Throw Dave Clawsen Under the Bus?

#1
Sewaneetigers

Sewaneetigers

Res Ipsa Loquitur
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Dec 6, 2007
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12
#1
I thought Dave Clawsen was a good hire. He seemed a lot like Pearl on paper, lots of success at a lower level, had some new innovative ideas, and was motivating and energetic.

I don't think any offense can succeed with a hopelessly inept quarterback. That said he is also QB coach and the QB performance is partly his responsibility.

In 2006 and 2007 in 27 games Cutcliffe's offense only failed to score more than 14 points 3 times. In 6 games Clawsen's offense has done it 4 times.

Clawsen may be a good coach in time but he was not ready to coach in the SEC.

I will say right out I was a Cutcliffe guy, hated to see him go but at the same time I was excited to see what someone new could do.

In 3 out of Cutcliffe's last 4 years as OC we went to SEC championship game. Almost beat Florida in 06 and would have gone. We have never not been competitive in the conference with Cut as OC. This year and in 05 we were a national joke. Without Cut we have made it 2 out of 8 years including this year where we will not go.

Completely aside from QB issues there has been some just awful coaching decisions, questionable play calling, lack of cohesivness, poor fundamentals, and just bad attitude that ARE coaching issues.

I don't want to treat Clawsen like Auburn did Tony Franklin he seems like a really nice guy but he definitely wasn't what we expected. Anyone think that he should come back next year?
 
#2
#2
Clawson's been a disappointment---he's the QB coach, and the QB play has been terrible, with no improvement. If fulmer stays, I hope he brings in a new OC who can coach at this level.
 
#3
#3
VolsRule said:
Clawson's been a disappointment---he's the QB coach, and the QB play has been terrible, with no improvement. If fulmer stays, I hope he brings in a new OC who can coach at this level.
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Stephens has been an improvement over what we started with this season. The QB's aren't the issue now, the O-Line is.
 
#4
#4
VolsRule said:
Clawson's been a disappointment---he's the QB coach, and the QB play has been terrible, with no improvement. If fulmer stays, I hope he brings in a new OC who can coach at this level.
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How long did Cutcliffe have Crompton? Dave Clawson is the OC, not a miracle worker.
 
#5
#5
honestly, i do. im not an x's and o's kinda fan, but it seems that that there have been alot of opportunities for big plays, that have been negated by poor QB play. the fundamentals, i agree, are horrific.
 
#7
#7
look at the dramatic difference cut made with ainge -- from zero to hero (well, at least until the pick 6).

it is conceivable that clawson could have taken crompton in the opposite direction. i've also heard the crompton saga both ways -- fulmer insisted on keeping him, clawson insisted on keeping him, who knows?

the biggest problems this year are on the offensive side and that points to the OC, especially in the context of the points made by the OP.

of course fulmer is at fault also since he presumably chose clawson. it looks to me like fulmer has made 3 really bad decisions as HC: 1 promoting sanders to OC 2 keeping sanders at OC way too long 3 hiring clawson.
 
#9
#9
My biggest gripe with Clawson is the O line flipping and zone blocking.

Otherwise, I highly value smart people and I still have faith in him. Good QB play, and a fast, non-fumbling Arian Foster would make him look much much better.
 
#10
#10
VolBeef88 said:
Crompton would not have been the starter with Cut. It was well known that Cut was not impressed with Crompton at all.
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...and its so obvious now why. I hate it for Crompton, and for the fan base. Its not that often we get a 4/5* QB that grew up bleeding orange. The whole thing just stinks.
 
#11
#11
General Jack said:
...and its so obvious now why. I hate it for Crompton, and for the fan base. Its not that often we get a 4/5* QB that grew up bleeding orange. The whole thing just stinks.
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I agree that is stinks. But if you remember I was talking about his accuracy problems before the season and his judgment. The reason I was saying that is, that was Cuts concern about him. It played out unfortunately the way I was told. Once again, accuracy is one of the toughest things to fix in a QB. Judgment is tough but can come with experience and play time.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" /><o:p></o:p>
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#12
#12
SavageOrangeJug said:
How long did Cutcliffe have Crompton? Dave Clawson is the OC, not a miracle worker.
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"Clawson's abilities will be pinpointed, then realized, if the new HC retains him. If he does not, then we will instantly know he was another Fulmer pooch punt of a choice." poosey, June 1, 2008
:zeitung_lesen:
 
#13
#13
Sewaneetigers said:
I thought Dave Clawsen was a good hire. He seemed a lot like Pearl on paper, lots of success at a lower level, had some new innovative ideas, and was motivating and energetic.
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Uhhh... not my first impression of him. Instead of motivating and energetic, I assumed he was reserved and cerebral.
 
