Who will go?

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Don't sweat it! We will be in good hands.

Cam Cameron will be new OC.

Sal Senseri will return as new DC

Derek Dooley will coach Special Teams

 

[OneVolNation]

Good question. Just thinking out loud here but I'll give it a go. I'm typing this a few minutes before a late dinner so please forgive the rushed grammatical errors and typos. I'll just touch on a few current pressing issues and offer some suggestions on how to resolve them for greater efficiency and better results.

This may be above my pay grade and until I'm offered a consultancy contract to do so, I won't claim to have the surefire one size fits all prescription for a guaranteed National Championship each year, but since I'm in a rare mood looking forward to the game tomorrow, I'll share some thoughts I had, in the event looking at some nagging problems and potential solutions from a different angle could help by thinking about it in a slightly different way. My disclaimer is that I'm a loyal passionate fan who is only thinking out loud so feel free to take what works and run with it or dismiss it altogether as you see fit realizing this is only my opinion about what could be useful.

First, I don't think any rash change in personnel is the answer -- yet. I also don't intend to insult any coach or player in any way. Nor do I intend to oversimplify the nuanced. My only intention is the hope an idea or two presented might be of use to those who find something in the idea that resonates with them. With that said, I believe a top down system overhaul could be just what the doctor ordered.

Let's start with a restructuring of operations management by implementing a more truly comprehensive and beefed-up evaluation protocol that could prove to be a long term game-changer for personnel and players alike -- on top of providing several immediate and mid-range benefits upon implementation.

In terms of the organizational, this isn't any of our coaches' first rodeo and all have likely experienced many of the types of problems that have prevented complete realization of program potential and/or team performance through the years and I'm confident they realize the coaching "best practices" for how to solve them.

That's not the problem. They have done well to adapt to the plague of injury issues and managed to make adjustments with only two blemishes on the record this season.
Even so, the sheer quantity of sidelined starters and backups force us to view their effect on team performance and answer a few questions in order to gain some useful perspective for future games and seasons even though this experience has been painful.

Since chance seemed to deal us so many crippling injuries this season, let's pick up the cane like a pimp and make the most of it. In fact, just for fun and to make it easy to remember, we can use that imagery as an acronym.

Purpose Intention Mitigation Performance

The often misquoted business maxim "You can't manage what you don't measure" has never been more appropriate than the opportunity this team has at this point in the season to set a tone that can make each year a team of destiny here at Tennessee.

Instead of cursing our luck and attributing it to chance, let's heed the hint from higher power (and with purposeful intent) implement a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of multiple injuries now and in the future as well as proactively take steps with an actionable plan to reduce the risk of future injuries.

This means we don't wait until an emergency happens to get what little depth we have off the bench for more snaps than in the past even when we don't necessarily need to yet. This will not only give the depth more experience, but it will reduce fatigue for our starters in the process.

It doesn't have to be drastic, but enough to make a difference.

So if usually you give the 2nd string guy x number of snaps just to give the starter at his position a breather, you increase that number to give them five more plays than usual.

The temporary loss of experience and/or talent for those plays can be justified with the fact that you now have more experience on the bench than before and a stronger team overall at each position.

Ideally, this is something that can be implemented gradually so as not to drastically impact the team in a negative way and at the same time enjoy the resulting benefits of a more rested and experienced team.

If you impose this increase in substitutions on yourself on purpose, then you no longer leave it for when you're forced to do it in a reactionary way, but because you're able to eliminate altogether the scenario of playing 3rd or 4th team players without experience because injury demands it at a critical moment in the game, it's not such a shock to the team when it's time for "next man up" to happen.

Okay, so we've addressed how we can make some gradual small changes in player rotation that will pay off with more experience overall and less fatigue.

Now let's move on to a crucial phase of the evaluation process and create some systems for improvement.

We're not talking about a report card for each coach and player each game with only one assessment grade for their position overall, we're talking about creating a rock solid plan for evaluation that functions like a business plan created by an accountant (I haven't seen the movie yet) that replaces a gut feeling with a concrete action step for each phase of the game for on-the-field goals as well as off-the-field goals for each coach and every player.

