Lane on Departures

#301
#301
Alright SC fan, this is a test. Who do you think is better, Eric Berry or Taylor Mays?
 
#302
#302
JZVOL said:
The second half of the UCLA game wasn't pretty. Though I'll admit I've tried to forget most of that game so I could be wrong.
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3rd and long from the 5 for a hapless Auburn O was the deal killer for me on our D.
 
#307
#307
justingroves said:
Tennessee's D wasn't a problem in any game last year.
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I know I'm new here, however, ease up on the hyperbole. No matter how bad your offense was last year, your defense still allowed a QB at ucla(who absolutely sucked donkey) to win the game in the 2nd half. They were shredded by UF(well your special teams were). Yes I remember the turnovers, however, the UT defense allowed a huge 3rd down conversion rate in that game too.

Auburn's offense was a mess, so I'm not sure how much you want to take from that.

Northern Illionois? C'mon...that's like UF bragging about playing The Citadel.

Against UGA, your defense allowed Georgia to gain 458 yards on 81 plays. Yes I know your offense was anemic last year, however, 81 plays is a lot no matter how you slice it...and that was against a UGA team that was decimated along their Oline.

Against South Carolina, who had one of the worst offenses in the conference, the UT defense gave up 26 points. I mean it was 21-0 at one point.

Look, I am not trying to slam UT in the least...I like the Volunteer program. They're not afraid to play big OOC games...even on the road, however, your team was a mess last year. And while your defense was strong, it still was not the caliber that you or I have grown accustommed to over the years. Yes I know your offense put them back on the field a lot, however, the writing was on the wall back in September with that moumental collapse against the bRuins.
 
#308
#308
615 Vol said:
Alright SC fan, this is a test. Who do you think is better, Eric Berry or Taylor Mays?
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I'll let Taylor Mays answer that question.

Let's ask USC's Taylor Mays who's the nation's best safety
May 5, 2009 3:30 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller
USC's Taylor Mays is never going to be called modest, and he almost always speaks his mind, so when he's asked about Tennessee's Eric Berry -- Mays' rival for the unofficial title of nation's best safety -- what fuels his response might be surprising.
<table width="200" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"> <tbody><tr> <td> </td> <td>
ncf_u_mays_200.jpg
</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td align="left">Gary A. Vasquez/US Presswire</td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> <td align="left">Taylor Mays skipped an early shot at the NFL and returned for his senior season at USC.</td> </tr> </tbody></table> A lot of respect.
Given a chance to proclaim his supremacy, even in a tongue-in-cheek way, Mays plays the question straight, his tone taking on a rare seriousness.
"People ask me that a lot, but we're different," Mays said "We play on different teams in different defenses in different conferences. From what I know about him and what I've seen of him, I know he is a hell of a football player. I'm not competing with him and I know he's not competing with me. We're competing with ourselves and just trying to be the best we can be as individuals and I'm sure that's how he looks at it, too."
Well then. Scratch the "Mays trash talks Berry" angle. Drat.
There's a good reason for that. Berry, a junior, is hard to trash talk. He may not be as big as Mays or even as fast as Mays -- though true speed won't be determined until the NFL combine -- but his nose for the ball is extraordinary (see 12 interceptions in two seasons, with five going back for touchdowns).
Mays has four interceptions in three years, none returned for scores. And he didn't pick off a pass all of last season.
This is when USC folks will jump from their chairs and talk about how Mays plays a different role, and his responsibilities as a centerfielder for the Trojans -- roughly playing Cover 2 as one man -- give him fewer opportunities for interceptions. They add that he was the critical figure for the nation's best pass defense in 2008, one that surrendered only six touchdown passes.
Then they roll tape of Mays blowing up anyone who comes near him. And, yes, it's impressive.
Yet Mays knows he isn't a perfect player. A few of those highlight reel hits could have been pick-sixes.
"I need to catch the ball in the air a little bit better, not always go for the hit but go for the ball. I think if I do that it can take my game to another level," he said. "That's what's holding me back. I don't think it's me getting to the ball."
<!--more--> Mays, 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and the Trojans' fastest player, shocked many when he opted to return for his senior season. He was widely projected as a first-round draft choice, and watching his former teammates -- including former roommate and best buddy Brian Cushing -- get picked did inspire a few moments of longing.
"I can't lie. That was hard, seeing 'Cush' go [in the first round]," he said. "And I don't think a safety went in the first round. That was tough. But then again, that's the greedy side. I can get over that. That's not a problem. I'm glad to be back with my teammates for one more year."
Mays didn't exactly come back to a rebuilding project. The Trojans' offense welcomes back nine starters, while the defense took about a week of spring practices to officially move from rebuilding to reloading.
And Mays will lead a secondary that is sure to be among the nation's best.
"We lost all the guys with big names, but a lot of new guys stepped up, guys who we expected to step up and play big for us," he said. "We're excited about what the defense is going to be like again this year."
Beyond the fact that Mays is hungry to compete for the national title that has eluded him the previous three seasons, he also knows exactly what he needs to do to improve his NFL draft stock.
First, as previously mentioned, he needs to make more plays on the ball. He also needs to demonstrate better lateral agility, particularly in man-to-man coverage. He needs to diversify his game and demonstrate he's a special player both in deep coverage and near the line of scrimmage.
Doing so will only further fuel the debate on who is the nation's best safety. At this point, Mays is projected as a top-10 pick. If Berry opts to enter the draft, it's a toss-up who will go first.
"How about if one of us goes with the first pick and the other goes with the second pick in the draft?" Mays said.
 
