Tennessee was the Top Story

#1
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MikeHamiltonFan

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#1
On College Football Tonight on ESPN this Wednesday they led off with TN. The announcer talked about how TN is back in the front of the national conversation but about how they did not have enough players at WR due to all the injuries. Interesting to me was that he was also saying that TN will want to run Bryce Brown up the middle.

I hope many of you posters have watched more USC under Kiffin than the pundits at ESPN seem to have. Will TN put Richardson out there as a freshman this year? Sure they will! Will TN also get Brandon Warren a bunch of balls? Again yes. TN will also use two back sets and will have a power speed combination like we used to when we had Bryson at FB (this will just be two RB).

Stud WRs will be attracted to our program when Kiffin earns accolades for turning around complete nobodies in terms of college career like Crompton and B Warren, and then someone will remind them of the recruiting rankings for these guys.

What a vastly improved offense will do for our team is what we all care most about. What it will do to the legacy of Fulmer to see his players at a level they never showed under him is something that will be painful for many Vol fans to watch.

Analogy:
Until Bruce Pearl had coached a season at UT, I did not admit how wrong I had been about Buzz Peterson, who was a great man but a poor coach. I think we end up there with Kiffin and Fulmer. I also look forward to gambles and blitzes on a defense prone to picking up turnovers. Watching that type of a defense is fun and exciting like watching Pearl basketball is fun and exciting.

We will not only play well this season, we will play well in an aggressive manner that will bring more studs to UT. If you go to Florida and win a NC, you will be down the deification list from Tebow. In TN you were 6 years old or younger the last time they adored someone as much as they will adore you.
 
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#3
#3
Let's let the man coach a game before we crown him as the one being able to turn around this offense. We'll know after the first game how much this offense will improve.
 
#5
#5
ESPN apparently hasn't realized that we have a coach now who understands that freshmen are eligible.
 
#6
#6
Good post but I wouldn't call Warren a nobody exactly, he was a Freshman All American at FSU but I understand your point
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#7
#7
SGMVols said:
ESPN apparently hasn't realized that we have a coach now who understands that freshmen are eligible.
Click to expand...
If I'm not mistaking wasn't one of the things Kiffin mentioned in his press conference? Something about the Freshmen getting 1st opportunity?
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#8
#8
SGMVols said:
ESPN apparently hasn't realized that we have a coach now who understands that freshmen are eligible.
Click to expand...

I've always found this argument that Fulmer didn't play as many freshman as anyone else interesting... Other than your opinion what stats do you have to support that? It seems like many of the 2007 signing class played as freshman, and history shows that Fulmer was actually more likely to start a freshman QB than most other SEC coaches....
 
#9
#9
WPAINE said:
I've always found this argument that Fulmer didn't play as many freshman as anyone else interesting... Other than your opinion what stats do you have to support that? It seems like many of the 2007 signing class played as freshman, and history shows that Fulmer was actually more likely to start a freshman QB than most other SEC coaches....
Click to expand...

I agree with the QB part. Good point. A man could argue either way though
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#10
#10
#10_Ainge_#10 said:
I agree with the QB part. Good point. A man could argue either way though
Posted via VolNation Mobile
Click to expand...

My whole thing is that Fulmer knew that he had to win or he would be gone. To assert that he chose to not play the best players is just a bit of a stretch for me, esp over the past 5 or so years when he really had some pressure to win. People just tend to overlook that a 2 star senior who has 2 years of experience could be the equivalent of a 5 star coming out of high school..

In general VERY few freshman actually start in the SEC. I say Fulmer is probably on par with the rest of the coaches regarding the number of freshman that he redshirts and the number that he plays in a season...


Either way, Fulmer's time is done and it is now time for Kiffin. I hope he can take us to the promised land with all freshman or all seniors!!!
 
#11
#11
WR and RB are two of the easiest positions for talented true freshmen to be able to succeed at.
 
#12
#12
Tidal Surge said:
WR and RB are two of the easiest positions for talented true freshmen to be able to succeed at.
Click to expand...

And those were the 2 positions where Fulmer NEVER played freshmen. I got so sick of hearing about how the freshmen WRs "didn't know the offense" or how the freshmen RBs "couldn't pass block."

In a GoVolsXtra article a few days ago, Coach Wilson said this offense is "very WR friendly." FINALLY!!! We won't have to listen to BS about how they can't play because they aren't smart enough.

I think Fulmer was just bad at coaching X's and O's. The opponents could figure out the offense in the 1st quarter with ease, and UT's own players couldn't figure out the offense the whole season!
 
#13
#13
Kiffin gets a A+ for keeping tennessee in the spotlight this whole offseason. Kudo's on a great job of that. Now its about time to get down to business on the field.

Were going to see a bunch of these freshmen on the field this year. Kiffin's not going to play favorites, his livelyhood depends on it. He doesn't have quite the pull phil did too get to comfortable.
 
#15
#15
WPAINE said:
My whole thing is that Fulmer knew that he had to win or he would be gone. To assert that he chose to not play the best players is just a bit of a stretch for me, esp over the past 5 or so years when he really had some pressure to win. People just tend to overlook that a 2 star senior who has 2 years of experience could be the equivalent of a 5 star coming out of high school..

In general VERY few freshman actually start in the SEC. I say Fulmer is probably on par with the rest of the coaches regarding the number of freshman that he redshirts and the number that he plays in a season...