How do we do this?

Three letters. KPI.

Key Performance Indicators.

We identify, establish, evaluate and analyze exactly and specifically what must happen on the field each play for each game in order to win the National Championship each season.

We identify and establish what the results of those key performance indicators look like as stats in the context of what point of the game it is so that the statistical benchmark is already there to serve as mile markers.

When we see we're not getting it done in a phase of the game, we have a ready supply of contingency adjustments practiced and ready to execute at any moment needed.

In addition to the performance stats, at exactly which part of the play is the execution not getting it done and then make the adjustment as needed for course correction.

This can come down to technique for player vs. player position match ups where imbalances in size, speed or strength call for an adjustment in technique to shift the advantage in our favor or it could include other ways to adapt the ever changing plan as you become aware of how to make the specific improvement needed to achieve a particular goal.

In theory, for every play the other team ends up with the upper hand, there is a way our team could have "won" that battle instead. Break each movement of the technique down into the components needed to execute it perfectly and find out exactly where technique is breaking down for the player to correct it. You improve individual technique, you improve individual execution of that technique. You improve individual execution of technique at each position, you improve overall team execution. You improve overall team execution, you begin to win ballgames that you would have lost before you installed the improvement system.

Coaches will be evaluated for how they are managing the players to reach all the KPI's and players will be evaluated on execution and technique for each play they're responsible for.

Ultimately it will be the responsibility of each coach to get the production needed from each player individually and each group of the team that falls under their area of management.

Just to quickly recap, this system for incremental performance improvement for each player and coach individually responsible for hitting the key performance targets they're assigned, will produce a cumulative improvement overall for the team as a whole on both sides of the football.

 

[fade route]

Sad that some of our fans took that literally.

Sad that Butch really believed it to be true

 

[mtowntim]

Good question. Just thinking out loud here but I'll give it a go. I'm typing this a few minutes before a late dinner so please forgive the rushed grammatical errors and typos. I'll just touch on a few current pressing issues and offer some suggestions on how to resolve them for greater efficiency and better results.

This may be above my pay grade and until I'm offered a consultancy contract to do so, I won't claim to have the surefire one size fits all prescription for a guaranteed National Championship each year, but since I'm in a rare mood looking forward to the game tomorrow, I'll share some thoughts I had, in the event looking at some nagging problems and potential solutions from a different angle could help by thinking about it in a slightly different way. My disclaimer is that I'm a loyal passionate fan who is only thinking out loud so feel free to take what works and run with it or dismiss it altogether as you see fit realizing this is only my opinion about what could be useful.

First, I don't think any rash change in personnel is the answer -- yet. I also don't intend to insult any coach or player in any way. Nor do I intend to oversimplify the nuanced. My only intention is the hope an idea or two presented might be of use to those who find something in the idea that resonates with them. With that said, I believe a top down system overhaul could be just what the doctor ordered.

Let's start with a restructuring of operations management by implementing a more truly comprehensive and beefed-up evaluation protocol that could prove to be a long term game-changer for personnel and players alike -- on top of providing several immediate and mid-range benefits upon implementation.

In terms of the organizational, this isn't any of our coaches' first rodeo and all have likely experienced many of the types of problems that have prevented complete realization of program potential and/or team performance through the years and I'm confident they realize the coaching "best practices" for how to solve them.

That's not the problem. They have done well to adapt to the plague of injury issues and managed to make adjustments with only two blemishes on the record this season.
Even so, the sheer quantity of sidelined starters and backups force us to view their effect on team performance and answer a few questions in order to gain some useful perspective for future games and seasons even though this experience has been painful.

Since chance seemed to deal us so many crippling injuries this season, let's pick up the cane like a pimp and make the most of it. In fact, just for fun and to make it easy to remember, we can use that imagery as an acronym.

Purpose Intention Mitigation Performance

The often misquoted business maxim "You can't manage what you don't measure" has never been more appropriate than the opportunity this team has at this point in the season to set a tone that can make each year a team of destiny here at Tennessee.