#309
#309
Hard to argue with Mays here. Next year could be a god send for teams looking for top notch safeties.
 
#310
#310
Vols5150 said:
Just keep all your info secret. Wouldn't want to let our any inside knowledge you have leak out.
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it's apparent to me, that any knowledge you may have, that did manage to get out, would certainly have to considered a "leak".
 
#311
#311
Trojan Warrior said:
It's all relative...they're both programs that will throw out a really good team on occasion, however, more often than not are on the outside looking in. Traditionally, Auburn has more history, however, they're still just Auburn.
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Two undefeated seasons in the past 15 years trumps anything Oregon can sniff. I would put Oregon just a hair above USCe or maybe Ole Miss.

Do they really put an Xbox in each player's locker?
 
#312
#312
General Jack said:
Two undefeated seasons in the past 15 years trumps anything Oregon can sniff. I would put Oregon just a hair above USCe or maybe Ole Miss.

Do they really put an Xbox in each player's locker?
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The whole undefeated season is a big red herring. Compare Oregon's OOC schedule to Auburn's OOC schedules. The P10 plays a true round-robin format in conference...the SEC does not. I'm not trying to make this a SEC v P10 thing, however, name the last time Ole Miss or South Carolina won the SEC.

Let's just say that UO locker room has a lot of bells and whistles and leave at that.:birgits_giggle:
 
#313
#313
Trojan Warrior said:
The whole undefeated season is a big red herring. Compare Oregon's OOC schedule to Auburn's OOC schedules. The P10 plays a true round-robin format in conference...the SEC does not. I'm not trying to make this a SEC v P10 thing, however, name the last time Ole Miss or South Carolina won the SEC.

Let's just say that UO locker room has a lot of bells and whistles and leave at that.:birgits_giggle:
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interesting, they are two of 4 teams that have never playedin the SEC title game. the other 8 conf. teams have all won their divisions and at least played for a title.
 
#314
#314
Trojan Warrior said:
The whole undefeated season is a big red herring. Compare Oregon's OOC schedule to Auburn's OOC schedules. The P10 plays a true round-robin format in conference...the SEC does not. I'm not trying to make this a SEC v P10 thing, however, name the last time Ole Miss or South Carolina won the SEC.

Let's just say that UO locker room has a lot of bells and whistles and leave at that.:birgits_giggle:
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Strength of schedule, even with the disparate OOC line-up, is likely not that far apart.

Unfortunately, I don't think we can have this discussion without it evolving into an SEC v PAC-10 debate.... and I'm not really interested in going there. But I would certainly contend that either Ole Miss & UCSe could finish in the #2-3 in the PAC-10 with some regularity, same as Oregon.
 
#315
#315
General Jack said:
Two undefeated seasons in the past 15 years trumps anything Oregon can sniff. I would put Oregon just a hair above USCe or maybe Ole Miss.

Do they really put an Xbox in each player's locker?
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would not doubt it, they have the most technologically advanced falilities in the nation. Saw a video of a tour, it was crazy.
 
#316
#316
jakez4ut said:
interesting, they are two of 4 teams that have never playedin the SEC title game. the other 8 conf. teams have all won their divisions and at least played for a title.
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That's why I did not want to travel down this road either. I could point out that every P10 team has won or shared the conference crown since 1999...yes, even Stanford. Every single team with the exception of Cal has played in a BCS bowl game during that time frame.

Back to the topic at hand...give Kiffin and staff a chance and I think you guys will be pleasantly surprised.
 
#317
#317
Trojan Warrior said:
That's why I did not want to travel down this road either. I could point out that every P10 team has won or shared the conference crown since 1999...yes, even Stanford. Every single team with the exception of Cal has played in a BCS bowl game during that time frame.