#14
#14
It's really hard to tell how Clawson is or is going to be. We don't know how much Fulmer allows him to do. We do know that Cutcliffe had complete control of the offense. Not so sure about Clawson.
 
#15
#15
I doubt Clawson has had full control. Its been widely rumored and reported that he wanted to give Stephens a shot in the Spring but that idea was strongly shot down by Phil.
 
#16
#16
The Dude said:
I doubt Clawson has had full control. Its been widely rumored and reported that he wanted to give Stephens a shot in the Spring but that idea was strongly shot down by Phil.
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agreed, I think we all know that Fulmer is not letting Clawson make all the decisions for the offense.
 
#19
#19
VolBeef88 said:
I disagree. There are some big changes to the offense but they are not working. I do think CPF makes some changes but most HC do that from the sideline.
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I heard an interview with a sportswriter from VA who said he had watched the 3 national televised games and said this looks nothing like what he saw from Clawson's time at Richmond.
 
#20
#20
The Dude said:
I heard an interview with a sportswriter from VA who said he had watched the 3 national televised games and said this looks nothing like what he saw from Clawson's time at Richmond.
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There are to many new wrinkles to think Clawson has not had major input in the offense. Now, I do think CPF (esp hear lately) has input as well. But this offense has been Clawsons and those who say he wanted Stephens to start must be on Crack! He liked JC from day one and in fact JC was happy to see Cut leave because he felt it gave him a new chance.

But at the end of the day Fulmer is responsible for the team. However lets no let Clawson off the hook.
 
#21
#21
The Dude said:
I heard an interview with a sportswriter from VA who said he had watched the 3 national televised games and said this looks nothing like what he saw from Clawson's time at Richmond.
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Thats pretty telling. Look, this offense looks like the same offense from 2000-2005 w/ Randy Sanders. I rly think dat three reasons Clawson hasn't worked.

1. The O-Line absolutely sucks. Idk wat exactly it is but it sucks. Whethers it the flip-flop or Gred Adkins, w/e it is it has hurt this team bad. I think Adkins should be fired anyway.

2. Crompton couldn't get it done. I rly think dat Fulmer prayed Crompton good get it done in the game and it backfired even though we wasn't the answer.

3. I still think Fulmer has quite a say in the O. Its the same offense when Sanders was where. At least it looks like it. I rly think Fulmer controls a lot of wat goes on.
 
#22
#22
zjcvols said:
Thats pretty telling. Look, this offense looks like the same offense from 2000-2005 w/ Randy Sanders. I rly think dat three reasons Clawson hasn't worked.

1. The O-Line absolutely sucks. Idk wat exactly it is but it sucks. Whethers it the flip-flop or Gred Adkins, w/e it is it has hurt this team bad. I think Adkins should be fired anyway.

2. Crompton couldn't get it done. I rly think dat Fulmer prayed Crompton good get it done in the game and it backfired even though we wasn't the answer.

3. I still think Fulmer has quite a say in the O. Its the same offense when Sanders was where. At least it looks like it. I rly think Fulmer controls a lot of wat goes on.
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It looks NOTHING like when Snaders was here. The king of bubble screens did very little shifting and 4 WR sets and and when did you see the pulling with the line the way Clawson does? Answer you didnt. This is on Fulmer because he is the head coach but Clawson's offense has not clicked.
 
#24
#24
VolinArizona said:
Beef, I'm telling you - this is not what Clawson's offenses have EVER looked like.... EVER.
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I never watched a <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place>Richmond</st1:place></st1:City> game so I cant argue that. But I have watched a TON of UT and every game since CPF has been the coach. This is NOT his offense either. Fulmer is a run first guy. Hell man ask yourself this. How many draws on 3rd and longs did we see CPF call when he was OC? Other than <st1:City><st1:place>Witten</st1:place></st1:City> when did you see UT use the TE for anything than another blocker? Maybe it's bastardized version of <st1:City><st1:place>Clawson</st1:place></st1:City> but the philosophy of this offense is so different than what I've ever seen Fulmer use before. Motion? Holy **** that alone tells me this is not Fulmer. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:eek:ffice" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
 
#25
#25
VolBeef88 said:
But this offense has been Clawsons and those who say he wanted Stephens to start must be on Crack! He liked JC from day one and in fact JC was happy to see Cut leave because he felt it gave him a new chance.
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When a position coach is told a guy is the starter and there will be no competition, what's he supposed to do, dog the guy in interviews?

The offensive itself is new, but considering that Fulmer has proven in the past to put both hands on the wheel of any offense not coordinated by Cutcliffe and his insistance on no QB competition, I choose to lay most of the blame for the offense on Phil.
 
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