Instead of cursing our luck and attributing it to chance, let's heed the hint from higher power (and with purposeful intent) implement a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of multiple injuries now and in the future as well as proactively take steps with an actionable plan to reduce the risk of future injuries.

This means we don't wait until an emergency happens to get what little depth we have off the bench for more snaps than in the past even when we don't necessarily need to yet. This will not only give the depth more experience, but it will reduce fatigue for our starters in the process.

It doesn't have to be drastic, but enough to make a difference.

So if usually you give the 2nd string guy x number of snaps just to give the starter at his position a breather, you increase that number to give them five more plays than usual.

The temporary loss of experience and/or talent for those plays can be justified with the fact that you now have more experience on the bench than before and a stronger team overall at each position.

Ideally, this is something that can be implemented gradually so as not to drastically impact the team in a negative way and at the same time enjoy the resulting benefits of a more rested and experienced team.

If you impose this increase in substitutions on yourself on purpose, then you no longer leave it for when you're forced to do it in a reactionary way, but because you're able to eliminate altogether the scenario of playing 3rd or 4th team players without experience because injury demands it at a critical moment in the game, it's not such a shock to the team when it's time for "next man up" to happen.

Okay, so we've addressed how we can make some gradual small changes in player rotation that will pay off with more experience overall and less fatigue.

Now let's move on to a crucial phase of the evaluation process and create some systems for improvement.

We're not talking about a report card for each coach and player each game with only one assessment grade for their position overall, we're talking about creating a rock solid plan for evaluation that functions like a business plan created by an accountant (I haven't seen the movie yet) that replaces a gut feeling with a concrete action step for each phase of the game for on-the-field goals as well as off-the-field goals for each coach and every player.

How do we do this?

Three letters. KPI.

Key Performance Indicators.

We identify, establish, evaluate and analyze exactly and specifically what must happen on the field each play for each game in order to win the National Championship each season.

We identify and establish what the results of those key performance indicators look like as stats in the context of what point of the game it is so that the statistical benchmark is already there to serve as mile markers.

When we see we're not getting it done in a phase of the game, we have a ready supply of contingency adjustments practiced and ready to execute at any moment needed.

In addition to the performance stats, at exactly which part of the play is the execution not getting it done and then make the adjustment as needed for course correction.

This can come down to technique for player vs. player position match ups where imbalances in size, speed or strength call for an adjustment in technique to shift the advantage in our favor or it could include other ways to adapt the ever changing plan as you become aware of how to make the specific improvement needed to achieve a particular goal.

In theory, for every play the other team ends up with the upper hand, there is a way our team could have "won" that battle instead. Break each movement of the technique down into the components needed to execute it perfectly and find out exactly where technique is breaking down for the player to correct it. You improve individual technique, you improve individual execution of that technique. You improve individual execution of technique at each position, you improve overall team execution. You improve overall team execution, you begin to win ballgames that you would have lost before you installed the improvement system.

Coaches will be evaluated for how they are managing the players to reach all the KPI's and players will be evaluated on execution and technique for each play they're responsible for.

Ultimately it will be the responsibility of each coach to get the production needed from each player individually and each group of the team that falls under their area of management.

Just to quickly recap, this system for incremental performance improvement for each player and coach individually responsible for hitting the key performance targets they're assigned, will produce a cumulative improvement overall for the team as a whole on both sides of the football.

Beat me to it.

 

[81Orange]

Not being there to observe how the position coaches interact with players it is hard make the call on replacing a position coach. Based on the game performance Oline coaching needs to improve. Mahoney seemed to do a good job coaching in his first year with a mature line. Then we have had 2 years of rebuilding where his guys under preformed. But depth has been an issue as Dooly left him with no young players. Oline recruiting has been more like a top 20 team rather than top ten team. It takes longer to develop an Oline player because of the strength needed. Butch knows the guy and will make the right call. I don't think loyalty will be the issue. Anyone who manages people knows it not personal it's business. Firing any employ comes at risk and cost. No doubt recruits will be impacted. The new coach has to fit in with the players and staff. You must hire someone significantly better or it is wasted time and effort.
We have other position that could be playing better but at least the recruiting at those position is solid.
Oh and what the previous post said. I agree with the approach But picking KPIs for a business is easier than picking them for a football team. No two coaches can ever agree on what measures/statistics you should use. The only thing that counts are W & L.

