One Major bright spot in coaching staff

#1
UTK

UTK

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#1
I'm sure I'll get a few captain obvious comments for this thread, but on a forum with negative vibes and a lot of uncertainty, I just want to take a moment and point out a huge positive of this team and coaching staff. Robert Gillespie. A former Florida Gator running back, it's ironic how he has been by far the best coach and thing about this team. It's a great thing alone to be able to get a talented guy like Kamara in orange, but John Kelly is really where his talent shines. Every coach and recruiting service in the nation knew how talented Kamara was, but not too many people knew about John Kelly. If I recall right, his only other big time offer was from Michigan (and it was a late offer I believe), and they certainly have a coach who knows talent when he sees it.

Of course, you could say Butch has an eye for talent as well, and other coaches on the staff have recruited very well. But no one coaches their position quite like Gillespie. You could bring up the drama queen known as Jalen Hurd. Some kids are just like that, but look at Alvin Kamara, John Kelly, and Fils-Aime. They all carry themselves with class, they all run the football HARD. They don't go down with first contact. If they do, its a rare thing. Fils-Aime and Kelly weren't even highly recruited and you can tell they have great ability. Gillespie is just so good, you can already see it with Freshman RB Tim Jordan (Who again, wasn't even highly recruited.) Going into this year, a lot of people saw RB depth as a weakness. 2 weeks in, and I think RB depth is our biggest strength. We have 4 backs I believe that are good to great SEC backs and we have Gillespie to thank for that.

How fitting, on Florida week, I think it'll be a former Florida gator RB that ultimately has the main key that leads us to a W with the RBs he has coached up for the Vols.

Thank you Robert Gillespie for bringing hard running, great RBs back to UT. Whatever happens this season, I know RBs will not disappoint. And if there is a coaching change in the foreseeable future, WE MUST keep him on staff at all costs. Go vols.
 
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#3
#3
Yes, special teams have been excellent. Only FG kicking has been a bit rough, everything else has been great.
 
#4
#4
Everything but defense is solid. Not sure about it yet, almost to the point where I'd potentially fire Shoop soon.
 
#6
#6
Great post. Definitely a great assistant. Speaking of Tim Jordan, he has a very aggressive running style, very similar to John Kelly. I rewatched that ISU game and he had a couple very good runs, bounced off tackles, wrapped the ball up, kept his legs moving, fell forward. Effortlessly Caught a nice dump pass from JG and turned up field for 8-10 yards, breaking a couple tackles. Very impressed with him.

And Fils-aime. What more can be said? Seeing his breakaway speed the other day. And him just busting a linebacker in the mouth and driving into the endzone. Loved it.

I agree 100%. We have a great RB room and a good coach over them. They all have great attitudes also.
 
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#7
#7
Walt Wells has done a pretty good job with this line as well. No sacks through 2 games and thoseRBs we're all glowing about have to have room to run and the Oline is providing that.
 
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#8
#8
Speaking about Tim Jordan.
During one of his runs, I caught myself calling him "Cheese" because he reminded me of Travis Henry.
 
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#9
#9
SFCKLG said:
Speaking about Tim Jordan.
During one of his runs, I caught myself calling him "Cheese" because he reminded me of Travis Henry.
Click to expand...

Nice. Honestly, much with John Kelly, you can see right away he has the talent. Even if his carries for now will mostly be in mop up duty. Speaks volumes of our depth.
 
#10
#10
smokey0625 said:
Everything but defense is solid. Not sure about it yet, almost to the point where I'd potentially fire Shoop soon.
Click to expand...

Have you watched our schizophrenic offensive line play and passing game? Quarterback staring down every route and missing wide open touchdown throws, even with a QB coach (finally)? Not to pick at you, but our offense needs a LOT of work, too.
 
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#11
#11
Wolfeman_Vol said:
Have you watched our schizophrenic offensive line play and passing game? Quarterback staring down every route and missing wide open touchdown throws, even with a QB coach (finally)? Not to pick at you, but our offense needs a LOT of work, too.
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Our oline has opened holes and have only allowed 1 sack. They're pretty solid if you ask me. Dormady will hit on those deep passes as the year continues.
 
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#12
#12
Wolfeman_Vol said:
Have you watched our schizophrenic offensive line play and passing game? Quarterback staring down every route and missing wide open touchdown throws, even with a QB coach (finally)? Not to pick at you, but our offense needs a LOT of work, too.
Click to expand...
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#15
#15
Remy said:
True and as a functioning gator, he bent us over a table and raw raped us FOR the gators at his first opportunity.
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No he didn't. As a matter of fact he handled the situation so well that 15 years later, we brought him back as AD.
 
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#16
#16
Remy said:
True and as a functioning gator, he bent us over a table and raw raped us FOR the gators at his first opportunity.
Click to expand...

And he lived to regret that decision, as things in Florida were not nearly as good for him as they were in Tennessee. I would guess that at the time, if any other school in the country would have called, he would have declined their offer. It's hard to say no when the alma mater calls.
 
