Bama attack it. Bray may be lucky he got a broken thumb against Georgia. I also don't think Chaney is a good OC for the SEC. He might be a good QB coach, but not an OC. Do any of you remember Bray getting pissed on the field and coming off mouthing and shaking his head? I don't think it was because they were losing or the plays were coming in late, I think it was for what was being called. If you watch the replay, take a look at how many times Da'rick ran an jogging out pattern. He wasn't in the play. The middle was wide open all night and Rogers is running an up and out? :whistling:

 

[VolsSportsFan]

The Vols really need to find a way to beat SC, as they are the only team left that I think they have a decent shot of winning that they aren't supposed to beat.

 

[Jmavols2]

The team needs to learn how to win again and develop short term memories b/c mistakes and injuries take a noticeable toll on them when they happen.

I agree but the thing is this team has never won consistently!so it's hardfor them to know how to react to unfortunate circumstances. Plus we don't have the quality depth to come in and replace someone when they get hurt

 

[Joe Vols]

Well, to clarify some opining I've laid forth...


I thought Dooley had a chance to be able to make it past 4 years. Now I don't see that possibility. Firing him now would be insane as nobody would take this job. At least Dooley is doing a knockout job recruiting. Let him at least restock the talent level and roster with an even 20-20-20-25 (Sr/Jr/So/Fr) roster like most schools have and a replenished OL/DL.


He's doing that right. The UGA game proved a series of errors that are becoming patterns... and proving that he is more Shula and less Saban. He's not the answer.... he's the stopgap. In a way, he's a great Strategic general but a terrible Tactical one.


Perhaps that will change? Who knows. Maybe he fires Heistand and pulls in a guy that can actually squeeze out the talent we do have and Chaney adjusts his scheme away from zone-blocking. Dooley must make personnel changes if he wants to survive and the first one on the chopping block is Heistand. The Offensive Line has regressed from last year with the same people. That doesn't bode well for the OL Coach.

I'm not saying DD should be fired, but everyone who is spreading the gloom and doom if he was to get fired are wrong.

A proven coach might not come here for the $2 million that DD is getting paid, which is paultry by SEC standards. Only one coach that we know of makes less than DD and that is Joker at UK, then of course we don't know what James Franklin makes at Vandy.

Bump it up to $4+ million like Bama did to get Saban, and you will have coaches standing in line to take this job. Wins and loss records aren't what makes a coaching gig inticing, it's all about the money.

Bump it up S8 million and you could probably get Saban himself. The right coach would pull in recruits period.

It all comes down to how bad we want the coach.

 

[LA Vol]

what will turn the fans on CDD is not the loss, but how inept we looked losing.

This. If we had played them hard and lost, it would have been different. The game was not as close as the scoreboard indicated-- for UGA or UF. The lack of talent is much easier to swallow than the lack of discipline, focus and determination. Bonehead penalties, poor clock management and not lining up correctly are getting old, too.

 

[slobberknocker]

The Vols really need to find a way to beat SC, as they are the only team left that I think they have a decent shot of winning that they aren't supposed to beat.

I thought so too, but not now that Bray is out.

 

[teeball]

I have a feeling they put way to much pressure on that first drive...then after the bad snap, team got down on themselves.

It's that dumb "the first five minutes" mantra garbage. Rarely does any five minutes determine the outcome of any game. Maybe it would be best not to focus so intently on the first 5 minutes of the second half and instead focus on consistency for the entire "60" minutes.

Go Vols !!!

 

[LA Vol]

Beat UK. Or else straw, meet camel.

 

[Big Slick]

I'm not much of an X's and O's guy, but re: our o-line...

Is it possible that after having a full season of film to study of our line and their tendencies, that opposing D's have started to figure them out a bit? Can blocking schemes be telegraphed? Maybe we weren't so atrocious last year because the opposing D's didn't quite have a read on us yet (I know this is Chaney's third year here, but only Hiestand's second).

Not sure if line play is sophisticated enough for this to be a possibility...just throwing it out there. I just can't imagine why there's been such regression from this unit.

 

[Cecil Basil]

The bottom line is, we are now Louisiana Tech.

 

[GBO128]

Completely agree with #8. We clearly aren't built to pound the ball on the ground but did anyone else notice we really only ran about 4 different running plays. The draw up the middle, the sweep plays, fb fake pitch out and the Neal reverse. Each of these worked 1 time for positive yards but we ran them 3-4 times for nothing or losses. Our strength is throwing the ball. I don't know why CJC decided we needed to run every first down when 2nd and 2-4 looks a lot better than 2nd and 12-14. Offensively, we beat ourselves, the pressure they had in the 2nd half was only in times when it was obvious passing downs and they were bringing the heat. I really want to see the way we play offensively with UK and Vandy. I will hold off judgement on Heistrand and Chaney until then, but they have to do something.

 

[LA Vol]

Our strength is no longer throwing the ball. Sack city for Simms.

 

[Volview]

I don't remember anyone saying "Wait till next year" last year.

I thought they arrived a bit early with JHunter.

 

[sjt18]

What you say is true, but some people never thought Dooley was the guy. While some-- probably most-- were willing to give him a shot, he keeps reinforcing the opinion that he is in over his head. If he had walked into a better situation, his planning would have set him up for success. But he walked into a terrible situation that has worsened, and his inexperience is making it more difficult to rise above the blows this program is being dealt. We're past planning; we're putting out fires.

I disagree. I don't think Dooley has panicked. Except for the injury to Hunter, the other contingencies seem to have been accounted for as well as can be expected at this point. I honestly don't buy the "in over his head" argument at all except for game day. He seems to be VERY good at managing a program from team discipline off the field to practice mgt.

The jury is out on his game day/game planning abilities IMO. He has beaten the teams he should have beaten and lost to the teams he should have lost to... nothing is proven.

The team appears poorly prepared, apathetic, mistake-prone and slow to adjust, and the coaches need to fix this.

I don't know that this is true. They certainly don't look "apathetic" to me.

Preparation, mistakes, and ability to adjust are just as much a function of experience as coaching if not more so.

The fanbase is just beaten down and disgusted, and the light way down in the tunnel just went out.

I am not trying to make excuses for DD. He knew what it was. He should get a "reasonable" amount of time to move the program in a clearly positive direction or lose his job.

At the same time, I don't buy excuses for a fanbase that should know better than to lay blame at Dooley's feet at this point. The decisions and actions of Fulmer plus Kiffin are still more of a factor than Dooley's failures. Next year, you can't say that nearly as much. By the following year you cannot say it at all.

I still think we will know by the end of next season whether Dooley will be able to get it done at UT or not.

What will be interesting is the reaction of the stone throwers if Dooley goes on to success elsewhere.

 

[sjt18]

Our strength is no longer throwing the ball. Sack city for Simms.

OL is better at pass protection than it was early last year. He still can't hold it all day but he will have sufficient time.

The bigger problem is that he appears to only have one and maybe two SEC caliber receivers to throw to.

 

[Volview]

Why can't a center snap with the left hand? Why is that a no-no?
Posted via VolNation Mobile

I can understand using the right for under center...wierd angle and ackward.

Would stone be able to switch hands without a false start if the QB went from under center to shotgun on an audible?