 

[Titan&Volfan4life]

Top of the list are the groundskeepers.

Neyland must look spectacular at all times.

VFL...GBO!!!

 

[Burger]

Good question. Just thinking out loud here but I'll give it a go. I'm typing this a few minutes before a late dinner so please forgive the rushed grammatical errors and typos. I'll just touch on a few current pressing issues and offer some suggestions on how to resolve them for greater efficiency and better results.

This may be above my pay grade and until I'm offered a consultancy contract to do so, I won't claim to have the surefire one size fits all prescription for a guaranteed National Championship each year, but since I'm in a rare mood looking forward to the game tomorrow, I'll share some thoughts I had, in the event looking at some nagging problems and potential solutions from a different angle could help by thinking about it in a slightly different way. My disclaimer is that I'm a loyal passionate fan who is only thinking out loud so feel free to take what works and run with it or dismiss it altogether as you see fit realizing this is only my opinion about what could be useful.

First, I don't think any rash change in personnel is the answer -- yet. I also don't intend to insult any coach or player in any way. Nor do I intend to oversimplify the nuanced. My only intention is the hope an idea or two presented might be of use to those who find something in the idea that resonates with them. With that said, I believe a top down system overhaul could be just what the doctor ordered.

Let's start with a restructuring of operations management by implementing a more truly comprehensive and beefed-up evaluation protocol that could prove to be a long term game-changer for personnel and players alike -- on top of providing several immediate and mid-range benefits upon implementation.

In terms of the organizational, this isn't any of our coaches' first rodeo and all have likely experienced many of the types of problems that have prevented complete realization of program potential and/or team performance through the years and I'm confident they realize the coaching "best practices" for how to solve them.

That's not the problem. They have done well to adapt to the plague of injury issues and managed to make adjustments with only two blemishes on the record this season.
Even so, the sheer quantity of sidelined starters and backups force us to view their effect on team performance and answer a few questions in order to gain some useful perspective for future games and seasons even though this experience has been painful.

Since chance seemed to deal us so many crippling injuries this season, let's pick up the cane like a pimp and make the most of it. In fact, just for fun and to make it easy to remember, we can use that imagery as an acronym.

Purpose Intention Mitigation Performance

The often misquoted business maxim "You can't manage what you don't measure" has never been more appropriate than the opportunity this team has at this point in the season to set a tone that can make each year a team of destiny here at Tennessee.

Instead of cursing our luck and attributing it to chance, let's heed the hint from higher power (and with purposeful intent) implement a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of multiple injuries now and in the future as well as proactively take steps with an actionable plan to reduce the risk of future injuries.

This means we don't wait until an emergency happens to get what little depth we have off the bench for more snaps than in the past even when we don't necessarily need to yet. This will not only give the depth more experience, but it will reduce fatigue for our starters in the process.

It doesn't have to be drastic, but enough to make a difference.

So if usually you give the 2nd string guy x number of snaps just to give the starter at his position a breather, you increase that number to give them five more plays than usual.

The temporary loss of experience and/or talent for those plays can be justified with the fact that you now have more experience on the bench than before and a stronger team overall at each position.

Ideally, this is something that can be implemented gradually so as not to drastically impact the team in a negative way and at the same time enjoy the resulting benefits of a more rested and experienced team.

If you impose this increase in substitutions on yourself on purpose, then you no longer leave it for when you're forced to do it in a reactionary way, but because you're able to eliminate altogether the scenario of playing 3rd or 4th team players without experience because injury demands it at a critical moment in the game, it's not such a shock to the team when it's time for "next man up" to happen.

