The Clawson Complex

#1
orange+white=heaven

orange+white=heaven

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#1
In scanning through old articles from Clawson's days at Richmond and even before, one quickly notes how often the words 'complex' and 'intricate' are used in reference to his offense. The same things are now being written by Tennessee beat writers.

From spring, I could see with my own eyes that there is a lot happening after the snap. While there seem to be only a few base formations, the responses to the defense when the play begins are meant to be myriad.

There have been more than a few folks hereabouts who remain unconvinced that Phil Fulmer will not ultimately take a vice grip to offensive playcalling this season.

This offense is the fruit of about two decades labor for Dave Clawson. I'm excited to see what a bump in talent will do for his philosophies to date.

The question is this. If Fulmer really wanted to sieze the offense, could he? What's been installed this spring can only be run by it's papa, Dr. Dave. Fulmer I think has given Tennessee an offense he probably could not call, outside of trends related to game momentum...

If I'm right, the cynics have less to fret about.
 
#2
#2
The fact that it took UT this long to have recievers that moved around in different formations instead of a constant X Y is pretty sad.
 
#3
#3
Depends on whether the offense struggles early. If the system works and the offense is scoring, one has to think that Fulmer will remain hands off. But if things are not working well in the first few games, I see Fulmer reasserting himself in that role.
 
#4
#4
lawgator1 said:
Depends on whether the offense struggles early. If the system works and the offense is scoring, one has to think that Fulmer will remain hands off. But if things are not working well in the first few games, I see Fulmer reasserting himself in that role.
Click to expand...

I don't. He let Randy Sanders run the offense to the day he was fired. Clearly he wouldn't have gone to such a strange candidate if he wasn't prepared to lay off.
 
#5
#5
lacrossepro70 said:
I don't. He let Randy Sanders run the offense to the day he was fired. Clearly he wouldn't have gone to such a strange candidate if he wasn't prepared to lay off.
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Except that the pressure to succeed is that much more intense year-to-year up to now.
 
#6
#6
lawgator1 said:
Except that the pressure to succeed is that much more intense year-to-year up to now.
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I think you're missing my point. You can't just scuttle whats been installed and go back to what Fulmer is comfy with, midseason. Fulmer's the ham in this ham and eggs story. He's committed.
 
#7
#7
lacrossepro70 said:
I don't. He let Randy Sanders run the offense to the day he was fired. Clearly he wouldn't have gone to such a strange candidate if he wasn't prepared to lay off.
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RS was really running the O? I'm not so sure on that

Also, what makes Clawson such a strange candidate? Just because he wasn't on the national radar doesn't mean he wasn't well known in coaching circles.
 
#8
#8
do you think Phil's inability to call the plays will really stop him from handcuffing CDC?
 
#9
#9
orange+white=heaven said:
I think you're missing my point. You can't just scuttle whats been installed and go back to what Fulmer is comfy with, midseason. Fulmer's the ham in this ham and eggs story. He's committed.
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Oh, on that we agree. But certainly some of The Claw's playbook will be risky whereas some will be conservative. And if risky is causing problems, Fulmer is likely to insist on conservative.
 
#10
#10
orange+white=heaven said:
I think you're missing my point. You can't just scuttle whats been installed and go back to what Fulmer is comfy with, midseason. Fulmer's the ham in this ham and eggs story. He's committed.
Click to expand...

like Lex pointed out, letting Clawson tinker with the o-line shows me CPF is letting go and this O will sink/swim on CDC's abilities.
 
#12
#12
utvolpj said:
like Lex pointed out, letting Clawson tinker with the o-line shows me CPF is letting go and this O will sink/swim on CDC's abilities.
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Im not completely sold on that. As crucial as this year is, do you honestly believe that Phil is going to keep his nose out of it?
 
#13
#13
holdemvol said:
If he were looking for an OC to handcuff he would have never hired Clawson.
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why wouldnt he? can you imagine the hue and cry if he had promoted Adkins? He didnt really have a choice in going outside the family.
 
#14
#14
rexvol said:
Im not completely sold on that. As crucial as this year is, do you honestly believe that Phil is going to keep his nose out of it?
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yes. Will he remove his basic O philosophy? No but I don't believe he will be calling plays directly
 
#15
#15
utvolpj said:
yes. Will he remove his basic O philosophy? No but I don't believe he will be calling plays directly
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I hope you're right. And let me clarify, I dont think phil will call the plays, but when faced with a 3rd and goal from the one ft line, I think Phil's going to choose the call. I dont think it'll stop there though. Phil will influence the play selection all over the field. That being said, I hope I am completely wrong and that Phil gives CDC complete freedom to do his thing.
 
#16
#16
rexvol said:
I hope you're right.
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easier if you just always assume I am :)

I don't think CDC and CPF are too far off in the way they approach the game. I just think this O is different and Phil will lay off and let him do his thing.

and like everyone says around here, if it doesn't work he has another scapegoat (that's a joke too)
 
#17
#17
utvolpj said:
easier if you just always assume I am :)

I don't think CDC and CPF are too far off in the way they approach the game. I just think this O is different and Phil will lay off and let him do his thing.

and like everyone says around here, if it doesn't work he has another scapegoat (that's a joke too)
Click to expand...

my boss and you would get along just fine.
 
#18
#18
rexvol said:
why wouldnt he? can you imagine the hue and cry if he had promoted Adkins? He didnt really have a choice in going outside the family.
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Yes he did and his name was Mike Debord. Debord would have been the perfect hire for Phil if he really didn't want to let go of the offense.
 
#19
#19
rexvol said:
do you think Phil's inability to call the plays will really stop him from handcuffing CDC?
Click to expand...
Clawson has said he will run an offense that his head coach wants, so clearly on some level the two are already on the same page. As for handcuffing, let's look at LG's point...

lawgator1 said:
Oh, on that we agree. But certainly some of The Claw's playbook will be risky whereas some will be conservative. And if risky is causing problems, Fulmer is likely to insist on conservative.
Click to expand...
This is true of course, but consider this. It's very possible that the conservative side of this new look has much more explosive potential than the Tennessee conservative of old.

Not really any handcuffs there Rexy. Again, assuming this tthing looks in fall like it has early on...
 
#20
#20
I think OWH's question is could CPF call the plays because it's a new offense.

If the players are learning the plays, formations, and decsions, don't you think CPF could learn them as well?

I think CPF will be comfortable enough with the offense by this fall that he could call the plays, but I firmly believe that Clawson will have that duty.

As with every head coach, CPF will have input and the final call on every play - especially late in the game and at critical decision points.
 
#22
#22
holdemvol said:
Yes he did and his name was Mike Debord. Debord would have been the perfect hire for Phil if he really didn't want to let go of the offense.
Click to expand...

Deboard was still not part of the Tennessee family tree, so that would have helped somewhat, but you make a good point.
 
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