Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

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#8,151
#8,151
Dooby15 said:
Agreed. I’m just skeptical of the idea that Florida, USCjr, Kentucky are automatic losses. We lost in the last minute to all of those teams last year and we were so poorly coached.
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There is no way any of those are automatic losses.

Preseason, I’ve got

Florida by 4
Tennessee over KY by 10
USC by 7.

Very easy to see some wins there
 
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#8,152
#8,152
bignewt said:
Sure they caught a down auburn team but it was still impressive going solely by recruiting rankings.
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Those rankings don't mean crap when a team is discombulated and doesnt want to be there. If AU had shown up ready to play they would have won. They showed up in a stupor and got embarrased. It is just like that Bama-Utah Sugar Bowl years ago. If Bama had shown up to play, they would gave wiped the floor with Utah.
 
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#8,153
#8,153
Last year was not the worst offense we’ve had since ESPN started tracking unit efficiencies in 2005. It was also not the worst defense we’ve had in that span nor was it the worst special teams unit over that period but it was the worst overall team we’ve had and obviously the W/L record showed that.

Kiffin was able to take an offense he inherited ranked at #106 in efficiency and get it up to #31 in his only season. John Jancek inherited Sal Sunseri’s #92 ranked defense and got it up to #38 in his first year. That same year Mark Elder boosted the efficiency of our special teams from #82 the previous year to #35 in his first season.

I believe we have significantly more all-around talent on the 2018 team than we did on the 2013 team. Most fans I think believe we have an overall better coaching staff than we’ve had at least since the days of Kiffin. The preseason ESPN FPI has us ranked as the 54th best team in the nation. The FPI updates every week. If we’re right about the talent and the coaches I think at the end of the season we’ll at least be ranked in the FPI top 30, maybe the top 20. Jmo.

ScreenHunter_29 Aug. 18 03.19.gif
 
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#8,155
#8,155
St. JohnVolCactus said:
Not sure if someone has already suggested this, but I'm gonna put it out there.

The Zach Smith and OSU story is trending like a same-sex affair is about to be exposed. McMurphy is sitting on a bombshell (no pun intended) and I think Urb's closet door is about to get flung wide open. Why else do you bring a guy like this, a WR coach no doubt, into your coaching staff and then retain him for several years? Don't think he's been irreplaceable as a recruiter.

Oh, and how come no one in the mainstream media is talking about the B1G's serious PR troubles right now? Penn St obviously, Maryland duh, Michigan St. and Nassar, now tOSU? Plus an Illini and Hoosier coach since 2015.
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I could see that. As I said last week, McMurphy acts like he’s holding on an ace.
 
#8,158
#8,158
WinginFlorida said:
The concern over Pruitt being a first year coach is way overblown, IMO.

He likely made more adjustments in his sleep last night than Butch made in 5 years.
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I also think this talent deficit is overblown. We have the same talent as a Florida for example and some are picking them as a 10 win team. It’s just a matter of narrative.

Now my season prediction is 7-5 because the schedule sets up brutally but I don’t think we’re destined to be 6-6 at best because “Kirby and Saban did in their first years with better talent”. What they did has no correlation with our 2018 season
 
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#8,159
#8,159
jordan4vols said:
I also think this talent deficit is overblown. We have the same talent as a Florida for example and some are picking them as a 10 win team. It’s just a matter of narrative.

Now my season prediction is 7-5 because the schedule sets up brutally but I don’t think we’re destined to be 6-6 at best because “Kirby and Saban did in their first years with better talent”. What they did has no correlation with our 2018 season
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I won't be surprised if we do better than some of the media predicts but I also won't be overly disappointed if we don't.
A case can be made for how we overcome the obstacles we face but it's the accumulation of the obstacles that leaves room for some doubt.
1. First time roles for several coaches.
2. Scheme switch for the players.
3. The condition of the team upon arrival.
4. Players originally recruited for different schemes.
The 1 and 4 combo is the biggest factor for me. Having coaches starting in new roles but with the caveat of having to readjust from the schemes they're used to.

Not saying they can't do it or being negative, just going on record. If WV hits us hard or UF squeaks out a win, I will not join any mob declaring the staff a failure.
 