Okay, so we've addressed how we can make some gradual small changes in player rotation that will pay off with more experience overall and less fatigue.

Now let's move on to a crucial phase of the evaluation process and create some systems for improvement.

We're not talking about a report card for each coach and player each game with only one assessment grade for their position overall, we're talking about creating a rock solid plan for evaluation that functions like a business plan created by an accountant (I haven't seen the movie yet) that replaces a gut feeling with a concrete action step for each phase of the game for on-the-field goals as well as off-the-field goals for each coach and every player.

How do we do this?

Three letters. KPI.

Key Performance Indicators.

We identify, establish, evaluate and analyze exactly and specifically what must happen on the field each play for each game in order to win the National Championship each season.

We identify and establish what the results of those key performance indicators look like as stats in the context of what point of the game it is so that the statistical benchmark is already there to serve as mile markers.

When we see we're not getting it done in a phase of the game, we have a ready supply of contingency adjustments practiced and ready to execute at any moment needed.

In addition to the performance stats, at exactly which part of the play is the execution not getting it done and then make the adjustment as needed for course correction.

This can come down to technique for player vs. player position match ups where imbalances in size, speed or strength call for an adjustment in technique to shift the advantage in our favor or it could include other ways to adapt the ever changing plan as you become aware of how to make the specific improvement needed to achieve a particular goal.

In theory, for every play the other team ends up with the upper hand, there is a way our team could have "won" that battle instead. Break each movement of the technique down into the components needed to execute it perfectly and find out exactly where technique is breaking down for the player to correct it. You improve individual technique, you improve individual execution of that technique. You improve individual execution of technique at each position, you improve overall team execution. You improve overall team execution, you begin to win ballgames that you would have lost before you installed the improvement system.

Coaches will be evaluated for how they are managing the players to reach all the KPI's and players will be evaluated on execution and technique for each play they're responsible for.

Ultimately it will be the responsibility of each coach to get the production needed from each player individually and each group of the team that falls under their area of management.

Just to quickly recap, this system for incremental performance improvement for each player and coach individually responsible for hitting the key performance targets they're assigned, will produce a cumulative improvement overall for the team as a whole on both sides of the football.

You're good.

 

[livefaith]

I think Shoop is going to be allowed to evaluate his assistants.

I'm not impressed with Shoop though. Im on record, on this forum, against the firing of Jancek.

Butch was most likely avoiding a Clinton style scandal with that firing. Looks like he somehow got through it too.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

How about no one. How about we don't fantasize about firing our coaching staff in the middle of a season while we still have a shot to go to and possibly win the SEC Championship Game.

Gotta love Volnation. They love firing coaches after the first game or in the middle of the season.

 

[VolFanHenry]

How about no one. How about we don't fantasize about firing our coaching staff in the middle of a season while we still have a shot to go to and possibly win the SEC Championship Game.

And...scene.

 

[#27VFL]

The more I think about it, the more I believe we dont have a quality SEC level staff as a whole. Mahoney and CZA need to probably go. Debord? I will give him another season with a different group of playmakers to see what happens. He has shown flashes of being good. Strip? I think he is good enough. Martinez? Well thats an iffy situation. Maybe give him one more year and see what happens.



What will likely happen? Nobody goes anywhere.

Having said all of that, I probably know less about football than most so take my opinions with a grain of salt.

Martinez has been ineffective in recruiting big time corners and safeties with the exception of legacies. If he pulls in Gibbs or someone of equal talent I say give him another year. But he is not a top recruiter.

Mahoney is improving yearly and recruiting his tail off. We will end up with Trey Smith, the ex South Carolina 4star commit, and probably another 4 star lineman this class.

Debord - I think we give him time to see what he can do with Guarantano or Dormady. He has definitely under performed in recruiting QBs, RBs, and WR because of his style and age. He may turn it around next year with a stylish and successful campaign without Dobbs.


The other coaches are ok.

Azzani sucks

 

[dcm3w]

Good question. Just thinking out loud here but I'll give it a go. I'm typing this a few minutes before a late dinner so please forgive the rushed grammatical errors and typos. I'll just touch on a few current pressing issues and offer some suggestions on how to resolve them for greater efficiency and better results.

