liquidrage
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Not a Vols fan per say, but I'll be pulling for Kiffin.
Anyways, I didn't see a lot on here about Kiffin the coach. Having seen pretty much most of his USC career, and every snap of his Raiders career, and taking an interest in his career well before now, I'd figured I'd share my opinions on him.
First, overall, don't expect a ton of hands on with the defense. He has a style he wants to run (Tampa 2) whether his father's the DC, asst-HC, or not even on the staff. He believes in it, and that is obviously due to his bloodlines and the success it has had. And it's also a lot of what is run at USC. Of course Pete and Monte have a connection, and Pete took a lot from him.
This defense is obviously a great defense to run against teams that like to spread the field out, like UF. It's a defense that gives up yards in exchange for turnovers and sacks. It's a defense that can easily confuse a QB, negates speed (in part because you'll be recruiting even more speed for it and also because there are few man to man situations) and requires a solid pro-style QB to pick it apart. But it's only one that will take a few years to teach to the kids because it's one that requires the players do exactly what they're supposed to do, be where they're supposed to be. It's not just "line em up and let em play". I think the D might take a step back in year one till the kids have it down better.
But what's important to note about the defense, no matter who runs it, is it will be what Kiffin believes in. He has a philosophy and a plan to make it work. He will try to get players he believes fit his system, and when needed adjust it to fit the players.
On offense is where he's going to spend a lot of him time though. And this is an offense you should look forward to. This isn't Urban Myer. This is more like Saban or Jimbo Fisher. He wants a balanced attack. But he has an ability to adapt to the players and the game when needed.
Kiffin never would have lost the UCLA game. He would have ran, ran some more, and ran again. His passing plays would have been set up by the run. He probably would have only thrown about 10x in that game total. Mostly on play action.
Kiffin is one of the rare coaches I've seen (and I watch a lot of football as my wife can vouch for/complain about) that really does set up plays every game. Kiffin's the type that notices that the SAM is locked into the backfield on 3rd and short even though he's in man to man with the TE. The first 3rd down he might run it right to that TE. But the next time it's a bootleg and a big play to that TE.
Almost every game with the Raiders he had set up 4 or 5 plays that were big plays. Plays that the announcers, the fans, and most certainly the defense, did not see coming. Of course, being the Raiders, JR would overthrow it, or Curry would drop it half the time. But the plays were there. These weren't just post patterns on a 5 step drop on 3rd and long. These were plays set up entirely by preparation and the play calling.
Expect draws to actually work on 3rd and 12. Why? Because he won't run it every time, but when he does he'll have already ran the same exact looking play twice where it wasn't a draw on 3rd and long.
Expect to throw it on 3rd and inches, and not just short passes, but shots down field even though he had 2 TE's in the game.
He'll dictate to the defense where he has an advantage (think of the Raiders turn around in the running game with him), and take advantage of the defense where they are giving him opportunities.
He really does understand play calling. There are few coaches who I enjoy watching call a game more then Kiffin. Several coaches have counted on the quality of the coaching he was giving the Raiders.
That was because Kiffin had a bad team, a team lacking in talent, a team with a troublesome owner, playing hard, playing as a team. The Raiders players had completely bought into what he was selling and they were very public about it. So if he can handle that mess (and the Raiders improved drastically under him even if the record only got slightly better in year 1), he will do very well a "normal" big time program like UT.
I really think you'll like what you see from him. I'd be shocked if you don't.
Anyways, I didn't see a lot on here about Kiffin the coach. Having seen pretty much most of his USC career, and every snap of his Raiders career, and taking an interest in his career well before now, I'd figured I'd share my opinions on him.
First, overall, don't expect a ton of hands on with the defense. He has a style he wants to run (Tampa 2) whether his father's the DC, asst-HC, or not even on the staff. He believes in it, and that is obviously due to his bloodlines and the success it has had. And it's also a lot of what is run at USC. Of course Pete and Monte have a connection, and Pete took a lot from him.
This defense is obviously a great defense to run against teams that like to spread the field out, like UF. It's a defense that gives up yards in exchange for turnovers and sacks. It's a defense that can easily confuse a QB, negates speed (in part because you'll be recruiting even more speed for it and also because there are few man to man situations) and requires a solid pro-style QB to pick it apart. But it's only one that will take a few years to teach to the kids because it's one that requires the players do exactly what they're supposed to do, be where they're supposed to be. It's not just "line em up and let em play". I think the D might take a step back in year one till the kids have it down better.
But what's important to note about the defense, no matter who runs it, is it will be what Kiffin believes in. He has a philosophy and a plan to make it work. He will try to get players he believes fit his system, and when needed adjust it to fit the players.
On offense is where he's going to spend a lot of him time though. And this is an offense you should look forward to. This isn't Urban Myer. This is more like Saban or Jimbo Fisher. He wants a balanced attack. But he has an ability to adapt to the players and the game when needed.
Kiffin never would have lost the UCLA game. He would have ran, ran some more, and ran again. His passing plays would have been set up by the run. He probably would have only thrown about 10x in that game total. Mostly on play action.
Kiffin is one of the rare coaches I've seen (and I watch a lot of football as my wife can vouch for/complain about) that really does set up plays every game. Kiffin's the type that notices that the SAM is locked into the backfield on 3rd and short even though he's in man to man with the TE. The first 3rd down he might run it right to that TE. But the next time it's a bootleg and a big play to that TE.
Almost every game with the Raiders he had set up 4 or 5 plays that were big plays. Plays that the announcers, the fans, and most certainly the defense, did not see coming. Of course, being the Raiders, JR would overthrow it, or Curry would drop it half the time. But the plays were there. These weren't just post patterns on a 5 step drop on 3rd and long. These were plays set up entirely by preparation and the play calling.
Expect draws to actually work on 3rd and 12. Why? Because he won't run it every time, but when he does he'll have already ran the same exact looking play twice where it wasn't a draw on 3rd and long.
Expect to throw it on 3rd and inches, and not just short passes, but shots down field even though he had 2 TE's in the game.
He'll dictate to the defense where he has an advantage (think of the Raiders turn around in the running game with him), and take advantage of the defense where they are giving him opportunities.
He really does understand play calling. There are few coaches who I enjoy watching call a game more then Kiffin. Several coaches have counted on the quality of the coaching he was giving the Raiders.
That was because Kiffin had a bad team, a team lacking in talent, a team with a troublesome owner, playing hard, playing as a team. The Raiders players had completely bought into what he was selling and they were very public about it. So if he can handle that mess (and the Raiders improved drastically under him even if the record only got slightly better in year 1), he will do very well a "normal" big time program like UT.
I really think you'll like what you see from him. I'd be shocked if you don't.