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#8,160
#8,160
vol2002 said:
I’ve heard Feldman say on his podcast that the Vols have more talent than people think. Mandell on the other thinks we are terrible and could lose 8 again.
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Is it a possibility? Yes. But, almost everyone in the media I have heard explain why they think we don't go bowling this year do not give any other analysis than "they lost 8 games last year and have a new first time hc". I get that those two things have influence, but they are being extremely lazy in their analysis. We have talent on this team that goes far and beyond 4 wins. And this coaching staff is not a 4-win coaching staff by any means, either. It's like they look at UT and just don't spend any time trying to do a real analysis
 
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#8,163
#8,163
VQ podcast recruiting notes that I found at least mildly interesting
  • Probably 1 spot left for the secondary. Staff wants Hill more than Bush. Will keep talking to Hampton. There are concerns about current commit Anthony Harris' grades.
  • Talked about how typically the class in August doesn't exactly look like the class on signing day for a lot of schools, based on their season. If TN exceeds expectations they could cut some lower guys for higher guys. If they under perform, might be hard to keep top guys in our class. With the caveat that the "lower rated guys" in our class, the staff saw them live at our camps and really like them. Staff likes this class so they might be reluctant to cut someone for another guy who they haven't seen camp, regardless of ranking.
  • All agree Miami could be too much to overcome for Bogle, but if he wants in that Clemons might be on the outside looking in.
  • Possibly the same scenario with Joseph Anderson. And they think if the staff pushes, Anderson is ours. But if he's in, maybe Clemons is out.
  • Staff will evaluate class after 3-4 games into their senior years. See if athleticism shown in camp translates.
  • Talking receivers..... team only took Cedric Tillman in 18. Only have Keyton thus far in this class. We have to take someone else just from a numbers standpoint. Mentioned Payton and Knox as maybes. Mentioned Khafre Brown, who if we push for we likely get.
  • I posted this in the Mattison thread, but Gyasi Mattison was described as the perfect blue shirt candidate. Depending on how the class fills out, maybe we take him. Could play receiver or maybe put him at CB and move Bryce Thompson to receiver next year.

That was all for recruiting. Next went on to camp and current team. But I had to stop listening because real life stuff interrupting. But the last thing I heard was them complimenting this staff for their ability to basically not ******** kids. Believe their words were they can "tell a kid how it is, without being confrontational." A lot of the players like that. Juxtapose it to the previous staff and how dishonest and bullsh1tty they were (yeah thats a word).

Later queers.... off to make some pancakes.
 
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#8,164
#8,164
engineerVOL said:
How about this for conspiracies...

How come not a single reporter in all of Columbus OH has ever mentioned the DUI for Zach Smith? Or anything even remotely mentioned about his obviously more pressing affairs.

Tennessee has an assistant coach so much as fail to scoop his dogs shat off the sidewalk and the HOA launches a congressional hearing.
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No crap. Our coaches donate tickets for charity and get slapped on the wrist and tattled on but Ohio st covers up for a psycho. Makes no sense
 
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#8,165
#8,165
St. JohnVolCactus said:
Not sure if someone has already suggested this, but I'm gonna put it out there.

The Zach Smith and OSU story is trending like a same-sex affair is about to be exposed. McMurphy is sitting on a bombshell (no pun intended) and I think Urb's closet door is about to get flung wide open. Why else do you bring a guy like this, a WR coach no doubt, into your coaching staff and then retain him for several years? Don't think he's been irreplaceable as a recruiter.
Click to expand...

Could be simply because Z. Smith is Earle Smith's grandson. McMurphy brought that up yesterday in an interview. Smith seemed to play by a different set of rules at tOSU than anyone else in staff.
 
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#8,166
#8,166
Chief Vol 13 said:
First year head football coach, and first year coordinators on both sides of the ball, implementing brand new schemes. There will be growing pains in year one. Middle of the road SEC talent from top to bottom, likely weaknesses at defensive line, in the secondary (at least early on), and in the kicking game. Not to mention questions at QB. Starting 22 is fairly decent overall I think but I don't think we have much quality depth, which we all know is a must if you're going to do anything of significance in this league. Kirby and Saban both inherited better situations when they took over at their respective programs, and struggled mightily at times in their first year. 6-6 this first year, with a strong 2019 campaign to follow.
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I have to admit, that's a pretty strong argument. Every team has some questions, though. I do think that our talent is a little better than people think. We have defensive gurus on the staff and defense wins games. I am going with 7.
 