This may be above my pay grade and until I'm offered a consultancy contract to do so, I won't claim to have the surefire one size fits all prescription for a guaranteed National Championship each year, but since I'm in a rare mood looking forward to the game tomorrow, I'll share some thoughts I had, in the event looking at some nagging problems and potential solutions from a different angle could help by thinking about it in a slightly different way. My disclaimer is that I'm a loyal passionate fan who is only thinking out loud so feel free to take what works and run with it or dismiss it altogether as you see fit realizing this is only my opinion about what could be useful.

First, I don't think any rash change in personnel is the answer -- yet. I also don't intend to insult any coach or player in any way. Nor do I intend to oversimplify the nuanced. My only intention is the hope an idea or two presented might be of use to those who find something in the idea that resonates with them. With that said, I believe a top down system overhaul could be just what the doctor ordered.

Let's start with a restructuring of operations management by implementing a more truly comprehensive and beefed-up evaluation protocol that could prove to be a long term game-changer for personnel and players alike -- on top of providing several immediate and mid-range benefits upon implementation.

In terms of the organizational, this isn't any of our coaches' first rodeo and all have likely experienced many of the types of problems that have prevented complete realization of program potential and/or team performance through the years and I'm confident they realize the coaching "best practices" for how to solve them.

That's not the problem. They have done well to adapt to the plague of injury issues and managed to make adjustments with only two blemishes on the record this season.
Even so, the sheer quantity of sidelined starters and backups force us to view their effect on team performance and answer a few questions in order to gain some useful perspective for future games and seasons even though this experience has been painful.

Since chance seemed to deal us so many crippling injuries this season, let's pick up the cane like a pimp and make the most of it. In fact, just for fun and to make it easy to remember, we can use that imagery as an acronym.

Purpose Intention Mitigation Performance

The often misquoted business maxim "You can't manage what you don't measure" has never been more appropriate than the opportunity this team has at this point in the season to set a tone that can make each year a team of destiny here at Tennessee.

Instead of cursing our luck and attributing it to chance, let's heed the hint from higher power (and with purposeful intent) implement a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of multiple injuries now and in the future as well as proactively take steps with an actionable plan to reduce the risk of future injuries.

This means we don't wait until an emergency happens to get what little depth we have off the bench for more snaps than in the past even when we don't necessarily need to yet. This will not only give the depth more experience, but it will reduce fatigue for our starters in the process.

It doesn't have to be drastic, but enough to make a difference.

So if usually you give the 2nd string guy x number of snaps just to give the starter at his position a breather, you increase that number to give them five more plays than usual.

The temporary loss of experience and/or talent for those plays can be justified with the fact that you now have more experience on the bench than before and a stronger team overall at each position.

Ideally, this is something that can be implemented gradually so as not to drastically impact the team in a negative way and at the same time enjoy the resulting benefits of a more rested and experienced team.

If you impose this increase in substitutions on yourself on purpose, then you no longer leave it for when you're forced to do it in a reactionary way, but because you're able to eliminate altogether the scenario of playing 3rd or 4th team players without experience because injury demands it at a critical moment in the game, it's not such a shock to the team when it's time for "next man up" to happen.

Okay, so we've addressed how we can make some gradual small changes in player rotation that will pay off with more experience overall and less fatigue.

Now let's move on to a crucial phase of the evaluation process and create some systems for improvement.

We're not talking about a report card for each coach and player each game with only one assessment grade for their position overall, we're talking about creating a rock solid plan for evaluation that functions like a business plan created by an accountant (I haven't seen the movie yet) that replaces a gut feeling with a concrete action step for each phase of the game for on-the-field goals as well as off-the-field goals for each coach and every player.

How do we do this?

Three letters. KPI.

Key Performance Indicators.

We identify, establish, evaluate and analyze exactly and specifically what must happen on the field each play for each game in order to win the National Championship each season.