Either way, Fulmer's time is done and it is now time for Kiffin. I hope he can take us to the promised land with all freshman or all seniors!!!
Click to expand...

The only situation I knew intimately was Jamal Lewis. I knew it because I was friends with Jamal and tutored him and talked to him about what the coaches said as to why he couldnt play the UF game. They said he did not know the blocking scheme well enough. I also always thought that he showed too much loyalty to guys who "put their time in" the program.

All of that said, with the injuries we will not even see that issue at WR. I think Kiffin would have played Nuke anyway, but if we catch 4-5 TDs in the first two games with Nuke, Warren, Teague and Hancock, it may be hard for the other guys to get involved with as many reps as they would have had pre injury.
 
#17
#17
MikeHamiltonFan said:
On College Football Tonight on ESPN this Wednesday they led off with TN. The announcer talked about how TN is back in the front of the national conversation but about how they did not have enough players at WR due to all the injuries. Interesting to me was that he was also saying that TN will want to run Bryce Brown up the middle.

I hope many of you posters have watched more USC under Kiffin than the pundits at ESPN seem to have. Will TN put Richardson out there as a freshman this year? Sure they will! Will TN also get Brandon Warren a bunch of balls? Again yes. TN will also use two back sets and will have a power speed combination like we used to when we had Bryson at FB (this will just be two RB).

Stud WRs will be attracted to our program when Kiffin earns accolades for turning around complete nobodies in terms of college career like Crompton and B Warren, and then someone will remind them of the recruiting rankings for these guys.

What a vastly improved offense will do for our team is what we all care most about. What it will do to the legacy of Fulmer to see his players at a level they never showed under him is something that will be painful for many Vol fans to watch.

Analogy:
Until Bruce Pearl had coached a season at UT, I did not admit how wrong I had been about Buzz Peterson, who was a great man but a poor coach. I think we end up there with Kiffin and Fulmer. I also look forward to gambles and blitzes on a defense prone to picking up turnovers. Watching that type of a defense is fun and exciting like watching Pearl basketball is fun and exciting.

We will not only play well this season, we will play well in an aggressive manner that will bring more studs to UT. If you go to Florida and win a NC, you will be down the deification list from Tebow. In TN you were 6 years old or younger the last time they adored someone as much as they will adore you.
Click to expand...

Good Post...Just ask Tee Martin if anyone disagrees.
 
#18
#18
MikeHamiltonFan said:
The only situation I knew intimately was Jamal Lewis. I knew it because I was friends with Jamal and tutored him and talked to him about what the coaches said as to why he couldnt play the UF game. They said he did not know the blocking scheme well enough. I also always thought that he showed too much loyalty to guys who "put their time in" the program.
Click to expand...

+1

Look no further than Arian Foster.
 
#19
#19
I don't know why everyone gets excited about recruiting awesome skill guys. Its the Dline and Oline that really matter. You can have even average skill position guys as long as the lines are dominant.

The Kiffin legacy will be built on the kind of big men he can bring to campus, not on the skill guys.

So far, the recruiting at those positions hasn't really been too amazing, but its still early.
 
#21
#21
KoachKrab127 said:
And those were the 2 positions where Fulmer NEVER played freshmen. I got so sick of hearing about how the freshmen WRs "didn't know the offense" or how the freshmen RBs "couldn't pass block."

In a GoVolsXtra article a few days ago, Coach Wilson said this offense is "very WR friendly." FINALLY!!! We won't have to listen to BS about how they can't play because they aren't smart enough.

I think Fulmer was just bad at coaching X's and O's. The opponents could figure out the offense in the 1st quarter with ease, and UT's own players couldn't figure out the offense the whole season!
Click to expand...

+1
 
#22
#22
I'll have what he's drinking...:p

Actually, I understand and agree with the points your making, I'm just a little more cautiously optimistic. Rome wasn't built in a day...
 
#23
#23
PandamoniumReigns said:
+1

Look no further than Arian Foster.
Click to expand...

Who was better than Arian Foster? That might not be saying much, but Foster was the best RB we had and was a damn good RB in 2007. In 2008 he didn't get many touches..

The one example that comes to my mind is Josh McNeil in 2006. He was a freshman but the better of the two centers, but didn't play that much against Florida. After the game Fulmer acknowledged that and said he should have played McNeil more.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, or that Fulmer wasn't guilty of overlooking a freshman from time to time but only that I think it is a bit absurd to say that Fulmer purposefully didn't play the best players b/c they were freshman....
 
#24
#24
WPAINE said:
I've always found this argument that Fulmer didn't play as many freshman as anyone else interesting... Other than your opinion what stats do you have to support that? It seems like many of the 2007 signing class played as freshman, and history shows that Fulmer was actually more likely to start a freshman QB than most other SEC coaches....
Click to expand...

O really? name one freshman that started against cal in the season opener in 2007
 
#25
#25
getyopopcornready said:
O really? name one freshman that started against cal in the season opener in 2007
Click to expand...

Eric Berry

Besides, he said they played as freshmen...

Kenny O'Neal, Nevin McKenzie, DeAngelo Willingham, Denarius Moore, and Chris Walker played at Cal.

By the end of the season 3 of our 4 DBs were freshmen, and we had freshmen in the rotation everywhere but QB, TE, K, and P.

Plus... freshman starting QBs under Fulmer = Manning, Suggs, Matthews, C. Clausen, Schaeffer, Ainge...
 
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