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#17
#17
While I would agree that CRG is a fine position coach the running games will ALWAYS begin and end with the OL...and that's not taking one thing away from talented RB's in the least...but if you know football the running games that succeed always have talented run blocking OLines....hopefully ours will grade out well in the next few games....hopefully our defense will find its way (I'm still not ready to jump to my death over it) or our OLINE will have to sustain long time consuming drives for us to compete with the SEC schedule we have....Again...I've been around enough football to know that screaming like a middle school girl about how terrible everything is...well its just WAY to early for that....Good running back group?? Yeah...I agree...but NEVER forget its always starts upfront...ALWAYS....
 
#18
#18
It's 2-sided. It helps to have kids that come in with a chip on their shoulder wanting to prove something so they treat every practice like it will be their last. Not saying RG isn't great because he is but in the end it comes down to the players and their "want to".
 
#19
#19
I've been a big John Kelly fan all along, but I've really grown to appreciate how special teams puts us in the position to win games.
 
#20
#20
UTK said:
I'm sure I'll get a few captain obvious comments for this thread, but on a forum with negative vibes and a lot of uncertainty, I just want to take a moment and point out a huge positive of this team and coaching staff. Robert Gillespie. A former Florida Gator running back, it's ironic how he has been by far the best coach and thing about this team. It's a great thing alone to be able to get a talented guy like Kamara in orange, but John Kelly is really where his talent shines. Every coach and recruiting service in the nation knew how talented Kamara was, but not too many people knew about John Kelly. If I recall right, his only other big time offer was from Michigan (and it was a late offer I believe), and they certainly have a coach who knows talent when he sees it.

Of course, you could say Butch has an eye for talent as well, and other coaches on the staff have recruited very well. But no one coaches their position quite like Gillespie. You could bring up the drama queen known as Jalen Hurd. Some kids are just like that, but look at Alvin Kamara, John Kelly, and Fils-Aime. They all carry themselves with class, they all run the football HARD. They don't go down with first contact. If they do, its a rare thing. Fils-Aime and Kelly weren't even highly recruited and you can tell they have great ability. Gillespie is just so good, you can already see it with Freshman RB Tim Jordan (Who again, wasn't even highly recruited.) Going into this year, a lot of people saw RB depth as a weakness. 2 weeks in, and I think RB depth is our biggest strength. We have 4 backs I believe that are good to great SEC backs and we have Gillespie to thank for that.

How fitting, on Florida week, I think it'll be a former Florida gator RB that ultimately has the main key that leads us to a W with the RBs he has coached up for the Vols.

Thank you Robert Gillespie for bringing hard running, great RBs back to UT. Whatever happens this season, I know RBs will not disappoint. And if there is a coaching change in the foreseeable future, WE MUST keep him on staff at all costs. Go vols.
Click to expand...
You are 100% correct.
 
#23
#23
The OL is improved from last year too. Besides a few hiccups in the first half against Tech, the line has done well. I'm curious to see how they play against Florida's DL.
 
#24
#24
UTK said:
I'm sure I'll get a few captain obvious comments for this thread, but on a forum with negative vibes and a lot of uncertainty, I just want to take a moment and point out a huge positive of this team and coaching staff. Robert Gillespie. A former Florida Gator running back, it's ironic how he has been by far the best coach and thing about this team. It's a great thing alone to be able to get a talented guy like Kamara in orange, but John Kelly is really where his talent shines. Every coach and recruiting service in the nation knew how talented Kamara was, but not too many people knew about John Kelly. If I recall right, his only other big time offer was from Michigan (and it was a late offer I believe), and they certainly have a coach who knows talent when he sees it.

Of course, you could say Butch has an eye for talent as well, and other coaches on the staff have recruited very well. But no one coaches their position quite like Gillespie. You could bring up the drama queen known as Jalen Hurd. Some kids are just like that, but look at Alvin Kamara, John Kelly, and Fils-Aime. They all carry themselves with class, they all run the football HARD. They don't go down with first contact. If they do, its a rare thing. Fils-Aime and Kelly weren't even highly recruited and you can tell they have great ability. Gillespie is just so good, you can already see it with Freshman RB Tim Jordan (Who again, wasn't even highly recruited.) Going into this year, a lot of people saw RB depth as a weakness. 2 weeks in, and I think RB depth is our biggest strength. We have 4 backs I believe that are good to great SEC backs and we have Gillespie to thank for that.

How fitting, on Florida week, I think it'll be a former Florida gator RB that ultimately has the main key that leads us to a W with the RBs he has coached up for the Vols.

Thank you Robert Gillespie for bringing hard running, great RBs back to UT. Whatever happens this season, I know RBs will not disappoint. And if there is a coaching change in the foreseeable future, WE MUST keep him on staff at all costs. Go vols.
Click to expand...

I was down when we didn't get Akers. But with Chandler coming in with Coleman and Jordan, I saw enough of all 3 last week to feel Gillespie brought in talent to finally have a full stable of RBs. He has been a good hire.
 
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#25
#25
Being a critic of our head coach on game management, I think right now that Butch Jones is the best Special Teams coach in the country. I do think our return game was a little better when Mark Elder was here.

But if I were a punter the first program I would consider is UT and the way Jones can develop you.
 
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