We identify and establish what the results of those key performance indicators look like as stats in the context of what point of the game it is so that the statistical benchmark is already there to serve as mile markers.

When we see we're not getting it done in a phase of the game, we have a ready supply of contingency adjustments practiced and ready to execute at any moment needed.

In addition to the performance stats, at exactly which part of the play is the execution not getting it done and then make the adjustment as needed for course correction.

This can come down to technique for player vs. player position match ups where imbalances in size, speed or strength call for an adjustment in technique to shift the advantage in our favor or it could include other ways to adapt the ever changing plan as you become aware of how to make the specific improvement needed to achieve a particular goal.

In theory, for every play the other team ends up with the upper hand, there is a way our team could have "won" that battle instead. Break each movement of the technique down into the components needed to execute it perfectly and find out exactly where technique is breaking down for the player to correct it. You improve individual technique, you improve individual execution of that technique. You improve individual execution of technique at each position, you improve overall team execution. You improve overall team execution, you begin to win ballgames that you would have lost before you installed the improvement system.

Coaches will be evaluated for how they are managing the players to reach all the KPI's and players will be evaluated on execution and technique for each play they're responsible for.

Ultimately it will be the responsibility of each coach to get the production needed from each player individually and each group of the team that falls under their area of management.

Just to quickly recap, this system for incremental performance improvement for each player and coach individually responsible for hitting the key performance targets they're assigned, will produce a cumulative improvement overall for the team as a whole on both sides of the football.

Thank you for an in depth post. Good read.

 

[jjnealfl]

I have no quarrel with you sir knight.

Tim Kerin would look at a torn ligament and say it is but a flesh wound!

 

[discontent523]

In all seriousness if the o line still looks to be a weakness the rest of the year I would like to see Mahoney replaced, he has done a decent job at recruiting but Butch has been the one to close the deal with the bigger recruits. I wouldn't mind seeing the guy from App State, I saw an article where their line has graded out in like the top 5 for the past 3 or 4 years. I'm also wondering if Butch would promote Walt Wells? To full time Oline I believe he is on staff in a quality position.

 

[maotai]

Good question. Just thinking out loud here but I'll give it a go. I'm typing this a few minutes before a late dinner so please forgive the rushed grammatical errors and typos. I'll just touch on a few current pressing issues and offer some suggestions on how to resolve them for greater efficiency and better results.

This may be above my pay grade and until I'm offered a consultancy contract to do so, I won't claim to have the surefire one size fits all prescription for a guaranteed National Championship each year, but since I'm in a rare mood looking forward to the game tomorrow, I'll share some thoughts I had, in the event looking at some nagging problems and potential solutions from a different angle could help by thinking about it in a slightly different way. My disclaimer is that I'm a loyal passionate fan who is only thinking out loud so feel free to take what works and run with it or dismiss it altogether as you see fit realizing this is only my opinion about what could be useful.

First, I don't think any rash change in personnel is the answer -- yet. I also don't intend to insult any coach or player in any way. Nor do I intend to oversimplify the nuanced. My only intention is the hope an idea or two presented might be of use to those who find something in the idea that resonates with them. With that said, I believe a top down system overhaul could be just what the doctor ordered.

Let's start with a restructuring of operations management by implementing a more truly comprehensive and beefed-up evaluation protocol that could prove to be a long term game-changer for personnel and players alike -- on top of providing several immediate and mid-range benefits upon implementation.

In terms of the organizational, this isn't any of our coaches' first rodeo and all have likely experienced many of the types of problems that have prevented complete realization of program potential and/or team performance through the years and I'm confident they realize the coaching "best practices" for how to solve them.

That's not the problem. They have done well to adapt to the plague of injury issues and managed to make adjustments with only two blemishes on the record this season.
Even so, the sheer quantity of sidelined starters and backups force us to view their effect on team performance and answer a few questions in order to gain some useful perspective for future games and seasons even though this experience has been painful.

Since chance seemed to deal us so many crippling injuries this season, let's pick up the cane like a pimp and make the most of it. In fact, just for fun and to make it easy to remember, we can use that imagery as an acronym.

