Roustabout
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Let's be honest ... Swain (... and some of you on here ...) would find a reason to complain about a hire even if it was Gruden or Manning. There would be something wrong with the hire - you don't like Jones - we all get it.
I hope you are right about the guy but I don't agree that coaching is coaching, regardless of the level. Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier agree, I'm sure. Room for error decreases vastly at every level. Personalities and egos also change drastically.
eh, i don't think Swain's opinion on this is any more informed than, well, mine. he's come out and said more than once this week that he doesn't know him, he's just not sure he'll work out or not, given the lack of experience at the P5 level.
which is an opinion shared by many here.
me, i think the more i read about him, especially insight taken from those that have worked with him, have developed relationships with him, there's some real positives to build from.
but none of that means anything as to what he'll actually do. so we wait and see. i do think he'll make a difference in recruiting. for sure.
and for as much emphasis as many of us, self included, have placed on locking down the state of TN in recruiting, he's a giant step in the right direction there given his ties to the mid state.
the guy is from Nashville, played HS ball there, has coached in the area at the D1 level. the only thin he doesn't have is a brand name on his resume.
No offense Jake, but given his ability to speak to coaches, players, media and others in and around the program....and his ability to attend any full practice he chooses to, he very much is more informed about all things Tennessee football than you, me and pretty much anybody here on this board.
As far as Wells goes, he's pointed out everything you just listed about him, especially his recruiting ties to the midstate. He's only said that Wells simply has never held a position like this before, was on the staff last year and pretty much nobody knew it, and that his lack of experience and by extension success as an SEC OL coach, raises questions as to how good a coach he is and how solid a hire this was. He's also said let's give the guy a chance, he could turn out to be very good.....and that's quite the opposite from many in here portraying Swain's opinion on Wells' hiring as being awful and unfair.
i do agree that the reaction to swain's comments have been, well, and overreaction.
but, as to "informed", specifically on this topic, he really doesn't know the guy any more than any of us. he's reading the same resume and same articles we are. he has no legit experience with the guy, as a coach or otherwise. that's all i'm getting at.
in general, yes, i do think Swain is more informed than most would like to admit, and i think for the most part, he does a decent job of keeping a lot of it to himself.
but, i don't think he's allowed access to as many things as you think he is either. he does, however, get a lot of good 2nd hand information because of people he knows....
we agree on this. i like swain. but i take it for what it is.He's been asked by Coach Z to speak to the WR room in recent years, he references conversations he has/has had with current players (e.g., TKJr and a handful of WRs), he's talked about discussions he's had directly with coaches on staff, as a former player he's allowed and occasionally attends practices (full practices, not just the one or two periods that the media has access to), he certainly has access to local media covering the team (for example, Wes Rucker has hosted his show before and he just hired Daniel Lewis as his radio partner). Perhaps there's more, I don't know, but I'm certain of that "access", which is something no other poster on this board has outside of maybe LWS. That's all I'm saying. It's just wrong for some posters to say "he doesn't know ish" or "he's stupid" or even "he doesn't know anymore than the rest of us".
we agree on this. i like swain. but i take it for what it is.
Understood, fair enough. Just saying I think there's more value in what Swain says than some (not you) on here who trash the guy, a former player and real VFL who strapped on the orange and white for 4 years......and, imo, he's certainly due more respect that "he doesn't know ish", to quote another poster.
If the articles are accurate, most of Wells' role last season, at least the 2nd half of the season, was to work specifically with Drew Richmond, and I thought DR looked much better by the end of the season than he did at the beginning when he lost his starter position. JMO, but I think Wells will do fine.
Whatever.....I'm sure in reality the football knowledge may be closer than you think. His constant negativity is tiring and purely for listeners...being controversial is what keeps him on the air. He has no idea if Wells is a better fit and just because someone is on the staff doesn't necessarily mean their techniques or opinions are being applied to the fullest, most appropriate degree. Our line needs to add strength and toughness imo, let's hope this happens, if not we are going to get pushed around again this year.