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#8,167
#8,167
Here’s how I see the season going. This team is more talented than 2010 and 2013, but it was built for a different offense and defense, and there are many key players (Richmond, Kongbo, Kirkland, Jennings, Chance) that are either coming off injury or have underperformed in their careers. Saban and Smart both struggled in year 1, and I see no reason why Pruitt would do better than them.



WVU - L (by ~7)

ETSU - W

UTEP - W (this will be our sluggish, closer than expected game against weak competition game - 1/8 of VN turns on Pruitt forever)

UF - W (I think this is Pruitt’s signature win; comes down to final play - still not sure we have what it takes to win this but Pruitt will get a big win this year and this is likely it)

UGA - L (by 14+)

AU - L (by 14+)

UA - L (Pruitt finds a way to make this competitive but they wear us down)

USCe - L (close - and by now 1/4 of Volnation has turned on Pruitt; we will have to listen to their “told ya so” antics for the remainder of his tenure every time something remotely bad happens)

Charlotte - W (Sluggish, but we ultimately dust these guys)

UK - W (we start to find our groove and by the second half we are destroying them)

Mizzou - L (Pruitt will have one completely inexplicable loss this year - new coaches geberally do - this seems the likely choice)

Vandy - W (Season hangs in balance and we squeak this one out in an ugly game won by 3 points)

Bowl - We win and the vast majority of Volnation is pleased. The miserable 1/4 spends the entire offseason telling us why Pruitt stinks.

Recruiting class finishes top 15 (close to 10), providing fuel for both the optimists and pessimists.
 
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#8,168
#8,168
HoleInTheRoof said:
VQ podcast recruiting notes that I found at least mildly interesting
  • Probably 1 spot left for the secondary. Staff wants Hill more than Bush. Will keep talking to Hampton. There are concerns about current commit Anthony Harris' grades.
  • Talked about how typically the class in August doesn't exactly look like the class on signing day for a lot of schools, based on their season. If TN exceeds expectations they could cut some lower guys for higher guys. If they under perform, might be hard to keep top guys in our class. With the caveat that the "lower rated guys" in our class, the staff saw them live at our camps and really like them. Staff likes this class so they might be reluctant to cut someone for another guy who they haven't seen camp, regardless of ranking.
  • All agree Miami could be too much to overcome for Bogle, but if he wants in that Clemons might be on the outside looking in.
  • Possibly the same scenario with Joseph Anderson. And they think if the staff pushes, Anderson is ours. But if he's in, maybe Clemons is out.
  • Staff will evaluate class after 3-4 games into their senior years. See if athleticism shown in camp translates.
  • Talking receivers..... team only took Cedric Tillman in 18. Only have Keyton thus far in this class. We have to take someone else just from a numbers standpoint. Mentioned Payton and Knox as maybes. Mentioned Khafre Brown, who if we push for we likely get.
  • I posted this in the Mattison thread, but Gyasi Mattison was described as the perfect blue shirt candidate. Depending on how the class fills out, maybe we take him. Could play receiver or maybe put him at CB and move Bryce Thompson to receiver next year.

That was all for recruiting. Next went on to camp and current team. But I had to stop listening because real life stuff interrupting. But the last thing I heard was them complimenting this staff for their ability to basically not ******** kids. Believe their words were they can "tell a kid how it is, without being confrontational." A lot of the players like that. Juxtapose it to the previous staff and how dishonest and bullsh1tty they were (yeah thats a word).

Later queers.... off to make some pancakes.
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Laughed at your last sentence there lol. PC bros might not like it though.
 
#8,169
#8,169
Outofmyvolcanmind said:
I could see that. As I said last week, McMurphy acts like he’s holding on an ace.
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I really don't like Urban and I think Zach Smith is a reprehensible human being, but I am not sure what the sex toys have to do with anything, at least, at this point. I did like his exchange with the lawyer. He obviously has some kind of great source. I also believe there is still more. Since I have been typing this, and thinking about Zach Smith throwing his wife around, I am glad he is not letting it go. Smith deserves everything he gets and Urban probably deserves more for protecting him for so long. My last point is that no one is going to convince me that no one in the media or at OSU knew about the DUI. It was simply swept under the rug, like everything else.
 