Purpose Intention Mitigation Performance

The often misquoted business maxim "You can't manage what you don't measure" has never been more appropriate than the opportunity this team has at this point in the season to set a tone that can make each year a team of destiny here at Tennessee.

Instead of cursing our luck and attributing it to chance, let's heed the hint from higher power (and with purposeful intent) implement a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of multiple injuries now and in the future as well as proactively take steps with an actionable plan to reduce the risk of future injuries.

This means we don't wait until an emergency happens to get what little depth we have off the bench for more snaps than in the past even when we don't necessarily need to yet. This will not only give the depth more experience, but it will reduce fatigue for our starters in the process.

It doesn't have to be drastic, but enough to make a difference.

So if usually you give the 2nd string guy x number of snaps just to give the starter at his position a breather, you increase that number to give them five more plays than usual.

The temporary loss of experience and/or talent for those plays can be justified with the fact that you now have more experience on the bench than before and a stronger team overall at each position.

Ideally, this is something that can be implemented gradually so as not to drastically impact the team in a negative way and at the same time enjoy the resulting benefits of a more rested and experienced team.

If you impose this increase in substitutions on yourself on purpose, then you no longer leave it for when you're forced to do it in a reactionary way, but because you're able to eliminate altogether the scenario of playing 3rd or 4th team players without experience because injury demands it at a critical moment in the game, it's not such a shock to the team when it's time for "next man up" to happen.

Okay, so we've addressed how we can make some gradual small changes in player rotation that will pay off with more experience overall and less fatigue.

Now let's move on to a crucial phase of the evaluation process and create some systems for improvement.

We're not talking about a report card for each coach and player each game with only one assessment grade for their position overall, we're talking about creating a rock solid plan for evaluation that functions like a business plan created by an accountant (I haven't seen the movie yet) that replaces a gut feeling with a concrete action step for each phase of the game for on-the-field goals as well as off-the-field goals for each coach and every player.

How do we do this?

Three letters. KPI.

Key Performance Indicators.

We identify, establish, evaluate and analyze exactly and specifically what must happen on the field each play for each game in order to win the National Championship each season.

We identify and establish what the results of those key performance indicators look like as stats in the context of what point of the game it is so that the statistical benchmark is already there to serve as mile markers.

When we see we're not getting it done in a phase of the game, we have a ready supply of contingency adjustments practiced and ready to execute at any moment needed.

In addition to the performance stats, at exactly which part of the play is the execution not getting it done and then make the adjustment as needed for course correction.

This can come down to technique for player vs. player position match ups where imbalances in size, speed or strength call for an adjustment in technique to shift the advantage in our favor or it could include other ways to adapt the ever changing plan as you become aware of how to make the specific improvement needed to achieve a particular goal.

In theory, for every play the other team ends up with the upper hand, there is a way our team could have "won" that battle instead. Break each movement of the technique down into the components needed to execute it perfectly and find out exactly where technique is breaking down for the player to correct it. You improve individual technique, you improve individual execution of that technique. You improve individual execution of technique at each position, you improve overall team execution. You improve overall team execution, you begin to win ballgames that you would have lost before you installed the improvement system.

Coaches will be evaluated for how they are managing the players to reach all the KPI's and players will be evaluated on execution and technique for each play they're responsible for.

Ultimately it will be the responsibility of each coach to get the production needed from each player individually and each group of the team that falls under their area of management.

Just to quickly recap, this system for incremental performance improvement for each player and coach individually responsible for hitting the key performance targets they're assigned, will produce a cumulative improvement overall for the team as a whole on both sides of the football.

 

[Smokey X]

J'Ville Jaguars off. coord. Greg Olsen became available today

 

[25801VOL]

If we win out nobody will leave. CZA has had better production this year. We have to recruit better for Mahoney to be properly evaluated. This is CBJ's offensive system and the only way we change offense is for things to go dramatically wrong.

 

[ConMan]

How about this???? We hire a QB coach... holy hockey sticks.... many teams are doing this ...and it seems to help