Back to the topic at hand...give Kiffin and staff a chance and I think you guys will be pleasantly surprised.
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there's the rub.

anyway.........
 
#318
#318
jakez4ut said:
it's apparent to me, that any knowledge you may have, that did manage to get out, would certainly have to considered a "leak".
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:eek:lol::eek:lol::eek:lol::eek:lol:

Jakester brought the wood! That belongs in my personal top ten! Nice work.
 
#319
#319
I wont get into the Pac10 vs. SEC debate.....there is no debate, to me, and approximately 99.99999% of every coach and analyst in America. The P10 has one of the nations greatest programs....and personally, the one team I respect the most cause of your coach, USC. Compare P10 and SEC BCS Champs. I have a lot of respect for any D1 conference....and it isnt like the P10 is terrible. I would personally put them in a tie for 2nd with the B12.

Now, as far as Mays vs. Berry.....I think they are 1 and 1A when it comes to who is better. Their games are totally different. Mays is a big, fast 4th linebacker who can flatten people. EB is a not quite as big, fast, ball-hawking play maker who takes INT's to the house better than anyone.....and he can also lay people out (see NOshon Moreno and that scrub receiver from Bama). My thing would be, can you IMAGINE them playing on the SAME TEAM?!?! Talk about a nightmare. I am partial to EB on this of course, but I respect the hell out of Mays as a football player, and judging by his interviews, a person as well.....flip a coin, no wrong answer.
 
#322
#322
Lexvol said:
:eek:lol::eek:lol::eek:lol::eek:lol:

Jakester brought the wood! That belongs in my personal top ten! Nice work.
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:hi: i'd like to take the credit....but you and i both know it was far too easy a target.
 
#323
#323
sjt18 said:
I've been around long enough to know you are by and large a pretty reasonable guy....

CLK had a meeting with Sawtelle (a formerly highly rated recruit at a need position) and the outcome was he left on good terms. Same with Paige. If any of the other three were cases where Kiffin avoided the confrontation or was less than constructive with the kids... we don't know about it.

BJ is the only one who went in with demands and couldn't even muster the patience to let it work through. I find it an odd accusation that CLK would avoid him while handling all the rest in a straight up manner, don't you?

Because BJ was very emotional, all of the circumstances were worse than they might have been... because he was emotional when he spoke, he skewed it against Kiffin.

BJ lost his dream. He wanted assurances. He was frustrated.... that's a good time for mature adults to keep their mouths shut... but he's still a kid.
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You raise valid points, the problem I have with your interpretation is, I think most players are very sensitive to the coaches. I think BJ probably hinged on every word and action of his coaches. If he came to believe he didn't have a future at UT, I think the coaches must have given him a reason.
 
#324
#324
oklavol said:
You raise valid points, the problem I have with your interpretation is, I think most players are very sensitive to the coaches. I think BJ probably hinged on every word and action of his coaches. If he came to believe he didn't have a future at UT, I think the coaches must have given him a reason.
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Maybe... or maybe it was BJ's own demons that worked him into a lather.

There are things I'm fairly certain about that BJ could have misconstrued as the coaches insenuating he didn't have a future there.

One, they apparently didn't agree that he'd done enough to take the #1 spot. It is also likely that players who were trying to console BJ made it worse by building him up. BJ was a player who thought he should be ahead of someone else but hadn't convinced the coaches. I'm involved in youth sports... this syndrome starts in T-ball. Kids very commonly think they're better than another player who is roughly equal mostly because they're more forgiving of their own mistakes and condemning of the other's. Most people rationalize their inherent flaws to the point where they don't think they should matter. But even though it isn't a person's fault, it DOES matter when two people are being compared for a job. IE. A short person may not think it should matter... but for some jobs being tall makes you better and vice versa.

Two, they wouldn't give him assurances about this year or any in the future... at the same time they're going after the top rated QB's in the country. BJ could easily construe that as a lack of confidence in his ability.

Three, by the time this had simmered with BJ his emotional state was completely intolerant and probably pretty belligerent.

Players are sensitive to their coaches and rightly so. But I think BJ reached a point of being hypersensitive and reading assumed outcomes into what he was seeing. He then projected motives that probably weren't CLK's... at least not to the extent he believed them to be.

I for one will never believe that if at any point between now and Aug 1, 2010 BJ had proven that he was "the man" that CLK would have shelved him for some abstract reason. I always said that BJ had to clearly separate himself. In spite of what he believed, he hadn't. He also needed to prove that he's what CLK wanted in his "QB of the future".... he apparently falls well short of that.
 
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