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#8,170
#8,170
vol2002 said:
Here’s how I see the season going. This team is more talented than 2010 and 2013, but it was built for a different offense and defense, and there are many key players (Richmond, Kongbo, Kirkland, Jennings, Chance) that are either coming off injury or have underperformed in their careers. Saban and Smart both struggled in year 1, and I see no reason why Pruitt would do better than them.



WVU - L (by ~7)

ETSU - W

UTEP - W (this will be our sluggish, closer than expected game against weak competition game - 1/8 of VN turns on Pruitt forever)

UF - W (I think this is Pruitt’s signature win; comes down to final play - still not sure we have what it takes to win this but Pruitt will get a big win this year and this is likely it)

UGA - L (by 14+)

AU - L (by 14+)

UA - L (Pruitt finds a way to make this competitive but they wear us down)

USCe - L (close - and by now 1/4 of Volnation has turned on Pruitt; we will have to listen to their “told ya so” antics for the remainder of his tenure every time something remotely bad happens)

Charlotte - W (Sluggish, but we ultimately dust these guys)

UK - W (we start to find our groove and by the second half we are destroying them)

Mizzou - L (Pruitt will have one completely inexplicable loss this year - new coaches geberally do - this seems the likely choice)

Vandy - W (Season hangs in balance and we squeak this one out in an ugly game won by 3 points)

Bowl - We win and the vast majority of Volnation is pleased. The miserable 1/4 spends the entire offseason telling us why Pruitt stinks.

Recruiting class finishes top 15 (close to 10), providing fuel for both the optimists and pessimists.
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Fine with this. Just get 6 any way you can and win the bowl game.
 
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#8,171
#8,171
drvenner said:
I have to admit, that's a pretty strong argument. Every team has some questions, though. I do think that our talent is a little better than people think. We have defensive gurus on the staff and defense wins games. I am going with 7.
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They find a way to win 7 this year and I'll be dancing in the streets like George Costanza. Should be in for a 9 or 10 win year two after that IMO.
 
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#8,173
#8,173
HoleInTheRoof said:
VQ podcast recruiting notes that I found at least mildly interesting
  • Probably 1 spot left for the secondary. Staff wants Hill more than Bush. Will keep talking to Hampton. There are concerns about current commit Anthony Harris' grades.
  • Talked about how typically the class in August doesn't exactly look like the class on signing day for a lot of schools, based on their season. If TN exceeds expectations they could cut some lower guys for higher guys. If they under perform, might be hard to keep top guys in our class. With the caveat that the "lower rated guys" in our class, the staff saw them live at our camps and really like them. Staff likes this class so they might be reluctant to cut someone for another guy who they haven't seen camp, regardless of ranking.
  • All agree Miami could be too much to overcome for Bogle, but if he wants in that Clemons might be on the outside looking in.
  • Possibly the same scenario with Joseph Anderson. And they think if the staff pushes, Anderson is ours. But if he's in, maybe Clemons is out.
  • Staff will evaluate class after 3-4 games into their senior years. See if athleticism shown in camp translates.
  • Talking receivers..... team only took Cedric Tillman in 18. Only have Keyton thus far in this class. We have to take someone else just from a numbers standpoint. Mentioned Payton and Knox as maybes. Mentioned Khafre Brown, who if we push for we likely get.
  • I posted this in the Mattison thread, but Gyasi Mattison was described as the perfect blue shirt candidate. Depending on how the class fills out, maybe we take him. Could play receiver or maybe put him at CB and move Bryce Thompson to receiver next year.

That was all for recruiting. Next went on to camp and current team. But I had to stop listening because real life stuff interrupting. But the last thing I heard was them complimenting this staff for their ability to basically not ******** kids. Believe their words were they can "tell a kid how it is, without being confrontational." A lot of the players like that. Juxtapose it to the previous staff and how dishonest and bullsh1tty they were (yeah thats a word).

Later queers.... off to make some pancakes.
Click to expand...


Went to the Starkville game last night and Clemons looks athletic, but the best player on that defense is Zach Edwards. He just looked a great white shark out there blowing up a team that won a state championship last year.

Zach Edwards, Starkville, Inside Linebacker
 
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